NANNING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- While most people were enjoying a good rest to usher in the New Year with joy, warehouses in Guangxi Wuzhou Rixin Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd. were moving into top gear for a new consignment of exports. Nearly 80,000 plastic clothes pegs and hangers were being packed in the company in the city of Wuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. These products will be shipped to Japan right after the New Year holiday. "We've maintained trade with companies from Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore for years. In 2022, we applied for 218 certificates of origin under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and enjoyed a tariff reduction of about 250,000 yuan (about 35,900 U.S. dollars), which significantly strengthened the competitiveness of our products," said Gan Huizhen, the general manager. The RCEP reduced the export costs, enabled the company's products to have greater price advantages, and increased the number of its overseas orders by 15 percent year on year, Gan added. The RCEP, which entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including 10 ASEAN member states and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, and New Zealand. From January to November, China's trade with the other RCEP members expanded 7.9 percent year on year to 11.8 trillion yuan, accounting for 30.7 percent of China's total foreign trade value, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Gu Xueming, head of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the MOC, said since its entry into force, the RCEP has had a positive impact on regional economic development. "The economic and trade cooperation between China and other RCEP member countries has achieved remarkable results. The RCEP has played an important role in stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment, helping enterprises expand the global market," Gu said. In the first 11 months of 2022, Nanning Customs in Guangxi issued 1,696 certificates of origin under the RCEP, with a value of 754 million yuan. The average import tariff of relevant parts imported from Japan and ROK by machinery manufacturer Guangxi Liugong Machinery Co., Ltd. has dropped from 6 percent to 4.8 percent, which has helped the company effectively reduce the overall operating cost and thus improve and optimize the level of machinery manufacturing. "In the first 11 months of 2022, we sold nearly 20,000 complete machines overseas. Over 4,000 sets were sold to the RCEP member states, registering an increase of 50 percent from a year ago," said Du Pengqing, the company's overseas strategy director. "The signing and implementation of the RCEP will make important contributions to regional, global trade and investment growth, and economic recovery," said Hong Junjie, vice president of the University of International Business and Economics. Hong noted that the RCEP has built a good platform for regional cooperation, which fully reflects the common interests of all RCEP parties and their confidence and determination to uphold multilateralism and free trade. With the RCEP, "we have seen the commitment of member countries' trying to liberalize and facilitate trade among member countries as well as the facilitation of regional supply chain," said Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations under Thailand's Ministry of Commerce, adding that the RCEP has helped enhance the country's trade with RCEP member countries, which accounts for around 60 percent of Thailand's total foreign trade volume. Shu Jueting, China's MOC spokesperson, said that more efforts will be made to promote the high-quality implementation of the RCEP and other free trade agreements, make full use of such agreements, and improve their comprehensive utilization efficiency. The ministry will also conclude free trade agreements with more trading partners, further open China's trade in goods, services, and investment markets, and take an active part in negotiations on new rules for the digital economy and environmental protection, Shu said. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Two people were killed after a dispute over a dog outside of a Hartford apartment in June. Another person was killed over a parking spot In 2022, Hartford saw the most fatal violence since there were 46 homicides recorded in 2003, Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said. There were 39 homicides through Dec. 29, surpassing the 34 recorded in 2021. Over a third of the recorded homicides reported in 2003 were due to one incident the Greenwood Health Center fire, an arson case at a nursing home that claimed 16 lives. Despite the increase in homicides, the number of non-fatal shooting victims is down about 8% year-to-date through Dec. 17, from 148 in 2021 to 136 in 2022, according to the most recent Compstat Report from the Hartford Police Department. The number of aggravated assaults involving firearms is down 21% year-to-date, too, from 192 through Dec. 17, 2021, to 151 through the same time period in 2022. Property-related crime spiked, with a 52% increase in reported robberies, a 29% increase in robberies with firearms, 34% in burglaries and 3% in larcenies. The number of auto thefts declined 23% from 2021 when there was a rash of catalytic converter thefts throughout the state. Although the number of shooting incidents is down this year, the number of fatalities is up and I think thats a reflection of the fact that so much of this violence is so intensely personal and arises from personal disputes that escalate quickly and tragically when there are guns present, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in a phone interview Friday. The Hartford Police Department responded to Barker Street for reports of a shooting inside a second-floor apartment of a multi-family home before 1 a.m. on Nov. 23, according to Hartford Lt. Aaron Boisvert on Wednesday. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) The vast majority of the homicides reported this year were due to personal disputes, Boisvert said. In years past many were gang- or drug-related, which still happen, but personal disputes or altercations are going right to deadly violence or a shooting, he said. Were seeing more and more meaningless, what seems like meaningless, reasons to kill somebody, Boisvert said. He pointed to the incident where a person was killed over a parking spot as an example. He could not get into specifics due to an active investigation, but said it happened not too long ago. Two people were killed after a personal dispute on June 19. Police responded to a multi-family home on Franklin Avenue and found three unresponsive gunshot victims. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, 39-year-old Chase Eugene Garrett and 27-year-old Christina Dang, and another person was transported to an area hospital to undergo surgery. All three victims were residents of the multi-family home. Police said the shooting happened after a disagreement over a dog. Dang and Garrett had a 4-month-old child together, ChosenOne Chase Garrett, who was strapped to his mothers chest when she was killed. Calvin Garrett, center, embraces siblings Jamie Rodger, left, and Amani Garrett, right, during a prayer vigil for their brother Chase Garrett and Christina Dang outside where they were killed in Hartford, Conn., Thursday, June 23, 2022. A woman was shot and killed during an altercation at a party at a residence on Shultas Place on July 4. Police responded to the home for a ShotSpotter activation and found 22-year-old Jayla Heaven with injuries from a shooting, she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said One person died and two people were critically injured after a shooting on Park Street on Oct. 3. The Hartford Police Department received reports of multiple shots fired in the parking lot of the Lofts on Park apartment building. Police found 23-year-old Jahziel Phillips-Ray of Hartford unresponsive in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving measures, but he died on the scene. A second man was located next to the building suffering from gunshot wounds. While on the scene, a local hospital notified police of the third man suffering from gunshot wounds who was dropped off at the hospital. The man was identified as Joseph Ray, 22, of Hartford. On Nov. 9, a Hartford man, identified as 46-year-old Lamonte Brown, was shot and killed on Main Street. Police said Brown was walking down the street when the man and woman approached him, got into an argument and then the man shot Brown multiple times. Police said it was likely the three knew each other. In that homicide, a police cruiser passed by the three people about 10 seconds before shots were fired, Boisvert said at the time. This shooting came one day after police found 32-year-old Angel King with multiple gunshot wounds in a hotel room on Weston Street. He later died at St. Francis Hospital. Two brothers, 20-year-old Cesar Deaza-Escobar and 19-year-old Jonas Deaza-Escobar, were killed in a shooting inside a multi-family home on Barker Street on Nov. 23. Police found the two men with multiple gunshot wounds after responding to the home before 1 a.m. They were transported to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Police believe the shooting was targeted and the perpetrator entered the home through the back door. Hours before the reported shooting, Cesar Deaza-Escobar posted a message to Facebook celebrating his 20th birthday. He had celebrated it the day before he was killed. We cant be in a hotel room. We cant be on someones back porch. We cant be in an apartment, Boisvert said in November. Its just you try to direct resources where they need to go, but we cant be everywhere. Hartford police seized 367 illegal guns in 2022 through Dec. 29, more than one per day on average. Photo provided by the Hartford Police Department. He said most of the firearms used in homicides this year were illegal guns. He declined to identify exactly how many due to active investigations. Hartford police seized 367 illegal guns in 2022 through Dec. 29, more than one per day on average. Police have also seized 58 ghost guns, firearms that are 3-D printed and are often unregistered with the state, more than one per week on average. As far as in my career, weve never seen that many guns come off the street, Boisvert said. Were getting more guns off the street, doing more investigations, yet violence continues to rise. Thats where it becomes tricky. He pointed to a combination of higher volumes of illegal guns on the street and improved police work as a reason for the increase in seizures. Our police have done a tremendous job of solving and making arrests, in both fatal and non-fatal shootings, Bronin said. Which is a critical part of preventing future violence to demonstrate that you cannot commit an act of violence in our community and expect to get away with it. Bronin said that an honest conversation needs to be had about the people involved in gun violence returning to the community too quickly after being arrested. A significant percentage of gun violence suspects over the past year were out on bail when they shot somebody, Bronin said. Were finding it difficult to keep individuals who are arrested for their involvement in gun violence behind bars pre-trial. He said it is a concern that needs to be addressed legislatively at some point. Im proud that Connecticut has some of the strongest common sense gun laws in the country, Bronin said. But for those laws to be as effective as possible, there needs to be greater consequence for breaking them. Indian Prayagraj region to become cement hub ICR Newsroom By 02 January 2023 Indias Prayagraj region in Uttar Pradesh is set to become a cement production hub. In addition to its two existing cement plants the 6.6Mta Sadwa works of Jaypee Group and the 2Mta Bara unit of UltraTech Cement three further cement plants have been announced. JK Cement, KJS Cement and Eco Cement have started the process of building plants in the Trans-Yamuna region of Prayagraj. JK Cement has signed a Memorandum with Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the company. The firm will be setting up a clinker grinding unit having a capacity of 2.50Mta with an investment of Rs 400 crore [US$48.3m] in the Bara area. The firm is already in the process of purchasing land," said a senior official of UPSIDA. KJS Cement is currently looking at the construction of a 2Mta in Meja while Eco Cement Ltd is planning to build a 4Mta clinker grinding plant on a 25.829ha plot at Lakhanpur, Bara. The three cement companies have also applied to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), seeking no-objection certificates for setting up plants at the sites. "We had sought objections to setting up plants. There is no opposition to the projects from the locals. Now the three firms would need to attain environmental clearances before setting up the plants," said RK Singh, regional officer, UPPCB, Prayagraj. Published under Netflixs 1899 involves many mysteries, not the least of which is how the historical sci-fi series was entirely filmed on a soundstage in Germany. Released on November 17, 2022, the series has been a huge win for Netflix, ranking for several weeks on the streaming services coveted Top 10 list. Additionally, it has been a huge win for the series creators, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, who built the largest virtual production stage in Europe to shoot the series. Heres how it worked: The unique filming process behind Netflixs 1899 After signing an exclusive five-year deal with Netflix in 2018, Friese and bo Odar began building the state-of-the-art virtual production stage called Dark Bay in Babelsberg, Germany. According to Deadline, the facility is called a Volume and features 4,500 square feet of shooting space. The space is entirely surrounded by a LED-lit screen operated by a video game engine that moves with and responds to camera movements to simulate a realistic background and sky that creates the illusion of shooting outdoors. Adding to the facilities incredibly cool technicalities, the Volume is housed in a historic soundstage built in 1910. While all of this may sound like a filmmakers dream, 1899 creators Friese and bo Odar say they had doubts about the facility, noting before the Volume was built at Dark Bay, they considered themselves traditional filmmakers who enjoyed filming in real locations. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, the Volumes value became clear. Stars of Netflixs 1899, (L-R) Jonas Bloquet, Miguel Bernardeau, Jose Pimentao, Lucas Lynggaard and Alexandra Gottschlich | Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Netflix The plot of 1899 has sent viewers reeling The mysteries dont stop behind the camera regarding 1899. After Friese and bo Odars first series, Dark, set new records for viewership within the foreign-language category on Netflix, 1899 continues many of the series themes. That is not to say their plots are connected. Many have suspected this, but Friese and bo Odar have been clear there is no overlap. However, like Dark, the 1899 plot has left viewers minds in knots. The series begins in 1899 and follows a group of migrant passengers aboard a steamship, the Kerberos, bound for New York. In the first of 1899s eight episodes, rumors swirl that a sister ship, the Prometheus, has disappeared. When a strange message arrives revealing coordinates, the Kerberos begins a rescue mission, only to discover nothing is what it seems and no one is who they appear to be. Reviews for 1899 on Netflix have been good, with the series Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 74%. Viewers nearly universally love the barrage of twists and turns in the 1899 plot. But many complain the ending had too many twists and not enough answers. But fans take heart, answers are coming. Friese and bo Odar revealed recently to The Hollywood Reporter that, like with Dark, this is because the 1899 plot will take three seasons to resolve. Will there be a Season 2 of 1899? 1899 is nominated for Best Foreign Language Series at The Critics Choice Awards! pic.twitter.com/f7gyfo9m2T 1899 ? (@1899Netflix) December 6, 2022 Whether fans liked 1899s cliffhanger ending, the series is well positioned for a Season 2 and possibly a Season 3. The series collected a significant viewership, and Friese and bo Odars deal with Netflix lasts for another year. This bodes well for those still poised on the edge of their seats, wondering what the heck is going on. However, there has been no word from Netflix on 1899 Season 2. Gilmore Girls followed Rory Gilmore and Lorelai Gilmores lives at a pivotal time. During the shows seven-season run, Rory graduated high school and college, and Lorelai grew and expanded her career. Richard Gilmore and Emily Gilmore experienced change, and so did Lane Kim. With big changes often come mistakes, though. Weve collected three Gilmore Girls mistakes that altered the characters lives. Rory Gilmore shouldnt have turned down the job in Rhode Island In season 7 of Gilmore Girls, Rory Gilmore had some difficult decisions to make. With a job offer in hand, the always cautious Rory made a rather unexpected decision. She turned down a job at a Rhode Island newspaper to await word on a competitive summer fellowship with the New York Times. Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore in a scene from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Neil Jacobs/Netflix Rory ultimately didnt get the fellowship and didnt have a job upon graduating from Yale. The decision turned out to be a critical mistake. Rory struggled to find long-term employment and was still directionless in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Taking the job at the Providence Journal might have changed everything. Gilmore Girls fans are largely frustrated by the mistake. Richard Gilmores decision to badmouth Jason Stiles was a Gilmore Girls mistake Richard Gilmore left his job with Floyd Stiles and started his own insurance business. Eventually, Floyds son and protege, Jason Stiles, asked to go into business with Richard. While Gilmore Girls fans have mixed thoughts about Jason, he was a solid worker and seemed pretty ethical. He did his job well. His only real mistake was secretly dating Lorelai Gilmore. Gilmore Girls | Saeed Adyani/Netflix When Floyd threatened to sue Richard and Jason, Richard folded and went back to Floyds business. The decision was understandable. Richard was protecting his financial interests. He didnt need to badmouth Jason, though. The decision was a critical mistake. While his relationship with Lorelai ultimately recovered, Richard knew badmouthing Jason would have consequences for Jason and Lorelais relationship, and he just didnt care. It made him seem petty and unprofessional. Lane Kim should not have accepted Zacks proposal Lane Kim was destined for big things, insist Gilmore Girls fans. She was talented, spunky, and driven. If given the opportunity, we believe Lane could have found her way into the music industry in some capacity. That all came crashing down when she agreed to marry Zack Van Gerbig. Lane should have never accepted his proposal. Lane Kim and Rory Gilmore | Saeed Adyani/Netflix We arent saying Zack wasnt a nice guy in many ways. He could be sweet to Lane, but he lacked drive and ambition. Lanes marriage to Zack guaranteed shed be stuck in Stars Hollow for the rest of her life. We think she deserved more than that. It was the most disappointing critical life mistake in Gilmore Girls. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close In the wake of last weeks operational meltdown at Southwest Airlines that left countless passengers stranded in airports across the country over the holidays, U,S, Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Monday called for Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation to pass stricter protections for travelers, including an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights. Blumenthal called Southwests streak of canceled flights a disaster that he said highlights ongoing issues in the larger airline industry. The airlines failure this holiday season, he said, dramatizes an ongoing failure with the airlines to respect basic passenger rights. Speaking from the State Capitol, the senator said that the number of flight cancellations and delays across airlines nationwide has risen by 63% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. DOT data show that in 2022, one out of every four flights in America was canceled or delayed, the senator said. Airlines, Blumenthal said, are hitting rock bottom performance levels and there are no excuses. The Southwest issue hit Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, where on one day last week all of the cancellations there were Southwest flights, including 11 departures and nine arrivals. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant) The airlines are giving travelers some of the worst performance in recent history and they are charging more for it than ever, he said. The Airline Passengers Bill of Rights was introduced by Blumenthal in November and would help protect passengers against additional costs incurred by such cancellations, delays and baggage losses. The bill, according to Blumenthal, would require airlines to provide passengers with fair compensation and refunds and require airlines to pay at least $1, 350 to passengers who are bumped off of overbooked flights. The bill also would protect passengers from having to involuntarily relinquish their seats unless there are safety or security concerns and require notification to passengers of their rights to refunds. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Blumenthal said he hopes to bring it before the Senate early in the next legislative session, which is scheduled to convene Tuesday for a pro forma session.He said he hopes lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will support the passengers rights hes proposed. Travelers and staff look through a shrinking collection of luggage in front of the Southwest Airlines baggage services at Dallas Love Field Airport on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. Theres nothing Republican or Democrat about a canceled flight and a stranded passenger sleeping overnight on the floor of an airport, Blumenthal said Monday. It happened in blue states, it happened in red states. Passengers didnt care about party when they were sleeping on floors in airports or deprived of the opportunity to visit their loved ones. Blumenthal said the Southwest cancellations last week were foreseeable but mismanaged. The slew of canceled flights began just before Christmas, as severe winter weather pummeled multiple states. The airlines say that they are not to blame, its weather, its air traffic control, its the lack of sufficient pilots or flight attendants or ground crews, said Blumenthal. But this level of cancellations and lack of support for passengers he said, was the result of bad management, airline malpractice. The Senator said he spoke with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at length on Thursday and that the secretary pledged to hold Southwest accountable for full refunds and compensation to passengers. Blumenthal said the DOT ought to be watching like a hawk to ensure that airlines follow through with refunds and should impose stiff penalties when airlines fail to do their part. Federal regulators vowed a rigorous review of what happened at Southwest, with all eyes on outdated crew-scheduling technology that left flight crews out of place after the storm hit, essentially shutting down almost all of the carriers operations, the Associated Press reported. Southwest announced on Dec. 30 that they would be resuming normal operations and were anticipating minimal disruptions over the New Year holiday weekend. When asked for comment on Blumenthals calls to action by lawmakers and the DOT, Southwest on Monday directed the Hartford Courant to their publicly issued statements. The airlines most recent statement was issued on Dec. 31 from company CEO Bob Jordan. You know, well move forward with lessons learned here, as we always do. We have plans to invest in tools and technology and processes, but there will be immediate work to understand what happened, said Jordan in that statement. Jordan said one of the priorities in their five-year strategic plan established in 2021 is to modernize their operation and he mentioned a 2022 focus area of getting back to our historic operational reliability and efficiency. We always take care of our Customers. Thats our 51-year history here, said Jordan in the statement. Likewise, I know that we have work to do to restore your confidence in Southwest. You have our word that we will commit to the necessary resources to quickly examine and bolster our strategy for continuous improvement in our processes, our systems, and more. Blumenthal said passengers should receive cash back, not vouchers or credits, for costs incurred by delays and cancellation including money spent on rental cars, hotels and meals. The legislation he introduced, he said, would provide these protections. Its basic rights, ironclad guarantees, cash back if they dont fulfill their end of the bargain. And refunds and compensation if they cause additional cost to air travelers, he said. Blumenthal said Monday that he hopes to move the airline passenger bill of rights forward and wants to address concerns with both consumer protection and monopolies in the industry. I think the whole airline industry is due for a radical makeover, said Blumenthal. Sadly, it seems like every day, we hear more stories from women who try to make their own decisions about their bodies but are stopped or ridiculed for doing so. Recently, a woman went viral on TikTok after a visit with her OB-GYN that had tons of people rolling their eyes. Olivia Downs (@lvdwns) is a 23-year-old who lives in Massachusetts. She starts off her viral video by recreating the conversation that she previously had with her gynecologist. Olivia has known that she hasnt wanted kids for years. I never want children, says Olivia. Ive had this made up in my mind since I was old enough to think of the concept. Olivia asked her gynecologist if she could have her tubes tied, a process that is legal in the state of Massachusetts as long as the patient signs a consent form at least 30 days prior to the procedure. Her doctor declined to perform the procedure, stressing that it was irreversible. This wasnt a huge surprise to Olivia, considering her past experiences with this doctor, but she was shocked and hurt after hearing what her doctor said next. After asking once again to have her tubes tied, her doctor said that she might meet Mr. Right, and change her mind. Can you believe that? Olivia explains in her video that she doesnt have kids in her 10, 15, or 50-year plan. She knows for sure that she does not want them and that even if there was some Mr. Right that came along, she still wouldnt want children. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Activists vandalize church hosting Sean Feucht Let Us Worship New Years Eve event Worship leader and songwriter Sean Feucht has shared photos on social media that show the California church where he was to perform on New Years Eve was defaced with explicit graffiti, including F*** Sean Feucht and Queers Bash Back. Last night, bigots spread hate and violence at a church where we are holding a New Years Eve event (at City View Church) in San Diego, the Christian musician who's well-known for leading outdoor revivals nationwide told his followers on Instagram. On the wall and property around the church, vandals spray-painted hateful words. Christofascists not Welcome, Sean Feucht Kindly F*** Off, Separate Church & State, Trans Rights Are Human Rights, No Safe Space for Bigots, Transphobes out of SD, God Loves LGTBQ, F*** Christian Nationalists, and more. A glass window was also found broken spray painted. The police are investigating it as a hate crime, Feucht wrote, adding, The enemy making the age old mistake. Persecuting the Church wont stop the Gospel, itll spark a wildfire. Feucht spoke to Church Leaders about the vandalism, saying its a fear tactic, its intimidation, and you know, we dont get discouraged when fear comes, we actually get emboldened and this is a chance for the church of California to take a stand to rise up in unity and to say, Were not going to let persecution, bigotry, hatred, vandalism, stop us from worshiping.' The church isnt a building. Were the bride of Christ and in 2023 were rising up like never before, he added. The father of four is the founder of the Let Us Worship movement, which was birthed during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, in response to state and local governments across the U.S. banning and restricting in-person worship through policies aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. Last January, Feucht shared with his followers that book publisher HarperCollins dropped his book deal over his political views. Signed an agreement with the second-largest publisher in the world, HarperCollins. We've been working on it for three months together. [I] have an agreement, had it signed, pretty far into this process, and was just notified today. They're canceling it, he noted at the time. Last March, Feucht spoke to The Christian Post about the amount of hatred he and his family had received for sharing the message of freedom in Christ. While Feucht came in third place in his bid for U.S. Congress in 2020 as a Republican in Californias third Congressional District, he has since been at the center of several large health mandate-defying Christian revival gatherings in major cities across the nation. It is more controversial than I ever imagined, he admitted. Jesus was right when He warned the disciples, You will be hated by everyone because of me. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved, (Matthew 10:22). Feucht told CP that he and his family have endured the most intense resistance, hate, harassment and even death threats to our home and family that weve ever experienced. But yet the glory has been incredible, and the testimony of breakthrough has sustained us, Feucht added. The minister has been accused of being too political with his Gospel approach, but he believes ministry, politics and everything overlap. The Church needs to wake up! he maintained. Christ calls us to be salt and light. He wants us to [put] His Love and truth to every facet of our life, not just our families and church, but schools, work, and politics too! Federal court rules against New York's ban on guns in houses of worship amid pastor's lawsuit A federal judge has temporarily blocked the state of New York from enforcing its new law banning guns in houses of worship against a pastor and church who argue that the law violates their constitutional rights. Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. of the Western District of New York ruled last Thursday that Senate Bill S51001, which prohibits carrying firearms in "sensitive locations," including houses of worship, violated the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The law was passed last July. Although he issued the injunction, Sinatra stayed the ruling pending an appeal. "Plaintiffs have demonstrated that the State permits countless other private actors hosting secular activities to do what a house of worship may not. The houses of worship exclusion is not a neutral law of general applicability," Sinatra, a Trump appointee, wrote in the ruling. The lawsuit was filed by the legal nonprofit First Liberty Institute and the law firms Clement & Murphy PLLC and Ganguly Brothers PLLC on behalf of His Tabernacle Family Church in Horseheads. Pastor Micheal Spencer founded the nondenominational Christian church. The Democrat-controlled state Senate approved the bill on a party-line vote as the Democrat-controlled Assembly approved the bill over the opposition of nine Democrats and all Republicans. "Singling out houses of worship for total disarmament demonstrates hostility toward religion, leaves them defenseless to rebuff violent attacks, sticks the state's nose into how religious services are conducted, and defies at least two recent Supreme Court rulings against New York," said First Liberty Institute Counsel Ryan Gardner. "Thanks to the court's action, New York must stop disarming its religious citizens and may no longer leave houses of worship vulnerable to violence." By enacting Senate Bill S51001, New York state disregarded two recent Supreme Court decisions finding that state laws and policies infringed on its citizens' First and Second Amendment rights, the plaintiff argued, citing the court's 2020 ruling in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo. The 2020 ruling determined that the state imposed unconstitutional worship restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, and a 2022 ruling invalidated the state's "exceedingly restrictive concealed-carry licensing regime." Erin Murphy of Clement & Murphy, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said, "Houses of worship have a constitutionally protected freedom to decide for themselves whether to allow legally possessed firearms into their facilities." One of the defendants in the lawsuit, First Deputy Superintendent of New York State Police Steven Nigrelli, warned that "if you violate this law, you will be arrested." Other defendants in the lawsuit are Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, the top law enforcement officials in two of the three counties where His Tabernacle Family Church has campuses. The church has a third location in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, unaffected by New York's law. Spencer has a concealed carry permit and kept a firearm on him at his New York locations and the Pennsylvania campus before the new law took effect. He allowed his congregants to do the same until S51001 was enacted and continues to allow those attending services at the Pennsylvania location to carry firearms. The complaint noted Spencer's concern that "someone planning to harm him or kill his flock will not be deterred by S51001, and may in fact be emboldened by it since it leaves houses of worship defenseless against those bent on doing violence to people of faith." "Pastor Spencer regularly receives threatening mail, and he has received at least two death threats that necessitated the involvement of law enforcement," the lawsuit reads. In October, Sinatra issued a temporary restraining order barring New York from enforcing part of its gun law while litigation filed by two other churches continues. The judge argued that banning guns from houses of worship is "inconsistent with the nation's historical traditions, impermissibly infringing on the right to keep and bear arms in public for self-defense." In recent months, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, churches have found themselves subject to varying degrees of vandalism. However, no one has been hurt thus far. Man in prison for murdering his parents identifies as female under Maine's gender ID policy A man sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering his parents and stabbing his dog to death has claimed a trans identity and is now listed as a female by the Maine Department of Corrections. The 24-year-old inmate, Andrew T. Balcer, was initially listed as male as recently as September, according to archived records from the MDOC website. However, updated records identify Balcer as female and include a new photo of him with long, black hair in a side ponytail under the name Andrea. A policy implemented by MDOC Commissioner Randell Liberty in 2020 requires Maine correctional facilities to provide inmates with clothing that aligns with their chosen gender identity, including chest binders and push-up bras, according to The Maine Wire. It remains unclear if the facility housing Balcer provided him with women's undergarments. The MDOC did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment about the inmate's status and whether he has also been transferred to a women's prison. As Central Maine reported at the time, Balcer was sentenced in December 2018 for the double murder of his parents, Alice and Antonio, on Oct. 31, 2016. A teenager at the time, Balcer stabbed his mother nine times in the back with a hunting knife before murdering his father, who had woken up after hearing his wife's cries. Balcer stabbed the family dog to stop it from barking and left his older brother, Christopher, alive. In a 911 call made by Balcer after murdering his parents, he claimed that he just "snapped." During a jailhouse interview, he alleged that he stabbed his parents due to sexual, emotional and physical abuse, accusations that his brother, Christopher, said were untrue. Balcer cited his parents' alleged refusal to accept his gender identity as another reason he killed them, saying he knew he wanted to be a woman since he was 3 or 4. He stated that being raised male, combined with fears of being subjected to sexual abuse, led him to murder his parents that night. During an interview with Debra Baeder, chief forensic psychologist with the State Forensic Service, Balcer accused his father of making a negative remark about trans-identified individuals the night before the murders, which led to a confrontation. "I killed my parents because they suppressed who I was for so long and forced me to be someone I wasn't for so many years. I snapped," Balcer said during the interview, according to Central Maine. The inmate's uncle, Carl Pierce, denied that Balcer's family was "intolerant or unaccepting" in a written victim impact statement. "[Andrew's] grandfather has funded [his] defense with what he had expected to use for [his] college education," he wrote. "Unfortunately, the most dangerous thing in that house was [Andrew]. There was no reason for Alice and [Tony] to die that night other than for [Andrew's] desire to kill them." As more states are starting to house trans-identified biological men in women's prisons, female inmates who have been raped or sexually assaulted in the past have raised concerns about their welfare. In The Christian Post's "Generation Indoctrination" podcast series, Amie Ichikawa, a former inmate and head of the nonprofit organization Woman II Woman, said her family members were shocked and didn't believe her when she told them she was incarcerated with a man who had a history of violence against women. "It's the most helpless feeling I've had to date," Ichikawa recalled of her time in prison at the Central California Women's Facility. "Just to know that you have absolutely no control of your environment, your own physical wellbeing, your mental health, nothing. And there's really no one you can talk to about it. It's so unbelievable that I would call home every day crying for weeks, trying to explain to my family that there was a serial rapist housed here. And that this is legal, that the state really did it," she continued. "[My family] thought I was delusional," she recalled. "And that just adds to the helplessness, the feeling of utter vulnerability. It's just like you're emotionally naked. And it creates this cloud of hopelessness that sits over the entire prison. The whole population is on pins and needles and it creates more tension." Ichikawa also claimed that synthetic testosterone is being distributed in medical lines at prison clinics and offered to women with a masculine-like appearance. "Anyone who is even remotely masculine with a low ponytail or anything is asked if they want to get on testosterone," she said. "And it's much more accessible than anything else. Much easier than getting a mammogram or an X-ray for a broken bone." According to the former inmate, some women wanted the testosterone to grow stronger to protect themselves from the biological men in the women's prison. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 132 in 2020, which allows inmates to transfer to prisons that align with their chosen gender identity. In New Jersey, which enacted a similar policy in June 2021, a women's facility transferred out a trans-identified male after the inmate impregnated two women while serving time at a women's-only prison. Texas Supreme Court rules against father seeking to prevent 'chemical castration' of his son A Texas father has accused the Texas Supreme Court of being party to an empire of child abuse after the justices rejected his request to prevent his ex-wife from subjecting their son to chemical castration through the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Jeff Younger, who has gained national attention for his opposition to his ex-wifes efforts to identify their son, James, as a girl named Luna, and encourage him to undergo experimental medicalized gender transition, announced on Twitter Friday that the Supreme Court of Texas denied my Mandamus, effectively terminating my parental rights. He further warned that my children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California, concluding that Texas is an empire of child abuse, led by Texas judges. Younger's ex-wife is Dr. Anne Georgulas, a pediatrician and non-biological mother of James and his twin brother, Jude. The Supreme Court of Texas denied my Mandamus, effectively terminating my parental rights. My children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California. Texas is an empire of child abuse, led by Texas judges. Jeff Younger (@JeffYoungerTX) December 31, 2022 In their denial of Youngers petition for mandamus, the justices wrote: This pro se mandamus petition arises from a child-custody dispute involving twin boys, one of whom has exhibited confusion about his gender. Mother, who has custody of the boys, recently moved to California after a Dallas County district court, in September 2022, authorized Mother to reside with the children anywhere in the continental United States. Noting that the effort to secure a court order seeking the return of his ex-wife and their children to Texas stems from a concern that their move to California will bring about the medical transitioning of his son, the Texas Supreme Court contended that such an order is not necessary because Younger is already in possession of a court order prohibiting Mother from doing precisely what he fears she will do with his son. It also addresses Youngers reservations about the now-enacted Senate Bill 107. Signed into law by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, Senate Bill 107 went into effect on Sunday and makes California a sanctuary state for those who want to prescribe puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or perform body-mutilating sex-change surgeries on minors. California refers to these experimental drugs and surgeries as "gender-affirming care" for children showing signs of gender confusion. The law grants state courts temporary emergency jurisdiction if a child is subjected to, or threatened with, mistreatment or abuse, or because the child has been unable to obtain gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care. The Texas Supreme Court acknowledged that the bill certainly casts a wide net in pursuit of its objectives and contains several provisions barring enforcement in California of a law of another state prohibiting experimental gender medicalization, but insisted that it will have no impact on Texas' court order that Youngers ex-wife previously agreed to. While SB 107s position on other states laws is clear, I see no provision in the bill that would alter the enforceability, in California, of a Texas court order requiring divorced parents to agree before subjecting their child to gender-transition therapy, Justice James Blacklock wrote in the opinion. However, Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, disagreed with the justices' assertion, saying, all the mom has to do is claim the son is suicidal and shell get a California court order so fast your head will spin. The Texas Supreme Court sent my son into a transgender meat grinder. So much for conservative Justices. https://t.co/wf0PxTP9te Jeff Younger (@JeffYoungerTX) December 31, 2022 Schilling suggested that a California court could allow Youngers ex-wife to move ahead with pursuing gender transition procedures for their son, a prospect that alarms Younger. The Texas Supreme Court sent my son into a transgender meat grinder, the concerned father lamented. So much for conservative Justices. The Texas Supreme Court consists entirely of Republican justices. A list of orders from the Texas Supreme Court identifies Justice Devine as the only jurist who dissented from the denial of Youngers petition for mandamus. Texas Commissioner of Family and Protective Services, Jaime Masters, has classified medicalized gender transition for minors as a form of child abuse, and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued an opinion coming to the same conclusion. The state Legislature has failed to pass a legislative ban preventing the prescribing of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or performing body-deforming operations on youth. Conservative advocacy groups have criticized state lawmakers' inaction as an intentional act of sabotage. Youngers petition before the Texas Supreme Court is the latest development in a years-long legal battle with his ex-wife over who has custody of their children. In 2021, a court order gave Youngers ex-wife exclusive rights on a temporary basis while allowing Younger to have limited visitation rights. A ruling from the same judge issued the previous year reversed an earlier decision granting the parents joint conservatorship over their children and required Younger to pay for counseling sessions with so-called mental health professionals who subscribe to the idea that James is actually a girl, even though he is male. A GiveSendGo fundraiser set up to raise money to prevent the efforts to socially and medically transition James Younger states: When James is with his father, the boy shows no signs of wanting to be a girl. Even when in female company, away from Jeff, James rejects a female gender expression. Documentary evidence proves: James mother had plans to initiate medical interventions without the fathers consent. Specifically, records from James Youngers pediatrician reveal that James mother had conversations about puberty blockers at age 9 with Dr. Jennifer Pape. The fundraiser maintains that the child has been misdiagnosed with gender dysphoria by over-zealous licensed counselors and Pape, viewing the Younger case as the tip of the spear in the fight for children harmed and [led] astray by affirming false gender identities and threatened with medical interventions that lead to permanent harm. The American College of Pediatricians has identified the potential consequences of puberty blockers as osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are among the most common drugs given to children expressing gender confusion. According to the American College of Pediatricians, side effects of cross-sex hormones might include an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan. Watchdog warns of 'alarming development' that undermines Saudi narrative of religious freedom reform A new report by a congressionally mandated watchdog committee in the United States warns that "an alarming development" is underway affecting religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, challenging the government's narrative of reform amid the ongoing power shifts from the religious establishment to the ruling family. While there is some improvement in the country's atmosphere, Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and other non-Muslim communities continue to face restrictions and targeting, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom stated in an update. "The ongoing power shifts from the Saudi religious establishment to the ruling family has created some opportunities for reforms to guardianship laws, textbooks, and social policies impacting religious freedom," a statement from USCIRF, which is tasked with advising Congress and the State Department, reads. "However, the trend of retrying prisoners and sentencing others to decades in prison for peaceful religious dissent is an alarming development that undermines the Saudi narrative of reform." The kingdom is "issuing egregiously long sentences against those who dissent from its singular interpretation of Sunni Islam," the commission warns, adding the kingdom doesn't even spare Sunni dissidents. Shi'a Muslims who participated in protests against religious discrimination over a decade ago remain tied up in legal battles or imprisoned. Some facing execution were minors when they allegedly committed their offenses, the report notes. "Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and other non-Muslim communities are prohibited from building houses of worship or manifesting their beliefs in public in Saudi Arabia," it adds. While public worship continued to be prohibited for non-Muslim minorities in Saudi Arabia, these communities were reportedly subjected to less harassment by security officials than in years past, the report acknowledges. In Saudi Arabia, a leading U.S. ally, most citizens are Muslim, primarily Sunni. But according to some estimates, about 1.5 million Christians, mostly foreigners, live in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism, described as "ultraconservative," is the dominant form of Islam in the kingdom. One problem in Saudi Arabia is, the report suggests, that the kingdom continues to treat freedom of religion as a privilege granted by the state rather than a right guaranteed under international law. This attitude "undercuts the Saudi narrative of progress toward being a global cosmopolitan hub of business and tourism," it says, adding, "These initiatives are a driving force in Saudi domestic and foreign policy, including its relationship with the United States." "The Saudi government has made meaningful initial reforms of the religiously-based male guardianship system but has not yet addressed its underlying structural, religiously justified elements that position women as legal minors for life," the report concludes. Although the U.S. State Department has repeatedly designated Saudi Arabia as a "country of particular concern" (CPC) since 2004, an indefinite waiver was put in 2006 on taking an otherwise legislatively mandated action as a result of the CPC designation. Countries subject to the State Department's CPC designation face negative consequences, including the possibility of crippling sanctions. Human rights defenders say Western governments need to take religious freedom more seriously in their dealings with Saudi Arabia and not trade it for other strategic needs. In the report, USCIRF recommends that the U.S. government "continue to publicly and privately express to Saudi government officials its great concern over Saudi Arabia's particularly severe religious freedom violations." "Such restrictions impede Saudi progress toward its goal of becoming a regional economic hub and raise the cost of public U.S. government engagement with Saudi Arabia," USCIRF contends. When thinking a prayer became a crime Correction Appended At first, it seemed too absurd to believe. Surely, there must be more to the story than meets the eye. It turns out that what was reported was quite accurate. A Christian pro-life leader in England was arrested not simply for standing in front of an abortion clinic. She was also arrested for the crime of praying while standing there, even though she was simply praying in her own head. Talk about being prosecuted for a thought crime. This really and truly happened. In the words of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, leader of the UK March for Life, Its abhorrently wrong that I was searched, arrested, interrogated by police and charged simply for praying in the privacy of my own mind. Nobody should be criminalized for thinking and for praying, in a public space in the UK. A pastoral colleague had sent me the report which stated, In yet another assault on Christianity in Britain, a pro-life activist was arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham, England. Embedded in the article was a link to the Twitter account of Mary Margaret Olohan, which contained a video of the arrest. In the video, the police officer asks Vaughan-Spruce politely, Are you praying? She responds, I might be praying in my head. You cannot make this stuff up. At present, however, there is an additional note added by Twitter that states, The woman in the video, Isabel Vaughan Spruce, was not arrested for silently praying. She was arrested for breaking a temporary Public Space Protection Order on four separate occasions which was used to ban protests outside of an abortion clinic due to safety concerns. (The note is linked to this story). Thats what I had been wondering about when I read the initial piece and watched the video. Perhaps she was not allowed to be standing in front of the clinic at all? Perhaps that was her crime? Despite the outrageousness of such a regulation, since it appears clear that she was not harassing anyone nor was her presence a threat to anyone, what if her presence was the issue, not her praying? Wouldnt that mean that the attention-getting headlines were not accurate? Wouldnt that mean that the very headline to this article was misleading? But, as noted in the official press release from the Alliance Defending Freedom U.K., The censorship zone measure introduced by Birmingham authorities criminalises individuals percieved to be engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval in relation to abortion, including through verbal or written means, prayer or counselling. Accordingly, Whilst in the police station, Vaughan-Spruce was shown pictures of herself outside the abortion facility. She said she could not recall from the pictures whether she was praying at these specific moments, or whether these had been taken at times that she was distracted and thought about other things, such as her lunch. She maintains that all her thoughts were equally peaceful and imperceptible and that none should be criminalised. Yes, she was questioned as to whether she had been praying in her own mind. This is not made up. This is not the figment of Christian paranoia. This is what literally took place. In response to this outrageous arrest and interrogation, Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK The ADF, stated that, Isabels experience should be deeply concerning to all those who believe that our hard-fought fundamental rights are worth protecting. It is truly astonishing that the law has granted local authorities such wide and unaccountable discretion, that now even thoughts deemed wrong can lead to a humiliating arrest and a criminal charge. In fact, the police actually imposed restrictions, as part of her bail, on Vaughan-Spruce engaging in public prayer beyond the PSPO area, stating that this was necessary to prevent further offences. To paraphrase, Thou shalt not pray, even in the privacy of your mind, anywhere near this abortion clinic! One month prior, on November 24, in Bournemouth, UK, Local woman Livia Tossici-Bolt was praying quietly with a friend in a public space when she was warned by local authorities that their prayer could cause intimidation, harassment or distress, and was asked to move away. To be clear, I have not been quoting from Orwells 1984. Not even Big Brother could read thoughts. The Communist Party of China cannot read minds. Not even Kim Jong-Un of North Korea imprisons alleged dissenters for daring to think a thought. Only God Almighty knows the thoughts of peoples hearts. Of course, the British police didnt know what Vaughan-Spruce was thinking either, because of which they had to ask, Are you praying? Oh, the crime! Oh, the horror! Yes, Officer, I confess! I am guilty, so guilty! I might have been praying in my mind! To repeat: This was not Orwells 1984. This was England in 2022. Let that sink in. In the days ahead, I would encourage every freedom-loving citizen of the UK to stand peacefully (and without obstructing others) in front of every abortion clinic nearby, engaging in silent prayer. Numerous street preachers have been arrested in recent years simply for giving an honest answer to a Bible question or preaching out of certain biblical texts (most recently, see here). Now, Christian pro-lifers are being arrested for the crime of praying, either out loud or silently. Who can imagine whats coming next? With confidence, I can say this: If the Christians (and other freedom lovers) in the UK do not push back now, with grace, humility, kindness, and courage, there most certainly will be a next. The time to speak and act (and pray!) is now. Correction 1/3/23, 10:50 A.M. ET: An op-ed published on Dec. 31, 2022, incorrectly stated that Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was prohibited from standing in Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) zones near the abortion clinic. ADF International reached out to correct that Vaughan-Spruce was not prohibited from standing in this particular zone. How Child Tax Credit expansion will hurt children Last year, Congress increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,600 and eliminated the requirement that a parent be working to receive the credit, turning it into a welfare payment. According to the government, "The American Rescue Plans expansion of the Child Tax Credit will reduce child poverty by (1) supplementing the earnings of families receiving the tax credit, and (2) making the credit available to a significant number of new families." As part of President Biden's $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, who could oppose giving more to poor children? That would be like opposing the rescue of drowning puppies. Some conservatives promoted the program to reduce abortions by paying poor women to have their children. It didn't occur to them that they are paying a form of extortion to keep their children alive, and that doing so will make the problem worse. However, the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), a nonpartisan committee of the United States Congress that passed the bill, "finds that extending the American Rescue Plans (ARP) Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion would result in costly economic consequences." And one of the consequences could be that it hurts the children politicians intended to help. It does so by encouraging their parents to quit working. As the study showed, "The proposal is estimated to both discourage labor supply and capital investment. Because it changes the incentives for labor supply and capital, and these changes are larger than the effects on household consumption, JCT finds GDP declines by 0.10.3 percent." In other words, the extra money from the federal government motivates many parents to quit working. That will make those families poorer and cause them to rely more on government handouts and charity to feed and clothe their children. The major cause of children living in poverty in the U.S. is poor, single women having children outside of marriage. Before Johnson's Great Society welfare programs, the number of children born into such households was small. Afterwards, the number exploded and now accounts for 70% of births in some groups. The expanded CTC encourages such growth. And we know that children from those homes are less likely to earn an education, and more likely to join gangs and become criminals. Another cause of poverty is drug and alcohol abuse. The expanded CTC will make that problem worse because money is fungible, which is economic jargon for the idea that money can be used for many things. Promoters of the CTC assume that the mothers receiving it will use the extra money to feed and clothe their children. Poor women have enjoyed many programs since 1968 to help pay for food and clothing for their children, yet according to many organizations, hunger among children is at an all-time high. The U.S. Department of Agriculture web site says, "The percent of U.S. households with children that were food insecure reached 14.8 percent in 2020, or 5.6 million households..." The U.S. gives more to the parents of poor children to buy them food than anyone in all human history, yet child hunger is worse. How can that be? The answer is that the parents who get the money don't necessarily use it for food for their children. But no one can say this, for fear of being cancelled. The evangelical left has made an idol of the poor. No one can criticize their behavior without the evangelical left charging them with blaming the victims. Contradicting the Bible, they believe people are born good, and society makes them into poor drug addicts. Christians in the 18th and 19th centuries knew better, according to The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky. They understood the Biblical teaching that people are born with a strong tendency toward evil that only Christ can change. That tendency toward evil will cause some people to be lazy. "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied." (Proverbs 13:4 ) And, "Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15) And they knew that alcoholism leads to poverty: "He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich." (Proverbs 21:17) And, "For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags." (Proverbs 23:21) Drug addiction produces the same results. Christians before the 20th century believed that God knew more about human nature than socialists, and insisted on getting to know the poor, giving food and clothing instead of cash to those who can't work, and avoiding subsidizing the behaviors that cause poverty. As a result, Christians took good care of the poor through the 19th century. Only in the 20th century did a minority of evangelicals become deluded by the socialist nonsense that society, particularly capitalism, causes poverty, and the government must give them cash indiscriminately. Socialists ignore the mountains of evidence that the poor often dont use money as politicians intend. People made that mistake with the 40-hour work week, thinking fathers would spend more time with their families if the work week were reduced from 60 hours. In a similar way, parents will most likely not use the expanded CTC to feed their children, as the evidence of food insecurity for children demonstrates. The CTC can do more harm to children than good. Its time the evangelical left and Republicans face the truth about human nature and poverty. Private charity will feed the children without subsidizing the bad behavior of their parents. Pope Benedict XVI remembered as a global bulwark' and 'consequential theologian' Christian leaders across different denominations remember Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the German-born Roman Catholic Church leader who served as pope from 2005 until 2013, as a "global bulwark" against moral relativism and "one of the greatest theologians of his age." During his New Year's Eve Vespers service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Francis remembered his predecessor as "noble" and "gentile," saying he is grateful to "God for having given him to the Church and to the world." "Gratitude to him, for all the good he did, and above all for his witness of faith and of prayer, especially in these last years of withdrawn life," Francis said, according to The Associated Press. "Only God knows the value and the strength of his intercession, of his sacrifices offered for the good of the Church." Many religious and world leaders have issued their thoughts about the legacy of Benedict, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, following his death Saturday at his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. Benedict made history in 2013 when he became the first pope in over 600 years to resign. He resigned at age 85, paving the way for Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. "Protestants have their strong disagreements with the Papacy, but Pope Benedict XVI was a global bulwark who stood heroically and prophetically against moral relativism," Andrew T. Walker, associate professor of Christian ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote on Twitter. Walker, who also serves as a fellow at the United States-based conservative think tank Ethics and Public Policy Center, said Benedict "understood in, almost unrivaled ways, the moral nihilism and human carnage that secularism creates." In a statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who leads the Church of England, said the pope is one of the greatest theologians of his time. "Pope Benedict was one of the greatest theologians of his age committed to the faith of the Church and stalwart in its defense," Welby wrote. "In all things, not least in his writing and his preaching, he looked to Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God. It was abundantly clear that Christ was the root of his thought and the basis of his prayer." The archbishop called Pope Benedict's historic decision to resign from the papacy in 2013 a "courageous and humble step" as he was the first pontiff to do so since the 15th century. "In making this choice freely, he acknowledged the human frailty that affects us all," Welby said. Bill Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, contends that neither Benedict's predecessor, St. John Paul II, nor his successor, Francis, did as much to stop sexual abuse by the clergy as he did. "His actions were as pivotal as were his words. He made it clear that men with 'deep-seated homosexual tendencies' should not become priests. He was very aware of the 'homosexual cliques' and the 'homosexual subculture' within the Church," Donohue said in a statement. "It was his courageous comments on the scandal, caused largely by homosexual priests, that earned him the ire of secularists outside the Church and dissenters within." In February, Benedict issued a heartfelt request for forgiveness to survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests after a report chronicling hundreds of victims of abuse in the archdiocese he used to lead. Donohue said that in 2005, the day before Benedict assumed his duties as pontiff, he addressed the cardinals in Rome. "He spoke about the 'doctrine of relativism,' the popular and pernicious notion that there are no moral absolutes, and no moral hierarchy of virtues," Donohue said. "In the same historic Good Friday homily, he unloaded on abusive priests. 'How much filth there is in the Church, even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him!'" Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of WinonaRochester in Minnesota calls Pope Benedict "one of the most consequential theologians of the 20th and 21st centuries." "He was influential as a prolific author, theologian, and university professor, truly one of the brightest minds the Church has seen in centuries," the bishop wrote in a statement. "Happiest surrounded by books and immersed in prayer, he did not seek leadership and power but rather simply listened to God's calling and the movement of the Holy Spirit." While serving as pope, Benedict XVI restored the traditional Latin Mass, created an ordinariate system for Anglican churches to join the Catholic Church, and made a historic visit to a Roman synagogue. Benedict XVI also sparked widespread outrage in the Muslim world over a 2006 speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany by quoting anti-Islamic Medieval text. He later apologized, saying the words of the text "do not in any way express my personal thought." Pope Francis will preside over Benedict XVI's funeral on Thursday at St. Peter's Square. Benedict will lie in state at the basilica starting Monday. He is now lying in state at his residence. U.S. President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said in a statement that Benedict will be remembered as a "renowned theologian with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Benedict is a "formative figure of the Catholic Church." "As a 'German' pope, Benedict XVI was a special church leader for many, not only this country," Scholz wrote on Twitter, according to AFP. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Benedict was "principled in his faith, tireless in his pursuit of peace, and determined in his defense of human rights." "He was a spiritual guide to millions across the world and one of the leading academic theologians of our time," Guterres said in a statement. When Daniel Farrar disappeared from Westbrook eight years ago, his daughters searched for him. They scoured the woods and the marsh near his assisted living facility, looking for clues. They tracked his social security card to see if his limited resources had been tapped into. They wandered through New Haven, asking people living on the green and city streets if theyd seen their dad, but they never found him. Farrars case, recently featured on the true-crime podcast The Vanished, has remained unsolved since he walked out of a Westbrook store on Sept. 11, 2014, and was never seen again. He had $20 in his pocket and told the staff at the assisted living facility where he lived that he was going to get some lunch. Farrars daughters, Tracy Dickson and Jodi Hancock, were tireless in their search for their father. They felt glimmers of hope on walks in the woods when theyd think they spotted his gray sweatshirt, only to be disappointed. They hung countless missing person posters with his photo, made online profiles to register him as missing and chased down leads, but their hopes quickly began to dwindle. Now, all these years later, they both assume their father is dead. Were both pretty convinced that hes deceased, said Dickson I dont think were looking for my live father, I think were looking for his body. Daniel Farrar, who was 63 when he disappeared, grew up in Clinton and lived in the Westbrook area for years, with occasional moves to New Haven where he lived on or near the New Haven Green amongst the citys homeless population. Photos provided by the family of Daniel Farrar. Hancock said she goes back and forth. Sometimes she believes that her father, who had struggled with suicidal ideations, died by suicide. She wonders if he wandered off, crossed the border to New York and died there, his remains yet to be found. Other times shes convinced that his body is somewhere in Westbrook, not far from where he had been living. Anything could have happened, she said. But I dont believe that he would still be alive, that he could go eight years without collecting any social security or using Medicaid, with all his medical conditions. I do believe at this point he is deceased, regardless of did he commit suicide that day or move to another area and died. Farrar, who was 63 when he disappeared, grew up in Clinton and lived in the Westbrook area for years with occasional moves to New Haven where he lived on or near the New Haven Green amongst the citys homeless population. Wherever he was staying, he was well-known by those in his neighborhood. Everywhere we went people would say Hi Danny, Hancock said. He was a guy that walked around town all the time, she said. Until he didnt. Daniel Farrar suffered a stroke not long before he disappeared. It completely changed his life, his daughters said. He moved into the assisted living facility on the shore of the Long Island Sound and maintained steady relationships with his two daughters, playing a bigger part in their adult lives than he had in their childhoods. Photos provided by the family of Daniel Farrar. After struggling with alcoholism at a young age, Farrar lived 28 years of his life sober. He was active in Alcoholics Anonymous and sponsored many other people in recovery. Around 2000, he started drinking again and experienced a swift downward spiral, his daughters said. He lost his home, his business, everything in a year, Dickson said. In addition to his relapse, he suffered a stroke not long before he disappeared. It completely changed his life, his daughters said. He was no longer able to read books like he once loved to do, struggled to communicate clearly and couldnt walk as well as he once did. He moved into the assisted living facility on the shore of the Long Island Sound and maintained steady relationships with his two daughters, playing a bigger part in their adult lives than he had in their childhoods. He was funny, generous and loved to dance, his daughters said. Due to his medical conditions, a Silver Alert was initially issued, but his daughters felt that they led the majority of the search efforts to find him. Both Dickson and Hancock feel that his alcoholism played a role in the investigation that followed his disappearance. I dont think he was treated as maybe another 63-year-old man who lived at home with his wife, said Hancock. I dont think they treated his case the same way, and I think he deserved that. He was more than an alcoholic, he was more than a disabled man, she added. I think this is my biggest hope in finding out what happened to him, is he deserves a proper burial. The sisters poured hours of their own energy and emotion into finding their dad, often combing through websites like NamUs a national information and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases looking at photos of unidentified bodies to see if they spotted their dad. They would follow news reports about body parts washing up on beaches and call the state medical examiner to see if there was a match. Eventually, they said, they had to stop. You cant, you just cant do it. You go down this rabbit hole. Its way draining on you. It literally takes a physical toll on you, Dickson said of the constant searching. Tracy Dickson and Jodi Hancock still have hope that their father Daniel Farrar is found someday, no matter what has happened to him, and that his life story matters to those that hear about him. Photos provided by the family of Daniel Farrar. She said she hopes that sharing her dads story can help raise awareness about the process of searching for a lost loved one. By being thrust into a missing persons case, Dickson said they discovered a lot about this process in going through the process that had just never dawned on us. The number of remains that go unidentified nationwide is unfathomable, she said. According to NamUs, over 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year. Dickson hopes that that stark statistic can urge people to be more aware of their surroundings. We just want people to have this sense of awareness, if youre hiking through the woods and you see a shirt thats out of place, maybe look a little more carefully, said Dickson. Its about an awareness for people to pay attention to whats out there, her sister said. To pay more attention to the people around them. Maybe somebody saw him but just disregarded him in some way. The sisters both sighed heavily when asked if they had any words of advice for other families who may find themselves in their shoes. Push. Push the system to do the things that need to be done, said Hancock. She also recommended precautionary steps that families with loved ones with mental illnesses or substance use issues can take, like having access to their DNA and ensuring they carry a card with information about their emergency contacts. In the end, their hope is that their father is found someday, no matter what has happened to him, and that his life story matters to those that hear about him. He had value. He had value as a human being. Everybody has value as a human being, said Dickson. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Daniel Farrar, please contact the Connecticut State Police at 860-399-2100. UMC North Georgia Conference blocks churches from leaving, pauses disaffiliation process A United Methodist Church conference in Georgia will temporarily block member churches from disaffiliating from the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States amid the denominational schism over homosexuality. In an email sent to member churches, the UMC North Georgia Conference announced a decision to "pause" the disaffiliation process, claiming "many local churches have been misled about the disaffiliation process and have been presented with information about the process" and about the UMC leadership "that is factually incorrect and defamatory." "We have significant concerns about this misinformation and are well aware that it has the potential to do irreparable harm," the announcement reads. "We do not have confidence in the validity of upcoming church conference disaffiliation votes." The UMC North Georgia Conference says the misinformation has come "in the form of printed materials, PowerPoint presentations, websites, videos, emails, and social media posts" that constitute a "breach of integrity." The email didn't name those responsible for sharing the alleged misinformation. The North Georgia Conference, which has over 700 member churches, said disaffiliation will not happen until the next session of the United Methodist General Conference, which will be held from April 23 to May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. "This pause will allow churches to gain more information about the real, rather than the false or hypothetical, future of our church." In June, the conference ratified the disaffiliations of 70 congregations representing 9% of the denomination's churches and 3% of its members, just as hundreds of other congregations nationwide left the UMC over the ongoing debate over the church's official stance on homosexuality. The UMC Book of Discipline labels homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. However, many theological liberals in the UMC adamantly oppose the Book of Discipline's biblically-based stance, and some leaders in the denomination have refused to enforce the rules. In January 2020, a theologically diverse group of UMC leaders agreed to advance a proposal at the next General Conference to create a new Methodist denomination for those who oppose changing the Book of Discipline. Although General Conference had been scheduled for later in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led the UMC to postpone the churchwide legislative gathering multiple times. The UMC decided to again delay General Conference to 2024. In May, the Global Methodist Church launched as a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC, which has attracted hundreds of churches. In its email, the UMC North Georgia Conference pushed back against "Church leaders communicating that North Georgia Conference leadership is not following the Book of Discipline." "In fact, the North Georgia Annual Conference and its leaders have taken no actions in conflict with the Book of Discipline," the statement reads. Earlier this month, more than 400 congregations in Texas voted to leave the UMC, with most planning to join the GMC. The total number of departing congregations includes 294 of the 598 churches belonging to the Central Texas Conference and 145 of the 201 churches belonging to the Lubbock-based Northwest Texas Conference. The departing congregations constitute nearly half of all UMC congregations in Texas, joining hundreds of churches in other states that have had their departures affirmed by their regional bodies. At a special called session of the UMC North Carolina Conference last month, delegates voted 957-165 to approve the disaffiliation votes of 249 congregations seeking to leave the denomination. According to a statement from the North Carolina Conference, the number of departing congregations represented 32% of the regional body's member churches and about 22% of its membership. The Western North Carolina Conference has also reported that 41 of their 990 congregations voted to disaffiliate earlier this year, with at least seven others recently beginning the process of discernment for disaffiliation. Fifty-eight churches disaffiliated with the UMC Louisiana Conference during a special session last month. Some churches seeking to disaffiliate have faced resistance from their regional bodies. In June, over 100 churches filed a lawsuit against the UMC Florida Annual Conference, alleging they weren't given fair terms for leaving the conference. In Arkansas this month, the First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro sued the UMC Arkansas Conference after its vote to disaffiliate was rejected by the conference in November. John Piper: Christians who participate in body-mutilating trans surgeries are 'normalizing evil' Theologian John Piper has explained why Christian healthcare workers should not work in hospitals that perform body-mutilating sex-change surgeries, warning that doing so contradicts Gods revealed will, damages people and normalizes evil in the world. On his Desiring God website, Piper, the chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, addressed a question posed to him by a nurse who works in surgery pre-op and recovery for a hospital that performs so-called gender-reassignment surgeries. I play no role in the decisions made to undergo these surgeries, she wrote. I believe the decision itself is sinful. The question I cannot resolve is this: Is it sinful for me to serve as a nurse involved in the care of these patients in the pre-op and recovery settings? After highlighting why it is good and appropriate for a Christian to work in an institution where perhaps nobody else is a believer, the theologian explained why other settings are inappropriate or harmful for a believer. He wrote that in hospitals, for example, both Christian and non-believing nurses pursue the same goal through all kinds of surgeries, all kinds of medications, all kinds of therapies and policies of care and protection. But while Christians view their work as an external form of Christ-exalting love and an act of worship, nonbelievers are motivated by man-centered values. Given what hospitals are for, there is a remarkable external behavioral overlap like doing surgery or a short-term goal like making the patient comfortable between the Christ-exalting love of the nurse and the man-centered, unbelieving humanism of the other staff. Theres an overlap of external forms of virtue, he contended. But sometimes, he said, the overlap between Christ-exalting, faith-rooted Christian behavior and unbelieving behavior is lost. For example, the hospital staff, instead of caring for old people, now may euthanize them, kill them. Instead of caring for mothers and babies in crisis pregnancies, they may kill the children. Instead of helping men flourish as men and women flourish as women, they pursue the illusion of surgically and hormonally turning men into women and women into men, which can never happen, he wrote. In such cases, the skill and ministry of the Christian healthcare worker are no longer simply a bona fide participation in a common grace of healing done in the name of Jesus, but instead used in a setting where the external manifestations of Gods order are openly defied, and where untold damage is being done to sometimes desperate people. Which means that your participation becomes, against your will, a support for contradicting Gods revealed will, for damaging people, and for bringing part of the ongoing normalization of evil in this hospital and in the world. So, I encourage you to seek the Lord earnestly for alternative ways to use your life-giving abilities, he said. In recent years, the conflict around Christian healthcare workers and transgender identity has grown increasingly tense as secular culture seeks to redefine what it means to be male and female. Around 700,000 people younger than 25 identified as transgender in 2020, nearly double the estimate in 2017, according to statistics from the Williams Institute, a research center at the University of California, Los Angeles. In the United Kingdom, referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service increased by over 4,000-fold in the past decade, as was documented by the trans-critical website TransgenderTrend. In December, a federal appeals court blocked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from enforcing a regulation requiring medical professionals and health insurance providers to perform sex-change procedures against their beliefs. The move came after U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said the Biden administration supports taxpayers funding irreversible body-deforming surgeries and cross-sex hormones for youth suffering from gender confusion. "The department follows the law, and is working to ensure that all patients, everywhere can access care free from discrimination, stigma and barriers," Becerra said. "The Biden-Harris Administration supports the upcoming release of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care Version 8 and believes that all children and adults should be afforded life-saving, medically necessary care," he continued. "Payers, both public and private, should cover treatments which medical experts have determined to be medically necessary." According to Dr. Richard Land, executive editor for The Christian Post, when a human being takes on a transgender identity it's the epitome of self-idolatry and an affront to Gods created order. "It is the ultimate attempt to become one's own god. I want to be different than the way God made me, so I'm going to employ modern medical science to change my gender, chemically and surgically," Land previously told CP. Land recently contended that the issue of gender identity highlights the pervasive moral question of today: Who and what is a human being? Nothing illustrates that more vividly than the transgender issue. It is the ultimate rebellion against God and against male and female. The transgender movement wants to revolt against that to say that you can decide, and it is a catastrophe to put this in front of children and is the ultimate child abuse, Land added. A year in review: Disappointments and surprises from my travels Another year of travel produced another year of travel surprises and disappointments. The following are the highlights and lowlights of my travels in 2022. Travel disappointments Visiting Toronto was a disappointment. Having grown up just across the American-Canadian border in Michigan at a time when nobody went to Detroit for a big-city experience, there was always some appeal in going to Canadas largest city. However, as with San Francisco and other U.S. cities, homelessness and increased crime have negatively impacted Toronto. I experienced this back in the summer. While Toronto still has a tremendous number of things to do and see, those remembering the clean and safe streets of yore will surely be disappointed by what they see today: homeless encampments, parks overtaken by vagabonds, semi-aggressive panhandlers and that distinctive smell of marijuana (thanks to legalization) everywhere and anywhere on the streets of downtown. However, my biggest disappointment this year was the hotels. While hotels have mostly recovered from the darkest days of the pandemic, the experience that guests are receiving these days is anything but normal. Hotels across the quality spectrum and among all major brands have done everything possible to cut costs and increase profits. At the same time, brand standards that chains used to enforce upon franchisees seem more like suggestions at Hyatt Place and Courtyard by Marriott. Daily housekeeping at many brands is a thing of the past. One consequence of reduced housekeeping is dirtier guest rooms, as room attendants generally arent allocated extra time to clean a room that hasnt been serviced for two or three days. Then there are the little bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash, which at many chain hotels have been replaced by unsanitary wall-mounted dispensers that, more often than not, are empty or half-empty. Travel surprises Across all my trips, two destinations really stood out. One was St. George, Utah. This once-sleepy college town with its historically dominant Mormon or Latter-day Saint as adherents of the nontrinitarian faith are generally called today community surprised me. For starters, the location near Utahs borders with Arizona and Nevada makes the seat of surrounding Washington County a gateway to national parks and outdoor recreation on assorted public lands. These are the kind of places where even nonbelievers are amazed at the endless beauty of Gods creation. In short, St. George must be one of the most underrated places anywhere in the Southwest. Then theres Covington, Kentucky. Located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, its become a destination in its own right, thanks to Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis. The ministry operates two big attractions: the Creation Museum, which tells the story of biblical creation through Young-Earth Creationism, and Ark Encounter, a full-scale interpretation of the vessel that Noah built to escape the flood of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Beyond the museum and ark is downtown Covington itself, which punches above its weight. A major landmark is St. Marys Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. The west front of the Roman Catholic cathedral is a one-third-scale copy of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Another big draw is Mainstrasse Village, a quaint National Register of Historic Places-listed district. Today, shops and restaurants occupy 19th-century buildings that were once the homes and businesses of the German community. Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post. 12 judges recuse themselves from UMC church disaffiliation lawsuit As many as 12 judges have declined to reside over a lawsuit filed by a United Methodist Church congregation in Arkansas seeking control of church property after the regional conference rejected its disaffiliation vote and suspended its pastor. The judges have cited conflicts of interest or the need to avoid the appearance of impropriety to recuse themselves from the property lawsuit by First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro, KAIT reported. The Craighead Circuit Clerk's Office sent a request to the Arkansas State Supreme Court for a special judge to be assigned to the case. The Jonesboro church also filed for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to block The Arkansas Conference of the UMC from any attempt to prevent its congregation from using the church building during the pendency of the lawsuit, the outlet added. The lawsuit comes as hundreds of other congregations across the United States have voted to leave the UMC amid an ongoing debate over the denomination's official stance on LGBT issues. First UMC voted to leave the denomination on July 31. The congregation reported over 1,300 members participating in the vote, with 69% voting in favor of disaffiliation and 31% voting against it. The UMC Arkansas Conference rejected the disaffiliation request from First UMC and two other churches while approving the disaffiliation votes of 35 other congregations at a meeting in November. The conference also voted down the disaffiliation requests of First United Methodist Church of Cabot and First United Methodist Church of Searcy. "The three churches who did not receive ratification for disaffiliation, have the option to restart the process or resubmit to the next called session, which date has not been officially announced yet," stated the conference at the time. The Jonesboro congregation then held a meeting on Dec. 15 in which over 600 members overwhelming voted in favor of disaffiliation from the UMC. In response, the regional body suspended First UMC Senior Pastor John Miles for holding the Dec. 15 meeting. Arkansas Bishop Gary Mueller argued that the vote violated the UMC Book of Discipline. In a statement, Mueller said that the disaffiliation meeting "was not authorized in accordance with our long-held church structure." "Rev. Miles was instructed not to hold the unauthorized meeting but proceeded to do so," Mueller said. "The vote, which purported to adopt new 'bylaws,' was in violation of The Book of Discipline and illegal according to Arkansas State law." "I am deeply saddened that we find ourselves in the current situation," the bishop added. "No one wins, and we all lose; most of all the Body of Christ and the mission to which Jesus calls us. I want to ask you to pray that hearts of peace will prevail and a positive way forward will be found." Miles assured the congregation at the time that the rejection was "not the end of the line" and there was "much more we can do." The church filed a lawsuit in December seeking a court declaration that the regional conference doesn't have any legal, beneficial, or equitable interest in any of the real or personal property held by the Jonesboro Church. The UMC Book of Discipline labels homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. Some theological liberals in the UMC oppose the Book of Discipline's stance but have failed in their efforts to change the language. Some prominent leaders in the denomination have refused to enforce the rules. In January 2020, a theologically diverse group of UMC leaders agreed to advance a proposal at the next General Conference to create a new Methodist denomination for those who oppose changing the Book of Discipline. Although General Conference had been scheduled for later in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led the UMC to postpone the churchwide legislative gathering multiple times. The UMC decided to again delay General Conference to 2024. In May, the Global Methodist Church launched as a theologically conservative alternative to the UMC, which has attracted many congregations as hundreds of churches have left the UMC this year. 'The Inside Story' on Elon Musk's complex persona: Hell, Twitter and the 'Devil's Champion' costume Christian Post reporter Ian M. Giatti joins this week's show to break down the ins and outs of Elon Musk. The powerful billionaire, who recently purchased social media giant Twitter, has been at the forefront of electric vehicles, space exploration and now online communications. "We've seen that the things he's getting involved with from Starlink, Tesla, SpaceX, now Twitter, driving these forces of change ... they're going to change the way we see our lives," Giatti said, noting that Musk has also opened his personal views and life to the public. "Elon Musk has willingly, voluntarily waded into the public square and said 'have at it.'" But what are the concerns? And why do some Christians and ethicists worry about Neuralink and Musk's efforts to heal paralysis and other health woes? Listen to Giatti explore these critical issues on The Christian Post's "The Inside Story": "The Inside Story" takes you behind the headlines of the week's biggest faith, culture, and political headlines. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand what's driving each story, the issues at play and why it all matters. Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app and be sure to subscribe to "The Inside Story" on your favorite platforms: Edifi Anchor Breaker Google Podcasts Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts RadioPublic Spotify Evangelical nonprofit Open Doors USA changes name amid 'expanding' vision UPDATE: 2 p.m. ET Jan 2: Open Doors announced that its work in the United States will continue under the leadership of the new Interim CEO for Open Doors US Lisa Pearce. The group will have a "renewed focus" on connecting churches in the U.S. with persecuted Christians worldwide. After the website for OpenDoorsUSA.Org was changed to GlobalChristianRelief.Org on Sunday along with a statement declaring that the organization will be known by a new name, Open Doors announced shortly after that the "new home" for its U.S. chapter will be OpenDoorsUS.org. Open Doors US will work closely with Open Doors International. Open Doors states that Pearce assumed the role "immediately following the departure of the previous CEO, David Curry." We remain steadfast in doing whatever it takes to support both the visible and the underground church in the countries where it is most dangerous to live as a Christian, said Pearce. Pearce has worked with Open Doors for over 16 years, served as the organization's chief development and advocacy officer and also served on the board of Open Doors UK and Ireland. Open Doors, which has over 25 international bases serving persecuted Christians in over 70 countries, plans to release the organization's annual World Watch List on Jan. 18. Original: The Christian humanitarian organization Open Doors USA has separated from Open Doors International and is renamed Global Christian Relief as it seeks to further its mission of creating the world's most extensive, covert network serving persecuted Christians. We're starting 2023 with a new name, Global Christian Relief (GCR), the Evangelical organization announced in a Jan. 1 tweet. And we're expanding our vision to meet the needs of millions of persecuted believers so they can be a light for the gospel in their communities & advance the Great Commission." On its website, the group said the move was necessary to address the exponentially growing persecution of Christians and create the world's most extensive, covert network serving persecuted Christians. We need a large vision to mobilize dedicated Christians to support our persecuted family in new and life-changing ways that will expand Gods Kingdom for the next 50 years, it said. Thats why, as of Jan. 1, our name is now Global Christian Relief. In a statement sent to The Christian Post, GCR CEO David Curry said that conversations began in June 2022 with the leadership of Open Doors International and Open Doors USA "about their future relationship" and how "each entity best fulfill its complementary missions and long-term strategies." "Both boards prayerfully agreed that their respective missions would be best achieved by moving forward without a formal affiliation," Curry stated. "Both organizations remain committed to serving the persecuted church and will continue to work independently to advocate and mobilize support and prayer for this vital cause." Looking ahead, GCR hopes to launch visionary projects alongside its partners in the field, provide greater access to the most dangerous countries for Christians and expand its networks to serve the Church where the need is greatest. Open Doors was founded in 1955 by Andrew van der Bijl, a Dutchman more widely known as Brother Andrew, when he decided to smuggle Bibles to persecuted Christians in Communist Poland. Van der Bijl died in September. Over the last six decades, the nonprofit has become one of the largest and most well-known Christian humanitarian organizations around the world. It operates in over 70 countries and provides Bibles, emergency relief, vocational training, advocacy and community rebuilding to persecuted Christians. Every year, Open Doors releases its World Watch List, a research-based ranking of the top 50 most dangerous countries to be Christian. In its 2021 report, the group said it distributed 1,047,835 Bibles and other Christian materials, assisted 3,393,491 people with biblical training and 685,887 people benefited from the socio-economic development help it offered. Our mission is to mobilize U.S. Christians to stand with them so they can be a light for the gospel in their communities. To help them live out the Great Commission, it said. In May, Curry was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), alongside former U.S. Congressman Frank R. Wolf and Uyghur attorney Nury Turkel. In a 2019 interview with The Christian Post, Curry said the organizations ultimate goal is not to stop global persecution, but to create a strong and healthy church and a united people. The only way to stop persecution in this fallen world is to stop talking about Jesus and we don't encourage people to stop talking about Jesus, he said. The ultimate goal is a strong and healthy church, united people, whether they worship in freedom or whether they're part of the persecuted church. That we care, that we pray, that we connect, that we learn and give and we're interdependent in a healthy way. So that's the goal, because we're not going to be able to stop persecution but we want people to stand strong in their faith and to know that they're not alone and the suffering Church must not be isolated church. And that's the goal." Saudi Crown Prince Told Evangelical Leaders Khashoggi Murder Was 'Terrible Mistake' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) told American evangelical leaders in their meeting last week that the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a "terrible mistake" and vowed to punish those responsible. As was previously reported, the crown prince met with several evangelical leaders from the United States in Riyadh last week for a two-hour conversation on the crown prince's vision for peace and harmony in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, which consistently faces international scrutiny for human rights and religious freedom violations. The evangelical leaders who are mostly conservative supporters of President Donald Trump took heat online from critics who condemned the group for meeting with MBS in light of the international outrage surrounding the death of Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who was said to have been killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in early October. The Turkish government has requested to know the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body. A Turkish official surmised last week that Khashoggi was strangled upon entering the consulate and that his body was mutilated and dissolved in acid. The Saudis have offered little explanation as to what happened to Khashoggi and those responsible for his killing. Evangelical leaders involved in the meeting with MBS last Thursday say that Khashoggi's death was one of the first topics mentioned. "The death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was the first of many sensitive issues we discussed in our two-hour meeting with MBS," evangelical communications executive Larry Ross, president of A. Larry Ross Communications, told The Christian Post in an email. "In response, the crown prince replied that he did not authorize that heinous act, but may have caused some of his people to love their Kingdom too much, and delegated authority in a way that made it possible for them to think they would be pleasing leadership by taking matters into their own hands." Ross explained that MBS did not indicate who the perpetrators were but explained that "a terrible mistake happened." "He stressed that after completing their investigation, they will prosecute whoever did this crime, promised the people responsible will be held accountable and taken to court, and that any problem they have in the system will be addressed," Ross concluded. The meeting of the evangelical leaders was organized by author Joel Rosenberg, a joint U.S.-Israeli citizen. Rosenberg told Axios that the 33-year-old crown prince was willing to talk about Khashoggi and was "not defensive about it." Rosenberg explained that MBS told the group that 18 people have already been arrested and five have been fired in the quest to get to the bottom of the Khashoggi murder. Rosenberg added that MBS criticized his "enemies" in Turkey, Russia and Iran who are "using everything they can to exploit this situation and make it worse." "He said, 'Listen, I am arresting people, firing people. Iran? When they kill people are they arresting people? No. You get promoted. What about the Russians? What about the Turks?'" Rosenberg recalled MBS rhetorically asking. Johnnie Moore, an evangelical communications executive who was also involved in the meeting, told CP that MBS' comments during the meeting were not an admission of guilt. "In fact, on the contrary, he made it clear to us that he did not authorize it and would not rest until they had found and punished those responsible to the fullest extent of the law," Moore, who also serves on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, stressed in an email. The meeting with MBS came as the crown prince has made vows to promote religious tolerance and has called for the Saudi culture to return to a more moderate Islam "that is open to all religions and to the world." The Sunni-majority nation ranks as the 12th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's 2018 World Watch List. Rosenberg added that MBS stated that the Khashoggi death is a "disaster." "It's a completely unacceptable mistake and it comes at a time that threatens all the reforms we are trying to get done," Rosenberg quoted MBS as saying during the meeting. The group of evangelicals who met with the crown prince also included former Republican congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, National Religious Broadcasters President Jerry Johnson, former Christian Broadcasting Network President Michael Little, New Mexico pastor Skip Heitzig, Jerusalem Prayer Team founder Mike Evans and former NRB CEO Wayne Pederson. The group's meeting with MBS came after the group met earlier in the week with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss how the Arab country is emphasizing tolerance and religious freedom. Similar Rosenberg-led groups of American evangelicals have previously met with leaders in Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. "Without question, this is a season of tremendous change in the Middle East, and therefore we have been grateful for the opportunity to meet in-person with key Arab leaders to understand their goals and to ask direct questions," the group said in a statement following the Saudi visit. "We look forward to building upon these relationships and continuing the dialogue." US removal of Houthi terror designation may heighten Yemeni Christian persecution: Open Doors The U.S. government's decision to remove the terror designation from the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis could lead to heightened Christian persecution, according to the head of a prominent international Christian human rights organization. After the Biden administration removed the Houthi organization, known as Ansar Allah, from the list of foreign terrorist organizations early last month, two Saudi-influenced newspapers reported Yemens Houthi militia is threatening Christians with extended detainment. David Curry, the president of the Christian persecution watchdog organization Open Doors USA, told The Christian Post in a recent interview that removing the terror designation applied by the Trump administration in 2018 is a mistake that will only embolden Houthi militia. What we are seeing now is what would amount to an escalation, Curry, whose organization monitors persecution in over 60 countries, explained. It sets a legitimacy to the Houthis that they have the right to do this. We gravely disagree with that. The State Department released a statement on Feb. 7 condemning the Houthis and called them to immediately cease attacks impacting civilian areas and halt any new military offenses inside Yemen. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a missile attack over its capital city and bomb-laden drones that it blamed on Houthi rebels. On Sunday, the State Department condemned the reported attacks on population centers in Saudi Arabia and called on Houthis to end these egregious attacks and engage constructively with United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and U.S. Special Envoy Tim Lenderking to bring peace to the Yemeni people. In making its move to remove the terror designation from Houthis, a State Department official argued in a remark to the Associated Press that the prior administration made a last-minute designation that international bodies and human rights groups argue would accelerate the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. I would say that removing the terrorist designation from the Houthis is a mistake, Curry told CP. It is going to embolden them. It is meant to be a signal to Iran that we [have] shifted our allegiance from the previous administration to balance over to Saudi Arabia down to favoring Iran and their Islamic regime. Curry, who has met with and advised policymakers from both sides of the political aisle in Congress, the White House and the State Department over the years on various international issues, said he believes there will be consequences in the region because of this move. You have the crumbling infrastructure of a five-year Civil War. You have religious extremists. You have the danger of this Houthi political agenda against Christians, Curry warned. They are detaining [Christians]. Theyre torturing pastors and leaders in the country, so its a complicating factor. Mushir Khalidi, a 50-year-old priest in Yemen, has been detained by the Houthis intelligence service for four years, according to Saudi-based English newspaper Arab News. Prisoners released from the Houthi detention centers have revealed Houthis are targeting Yemenis suspected of being Christian. Many Yemeni Christians have already fled the country, and the militia has also oppressed Jews and Bahais for many years, the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reports. They are using discrimination against Christians to try to gain control, to enforce terror in some of these communities, Curry said. The Church and Christian minorities [are] being caught in the crosshairs of this. You have several thousand Christians there. But you have so many factors of oppression, discrimination, and violence against them that just makes it very, very difficult. Curry believes the removal of the terrorist designation from the Houthis was an attempt for the U.S. to have more peaceful relations with Iran. The Biden administration, I believe, is coupling this with other agreements with Iran, Curry explained. They want to be on friendlier terms and strengthen Irans influence in the region, and this would certainly do that. I dont think thats going to be helpful, but I think thats the strategy. Open Doors USA ranks Yemen as the seventh-worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution on its annual World Watch List. In addition to persecution from authorities, the organization reports that Islamic militant groups threaten Christians from a Muslim background with death, and tribes may kill or banish anybody converting to Christianity. International Christian Concerns Regional Manager for the Middle East Claire Evans told CP she believes removing the Houthis terrorist designation may be two-fold. Evans explained the first reason could be to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Yemen. Since the Houthi militia is largely located along the coastline, it is hard for aid to arrive if Houthis are designated as a terrorist group. Another reason for the U.S. to make this decision could involve the Iran Deal. It is emboldening to Iran, Evans said. It is emboldening to the Houthis to have this terrorist designation removed. To have terrorists emboldened, things tend to get more violent more aggressive, so we do have to be more concerned about that. Yemen is in the middle of a civil war, a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The United Nations considers Yemen the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and estimates that almost 250,000 people have died from fighting and war-related problems like hunger. Only several thousand Christians live in Yemen, though the number is uncertain due to the secretive nature of the religion because of the persecution threat. Most of Yemens Christians are Muslim background believers, and the church operates primarily underground. Hundreds pack Indianapolis library for Kirk Cameron story hour after book reading dispute Hundreds packed the Indianapolis Public Library on Thursday to hear Christian actor Kirk Cameron read his new children's book As You Grow after a debacle surrounding the actor's allegations that his request to host the event was initially denied. The story hour booked by Cameron and his publisher, Brave Books, garnered large masses of people, forming an overflow crowd. A video posted on Twitter shows overflow attendees packed in the aisles of the library as there was no remaining space in the booked room. Brave Books claimed online that over 2,500 people showed up and that it was the most attended event in the library's history. However, the library said its door count was around 750 and has held larger events. According to a local father of four Ryan Wilson, Cameron was escorted by police to each floor to thank supporters and wish everyone a happy new year. Wow! What an incredible turnout! Thank you to everyone who gave up their morning to join us in Indianapolis! We are so humbled & thankful for your support!@KirkCameronpic.twitter.com/5iiVwgmIHb BRAVE Story Hour (@BraveBooksUS) December 29, 2022 Cameron, best known for his work on the television sitcom "Growing Pains," made initial allegations stating that the Indianapolis Public Library rejected his publisher's request to hold a story hour. The library was among dozens of others that Cameron and Brave Books claim either rejected their requests or hadn't responded. In a public letter, Cameron questioned if he was prevented from reading his Christian children's book because his race and the book's Christian content didn't fit the library staff's view of diversity. The Indianapolis Public Library, which has 24 locations, told WishTV News 8 that it never told Cameron and Brave Books it couldn't rent space for an event at the library, but the library would not officially partner with them to promote a story hour for his book. Brave Books Founder and CEO Trent Talbot accused the library of lying, telling The Christian Post that they requested to schedule a "story hour" and that if they wanted the library to sponsor the story hour, they would have specifically asked it to do so. Last week, Cameron announced plans to hold story time events at two libraries including the Indianapolis library that previously rejected his request. "Thank you for coming and making this such a special event today," Cameron said in a video. "Find Brave Books. I'm sure there's so many of them here at this library. Read them to your kids. God bless you and Happy New Year." Brave Books posted photos showing supporters lined up on the library steps starting at 10 a.m. for the 10:30 a.m. reading. "Huge opening day success for this movement!" Brave Books wrote in a tweet. Attendees allowed inside for the reading squeezed together and lined up against the library bookshelves in overflow to hear Cameron share his book. Cameron describes his book on the Brave Books publishing website as a "pro-God, pro-America lesson that is so important for children." The book aims to use "brilliant art [to teach] the Biblical truths of the Fruit of the Spirit," such as love, joy, peace, kindness and faithfulness. Cameron and Brave Books alleged that over 50 public libraries have denied them the opportunity to host story hour events. For many of those libraries, Drag Queen Story Hour events are typically included in their programs for children. On Friday, Cameron told Fox News that some in Indianapolis have told him they couldn't even get into the building because it was at capacity. "Yesterday in Indianapolis, a brushfire of faith, family and freedom was ignited. It has now spread to Scarsdale, New York, and its moving across the country uncontained," Cameron said. "I am so thrilled." Cameron held a story hour reading at the Scarsdale Public Library in New York on Friday. Another is scheduled for Jan. 20 at the Central Kansas Christian Academy in Great Bend. Nearly 700 ISIS terrorists killed in 2022; US warns about 'next generation' of jihadi fighters U.S. forces and their allies killed at least 686 Islamic State suspects in Iraq and Syria in 2022 "to degrade the terror group's ability to direct and inspire destabilizing attacks in the region and globally," according to the U.S. Central Command. As the IS operatives were killed in the two countries where they once held large swathes of territories, "no U.S. forces were injured or killed" in the 313 operations the American troops and partner forces conducted this year, CENTCOM said in a statement. The forces killed at least 466 IS operatives in Syria and at least 220 in Iraq, in addition to 215 and 159 detentions, respectively. CENTCOM stated that in Syria, U.S. forces carried out only 14 operations unilaterally, and none in Iraq, where the U.S. only advises, assists and enables Iraqi Security Forces. In Syria, 108 operations were done in partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces. "These operations degraded ISIS and removed a cadre of senior leaders from the battlefield, to include the emir of ISIS and dozens of regional leaders as well as hundreds of fighters," the statement said. "The emerging, reliable and steady ability of our Iraqi and Syrian partner forces to conduct unilateral operations to capture and kill ISIS leaders allows us to maintain steady pressure on the ISIS network," said Major General Matt McFarlane, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. In October, U.S. forces killed three senior IS leaders Abu Ala, the No. 2 Islamic State leader in Syria, and Abu Mu'ad al Qahtani, another IS leader in two separate military operations in Syria, CBS News reported at the time. In July, Maher al-Agal, the head of IS in Syria, was killed, about five months after the death of IS' top leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, in an overnight raid by U.S. special forces in northwestern Syria, according to NBC News. "While we have significantly degraded (ISIS's) capability, the vile ideology remains uncontained and unconstrained," CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla said. "There are, today, more than 10,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities throughout Syria and more than 20,000 ISIS leaders and fighters in detention facilities in Iraq." Kurilla warned about the "potential next generation of ISIS." "These are the more than 25,000 children in the al-Hol camp (in northern Syria) who are in danger. These children in the camp are prime targets for ISIS radicalization," Kurilla said. "The international community must work together to remove these children from this environment by repatriating them to their countries or communities of origin while improving conditions in the camp." Advocates have long raised human rights concerns within the al-Hol camp, where over 50,000 people, mostly family members of Islamic State fighters, are living. Kurilla visited the camp last month after the bodies of two girls were found beheaded in the camp. "This visit, my third to al Hol since taking command on April 1st, reaffirmed for me the gravity of the situation at the camp," Kurilla said in a statement. "The more than 25,000 children at the camp are in danger the recent beheading of two Egyptian girls, ages 12 and 13, inside the camp is a horrific reminder of that. The children in the camp are prime targets for ISIS radicalization." At a G20 event centered on religion's role in helping solve global problems held in Indonesia last month, the Most Rev. Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil, shared that "sectarian violence" is a significant problem in Iraq, where, during the last decade, thousands of Iraqi religious minorities were killed, enslaved or forced to flee their homelands. Although Christians in Iraq once numbered around 1.5 million, that number has fallen to below 200,000 today as the Christian population has deteriorated since the United States military intervention began in 2003. "Without an end to this sectarian violence, there is no future for religious pluralism in Iraq, or anywhere else in the Mideast for that matter," Warda stated, noting that after around 1,900 years of existing in the region, "we Christians of Iraq now find ourselves on the very edge of extinction." In Syria, the Christian population declined from 10% to less than 2%, falling from 1.5 million just before the war began to around 300,000 today, Aid to the Church in Need reported last month. For returning military veterans, the transition back to civilian life can be challenging. In addition to coping with physical injuries, military veterans are often dealing with mental health issues, including symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. That transition can be really tough, said Justin Walters, a U.S. Navy veteran who recently moved from Glastonbury to Colorado. The biggest thing you lose is camaraderie and that sense of teamwork. You dont really get that in the civilian world. Walters first heard of the local veteran nonprofit organization Open Doors Outdoors while taking part in a pull-up challenge organized by the owner of Mission Fitness, Matthew Mund, to raise money for the group. The Glastonbury-based nonprofit serves veterans, their families and young people by taking them into the outdoors for a shared sense of connection, healthy activity and healing, according to their website. When I first heard about the organization, I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it, Walters said. Once I met the team, we immediately clicked. From there, I started hiking with them and I really got back that sense of camaraderie I had lost. Open Doors Outdoors founder and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Davey Edwards with his son Luke on a hiking trip. (Photo courtesy of Open Doors Outdoors) Open Doors Outdoors was founded by Glastonbury resident Davey Edwards, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and mortgage banker. Edwards, an ultra-runner who ran across Connecticut in 2019 and 2022 (both times in 41 hours), started the organization on a journey of personal healing. I was in a bad place, Edwards said. About seven years ago, I was going through a divorce and landed on a rough patch financially. I had a 5-year-old son then and we would go hiking together. I realized it was the form of connection and therapy I needed at that point in my life. After taking several hikes across the state, Edwards got the idea for the organization after realizing some of his fellow veterans were also going through similar challenges. It really just made sense, Edwards said, so I started to organize hikes all across New England and eventually more veterans joined just through word of mouth. Weve done a lot of hiking since. In 2021, Open Doors Outdoors completed 36 outings and had 122,124 feet of elevation gain, which is equivalent to hiking from the base camp on Mount Everest to its summit almost 10 times, according to their website. I found a community in this organization, said Martin Sheridan, a U.S. Army veteran who joined the organization earlier this year. When you are hiking, theres a lot of similarities to the military. On the hike, youve got veterans from all branches of service working together. You get that shared sense of purpose by coming together and accomplishing a tough hike or overcoming a physical challenge. Thats what makes it so rewarding. Edwards said that a lot of the new veterans who join the organization and arent that accustomed to hiking will sometimes not realize how challenging some of the elevation and terrain can be. Edwards ensures that each hike is tailored to how experienced each veteran is, holding several hikes throughout the year with varying degrees of difficulty. Youll see a lot of times some newer members struggle with some of the hikes, Edwards said, but we encourage everybody and work together as a team. The focus is to cheer each other on. Our veteran hikes are designed to take small groups of veterans out on the trail together. The veteran hiking program is designed to have hikes which increase in difficulty as the individual becomes comfortable on the trail and sometimes includes hikes out of state. U.S. Navy veteran Justin Walters stands with his two sons, Gavin, 10, and AJ, 11, after a UTV outing in South Glastonbury. (Photo courtesy of Open Doors Outdoors) In addition to hiking, the group just received a $25,000 grant from the Sestero family of Glastonbury and The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to purchase a 2021 Polaris General XP 4 1000 Utility Terrain Vehicle. This UTV will be used to take veterans, families and children into the outdoors around a dedicated tract of farmland in South Glastonbury. The group, which started the UTV program in 2021, has already seen it explode in popularity. Walters, who has two children on the autism spectrum, said seeing them ride on the UTV was a very positive experience. They loved it, Walter said. They could just go be themselves, relax and let their guard down a bit. Theres no rush or line or anything to overwhelm them. Its a shared experience where parents dont have to worry about watching their kids and can sit back and enjoy it as well. Any resident of Glastonbury with children can apply to ride on the UTV through an application on the organizations website. Our UTV program has truly blossomed, said Edwards. Their response was simply amazing. It was clear this could help many more children. This Sestero grant will not only benefit more kids on the autism spectrum but also families who can participate in these activities together. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com Pastor attacked with acid in Uganda after preaching sermon A pastor has lost nearly all his vision after Muslim extremists lured him into an ambush in Ugandas capital city and sprayed him with acid, sources said. Pastor Frank Mutabaazi of Mbarara can see only dimly out of one eye and has trouble eating and talking due to the burns from the acid attack on Dec. 22 in Kampala. His shoulder was also seriously burned, and he cannot sleep without painkillers. After the pastor preached at an evening service of a church in the Kasubi area of Kampala, a Muslim extremist pretending to be a congregation member greeted him, praised him for his wonderful sermon and asked for a ride to the Busega area in western Kampala, he said. About to return to his home in Mbarara nearly five hours away, the pastor agreed to give him a lift and set out on the Kampala-Northern Bypass Highway. On my way to the main road, the gentleman started making several phone calls, Pastor Mutabaazi told Morning Star News with difficulty due to burns on his mouth. Approaching a roundabout, the man said he wanted to get out, Pastor Mutabaazi said. The pastor told him they were still far from his destination, but the man replied that he wanted to visit a friend first. As he came out of the vehicle, three men dressed in Islamic attire appeared and pulled out a bottle and started spraying on me through the window while shouting and mentioning that I am an enemy of their religion as well as a deceiver who is not worthy to live, Pastor Mutabaazi said. From that time on, I did not know what happened, only to find myself at a nearby clinic in Namunghona after five hours. He had received several threats on his phone demanding that he stop evangelistic events in Masaka and Kambala in central Uganda, Mbale and Pallisa in the east and the West Nile sub-region in the northwest part of the country, he said. One text message read, We have been monitoring your evil activities of changing our members to Christianity. Let this be known to you that your life is at risk. The pastor said he had been taking many precautions but never expected a Muslim would attend a church service masquerading as a Christian. Still struggling to recover, Pastor Mutabaazi was unable to contemplate filing a police report. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the prominent German-born Roman Catholic Church leader who served as pope from 2005 until 2013, has died at age 95. The Holy See Press Office announced that the former pontiff died at his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Saturday morning, reported Vatican News. Pope Francis will preside over Benedict XVI's funeral on Jan. 5 at. St. Peter's Square, and that the late Catholic church official will lie in state at the basilica starting on Monday. The son of a Bavarian police officer, Benedict was born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the village of Marktl am Inn, Germany. Although his family opposed Nazism, Ratzinger was compelled to join the Hitler Youth as a teenager and was later conscripted into an auxiliary anti-aircraft unit of the German Army. Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, defended Ratzinger's past in an interview with ABC News published in 2013. "The fact that he was in the Hitler youth if you were a young child during the Third Reich and you didn't go, you'd be condemned," said Hier. "He didn't volunteer. That's not a blemish. We've done a bunch of research, and that should be very clear." On June 29, 1951, Ratzinger was ordained a Catholic priest alongside his brother Georg at the Corbinian and Saint Mary Cathedral in Freising, Bavaria. In the 1950s, Ratzinger became a professor specializing in fundamental theology and dogma, teaching at multiple Catholic academic institutions. "He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy and theology of Freising; then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969; in Munster from 1963 to 1966; and in Tubingen from 1966 to 1969," noted the Vatican's official biography of Ratzinger. "Beginning in 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg, where he eventually became Dean and Vice-Rector." On March 24, 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Ratzinger the Archbishop of Munchen and Freising. Later that year, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal. In 1981, Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Ratzinger as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a prominent entity responsible for defending the Church from heresy. For the next several years, Ratzinger was a prominent figure in the upper Catholic Church hierarchy, overseeing work on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and becoming dean of the College of Cardinals. Ratzinger was generally conservative on theological issues, arguing that the Church's stance against abortion and euthanasia was of greater importance than other positions. "While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment," wrote Ratzinger in a memorandum in 2004. "There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not, however, with regard to abortion and euthanasia." On April 19, 2005, 17 days after the death of Pope John Paul II, Ratzinger was elected the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Benedict XVI. While serving as pope, Benedict XVI restored the traditional Latin Mass, created an ordinariate system for Anglican churches to join the Catholic Church, and made a historic visit to a Roman synagogue. His reign also included ongoing issues regarding the priest sexual abuse scandal, with Benedict enacting measures to combat the problem and denying that he had helped hide the abuse. This included overseeing the defrocking of about 400 priests who had committed child abuse over the span of two years, according to documents released by the Associated Press in 2014. Benedict XVI also sparked widespread outrage in the Muslim world over a 2006 speech at the University of Regensburg in Germany when he quoted an anti-Islamic Medieval text. The pontiff later apologized for quoting the passage, explaining in a statement that the words of the historic text "do not in any way express my personal thought." In 2013, the 85-year-old Benedict XVI announced his resignation, becoming the first pope in about 600 years to do so. The last had been Pope Gregory XII, who did so to help end the Great Schism when multiple men claimed the position. "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," explained Benedict in a statement at the time. Benedict took the title of "Pope Emeritus" and remained at Vatican City, being succeeded by Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name Francis upon becoming pope. Despite some ideological differences, Francis has spoken well of his predecessor, explaining in December 2022 that he "has a good sense of humor" and a "clear gaze." In June 2020, Benedict left the Vatican to visit his ailing older brother Georg in Germany, who died on July 1 of that year at 96. He became ill over the course of the trip. By August of that year, the Vatican released a statement assuring the public that while frail in his old age and suffering from shingles, the former pontiff was not seriously ill at that point. Although the Catholic Church expressed some ethical concerns over the origins of the COVID-19 vaccine, both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis received vaccinations. On Wednesday, the Vatican announced that Benedict XVI was seriously ill, with Pope Francis asking for prayers for the retired pontiff. "I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who is sustaining the church in silence," stated Francis, as reported by the Associated Press. "Remember him he is very ill asking the Lord to console him and to sustain him in this testimony to love for the church, until the end." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Connecticut by almost every measure is a great place to live. We get high marks for quality of life, investing in education, earning potential and public safety. We have a diverse geography with vibrant cities and towns, quaint villages and fertile rural communities. We are a state rich in capital: human, financial and social. It is no wonder then that people want to live here. But, as we all know, maintaining good schools, a clean environment, quality health care, and a strong safety net comes at a financial cost. It is not surprising then that one of the concerns I hear frequently is the high cost of living in Connecticut. While it is not directly what residents think of when we think about cost of living, as policymakers we would do well to acknowledge and address the cost of housing, which is the primary driver of cost of living for people from across the income spectrum. Connecticut, like many states around the country, makes it difficult to produce a diversity of housing that meets the needs and preferences of an increasingly diverse population. For too long housing production has been constrained by policy and by politics. However, restrictions on the development of multi-family housing and affordable single-family homes perpetuate economic and racial isolation. It is this isolation that is at the core of the societal inequities that limit human potential and the greater social divides we see in our body politic. Connecticut limits housing choice for young professionals, first-time home buyers, the elderly, those with mobility limits, and families of all kinds, especially working poor families. And increasingly for middle-class families who are housing-cost burdened via rent or a mortgage. During the next legislative session, its time we address our housing policies to focus on affordability and expanding access to equality of opportunity. Over the years we have regularly seen proposals regarding multi-family housing, zoning, land-use decisions and transit-oriented development weaponized for political gain. Ultimately to the detriment of us all. This past election cycle, and many more before, there were candidates across the state who recycled the rhetoric of decreased property values, loss of local control or construction of housing towers in residential neighborhoods. Voters for the most part rejected these arguments, and they rejected candidates who were obstacles to progress and compromise. Connecticuts residents understand the consequences of a housing crisis. They see high property tax bills, they see rising rents, they see housing insecurity and homelessness increasing. They see racial isolation and want their children to have the benefit of an integrated education and growing up in a diverse community. This trend is not unique to Connecticut. A recent report by Moodys Analytics found that nationally, local ballot measures in the 2022 midterm elections promoting affordable housing had widespread bipartisan support with several proposals receiving as much as 70% of the vote. To tackle Connecticuts housing crisis its going to take work from all of us, together. There is no one size fits all solution or a state takeover of local decision making. Local leaders and community advocates must have a seat at the table but must also be honest and open-minded in working to find the most effective solutions. *If youre a believer in free markets, you should be interested in updating our zoning processes to provide for greater flexibility in the marketplace; If you believe in addressing social problems systemically, a healthy housing ecosystem is a core solution to addressing inequities in wealth accumulation, educational attainment, health outcomes and our justice system; If you care about the environment, growth in areas with existing infrastructure will help preserve greenways, waterways and open space; If you care about educational outcomes for children and supporting teachers, we must act to reduce the concentration of poverty in under-resourced communities; If you care about healing our fractured society, lets build a Connecticut with diverse communities that bring people together to live as neighbors who can experience each others humanity. Its time to advance a vision for housing policy that focuses on expanding choice, on encouraging equitable economic growth and making Connecticut a place of increased opportunity for all. Its time we put politics aside to work together toward real solutions. Housing must be at forefront of our collective agenda. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Manchester) is House majority leader. Travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, and Macao must present negative COVID-19 test result: Canadian government Vimal Sivakumar Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A This move comes in response to a recent surge of COVID-19 in the country. Starting January 5, 2023, a new temporary measure will require all inbound air travellers above the age of one to present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding their flight to Canada from the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, or Macao. As part of this measure, to be in place for an initial period of 30 days, Canada requires that the result presented by the traveller be from a test taken no more than two days before the travellers date of departure. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration According to the Canadian government, the test could be either a negative molecular (such as a PCR test), or a negative antigen test that has documentation to show that it has been monitored by a telehealth service or an accredited laboratory or testing provider. In place of a negative test result, the Government of Canada will also allow travellers who tested positive more than 10 days before their departure (but no more than 90 days) to provide documentation of their prior positive. Note: Travellers who are unable to provide a negative test result or documentation of a prior positive result will be denied boarding. In addition, the new measures will apply to all incoming air travellers from the region, regardless of nationality and vaccination status. Added measures for increased protection from COVID-19 Further to the above-described temporary changes for travellers from the Peoples Republic of China, when arriving at Primary Inspection Kiosks and eGates, or when making a customs declaration using the optional Advance [Canada Border Services Agency] CBSA Declaration prior to arriving at airports in Canada, travellers will be asked if they have travelled to the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao in the last 10 days, says the Canadian government. If they answer yes, CBSA officers will provide those travellers with additional public health information on the transmission of COVID-19, personal protective measures and what to do if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. Note: This applies to air travellers only, not to those arriving by land. Building on this, the Public Health Agency of Canada is also introducing a wastewater testing project with aircrafts at Vancouver International Airport, and expanding the existing project with Toronto Pearson International Airport, to assess the COVID-19 prevalence from various regions of the world. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Ayyappa Devotees take out a protest rally against the Bairi Naresh. (DC) HYDERABAD: Vikarabad police, who arrested Bairi Naresh for his derogatory remarks against Lord Ayyappa Swamy, said that the accused had confessed to making the offensive remarks. A video of his utterances had gone viral. Meanwhile, senior police officials are considering detaining Naresh under the PD Act, given that he has several cases against him earlier. In their remand report, the Kodangal police stated that Naresh had deliberately hurt the sentiments of devotees. The police said one Hanumanthu had organised a meeting to mark the unveiling of a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at Kodangal, in which Naresh made those remarks. "The video of his speech went viral on social media and created uproar when Ayyappa devotees staged protests," the remand report said. Police stated that several cases were registered against him in Hanamkonda and Nawabpet for similar offences. Meanwhile, the Ayyappa joint action committee, Telangana, leaders N. Bucchi Reddy, Radha Krishna and Bala Krishna met endowments minister A. Indrakaran Reddy urging him to look into the issue. The minister assured to take serious action against the accused. (CNN) Actor Jeremy Renner is in "critical but stable condition" at a Reno-area hospital after being injured in a weather-related snow plowing incident, CNN affiliate KABC reported, citing a spokesperson for Renner. Officers responded to a "traumatic injury" in the area of Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada, according to a news release from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. Upon arrival, deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Renner via care flight to a local area hospital, the release stated. The sheriff's office did not provide details on the extent of Renner's injuries or what may have caused the accident. Renner, who stars in the Paramount+ series "Mayor of Kingstown" and has been featured in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films, was the only person involved in the incident, the release stated. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office Major Accident Investigation Team is looking into the circumstances. CNN has reached out to Renner's publicist for comment. This story was first published on CNN. "Actor Jeremy Renner injured in a snow plowing accident" Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) Beginning the new year does not only mean a new you physically, but also mentally. An expert shared how you can welcome 2023 with a fresh mindset. 2023 will be about growth and choices, mental health advocate Dr. Gia Sison told CNN Philippines The Source on Monday. Sison said the COVID-19 pandemic taught her to have a mindset that is flexible and seeks growth. With the virus still lingering, anything can happen so people will have to adjust and manage expectations, she said. In terms of growth, people should leave behind last years baggage and move forward, she added. This means learning lessons from what happened in the past making progress, Sison said. She said plans may not happen immediately or as planned, but does not mean its a failed plan. If something is for you, then what you wish for will happen, she noted. Sison said it is good to set boundaries to focus on what holds dear and keep toxicity away. This could mean identifying triggers to anger, stepping back from them as much as you can, even if its a person, she added. Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, January 2) A New Year's Day celebration in Tacloban City turned tragic after a wing van truck plowed into a residential area where a party was happening, killing two and injuring seven others. Police investigation found that at around 5:05 p.m. on Jan. 1, a wing van truck was traveling on a curved portion of the Tacloban Bypass Road in Barangay 110 Utap, Tacloban City when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The truck crashed into two homes where nine people were celebrating the new year. Two of the victimsLaica Encomio and Rhemy Cuizon, both 23 years oldended up stuck under the vehicle. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Tacloban rescue units extricated them from the truck, but the two died after they were rushed to the hospital. The driver is now under the custody of the Tacloban City Police Office. He will be charged with multiple counts of homicide, physical injury, and damage to property, police said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said over 13 billion will be needed to upgrade the system that caused technical issues at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on New Years Day. Kung (About the) budget, it should be more than 13 billion now considering we had this five years ago, DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista said in a briefing Sunday evening. We will need a huge money for this. I was informed that the existing system will cost us around 13 billion in 2018. Flights are still getting canceled and thousands of passengers remain stranded in the NAIA after technical issues with power supply affected communication, radio, radar, and internet in the airport on New Years Day. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Manuel Tamayo said the glitch occurred after one of the uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) failed to operate, so troubleshooting had to be done. In a statement on Monday, the CAAP admitted that the countrys Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) System is already behind when it was first used in 2019. The 10.8-billion project financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was completed in October 2017. It was only inaugurated Jan. 16, 2018 and commenced comprehensive operations July 26, 2019, the CAAP noted. It said recommendations were already made to President Ferdinand Marcos. Jr. to improve the countrys air traffic management system. Bautista said he already mentioned the matter to the chief executive. Meron siyang (Marcos) instruction na pag-aralan mabuti, kaagad na gumawa ng proposal na magkaroon ng backup system, the DOTr chief said. Pag-aaralan natin ito, we will do a feasibility study and present this to NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). [Translation: He has an instruction to carefully study, immediately craft a proposal to have a backup system. We will look into this; we will do a feasibility study and present this to NEDA.] With what recently happened, Bautista said this will speed up the process given the urgent need for a backup system to ensure the incident will not happen again Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) Motorists will see the first oil price hike of 2023 take effect tomorrow, an oil company said. According to advisories from Petron, Seaoil, Petro Gazz, PTT Philippines, Flying V, Cleanfuel, Caltex, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, and Unioil, gasoline prices will go up by 2.90, diesel by 2.10, effective 6:00 a.m. on Jan. 3. Petron, Flying V, Seaoil, and Caltex also said that kerosene would increase by 3.05. It was earlier forecasted that a fuel price hike would welcome 2023. READ: Oil prices seen to jump in first week of 2023 The Department of Energy noted that the net year-to-date price increase in 2022 was at 14.90/liter for gasoline, 27.30/liter for diesel, and 21.30/liter for kerosene. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) While aviation authorities fixed the system glitch at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's (NAIA) on Sunday afternoon, travelers should expect more delays as airlines mount recovery flights. "Within the next 72 hours starting today, January 2, our passengers should expect flight delays because this is a consequence of the recovery operations that we are undertaking today," Philippine Airlines spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told CNN Philippines' Balitaan on Monday. "I hope they understand we are carrying out our recovery flight operations," she said, adding many of the company's aircraft were stranded as a result of the system issue. Villaluna said the carrier sees operations normalizing after that period. She said a total of 244 PAL flights were affected by the airport power outage and technical glitch on Sunday, New Year's Day, leaving about 24,000 passengers stranded. "A certain percentage of the passengers have rebooked their flights to the next available flights," she said. Affected passengers also have the chance to rebook flights within 60 days from their original planned date with no additional fees. Travelers may also opt to refund or convert their tickets to a travel voucher. Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, said the Senate would probe the NAIA glitch. Flights resumed on Sunday afternoon. READ: NAIA operations struggle even as air traffic center resumes after New Years Day glitch Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) Dozens of schools in Mindanao sustained damage of over 363 million as a result of the rains and floods caused by the shear line and a low pressure area (LPA), the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday. In its education cluster report as of Dec. 30, 2022, DepEd said 25 schools in Northern Mindanao, 10 in Caraga, and one in Zamboanga Peninsula suffered infrastructure damage. The repair and construction of these learning institutions would cost an estimated 363.5 million, according to the agency. Meanwhile, DepEd said it cannot yet provide accurate data regarding the number of schools being used as evacuation centers. The figures are continuously changing due to decampment on one hand, while in other places may nadadagdagan [there were increases], it said in a statement. In Caraga, 86 schools are serving as evacuation centers as of Jan. 2. The death toll from the heavy rains and flooding that hit parts of Visayas and Mindanao during the Christmas weekend last week has reached 51. READ: Christmas flooding death toll reaches 51, 19 still missing Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) Hundreds of canceled and delayed flights, and thousands of affected passengers. This is the situation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as of Monday even after its Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) resumed normal operations Sunday afternoon following technical issues with power supply that affected communication, radio, radar, and internet on New Years Day. Several Cebu Pacific flights were canceled, while some flight schedules for Monday may change at any given time. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the ATMC returned to normal operations at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday while equipment restoration is still ongoing. More than 65,000 passengers were affected by the glitch, he said. CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo said during a briefing Sunday evening that the issue occurred after one of the uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) failed to operate, so troubleshooting had to be done. He admitted that the system is already outdated since this was first used in 2010, but only went online in 2018. Tamayo noted that the Transportation chief already recommended the installation of a backup system even before the recent incident occurred. Huge money will be needed to do this, more than the 13 billion borrowed from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to finance the existing system, Bautista said. Although its a system introduced in 2010, na-implement natin ito in 2018 so parang midlife na itong system na ito na kailangan siguro nating i-improve or modernize, he said. We can still use it but we need to upgrade this to a better system. [Translation: Although its a system introduced in 2010, it was only implemented in 2018, so it's like the system already reached its midlife so it needs to be improved or modernized.] Flight operations are expected to normalize within three days, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Cesar Chiong said. We're expecting 72 hours po siguro (maybe) for them to fully recover the flights. Most of the flights arriving are going to be very full, pati ang paalis (even those departuring), he said. Chiong also said NAIAs runway, which usually closes from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., will be operating 24/7 in the coming days. Authorities are also asking airlines to deploy planes with bigger capacities to accommodate more passengers. Bautista said authorities continue to coordinate with the airlines, other airports, and operators to address the situation. Agencies are also extending all possible assistance to affected passengers, he added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) The country's major telco players have registered more than 11 million subscriber identity module (SIM) as of Monday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said. In an update on Monday, NTC said the three telecommunication companies reported the following: DITO Telecommunity registered 1,017,012 SIMs as of Jan. 1 Globe Telecom, 5,030,649 SIMs as of 9 a.m. of Jan. 2 Smart Communications, 5,172,061 SIMs as of 10 a.m. of Jan. 2 SIM registration as required by law began on Dec. 27. Existing SIM users have six months to register. Failing to register would result in the deactivation of their SIM. Once deactivated, users have only five days to register and reactivate. New SIM sold will remain deactivated until end-users complete the registration. READ: All mobile SIMs must be registered beginning December 27 IT, Industries and Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and other directors of various wings during a meeting. (Twitter/@MinisterKTR) Hyderabad: The Telangana government has attracted a staggering Rs 3.30 lakh crore ($40 billion) in the last eight years in investments in the IT and ITeS sectors through ground-breaking initiatives such as TSiPASS, a single window clearance for setting up industries, said IT and industries minister K.T. Rama Rao. As a consequence of these investments, Rama Rao, in a statement, claimed that the state government had generated over 22.5 lakh jobs in the private sector, and that the total investment and employment figures would be significantly higher if real estate, hospitality, mining, logistics, and other industries were included. During a meeting on Monday, Rama Rao directed officials from the IT, industries, and commerce departments to prepare a report on all sectors' investments, while stating that the Telangana government's revolutionary policies, industrial parks, transparent governance, and TS-iPASS, all of which align with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's vision, aided in attracting investments. According to him, the state government identified 14 priority sectors and appointed directors to each of them. Further, he stated that through constant engagement with companies eager to invest, details on the state government's trailblazing policies and world-class infrastructure accessible here were presented, which helped in attracting investments. He commended the officials of the two departments and urged them to work with the same spirit to attract investments into the state. At the meeting, various activities that would be undertaken by the two departments, as well as projects that are scheduled to be inaugurated were discussed. Rama Rao expressed delight at the enormous number of jobs created as a result of the investments, claiming that Hyderabad had outsmarted other cities that had previously took the lead position in creating employment opportunities. Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, principal secretary of IT and Industries, Jayesh Ranjan, special chief secretary of MA&UD Arvind Kumar, TSIIC VC and MD E.V. Narsimha Reddy and directors of various wings under the IT and Industries departments were present at the meeting. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) The Senate will launch an investigation into the technical glitch at the country's main air hub Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which affected tens of thousands of passengers on New Year's Day. Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, said the Senate will conduct an inquiry once aviation authorities settle the crisis. "Give them time to restore normal flight operations. After which, we will conduct an inquiry and direct them to submit a full report of what caused the supposed glitch and power outage," she said in a statement Monday. Poe noted that since Meralco already claimed that it did not encounter any power supply issue, the problem now points to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and its navigation equipment. "There needs to be transparency and accountability from CAAP," the senator said. "We will, therefore, conduct a hearing as part of the Senate's oversight function, to determine who is liable, and what we need to do to avoid the malfunction from happening again," Poe added. CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo said during a briefing Sunday evening that the issue occurred after one of the uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) failed to operate, so troubleshooting had to be done. He admitted that the system is already outdated since it was first used in 2010, but only went online in 2018. Transportation Chief Jaime Bautista, meanwhile, said the technical glitch at NAIA delayed hundreds of domestic and international flights, affecting over 65,000 passengers. Flights resumed on Sunday afternoon. READ: NAIA air traffic center resumes ops after New Years Day glitch Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the nightmare experienced by air travelers was a "black eye" for the entire Philippines, especially its tourism industry. Sen. JV Ejercito also said CAAP has "a lot of explaining to do." "What is baffling is that the Air Traffic Management System should have a backup. Having a totally non-functioning radar system is not only dangerous for air travel but is a concern of national security," he said. Ejercito also stressed the need to "take back vital utilities" such as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which he believed could "cripple" the Philippine economy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) A Vietnamese national was arrested after receiving suspected illegal drugs sent through a Grab courier, the Makati City police said Monday. The Grab delivery rider reported that he received a red eco bag from a female and male Vietnamese in a condominium in Barangay Bel Air, Makati City. The rider then discovered the suspected illegal drugs inside after the sender did not verify the item being delivered, police said. During the entrapment operation on Sunday, a 30-year-old Vietnamese national was arrested upon receiving the delivery in a condominium in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City. The seized eco bag contained a pack of cigarettes, a box of facemask, a transparent plastic containing a gram of suspected shabu and an iPhone. Police said the suspected shabu is worth around 6,800. The suspect is currently detained at the Makati City Police Station while a complaint under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is being prepared. (CNN) A midair collision between two helicopters in Australia has left four people dead and three others in critical condition, authorities said Monday. The collision happened around 2 p.m. local time near the popular tourist strip of Main Beach on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane. "Those two aircraft, when collided, have crash landed on the sand bank just out from Sea World Resort," Queensland Police Inspector Gary Worrell, a regional duty officer for the southeastern region, told reporters. He added it had been difficult for emergency services to access the sand bank, located not far from the coast. Thirteen people were on the two helicopters, according to Jayney Shearman, from the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). Of those, four people died, three suffered serious injuries and six had minor injuries, including cuts from shattered glass. All the injured had been taken to hospital, she said. Photos from the site show debris lying on a strip of sand, with personnel gathered on land and numerous vessels in the surrounding waters. Worrell said that though it's too early to determine the exact cause of the accident, initial inquiries suggests one helicopter had been taking off and the other landing when they collided. One helicopter "has its windscreen removed, and it's landed safely on the island. The other (helicopter) has crashed, and it was upside down," he said. He added that after the crash, nearby police and members of the public rushed to the site, trying to remove and perform first aid on those inside the helicopter. Angus Mitchell, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), said in a statement that an investigation had been launched into the collision. Investigators from the ATSB's offices in Brisbane and Canberra will be deployed to the scene to gather evidence, examine the wreckage and map the site, as well as interview witnesses and involved parties, Mitchell added. He asked people who witnessed the collision or saw the helicopters in flight to contact investigators. A preliminary report will come in the next six to eight weeks, with a final report after the investigation is complete, he said. In a statement posted on Twitter, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expressed her "deepest sympathies" for the victims' families and everybody affected. "What has happened on the Gold Coast today is an unthinkable tragedy," she said. Police say Sea World Drive has been closed to traffic and urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area. Sea World Drive is the main access point for the marine park that's popular with tourists on the heart of the Gold Coast. It's peak tourist season in the region right now, with schools closed for the long summer break. CNN has reached out to Sea World for comment. This is a developing story. This story was first published on CNN. Two helicopters collide in fatal crash on Australias Gold Coast, authorities say (CNN) At least 14 people died in a brazen armed assault on a prison in the Mexican border city of Juarez on Sunday, officials said. The Chihuahua state attorney generals office said in a statement that 10 security guards and four prisoners were killed and 13 others were injured. The incident began around 7 a.m. (9 a.m. ET) on Sunday when gunmen in armored vehicles arrived at the prison and opened fire on security personnel, the prosecutors office said. Authorities said inmates took advantage of the situation and 24 prisoners escaped. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. CNN has reached out to the attorney generals office for more details about the status of the investigation. Ciudad Juarez, just across the US-Mexico border from El Paso, Texas, is one of Mexicos deadliest cities and an epicenter of drug cartel violence. The rival Juarez and Sinaloa cartels have been fighting a bloody turf war in the region over lucrative smuggling routes and for drug-dealing territory in the city. Sundays violence was not the first time violence has erupted at the prison. Last August, hundreds of Mexican troops were sent there after a clash between the two cartels caused a riot and shootouts that killed 11 people. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Mexico prison attack kills 14, dozens of inmates escape" 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. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan being greeted by visitors on New Yeat Day at the open darbar at Raj bhavan on Sunday. Weavers present a saree in which Governor's portrait is weaved. (R. Pavan/DC) Hyderabad: Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan held an open house to mark New Year's Day at Raj Bhavan on Sunday. The Durbar Hall was open to the public from 11 am to noon, with people from districts across the state turning up to greet the governor with gifts, including calendars, souvenirs, sarees, idols, portraits and saplings. Soundararajan said that India witnessed a productive 2022, especially in how the country battled Covid. Looks like the indigenous vaccines proved to give better immunity in comparison to the Chinese, she said, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. The Governor wished everyone a happy, prosperous, successful, safe and healthy 2023. Most of the visitors were women, who patiently waited for their turn to exchange pleasantries and get photos clicked with the Governor. Police arrests TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy from his residence at Jubilee Hills as he was about to leave for a protest at Indira Park. (S. Surender Reddy/DC) Hyderabad: Police arrested TPCC president Revanth Reddy and a large number of Congress workers when they attempted to reach dharna chowk near Indira Park to organise a statewide protest in support of sarpanchs agitating against the Telangana government for allegedly diverting funds that were released by the 15th Finance Commission for gram panchayats. Revanth Reddy had been placed under house arrest earlier in the day, along with many other Congress leaders, including PCC senior vice-president Mallu Ravi, working president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, former MP V. Hanumantha Rao, and Kisan Congress leader M. Kodanda Reddy, after the police denied permission to hold a dharna. To prevent Revanth Reddy from leading the dharna in Indira Park, authorities deployed a large number of police personnel outside his residence in Jubilee Hills. As he attempted to proceed towards Indira Park, Revanth Reddy was detained and taken to the Bolaram police station. Party workers gathered there and demanded his immediate release. By the time he was released, their numbers had swelled considerably. PCC's Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sanghatan chairman R. Siddeshwar was arrested early in the morning in Shamshabad, followed by the arrests of scores of others, including Khairatabad DCC president C. Rohin Reddy, when they attempted to lay siege to Pragathi Bhavan. When Congress leaders and workers were on their way to Pragati Bhavan, tempers flared inside Gandhi Bhavan, the Congress headquarters and a scuffle broke out between the police and the party workers. To prevent untoward incidents, the police heightened security at Gandhi Bhavan. After being released, Revanth Reddy told reporters outside the Bolaram police station that Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao had made a joke of the panchayat raj system by channelling panchayat funds to other departments and trying to usurp the power of gram panchayats, while calling on sarpanchs to question ministers and MLAs about the alleged government diversion of funds. "These ministers who are enjoying their power and positions should be questioned. I urge everyone, regardless of party allegiance, to boycott their official programmes," he said. While stating that the BRS government will not last much longer, Revanth Reddy stated that it is only a matter of months before the current political dispensation will be deposed. "Police officers who are behaving tough against the Congress will be identified, and the party, once in power, will not shy away from weighing legal options against the police officials," he said. Revanth Reddy also questioned the delay in arresting Atheist Association president Bairi Naresh for making derogatory remarks against Lord Ayyappa and saw this as part of a bigger conspiracy by the BRS and the BJP to corner the Congress. "This is another attempt to split the anti-incumbency vote and part of the political strategy of the two political parties with the guiding force like Prashant Kishore, he remarked. At royal residences up and down the land, family sentiments must be delicate following this first Christmas without the Queen. Sadnesses must be counted alongside blessings, the gilded solidity of a passing reign measured against the ambiguity of the future. Yet the Windsors can congratulate themselves on another successful festive season, one that passed without a major event or upset and . . . uh oh. Just when it seemed safe to lift the royal gaze towards the blameless horizon of a new year, the Duke of Sussex is out on manoeuvres to promote his new autobiography, Spare. Just when it seemed safe to lift the royal gaze, the Duke of Sussex is out on manoeuvres to promote his new autobiography, Spare And the prospect of dogged, bitter Prince Harry once more heating up his tureen of spleen must send a shiver through the House of Windsor. Only a few snippets of the two upcoming television interviews have been released: a wisp of chat with Anderson Cooper for CBS in America and a sentence or two with Tom Bradby for ITV in the UK. Yet much can be gleaned from these teasers. Mood, strategy and intent, along with depth of delusion and a sneak peek of pique? It is all in there. And what is immediately clear is that when the book is published next week and the interviews are broadcast in their entirety, the royals should not expect a barrel of laughs. Or even a slap on the back, a thank you, a belated gift of condolence or an apology. For even dressed down in his good-guy sweater and smart shirt, Harry radiates pure threat. His voice is level but his eyes are cold and glassy. Sometimes he even sounds like someone who has joined a cult or perhaps walked onto the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Referring to the interviews and his memoir: 'Harry radiates pure threat', according to Jan Moir There comes a point when silence is betrayal, he told Cooper in a moment of high drama. What was he talking about? A lack of response from the Vulcans on planet Tharg? No, he was speaking about what he saw as failings on the part of the Royal Family to protect him and Meghan from well, what? Negative publicity published in newspapers, magazines and on the internet, seems to be the answer. They have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile, he told Bradby, speaking of a lack of willingness on the part of his family to be friends with him again. It was hard not to bark with laughter at this. The Duke of Sussex (and the Duchess, lets be fair) has spent much of the past three years publicly and repeatedly criticising his family, accusing them of cruelty, neglect, racism, lies, jealousy and worse. And some things that have been said can never be unsaid, so it seems little wonder that the King and the Prince of Wales are not in the mood to reach out to their chief tormentor with open arms, even if he cannot understand why. For Harry is like some sulky arsonist who personally soaked the barns in petrol and lit the match that burned the family farm to the ground, while telling the world that their crop was rotten anyway. And then he is surprised and hurt when his singed and betrayed relatives take offence at his highly flammable behaviour. What does he expect? Every action has a consequence and every position of power has its own unique responsibility. And for someone who espouses the merits of therapy, Prince Harrys lack of insight about his own behaviour is staggering. Prince Harry's interview with Anderson Cooper on Sunday January 8, on CBS will be Prince Harrys first U.S. television interview to discuss his upcoming memoir Spare He says he wants his father and brother back, as if their lack of enthusiasm and affection for Project Reconciliation had nothing to do with him. This sudden need for roots versus the control and thrill of his uprooting is psychologically interesting, but he cant have it both ways. Consider the evidence. The initial hint of trouble came in October 2019, when Tom Bradby interviewed the Sussexes on their South Africa tour. Meghan complained of being overlooked and existing instead of thriving, while Harry said he and his brother were on different paths. We didnt know it then, but these were the first stitches to unravel the royal tapestry. Since then there has been no end of complaint, a litany of mistakes and failures that are never, ever their fault. Its exhausting, I know, but a quick recap of gripes and accusations include Meghan being unprotected by the Institution and her friends being silenced. Kate making her cry. Meghan having suicidal thoughts, but being prevented from seeking professional help because it wouldnt be good for the royal look. An unnamed Royal Family member expressing a thought about how dark Archies skin might be. Harry accusing his father of literally cutting him off financially. Endless rows about personal security and who was paying for it. In May 2021, Harry told the Armchair Expert podcast he was experiencing genetic pain as a result of his upbringing. That same month, he complained in a mental health docuseries for Apple about the total neglect from his family. Last summer, Meghan whined to The Cut magazine about not being allowed to cash in on her royal status. 'In these difficult times, it is hard to see how much more of an appetite the public will have for the extravagantly and repeatedly expressed woes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex', says Jan Moir Just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy. So we go, OK, fine, lets get out of here. Happy to, she said. Last month, in their biggest act of treachery to date, the pair of them accepted an award for fighting systemic racism in the Royal Family. How can they possibly go back to being friends now? Those bridges have burned, along with the family farm and every last drop of trust. Something went badly wrong to propel Harry and Meghan into exile and onto this endless odyssey of offences taken real or imagined. And everyone is sad that it happened, and that they felt they had no choice but to leave. But they self-marooned, seeing themselves as victims shackled together by the oppression and neglect of an institution that was trying to do them harm. In these difficult times, it is hard to see how much more of an appetite the public will have for the extravagantly and repeatedly expressed woes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. For they are not only the kind of first-world problems that can seem childish to people who are really suffering, they are the sour garnish that only comes with true elitism and ultra-privilege. These TV teasers reveal that even now, Harry still sees himself as a victim and views his father and brother as the architects of his doom. For a man who has everything, he seems to have nothing except a hostile desire for vengeance. It all boils down to this; somebody stole the jam in Harrys doughnut, and someone is going to have to pay. One of Britain's top universities claims to stand for social justice and fighting inequality but actually paid black women almost half as much as white men, MailOnline can reveal. The University of York paid black women 41 per cent less than white men in the last recorded year, meaning for every 1 a white man earned, a black woman only got 59p. FEMAIL can also reveal that two thirds of Russell Group universities have paid black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff less than their white peers. Jo Grady, the general secretary of the University and College Union, told MailOnline: 'It should shame every single Russell Group vice chancellor that black women are paid up to 41 per cent less than white men [at York]. 'Universities are sites of mass inequality and there are huge pay gaps when it comes to race, gender and disability. FEMAIL can also reveal that two thirds of Russell Group universities pay black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff less than their white peers. Top of the list was KCL, which paid BAME staff 19.1 per cent less The University of York (pictured) is in the top five for highest ethnic pay gaps among the Russell Group universities York (pictured, the campus) paid black women a whopping 41 per cent less than white men, meaning for every 1 a white man earns, a black woman only gets 59p University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady (pictured) told MailOnline Britain's top universities should be ashamed of the findings 'This is a direct result of institutions employing disproportionate numbers of these marginalised groups on insecure contracts, which deny them proper terms, conditions and security. 'They should hang their heads in shame. 'We need universities to sit down with their local union branches to agree action plans to address this disgrace. 'Staff will not stand for it any longer. We have just voted in unprecedented numbers to strike unless the structural inequalities, low pay and poor working conditions that blight higher education are fixed. 'The sector has the money to fix these issues and now it must do so.' The University of York claimed on its website it has a 'rich tradition' of fighting against inequality. It said: 'The University of York exists for public good. 'Our founders endowed the University with a strong social purpose, drawing on a rich tradition of social justice and combating inequality in a way that is distinctive to the city of York.' York paid its BAME staff 14.8 per cent less than their white counterparts in the last recorded year and when the University published its strategy for the next decade it mentioned its large ethnicity pay gap just once. The University did not respond to a request for comment from MailOnline. LSE Director Baroness Minouche Shafik (pictured) is the only top university boss who is BAME and a woman. LSE does not publish ethnicity pay gap data The only other BAME vice chancellor at a Russell Group university is Professor Shitij Kapur at KCL, which has the highest of all the Group's ethnicity pay gaps at 19.1 per cent It is not only the University of York with a high ethnicity pay gap. MailOnline can reveal the three top universities with the worst ethnicity pay gaps were all in London. King's College London paid its BAME staff 19.1 per cent less, Queen Mary's (QMUL) paid 18.3 per cent less and Imperial paid 17.8 per cent less. KCL responded to the findings by saying: 'We were proud that 400 cleaning and security staff chose to become employees of King's from an outsourced agency in 2019. 'This contributed to an increase in our ethnicity pay gap and while we are making progress to close it, we acknowledge that we have more work to do.' Ethnicity pay gaps across Britain's top universities have caused concern at many institutions but some have argued the figures don't represent the true problem. Newcastle University said the figures were less about the BAME community being paid less than their white colleagues and more about the low number of BAME people in top roles. It said because BAME people generally had more junior roles they were naturally paid less. Newcastle said it was 'committed to addressing' the low number of BAME people in top jobs. The sentiment was echoed by the University of Birmingham's Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for equality Prof Joanne Duberley, who said the pay gap was 'not an equal pay issue' about 'different rates of pay for the same job'. She said: 'Addressing this issue of workforce imbalance is a priority for the University through recruitment and development of minority ethnic staff at all levels.' Many other universities have committed to working towards better representation in top roles. One of them is QMUL, which has the second highest ethnicity pay gap in the Russell Group. A spokeswoman for the University said it paid all staff equally if they are doing the same job but 'we do not have equal numbers of staff from different ethnic backgrounds across all our graded job roles'. She added: 'To close the overall pay gap we continue to work hard to have equal distribution of staff within the organisation.' Universities in London such as KCL (pictured) made up the top three in terms of worst ethnicity pay gaps At Imperial College London (pictured) BAME staff were paid 17.8 per cent less than white staff at the university Queen's University Belfast (pictured) was one of three universities in the Russell Group to pay its BAME staff more than white staff The lack of BAME people in senior roles is even more obvious at the very highest of levels at Britain's top universities. BAME people account for 13 per cent of the UK's population. Yet there are just two BAME vice chancellors at Russell Group universities and only one of them is a woman, Baroness Minouche Shafik at LSE. Every other university in the group has a white vice chancellor and 15 of the 24 are men. Although Leeds is one of just eight Russell Group universities with a female vice chancellor it is also one of the four top institutions that hasn't revealed its ethnicity pay gap statistics. A spokesperson for the University said: 'Our aim is to also produce accurate and meaningful ethnicity pay gap data and we are focusing on ensuring that high-quality source data is available to enable us to do this.' Oxford, LSE and Sheffield also do not publish their ethnicity pay gap. When approached by MailOnline, the Department of Education said it wouldn't comment on the findings as 'we don't have any control [over what universities pay staff].' The Department added: 'There isn't anything we can do about what universities pay.' Although some universities question what an ethnicity pay gap really represents, many have acknowledged that more needs to be done to fight pay inequality. A University of Cambridge spokesman said: 'The pay gap is based on the difference in average pay across the workforce, rather than the difference in like-for-like roles. 'The University is committed to equality of opportunity, and although this year we saw a reduction in the ethnic pay gap, there is more work to be done in addressing the root cause of the pay gap and creating a culture where all can thrive.' At the University of Warwick a spokesperson said: 'The gender pay gap at the University of Warwick has been reduced by 4.9 per cent in 2021, while there has been a doubling of the number of BAME appointments at senior academic levels as well as more staff who declare a disability at such levels. 'There is still much work to be done and we have introduced several schemes and plans to move the University further forward in this area.' A University of Edinburgh spokeswoman said: 'The University is committed to ensuring our pay structures and reward processes are free from bias. 'We acknowledge that more needs to be done to address pay gap challenges.' The University of Manchester said there was 'more work to be done' but their ethnicity pay gap has been decreasing. It said: 'The main factor contributing to our pay gaps is the under-representation of women, BAME and disabled staff in higher paid jobs and functions, and not as a result of staff being paid differently for work of equal value.' The University of Exeter said: 'Staff within the same grade are paid the same regardless of colour. 'However, we recognise that BAME staff are underrepresented in senior grades and we continue to invest in a range of actions to support the career progression of people of colour.' The remaining 14 top universities, as well as the Russell Group itself, have not responded to requests for comment. Several had problems when it came to payment, claiming that they were misled Heading to the salon is supposed to be a pampering experience that leaves you feeling revived - but as anyone who's ever had a dodgy haircut or flaky manicure knows, there's nothing like a beauty disaster to ruin your day. It's now easier than ever to book appointments online and via apps, and the advantage is that you can see what other customers thought and hopefully avoid ruining your look at a bad salon. FEMAIL has scoured online booking service Treatwell to find some of the worst salon experiences from across the UK. One disgruntled customers told a disaster such as being left with an 80s haircut and being told 'don't worry, it will grow back'. HAIR DRESSERS AND HAIR SALONS EMMA B Hair Salon, London says it has experienced stylists and offers a wide range of 'professional treatments' Emma B Salon, London What the description says: Experienced stylists, offers a wide range of professional treatments including haircuts, blow dry, braids and a diverse range of hair colouring treatments. Rating: On Treatwell 1.7/5 What the customers say: 'Absolutely the worst hairdressing experience I have had. Over an hour late starting on me. Full of the workers' children running around. Had booked for colour and the hairdresser went out and bought a box dye which I could have done myself at home. Martyn from Treatwell is looking into compensation for me.' Another said: 'I can't comment on the service as never got my hair done. Paid online but when I got to the salon the hair dresser who was supposed to do my hair wasn't in. I told the lady I had already paid online, but she just shrugged her shoulders. Still waiting for my money back.' Amora, Liverpool What the description says: Visit Amora salon, located within Islington in central Liverpool, and treat yourself to a wash and haircut service, or a curly blow dry. Rating: On Treatwell 1.9/5 What the customers say: 'There is no salon in this location. I lost my money as I prepaid and no refund possible. Dont book here. Its scam. Photos are google photos.' Another said: 'SCAM! The salon is not where it claims to be. The phone number to the salon does not work. I now have to try to get a refund through Treatwell.' Amora, Liverpool says that it offers a wash and haircut service, plus extras such as a curly blow dry Headmasters, Raynes Park What the description says: Headmasters Raynes Park boasts a team of style and colour experts that, along with their passion for innovation, help keep them ahead of the latest trends. They blend exquisite cutting and devoted service with a catwalk quality finish and this shows in their dedicated customers. Rating: On Treatwell 3.2/5 What the customers say: 'I was really happy with the final product yet came home and the application was extremely streaky on the under layers of my hair not blended at all.' Someone else left a review that said: 'They where unsure what I had booked for. Cut and colour and blow dry where very good. The luxury head massage was non existent so I was disappointed there. After the phoned to tell me that I had to come back and pay for my treatment as I had only paid for a the blow dry which was not true. Tone was quite accusatory and no apology made. So follow up to confirm that all was ok' Headmasters' Chief Operating Officer Laura Geary told Femail: 'We have 44 salons across Treatwell , 42 of our salons have a 4* rating or above. We can see that the below review was posted 7 months ago and have since made changes. 'We pride ourselves on our customer service and constantly welcome and monitor customer feedback for improvement which is passed onto our teams.' Headmasters, Raynes Park describes itself as blending 'exquisite cutting and devoted service with a catwalk quality finish and this shows in their dedicated customers' John Harding Hair & Beauty Salon, London What the description says: The skilled and high-qualified team know that creating a great hairstyle means considering many factors. They look at your skin tone, face shape and personal desires for a style you will love. The elegant environment, subtly decorated with a black and white wallpaper, is stylish and designed for your relaxation. Rating: On Treatwell 3.5/5 What the customers say: 'It was John to cut my hair. I asked different style he did what he liked. We had a chat as i told him i was going to a party he asked in the end another 30. Hair cut and dry cost me 85 for short hair . Crazy. He was talking nonsense, comparing his cut with mayfair stylist who charge 500. My hair are very short now and very disappointed. Watch out people. Old and greedy men.' Someone else reviewed: 'This is one of those traumatic hair experiences. I immediately wanted to cry when I saw what the hairdresser did with my hair. But instead I thought "it's just hair, it's going to grow back, don't panic". A few hours later I still hate it and actually I'm very angry. I came with a one-length haircut to finish with a typical layered 80s haircut that noboby wants anymore.' 'I have layers that look like long bang (eye level) when I asked for "face framing pieces" (just the two layers that fall when you put your hair up). I didn't feel like the hairdresser listened to what I asked or showed or he didn't understand. I have short layers all around my head now and I can't do anything about it. It can't be styled. I wish I could just tie my hair up to hide how bad it is but I can't with all those short layers. I just have to live with that for at least 6 months now. Definitely first and last time for me' John Harding Hair & Beauty Salon in London describes itself as having a skilled and high-qualified team Regis Hair Salon, Braehead What the description says: Whether youre looking for a quick trim, a colour makeover or a bouncy blow dry, Regis Hair Salon at Titanium House Braehead Shopping Centre in Lanarkshire is a great option. Their experienced and dedicated team are all trained in the latest techniques and trends, to ensure you leave the salon looking and feeling your best. Rating: On Treatwell 3.8/5 What the customers say: 'If she is your manager I can only say your shop wont stay long open. Her attitude was disgraceful Im suppose to be grateful to have her take my appointment second time in there and will definitely be my last as my experience was totally unacceptable and maybe you should look into how many customers get sent away !!' Someone else said: 'Girl was lovely but was very rushed ! No hair straighten , no music on , the salon was dead. The bench nearly fell from beneath my friend as she waited. Probably wont be back!' And another said: 'Staff were friendly enough but distracted, shop was very clean. Hair wash and blow dry was fine but the haircut received was terrible. The fringe wasn't even cut straight, evenly or in the style requested.' Regis Hair Salon in Braehead describes itself as experienced and boasts of its experienced team HAIR REMOVAL Lounge No.6 Beauty & Nail Salon, Hertfordshire What the description says: Lounge No. 6 Beauty & Nail Salon is the chic and trendy oasis you need for your next lash tint, gel manicure, wax, spray tan, massage and more. This suburban gem specialises in hair removal and nail application, using first-class brands Shellac OPI and Harley to offer you top-shelf services. The staff boasts over a decade of experience, personalising all treatments to suit your individual needs with refreshments offered throughout your appointment. Rating: On Treatwell 2.4/5 What the customers say: 'I booked an app @6pm I called in the morning to confirm & was hoping I could come sooner. I called from 10am til 2pm no answer. Finally my call was answered by the beautician she said she only worked til 10-3 & would not be able to do my appointment. I was offered another appointment for the next day but I was flying out so this wouldnt do. I asked for the manager to call me & process a refund no call back no refund! Treatwell why are you promoting this co pls give people their money back!!' Lounge No.6 Beauty & Nail Salon, Hertfordshire describes itself as being 'chic' and 'trendy' Good Look Hair & Beauty, Walsall What the description says: Good Look Hair and Beauty is a hair and beauty salon situated in Walsall. With a huge variety of services on offer including Hair, Nails, Waxing, Massage and Facials. Good Look is sure to fulfill all your hair and beauty needs, whilst you sit back and relax. Rating: On Treatwell 2.8 What the customers say: It was the worst massage I have ever had. I literally had my back rubbed with oil for 20 min n to make it worse she wore gloves to give me a massage. It was so bad that I had to get up and show her how to massage and she still didnt get it, then 20 min later they had a switch over of another masseuse, who was better with pressure but did not know how to massage at all. Also a child kept opening the door. I am very disappointed and would need my money back. Worst experience!! Another wrote: 'I want a full refund because my hair is all different lengths. I wasnt sat in front of a mirror I was sat in the middle of the salon with a chair in front of me. I have straightened it myself at home and can see what a mess they have made of my hair.' And a third said: 'DO NOT go here for a haircut. it was like they had never picked up a paid of scissors before. I couldn't get out there quick enough. they also make you pay before, so difficult to complain and get a refund. I had to go elsewhere to get my cut rectified. Waxing wasn't as bad but still not great, my legs have been left badly bruised.' Good Look Hair & Beauty in Walsall offers to fulfill all your hair and beauty needs, whilst you sit back and relax Customers complained about their hair being left different lengths, bruising after a wax and a therapist who didn't know how to do a massage Diptis, London What the description says: Offering a select range of treatments, including waxing and eyebrow tinting and threading. Very experienced and friendly team. Fully qualified, highly-trained with more than 15 years of experience. Rating: On Treatwell 3.1/5 What the customers say: 'Place is filthy. Dust and dirt everywhere. Therapist was on phone the whole time and when I said the wax was too hot she simply laughed and didnt check herself. She did one strip and pulled it off so badly I decided to get up and leave. Ive had a lot of waxes and never have I had an experience so bad. Horrendous. Please be careful.' Another person posted a review that said: 'Do not use this salon, particularly for waxing. I had a Brazilian wax and she burnt my skin - I had red marks for days. The salon is also unsanitary and unprofessional.' A third said: 'Terrible experience, extremely dirty place ,disorganised, the job wasnt done properly I would have done it by myself at home, not worth the money Ive paid, unprofessional. It was my first time and last time.' Diptis, London claims to have a very friendly and experienced team that are fully qualified and 'highly-trained' Naz & Nads Hair & Beauty Salon, Ilford What the description says: Just a short walk from Ilford station, this cozy salon has a chic and sparkly interior, with magazine covers on the walls to express originality and give a fashionable and inspiring flair. With a wide range of treatments available, the team at Naz & Nads pay strong attention to detail, promising to share expert advice and support to help you achieve your desired look. Rating: On Treatwell 3.3/5 What the customers say: 'Terrible experience would never recommend. The lady was unprofessional made constant remarks about my body and the amount of hair. Felt terrible and insecurely. The place is very dirty and she left so many patches and I have a lot ingrown hair because of her. Please avoid her at all cost!!' Another customer said: 'I got a lot of spots and cuts after the treatment not sure why but the place is alright.' A third said: 'Went for a face wax and came back with a massive BURN PATCH on my face!' Naz & Nads Hair & Beauty Salon in Ilford says that its team pays strong attention to detail, promising to share expert advice and support to help you achieve your desired look Appearances Redefined, London What the description says: A cosy and welcoming salon situated in Wallington, Appearances Redefined offers a range of beauty treatments from waxing and facials to bridal makeup. Enjoy an afternoon in the salons vibrant fuchsia pink interior while having your makeup done for a special event, or treat yourself to a manicure in their relaxing and tranquil space. Appearances Redefined offers a tailor made service, so each treatment is individual and personalised for every customer that walks through the door. Rating: On Treatwell 3.4/5 What the customers say: 'They charge more than the stated Treatwell prices. Only do half the job for Brazilian waxing and ask for 10 more for the rest! 33 for a Brazilian wax is way too much for a salon of this stature' A second customer posted: 'Terrible experience, I booked in for 9.30am, they turned up at 9.35 to open the shop and said I had to wait 20 minutes for the wax to heat up, she was very rude. As for the treatment she told me I had to cancel my Treatwell and pay them directly to which I refused, she was so invasive for an intimate wax, Ive never had a wax so uncomfortable and I have been having this treatment regularly for years, in the end I had to stop her and say Ive had enough. Wouldnt go back.' Appearances Redefined in London offers a range of treatments including waxing. However, customers have commented that intimate waxing can be too invasive Calista Beauty Salon Tunbridge Wells What the description says: 'A haven of pampering offering largest selection of beauty services with wide range of finest beauty products by trained therapists in a busy leisure centre at affordable prices.' Rating: On Treatwell 3.5/5 What the customers say: 'AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So unprofessional - I kept saying the wax was too hot, but she did not listen, now I've got blisters over my bikini line!! Hollywood wax took FOREVER. She did not know what she was doing!' A second customer said: 'The actual salon looks temporary and is not relaxing at all, you can here the shopping centre really loudly. The waxing room feels less like a room and just a partition from the rest of the salon. The woman was rude and too quick leaving me incredibly red and sore, and didnt even offer me any lotion at the end. Half of the staff were too busy chatting to notice me for a while. Furthermore, as it was painful and I was wincing in pain a little, the therapist seemed almost annoyed and angry at me for not being completely still. So rude.' A third commented: 'Really abrupt and painful waxing. I was left with uneven bikini line where I feel like I would shave it all off if it wasn't for the scars I have that I try to hide. I left feeling shaken and tearful. The most painful wax I have ever had. She just waxed and ripped without pressing on the skin or anything. I am really upset by it.' Calista Beauty Salon in Tunbridge Wells has been described as unprofessional by its customers NAILS Vogue Beauty, Oxford What the description says: A salon that ticks all the right beauty boxes by offering manicures, pedicures, waxing, eyelash extensions, facials and massages. Atmosphere: Simple salon, friendly staff, light, airy and modern. Rating: On Treatwell 3.3/5 What the customers say: 'When I got Vogue Beauty for the appointment time, the shop was closed. When I called the telephone, nobody answered. There was even no answering machine for me to leave message. It was the worst experience I had ever had.' Another said: 'booked online, went the next day for my appointment and got told the nail tech isn't here. disappointed and wasted my time.' A third customer gave the review: 'The venue was completely empty and looked like it has recently undergone construction. There was drywall dust and open holes in the walls. The massaging chair arm fell apart in the manicurist hands. Colors were not available for viewing except for opening each bottle. Not ideal. I will not be going back.' Vogue Beauty, Oxford calls itself 'a salon that ticks all the right beauty boxes' and describes itself as 'light, airy and modern' Tantalizing Beauty Spa, London What the description says: Tantalizing Beauty Spas pristine interior is designed to provide bright, modern space where you can unwind in peace. Their purpose-built treatment rooms create a comfortable and relaxing environment, perfect for indulging in a Thai massage or a Schrammek facial. Experience the professional and attentive care of Tantalizing Beauty Spas team of expert therapists. Their warm and caring manner eases you into a state of pure bliss, enhanced by soothing music and fragrances. Allow yourself to be pampered and leave feeling de-stressed, rejuvenated and refreshed. Rating: On Treatwell 3.2/5 What the customers say: 'Terrible experience, Jenni couldn't stop answering her phone during the session, and did my nails as if was her first time, putting way too much nail polish. Price was the same as other spa places so I will definitely go somewhere else next time.' Another said: 'Im very surprised that Treatwell have Tantalizing Beauty Spa on their website. It was a bizarre experience (always read reviews!!). The door was locked, I called the number twice no one answered. A man opened the door very confused why I was there. A woman said shed do my nails (whilst looking annoyed I was there). REALLY unhygienic with nail clippings going everywhere, and the feet bath was disgusting with other peoples nail clippings in. I should have walked out, and the place should be shut' A third commented: 'I would have done a better job myself blindfolded. The lines of the French manicure are thick, not straight. I left the salon as it was late, though I could bare those lines for few weeks but 2 days later the white tips are dented. I sent an email explaining the situation but no response. I called, Jenny got aggressive and raised her voice;spoke to "a manager" asked to just remove my shellac, no refund request. They told me they have a "24hr policy"which is not displayed anywhere. They hung up.' Tantalizing Beauty Spa in London has been described by its customers as being unhygienic and one person said that they could have done a 'better job myself blindfolded' Angel Beauty Parlour, Cambridge What the description says: Angel Beauty Parlour is a chic modern salon located within The Grafton Centre in Cambridge. A sleekly styled manicure and pedicure area lead to individually designed treatment rooms, each providing a splash of colour and guaranteeing a unique experience with every visit. Rating: On Treatwell 3.5/5 What the customers say: 'I don't like to leave negative reviews but my "Spa Manicure" was very disappointing. The staff were sweet and made me feel welcome, but at 26 there was very little attention to detail or pride in quality of work (uneven colour & nail shape, polish left on cuticles) -- I could have done a much better job myself. The manicure itself was about half the time stated on Treatwell with multiple changes of staff. I wouldn't recommend this place for nails, however the queue was out the door for brows.' Another person left the review: 'Nail polish unevenly coated between hands (only one coat on one hand). Shellac coat not well applied (on top of some skin as well). Pedicure and manicure set not included, very rough nail file. Nails not filed evenly. Attention of stylist often distracted and not focused on me as a costumer. Would not come again.' Angel Beauty Parlour in Cambridge describes itself as a chic modern salon with a sleekly styled manicure and pedicure area Solange Bee Hair & Beauty Salon, Manchester What the description says: At Solange Bee Hair & Beauty we strive for excellence. Our team of dedicated hairdressers and beauticians are always up for putting customers first. We only provide the best services. Our services included: waxing, threading, all nails services, pedicure, hair colouring, highlights, balayage, LA weave, braided weave, tape extensions; micro-rings, ponytails, all types of braids, eyelash extensions, microblading, lip fillers etc. We also have a wide range of hair extensions to choose from our LUXE collection. Rating: On Treatwell 3.6/5 What the customers say: 'Absolutely horrible experience, staff were rude not accommodating. Solange told me to wait 15 minutes which turned into 40 minutes because she was getting her own nails done? Additionally the nails put on were a horrible finish, not neat fell off in5 days ? Bumpy surface. Defo not recommended. Would never go again and don't recommend anyone to. She was bragging about doing 3 fillers and getting 1K for it, but the hygiene of the place is outrageous and her skills are lacking. Do not book here.' A second said: 'Avoid this place at all cost and take the bad reviews seriously, its not worth it. Long story short, spent 3hrs to have my nails done due to how disorganised, busy, and chaotic this place was. Equipment were old, unclean and shared between unskilled technician. No care for customers and an unclean environment. Avoid please not worth it, nails were awful and had to fix them myself. Avoid please' A third commented: 'I have made an appointment for infills, waited for 25mins! Not even sorry or anything. Sat me down on this dirty desk, seriosuly filfthy!! Her worker say next to her and other was standing behind me..okk felt uncomfortable. Then I realise that all the equipment she used wasnt washed etc, very agreesive with Nail filer, Hasnt done the edges. Looks scruffy and I am so angry that I had booked this. She also coloured my skin and didnt clean, AVOID' Solange Bee Hair & Beauty Salon in Manchester has been described by its customers as an 'absolutely horrible experience' Elegance Brows & Nails Lower Mall, Edinburgh What the description says: Part of a successful chain, Elegance first opened its doors as a professional brow bar in the Overgate Centre in 2010 and has since expanded to offer a complete menu of top to toe beauty treatments in seven locations across Scotland. Now their nail menu alone includes both gel and acrylic extensions and overlays, Vinylux hybrid and CND Shellac polish manicures and pedicures and embellished nail art finishes in chrome, holographic and cracked ice. Rating: On Treatwell 3.7/5 What the customers say: 'Made a booking for a gellux manicure and pedicure, did not have my booking in the system. The manicure is not good, all nails filed to different lengths and shapes and the finish of the polish is inconsistent with areas of the nail being polished and others matte, with dimples left in the paint. The pedicure was done in the lap of the stylist and toes were only painted, not a pedicure, told that the shape and placement of my nail was reason it would not dry. Paint left on fingers and toes.' A second left the review: 'The nail technicians are had a lot of cluttered stuff around. The girls are not very friendly. Also its like when u ask for something as in shape length wise its an effort for them definitely wont be returning. Felt like she was rushing and wanted to get the job done as quick as possible. On the phone a few times while doing my nails very unprofessional.' The Japanese Imperial Family have ushered in the new year in public for the first time since before the Covid pandemic - albeit with caution. Emperor Naruhito, 62, last greeted crowds on new year's day in January 2020, just weeks before the world was plunged into lockdown as coronavirus took hold. But after two years celebrating in private, the Imperial Family made the symbolic decision to appear in public for a large new year's gathering on Monday as they waved to well-wishers outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Their appearance comes after the family posed for new year's portraits inside the palace. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako appeared at the Japanese Imperial Palace in Tokyo on new year's day, 2023, to greet well wishers. Empress Masako looked elegant in a white wrap dress accessorised with a string of pearls, pearl earrings and a brooch Despite signalling of optimism for Japan with their greeting, the family remained cautious and set an example to others by wearing face coverings as they waved. Naruhito, joined by Empress Masako, was scheduled to make six brief appearances throughout the day at a glass-covered balcony of the palace to express his wish for happiness for all. The Empress, 59 looked elegant as ever in a white, silk-effect long-sleeved wrap dress, with her hair perfectly styled in a clean low updo. She wore a string of pearls and pearl earrings. Former Empress Michiko, former Emperor Akihito, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko waved to well-wishers for the New Year's greetings Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, Princess Hisako of Takamado, Princess Hanako of Hitachi, and Prince Hitachi attend the new year's greeting Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko of Akishino, Princess Kako of Akishino, Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa and Princess Akiko of Mikasa wave to crowds The Imperial family, who gathered to greet well-wishers, all wore face masks as Covid restrictions remained in place Crowds gathered and waved Japanese flags outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as the Imperial Family appeared to greet them The couple was joined by their daughter Aiko and Naruhito's parents former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, among other relatives. Princess Aiko wore a high-neck powder blue long-sleeved dress with buttoned cuffs and a brooch on her left side. Meanwhile Princess Akiko also opted for powder blue in a long-sleeved dress with a laser cut-out effect, and accessorised with simple pearl earrings and a string of pearls around her neck. The Imperial Family remained cautious in their invitations, allowing 1,500 people into the palace in the Japanese capital, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In 2020, before the pandemic started to affect Japan, a total of almost 70,000 well-wishers came to see Naruhito's new year's address. The palace cancelled the event in 2021 and 2022 to prevent infections. The royal couple was joined by their daughter Aiko and Naruhito's parents former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, among other relatives "I am truly happy that I am able to celebrate the new year together with you after three years," he said. "As we stand at the start of this year, I wish for the happiness of people of our country and the world." The royal couple resumed public appearances gradually in 2022. An image of the couple with George and Charlotte was posted to Instagram The Prince and Princess of Wales have enjoyed a family outing to Lapland UK with their two eldest Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Prince William and Kate, both 40, were seen leaving the Ascot-based Christmas-themed park by an eagle-eyed fan, who shared a photograph of the royal group to Instagram. The royal couple were pictured with George, nine, and Charlotte, seven, as well as their Norland nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. It's unclear if Prince Louis, four, also joined them for the outing. Appearing low-key, Kate opted for a coffee-coloured wrap coat, teamed with brown Chelsea boots and a navy beanie hat, while William sported blue jeans, a padded jacket and a matching green flat cap. The Prince and Princess of Wales have enjoyed a family outing to Lapland UK with their two eldest Prince George and Princess Charlotte (pictured together on Christmas Day) Charlotte, dressed in a blue jacket and red trousers, George and William all carried a cuddly toy when leaving the festive attraction in December. Meanwhile George wore a blue padded coat, jeans and a patterned beanie hat for the outing with his parents to the Christmas theme park, which boasts a toy factory, magical forest and reindeer. The news of their outing comes after the family spent Christmas at Sandringham with King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the rest of the Royal Family. Kate beamed as she held her youngest son, four-year-old Prince Louis's hand while she walked along with William, George and Charlotte on the way to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate on Christmas Day. The royal couple were pictured with George, nine, and Charlotte (pictured on December 15 at the Together at Christmas carol service), seven, as well as their Norland nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. It's unclear if Prince Louis, four, also joined them for the outing The mother-of-three looked typically stylish in a festive, recycled coat, believed to be from British designer Alexander McQueen. She paired the statement garment with a Philip Treacy hat containing a feather and eye-catching earrings from French brand Sezane as the group walked to the service. The thrifty royal recycled the military-style coat to attend an engagement at Bradford City Hall in January 2020, shortly after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down as senior royals. For the Christmas outing, the Princess paired her structured coat with bespoke knee-high black heeled boots from Gianvito Rossi. The news of their outing comes after the family spent Christmas at Sandringham with King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the rest of the Royal Family. Pictured, Kate She wore her thick brunette locks down and cascading down her shoulders, brushed away from her face and opted for minimal make-up to enhance her natural beauty. The Princess of Wales beamed with happiness as she walked to the service alongside her husband, ahead of the other members of the Royal Family. She looked elegant in her festive get-up as she waved to the well-wishers who travelled to Norfolk. It was the Royal Family's first Christmas at Sandringham in two years after the late Queen stayed in Windsor for the 2020 and 2021 festive period due to the coronavirus pandemic - and the first time the family spent the holidays without the late monarch. Read more: A mother has sparked a furious online debate after revealing she asks her daughter's nanny to change outfit when she arrives for work. The unnamed woman, from the UK, took to Mumsnet , to explain she requests the childminder swap into a clean set of clothes after travelling to her home on public transport, because her daughter has a week immunology and is vulnerable to recurrent infection. However she went on to say she didn't like the 'pajama' style clothing the woman wears, and had even asked her to wear a different style of outfit - adding she was now contemplating firing her. Other Mumsnet users were left outraged by the post, with many suggesting she sounded 'controlling.' A mother has sparked a furious online debate after revealing she asks her daughter's nanny to change outfit when she arrives for work (file image) In the original post, titled 'Part Time Nanny dictates what she wears in my house', she wrote: 'I have a part time nanny I use every now and again. My daughter has really weak immunology. 'When she comes after having travelled on public transport squishing with all the other commuters, I ask her to change into a clean set of clothes. 'When she finishes, she can just leave with the new set of clothes she is wearing.' She continued: 'However, she changes into like sleepwear jim jams pyjama type clothing because it is comfortable. Then when she leaves, she has to change back all over again. Taking to the parenting forum Mumsnet, the unnamed woman, from the UK, she said she asks her nanny to change into a new outfit every time she visits her house 'I asked could she just change into something like a tracksuit or top and bottoms, but no, she likes her pyjama style clothing! Which you would NOT wear out in daylight. 'We live in a high rise, and if there was a fire alarm etc, then she would go get changed again.' The mother said she had even confronted the woman about the outfit, saying: 'She is angry at me for telling her to just stop all this changing back and forth, and now is messing around and told me last minute that I can go to an agency to hire a stranger. 'I am really annoyed because she is the one who wants to be my friend these past two years, and I have paid her above the hourly rate, and always paid her several hundreds of pounds in advance when she didn't have money. 'She is in her 60s..but honestly, it won't be easy for her to find work. But I feel like hey, it's my home, and I am paying you to provide a service. Mumsnet users were shocked after the mother asked her cleaner to wear different clothes to work, before slamming the nanny for wearing pajamas 'Time to look for another one.' The post got hundreds of comments with many Mumsnet users thought her demands were unreasonable. One user wrote: 'You sound like a controlling nightmare. As long as she changes at your request I dont see it matters what she is wearing.' Another added: 'I don't understand why it matters about what indoor clothes she wears so long as it meets your request about changing? Your request is non-standard so you probably need to meet half way. You sound like a difficult employer!' A third put: 'I cant believe you are dictating that she change clothes in the first place let alone telling her what to wear.' 'Why are you so bothered? I assume she isn't taking your child out?' While a fourth wrote: 'Shes changing her clothes so I dont see the issue here.' One more put: 'If you're worried about clothes that have been worn outdoors/on public transport, indoor pyjamas sound ideal. If she changed into joggers, how do you know she hadn't worn those the day before on a bus? 'Do you check they are freshly laundered? Your demands are high already and she is accommodating them. Go with it.' Another put: 'Youre being very shortsighted and more than a little foolish. The nanny does not want to be your friend, shes being polite to her employer. 'Get your head out your backside.' One more wrote: 'Im confused, so you want her to change when she arrives, but not when she leaves?' 'I suppose if this is genuinely a problem you could provide her with a uniform. Which of course you would keep at your home and launder.# While another put: 'I hope you'll make it clear to the next nanny up front what your requirements are.' And one more user commented: 'Hm, I definitely would not be returning to work for you. Fair enough you want her to change ok arrival but you cant stipulate what she wears when she is with you or whether she does or doesnt change when she leaves.' READ MORE: Mother who promised she would take her adopted dog to visit it's former owner before changing her mind is slammed - so what would YOU do? When do YOU take down your Christmas decorations? Mother admits she's 'itching' to get rid of them, but is branded 'sad' and 'unfestive' Mother is 'mortified' when her son asks her how often she and his father have sex (and is slammed by fellow parents for giving him an honest answer) Denmark's Royal Family has updated their website to show the new status belonging to four of Queen Margrethe's grandchildren after they were stripped of their HRH titles. The 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her younger son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. She has said the decision was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligations. Instead of being Princes and Princesses, they are Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies - a change which is now reflected on the household's website. Denmark's Royal Family has updated their website to show the new status belonging to four of Queen Margrethe's grandchildren after they were stripped of their HRH titles. Pictured, Count Nikolai, left, and right, Count Felix Under the Royal Family and Succession To The Throne pages of the website, the four young royals - who have maintained their positions in the line of succession - are mentioned with their new titles. It was a tumultuous autumn for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch stripped Joachim's four children of their prince and princess titles - a move which he publicly spoke out against. But speaking in a televised New Year's address on Saturday, Margrethe admitted: 'That the relationship with Prince Joachim and (his wife) Princess Marie has run into difficulties hurts me. 'Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including mine. The whole country has witnessed this.' The 82-year-old monarch announced in September that the four children of her youngest son, 53-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. Pictured, Countess Athena, left, and right, Count Henrik The Danish Queen (pictured with her sons and their wives) has said the decision to was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 - born from Joachim's first marriage - and Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, to live normal lives without royal obligations She added that she was 'sure that the family can enter the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courage'. And last night, the Royal Family appeared to put the drama far behind them as they arrived for their glamorous New Year's dinner at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Despite the fallout, Prince Joachim was seen stepping out at the lavish event, as were his brother Crown Prince Frederik and wife Crown Princess Mary, as well as the Queen's sister Princess Benedikte. Prince Joachim's wife, Princess Marie, stayed in Paris with their son, who was ill. Last year, Prince Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother's decision in the days that followed - claiming that his children had been 'harmed' in the process. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark pictured attending the annual New Year's dinner last night Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.' Shortly after his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public. Following the Queen's announcement, Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lives with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, all lost their titles on January 1 2023 Denmark's Prince Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik and Prince Nikolai in September 'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarified Out of a title: The four grandchildren who are no longer TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Advertisement Meanwhile, his ex-wife Alexandra, 58, who was married to Joachim for 10 years until 2005, said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' Last year, it was said that Joachim and his family are relocating to the US after he landed a new job in the defence industry in Washington, according to local media reports. The Danish royal, 53, has decided to move to Washington DC with his wife and their two young children, Henrik and Athena, Danish newspaper BT reported. The royal couple are currently based in Paris, where the prince has worked as defence attache since 2020. However that job is expected to come to an end in June, meaning they are likely to up sticks in the second half of the year. The Danish Royal Court's communications department did not confirm Joachim's reported upcoming move. Read more: No one expected Rahul Gandhi to actually walk, undistracted and uninterrupted, for over 100 days covering 3,500-odd kilometers before reaching New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) Indias political theatre is tricky enough to negotiate. With all the hidden and visible bumps that can trip the best-laid plans of the most organised and efficient vote-catching machines in regular times, failing and falling is almost inevitable in more testing times. The year 2023, which has been pitched by all political parties as the run-up to the 2024, when the Lok Sabha elections will be held, will be one of those years. Every leader worth his or her ambition will try to pull off the three-shell magic trick to make anti-incumbency and everything depressing or disappointing disappear and conjure up a zoom-boom in popularity. The reality be darned! The simple trick is to reveal a pea hidden under a shell and then make the onlookers guess under which shell it is hidden, as the con artist slyly pushes the shells around to misdirect the eye. Every politician knows, some far better than others, how to hide the dirty pea under a shell and confuse the voter about where it went. Every party has their favourite shell: the ruling BJP is on a loop, stuck on the Congress; the Trinamul Congress and Mamata Banerjee are stuck on the BJP and the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), while the Congress may have finally got its act together. The new edition of the Congress includes a president who is a lifelong party worker but is not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, and a leader who is not the president. Through 2023, the most fiercely monitored leaders will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, in his new avatar, after walking and talking his way across India. The Bharat Jodo Yatra began as a declaration of intent, to uncover the united, diverse and tolerant spirit that permeates the essential Indian and focus peoples attention on their power to raise their voices against the growing misery of their lives trapped in a cost-of-living crisis. No one expected Rahul Gandhi to actually walk, undistracted and uninterrupted, for over 100 days covering 3,500-odd kilometers before reaching New Delhi. As he walked closer to the national capital, his status changed. He has become a popular and principled politician, intent on confronting the carefully constructed catalogue of Hindu and religious majoritarian grievances against the Other, categorised as the Muslim minority. Instead of telling people to barricade themselves behind saffron barriers strung with the lotus and plastered with images of a militant monarch, that is, Lord Ram with his arrow ready to be let loose, Rahul Gandhi proved that neither fear nor hate is the pervasive spirit, that people are grimly coping with the problems of survival, including hunger, unemployment, joblessness, cutbacks in income and economic blight. In 2023, these two narratives Bharat Jodo versus Bharat Todo will confront each other in nine separate state elections across India, from the Northeast, where Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura will vote, to the heartland, where Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will vote, down into the peninsula where Karnataka and Telangana will vote. In nine different political arenas, the popularity of Narendra Modi will be tested, as will his performance in defending India against a potentially hostile neighbour, who has been encroaching on the Indian space with regularity through 2021 and 2022. This and the BJPs spiel about unifying India for development through establishing a hegemony of a One Nation-One Party by setting up double engine sarkars will be judged across nine different geographies, because Indias diversity is as much a fact of nature as it is of culture and civilisation. Till Rahul Gandhi walked himself into the popular imagination, overshadowing him was easy and using the Congress as a punching bag of every imagined or real past act of omission and commission was politically convenient. It has suddenly become less easy for Narendra Modi to paint himself as the superstar, because Rahul Gandhi is not as light a political weight as before. Nor is Rahul Gandhi, as a leader, burdened by his record of achievements and failures as the head of an elected government. Narendra Modi, on the contrary, has a record. He was chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014; he has been Prime Minister since 2014, for almost nine years now. He has had to lead and handle the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, a global health crisis of unprecedented proportions. The tanking global economy has shored up Indias image and allowed it to claim to be the fastest growing economy in 2022, but it is a hollow triumph. The reality, and every citizen is facing it, is very different. Therefore, Narendra Modi and the BJP will have to work on generating a new version of the old Congress tale, of a family enterprise the only purpose of which is to guarantee the uncontested ascent of the Gandhi scion. The BJP and Mr Modi will need to calibrate the tale of a Congress in its death throes and the BJP as the only national alternative, because the Bharat Jodo Yatra has proved conclusively that the Congress, though currently dormant, is far from extinguished. Whether Rahul Gandhi will have the stamina to engage Prime Minister Modi over the next 18 months in the inevitable grind of state Assembly electoral contests up until the 2024 Lok Sabha is anybodys guess, given his past record as an adept at the vanishing trick. Even if he does disappear, albeit temporarily, he will nevertheless be the persona that Mr Modi will have to fight, as a very large, if shadowy figure, in the reconstructed stage following the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the undeniable exuberance that has bubbled up as he trekked through rural India. In the run up to 2024, the two ideological constructs of India secular, heterogeneous, democratic and free-willed on the one hand versus shuttered, aggressively Hindutvavadi though Muslim fearing and so armed with hate and spite, determinedly homogenising even of Hindu practice, on the other, will confront each other. Both Mr Modi and the BJP have mastered the art of the three-shell game. It remains to be seen how skilled the Congress and the other regional Opposition parties are in the sleight of hand and misdirection of attention in countering Mr Modi and his promise of a lotus revolution. He didn't know her name or the colour of her hair, but when a monk accidentally touched her sleeve, a nun who had dedicated decades of her life to God decided the spark was enough to leave her strict religious order. Sister Mary Elizabeth, 50, born Lisa Tinkler, led a quiet live at a convent in Preston, Lancashire, which belonged to the Carmelite Roman Catholic religious order, from the age of 19. In 2015, she met Friar Robert, a Carmelite monk visiting from Oxford, and they accidentally brushed sleeves - a small gesture charged with chemistry that caused them to leave their lives behind and chase love. Seven years on, the couple, who are now married and live in North Yorkshire, shared their story with BBC Radio 4's Beyond Belief, revealing that although they struggled with their decision to leave the Carmelites, they don't regret it. Lisa revealed that the pair met by chance in autumn 2015 during Robert's visit to her convent when the prioress took her to meet the visiting monk to see if he wanted anything to eat. They were left alone when the prioress left to take a phone call in another room, but didn't speak. Up until then, Robert and Lisa had never interacted, and she had simply heard him preach at mass during his occasional visits to the priory. When Robert moved to leave the room, Lisa's sleeve brushed against his, which she said unleashed a jolt of energy. Lisa joined the order at 19 and spent 24 years in service, only being allowed to speak for two half hour a day The pair are now married and live in North Yorkshire, where Lisa is a hospital chaplain and Robert a Vicar While she is no longer a Carmelite nun, Lisa is still involved in her town's religious community and works as a chaplain 'I just felt a chemistry there, something, and I was a bit embarrassed. And I thought, gosh, did he feel that too. And as I let him out the door it was quite awkward,' she said. After Robert too had felt a spark, the pair began thinking about each other more and more and developed romantic feelings. A week later, Robert sent Lisa a note asking her if she would leave the order to marry him. Looking back, Lisa recalled the turmoil she felt as she tried to understand her feelings for Robert - not to mention the shock of receiving Robert's message despite not knowing her birth name, nor the colour of her hair when he asked for her hand in marriage. Up until that point, she had been leading a solitary life as a nun in the convent for 24 years, after joining the order in her late teens. The strict order, which dates back to the 12th century, sees its nuns lead a reclusive life. Lisa, whose interest in religion was born when she was six following a relative's trip to Lourdes, recounted only speaking for two and a half hours each day when she lived at the convent. The rest of the time was spent on her own in her cell, in contemplative silence, which caused her vocabulary to decrease with the years. While she was content with her life in the convent, after her encounter with Robert, Lisa struggled with her feelings. 'I didn't know what it feels like to be in love and I thought the sisters could see it in my face. So I became quite nervous. I could feel the change in me and that scared me,' she said. Eventually, she confessed her feelings for Robert to her prioress, who couldn't understand how she could have fallen in love with the monk in just a week and without any interactions. Lisa wondered how her bishop, the rest of her religious order and her own family would react to her decision to leave the church. She also was worried about how it would affect her relationship with God. However, the prioress's curt reaction to her news convinced her to pack the few belongings she had and to leave the convent to meet Robert at a pub called Black Bull. She said she instantly began to struggle with her faith as she left the convent, admitting she even thought of taking her own life, but got the courage to follow through on her decision when she caught a glimpse of Robert through the pub's window. Robert, who was born and raised in Poland but came to London and joined the Carmelite order in 2002, admitted that he shared her fears about starting a marriage in his fifties, but the couple went ahead with their decision. Robert in his vestments. The couple stressed that their faith is at the centre of everything they do and that they are both devoted to god However, in spite of the connection they felt, they still struggled with life outside the priory. Lisa admitted the couple felt particularly low during the first Christmas they spent away from monastic life in 2015. She added the couple felt like Shakespearean star-crossed lovers and thought about ending it because the start of their relationship outside of the order was so hard to bear. She recounted a moment where the pair both cried at the job centre when they were asked if they had any transferable skills. They had another emotional moment when Robert bought and translated a book written in Polish about nuns who left their order. The couple stopped on the side of the M62 to cry together as they read the stories that they found were so relatable to their own situation. However, they managed to find balance in their new lives by reconnecting with their faith outside of the priory. 'All through your religious life, you're told your heart is supposed to be undivided and given to God. Suddenly I felt like my heart was expanding to hold Robert, but I realised it also held everything else that I had. And I didn't feel any different about God, and that was reassuring to me,' Lisa said. Robert was told he could no longer be a member of the Carmelite order, but soon joined the Church of England and is now a vicar in the village of Hutton Rudby in North Yorkshire, where the couple live. Lisa worked in a funeral home before becoming a hospital chaplain and admitted she is now getting used to trying on different clothes and different hairstyles after spending 24 years in the religious habit. She admitted that if it weren't for Robert, she would return to her convent life in a heartbeat, because she got used to the silence of monastic life and struggles to keep herself grounded in the modern world. The former nun said she looks at her life with Robert as two Carmelites living together and devoting their lives to God. She added that Christ is at the centre of her and Robert's marriage and at the centre of everything the couple does. Read more: Sarah Ferguson shares emotional New Year's poem to the late Queen, saying her 'dearest friend' is now 'free' but 'tucked in our hearts' Generous teacher creates monster toys for her students based on their drawings for Christmas - and warms the hearts of thousands High-flying lawyer whose burnout led to weight loss, chronic anxiety and her hair falling out reveals how she finally got her health back after spending a fortune looking for answers Royal expert Jennie Bond has warned Prince Harry needs to decide what he actually wants - amid reports the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William will struggle to 'reconcile after his tell-all memoir'. Speaking on GB News ahead of the release of Harry's book Spare, Ms Bond said: 'I think even that title is very revealing. But I want to know, what is it that Harry wants? 'Feuds between brothers, between siblings, go back as far as Cain and Abel if you like. There's nothing new about that. So, what did Harry want? Did he want the destiny into which William was born? Does he want to be King? I think not.' Insiders fear the strained relationship between the brothers is likely to be further damaged by attacks on the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate, both 40, in the controversial book, due out next week. Royal expert Jennie Bond (pictured) has warned Prince Harry needs to decide what he actually wants - amid reports the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William will struggle to 'reconcile after his tell-all memoir' Ms Bond said: 'I think that [Harry] doesn't like very much about the way the institution of our monarchy works. 'I don't think he'd like the fact that his wings will be clipped even further like his father's have been now that he is monarch. I don't think he'd like anything about it.' Urging Harry to reflect on history, she continued: 'Look back if you like to George the sixth and his brother Edward the eighth, who abdicated and handed this chalice to his brother Bertie. 'His wife, the Queen mother, was crying, when they knew this was to be their destiny. She didn't want him to be King. So, what is it that Harry wants?' Insiders fear the strained relationship between the brothers (pictured in September) is likely to be further damaged by attacks on the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate, both 40, in the controversial book, due out next week The Duke's book is said to be so tough on the Prince of Wales that insiders fear the sibling relationship, which has been strained considerably since Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping back from their royal duties, will not recover. A source told the Sunday Times: 'Generally, I think the book [will be] worse for them than the Royal Family is expecting. Everything is laid bare. 'Charles comes out of it better than it had expected, but it's tough on William, in particular, and even Kate gets a bit of a broadside. 'There are these minute details, and a description of the fight between the brothers. I personally can't see how Harry and William will be able to reconcile after this.' The Duke of Sussex is expected to claim in Spare how unfair it was that he was always forced to play 'second fiddle' to his older brother, who is the heir to the British throne. The King is said to fare better than his eldest son, but is already wounded by criticisms of him and other senior royals in Harry's Netflix series with wife Meghan. Sources say that while the King is deeply hurt and bewildered by Harry's actions, he is still keen to keep a line of communication open, however guarded. 'Whether Prince William would be so receptive is another question,' one source said. 'Things are hanging by a thread as it is after the past few months, and from the sounds of it Harry's memoir is unlikely to help.' The Daily Mail has previously reported that while friends find it hard to believe that the brothers will never talk again after all they have been through, William feels betrayed and angered by his brother's constant attacks on the Royal Family. There is also deep concern that anything they say privately could be made public by Harry or Meghan. While Buckingham Palace is refusing to comment or get caught up in a 'pointless tit for tat' public row with the Sussexes, there is a degree of 'apprehension' about Harry's memoir. Prince William, then Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a service at Westminster Abbey on November 11, 2018 The book will effectively be about the sibling rivalry between Princes Harry and William, a source told the Sun. They said it will reveal that Harry's 'bitterness and feelings of unfairness' due to his older brother's birthright to become King means he has always 'played second fiddle to older William'. But their mother Princess Diana warned the siblings they 'must never fall out' as they would need each other, the source said adding that it was 'very sad' their falling out had got this far. Prince Harry's highly anticipated memoir will be entitled 'Spare' and is set to be released on January 10, publisher Penguin Random House confirmed Spare is written by JR Moehringer, a Pulitzer prize-winning former journalist who was also the ghost writer for Andre Agassi's best-selling autobiography. The book's publisher Penguin Random House claims that it will be a 'landmark publication', telling his story with 'raw, unflinching honesty'. Harry is also expected to give two high-profile television interviews to promote it. He has reportedly already recorded an ITV interview in California with its News At Ten presenter Tom Bradby, a former royal correspondent who has known both William and Harry for decades. The second television interview will be with broadcaster CBS in the US. It will be conducted by news anchor Anderson Cooper and is set to be shown on Sunday. Publishing sources also said Harry was expected to do at least one newspaper interview, potentially with The New York Times. Buckingham Palace is expected to maintain its silence about his accusations. But they are unlikely to end with his memoir. After quitting as working royals, Harry and Meghan struck lucrative deals with Netflix, Spotify and Penguin Random House which commit them to further projects. Their publishing deal is understood to be for four books, which could include a bombshell memoir by Meghan. The duchess, 41, is known to have kept a personal diary while she was in Britain. She has previously released a children's book, The Bench, with the same publisher and the couple are said to be working on a book about 'wellness'. But some have warned there could be a danger of over-exposure, following their Oprah interview, the Netflix series and Harry's memoir. One senior Hollywood executive told The Mail on Sunday: 'If I was advising her I would caution against releasing a book too quickly because there is a very real danger that people will start experiencing 'Sussex fatigue'. 'There comes a point where people might feel they've heard the same stories too many times. They have to change the narrative at some stage and focus on the future rather than the past.' Read more: after he developed blood clots in his legs and lungs A smiling Al Roker raised a glass of champagne with his family as they celebrated New Year's Eve together after the star spent four weeks in hospital undergoing treatment for blood clots. The acclaimed Today Show host was pictured smiling broadly as he raised his champagne glass with his family members in a photo shared by his wife Deborah Roberts. Roker, 68, can be seen leaning forwards and smiling in the photo, which Deborah. 62, captioned with: 'Happy New Year!' The news anchor is recovering at home following a recent health scare that saw him hospitalized twice in the space of four weeks. A smiling Al Roker raised a glass of champagne with his family as they celebrated New Year's Eve together after the star spent four weeks in hospital undergoing treatment for blood clots Al Roker was pictured with his wife Deborah Roberts during the festive season following his return home from hospital The weatherman was first taken to hospital in November after he developed blood clots in his legs and lungs. He was released on Thanksgiving and spent the holiday with his family, but was rushed back to hospital a day later due to 'complications'. On Christmas Day, Roker shared his gratitude for 'another Christmas with his family' in an Instagram post of himself and his family in matching festive pajamas. He thanked everyone who 'prayed' for him amid his terrifying health scare. 'So grateful to have experienced another Christmas and to be with my family,' he said. 'We make assumptions and plans and they can [be] upended in an instant. You think you are grateful and show gratitude. 'And then, you realize, suddenly, that the depth of those words are so much deeper. I can never thank all of you who prayed for us enough.' The weatherman (pictured) was first taken to hospital in November after he developed blood clots in his legs and lungs. He was released on Thanksgiving and spent the holiday with his family, but was rushed back to hospital a day later due to 'complications' In a series of posts, the news anchor gave his followers an inside look into his Christmas celebrations, which he spent with his 62-year-old wife, Deborah Roberts, and their three children - Courtney, 35, Leila, 24, and Nicholas, 20 - as well as Courtney's husband Wesley Laga, 32. One photo showed the family all wearing matching Christmas pajamas, while another saw Leila and Nicholas baking cookies together. Other pictures showed the family enjoying a walk together surrounded by snow. Days earlier, Roker posted pictures of him and his family decorating a Christmas tree together, and he once again shared his appreciation for being able to be with his family following his hospitalization. 'So thankful to be well enough to decorate the Roker Family,' he captioned the post. Thankful: Al Roker shared his gratitude for 'another Christmas with his family' after spending four weeks in the hospital undergoing treatment for blood clots Days earlier, the weatherman posted some images of him and his family decorating a Christmas tree together After spending four weeks in total at the hospital, Roker went home on December 8, and four days later, made his virtual return to the Today show. During the appearance, which was broadcasted from the kitchen of his New York City apartment, he said he was getting stronger each day as he shared an important update on his health. 'There is a certain amount of weakness. I'm doing physical therapy every day, and occupational therapy. I've got to get my strength back,' he said. 'But I feel good. I feel strong. Every day is a little better than the last, and I made dinner last night. 'I just feel like there's gonna be a little bit of a slog. But there are people who have to deal with a lot more with a lot fewer resources. I'm very fortunate and very blessed to have the resources.' In addition, he thanked his co-stars for visiting him at the hospital, adding: 'You guys have been terrific coming by the hospital. After spending four weeks in total at the hospital, he went home on December 8, and four days later, made his virtual return to the Today show (pictured) Al Roker was released on Thanksgiving in time to spend the holiday with his family, but was rushed back a day later due to 'complications.' He is seen earlier this month 'Hoda [Kotb] was actually, I think, named as an honorary doctor. She would literally show up. She did a "Ho-dini," the way she would just be there.' 'We miss you so much Al. The crowd misses you. There is not a day that we don't go out there that people aren't holding up signs: "Where is Al?", "We want Al!," Savannah Guthrie told him. 'It's good to be home. It is good to see your faces,' he responded. 'It has been a tough slog, I'm not going to lie, it has been the hardest one yet and you know I have had my share of surgeries.' Following his return home, Roker was surprised by his fellow Today stars who showed up at his door to sing some holiday songs to him. He immediately started grinning from ear to ear upon seeing his co-stars, but his smile soon turned to tears as he became overcome by emotion. Al Roker broke down in tears as his Today show co-stars serenaded him with Christmas carols days after he returned home following a terrifying health scare and a four-week hospital stay In addition to hosts Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, Dylan Dreyer, Sheinelle Jones, and Craig Melvin, all the crew who work on the show were also there Roker covered his mouth and started to cry, as he looked around at all the people who had come to show him some love. And while the journalist was choked up at first, his 'signature wit' quickly made an appearance. 'Its impressive you did that without a prompter,' he joked, before adding, 'Ive missed you all so, so very much, all these faces. 'It just means the world to me and to our family and my [wife] Deborah, whos just been my rock. I thank you so much. I really appreciated it. I love you more than youll ever know.' Al's medical emergency comes over two years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2020. At the time, a routine physical revealed he had elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a screening tool for early detection. A biopsy later confirmed he had a more aggressive form of the disease, but, because it was caught early, it could be easily removed with surgery at New York City's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The Today Show star went public with his diagnosis on the show on November 6, 2020, three days before he underwent a five-hour surgery. A week later, he received a pathology report that found there was no evidence of cancer in his body outside of his prostate, which he had surgically removed along with the surrounding lymph nodes. Roker continues to undergo regular testing to ensure his cancer hasn't returned. In June, he opened up about how his children Courtney, Leila, and Nick reacted to his cancer diagnosis while filming a Father's Day segment. 'It was the first time I saw fear in my children's eyes. I mean, they started crying,' he told his co-stars and fellow dads Daly and Craig Melvin at Coney Island's Luna Park. 'At the end of the day, that's all you wanna do is protect them and shield them from hurt and/or harm,' he explained. 'And at that moment, I realized you can't always do that. But you can do the best you can.' 'Thats what I know our fathers did,' he added, looking at Melvin, 43, and Daly, 49. 'And thats all we can do.' Strangers on the internet have come together to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Buffalo woman and a mentally-disabled man - who she saved during Buffalo's deadly snowstorm last month. Sha'Kyra Aughtry was at her home in Buffalo, New York, when she suddenly heard someone screaming for help on the morning of Christmas Eve. Sha'Kyra and her boyfriend, Trent, ran outside and discovered Joey 'Joe' White, a 64-year-old local movie theater worker, laying in a pile of snow and suffering from severe frostbite. Joe was completed covered in ice and was 'so frozen' that Sha'Kyra and Trent had to 'cut his socks off and use a hairdryer' to attempt to warm his pants, which were stuck to his legs, per a social media post shared by Sha'Kyra about the incident. Strangers on the internet have come together to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Buffalo woman and a mentally-disabled man - who she saved during Buffalo's snowstorm Sha'Kyra Aughtry (seen) was at her home in Buffalo, New York, when she suddenly heard someone screaming for help on the morning of Christmas Eve Sha'Kyra and her boyfriend ran outside and discovered Joey 'Joe' White (seen in the snow), a 64-year-old movie theater worker, laying in a pile of snow and suffering from severe frostbite Joe was completed covered in ice and was 'so frozen' that Sha'Kyra and Trent had to 'cut his socks off and use a hairdryer' to attempt to warm his pants, which were stuck to his legs, The couple also had to use giant shearing clippers to cut a ring off his finger, which was swollen and turning black from gangrene, as well as cut the straps of a bag that he had been holding which had froze to his hands. After finding the man, Sha'Kyra shared a video to Facebook pleading for help in getting him transported to a hospital amid the horrific blizzard, explaining that medical personal hadn't been able to get to her home but that 'he needs medical attention.' Sha'Kyra took care of his wounds, fed him, bathed him - and ultimately saved his life. He was eventually taken to Erie County Medical Center, where doctors said he suffered from numerous fourth-degree burns on his arms and hands, and would have almost certainly died had Sha'Kyra and her boyfriend not stepped in to help. Soon after, a friend of Joe's named Chris Dearing set up GoFundMe pages for both Joe and Sha'Kyra - urging people to donate to the woman who saved his pal with her 'generous spirit and fierce determination.' He has now raised more than $174,000 for Sha'Kyra and $97,000 for Joe - equating to around $271,000 in total. 'Around noon on Christmas Eve, Sha'Kyra called to let me know she opened her home early that morning to Joe White, my friend and North Park employee of around 40 years, after he appeared in a daze outside her door, crying out for help,' he wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'His hands were brutally frostbitten, and emergency vehicles had no way of reaching her location. 'Without hesitation, she put aside her family's plans for Christmas and treated his sores as best she could. The couple also had to use giant shearing clippers to cut a ring off his finger, which was swollen and turning black from gangrene After finding the man, Sha'Kyra shared a video to Facebook pleading for help in getting him transported to a hospital amid the horrific blizzard He was eventually taken to Erie County Medical Center, where doctors said he suffered from numerous fourth-degree burns on his arms and hands 'As the storm wound down, she rallied the support of strangers online, and she found a way to get Joe to ECMC. 'Without her generous spirit and fierce determination to get Joe help, my friend would be dead. 'Sha'Kyra did all of this without any thought of reward, but she deserves one, and so does her family. 'She's a hard-working young mother, and I want to show her at least a fraction of the support she gave my friend Joe.' Joe's sister, Yvonne White, told Good Morning America in a recent interview that her brother is still in the intensive care unit and that his condition has not yet improved. 'It's just touch and go. It's stable. I mean, his hands are completely wrapped, his fingertips are still purple,' she said. 'But today he was in a pretty good mood.' She explained to the outlet that her brother was walking home from work when he got stuck in the storm. But she added that because he has 'no concept of time' it's hard to know how long he had been out in the cold. She previously told The Buffalo News in an interview that Joe is developmentally disabled and has the mental capacity of an 11-year-old child. He lives in a group home located a few blocks from Sha'Kyra. Soon after, a friend of Joe's set up GoFundMe pages for both Joe and Sha'Kyra - urging people to donate to the woman who saved his pal with her 'generous spirit and fierce determination' He has now raised more than $174,000 for Sha'Kyra and $97,000 for Joe - equating to around $271,000 in total Doctors say Joe would have almost certainly died had Sha'Kyra and her boyfriend not stepped in to help. He is seen being transported to the hospital Joe's sister, Yvonne White, explained that her brother was walking home from his job at North Park Theater (seen) when he got stuck in the storm 'He can read, somewhat. He's very sociable,' she explained. 'He likes talking to people, likes meeting people, very outgoing.' She added: 'What Sha'kyra did... Feeding him, bathing him, helping him go to the bathroom on Christmas Eve and Christmas. It's just astronomical.' On the GoFundMe page for Joe, his friend Chris said that he's in 'good spirits' but it's 'still too early to know' what will happen with his hands. Yvonne previously told The Buffalo News in an interview that Joe is developmentally disabled and has the mental capacity of an 11-year-old child. He lives in a group home located a few blocks from Sha'Kyra 'All funds generated here will be spent on Joe's most pressing medical needs,' he wrote. 'If by some miracle he leaves the hospital without lasting complications, the funds will go toward improving his day-to-day care at home, ensuring nothing like this happens again. 'We couldn't be there for him that night in the snow, but we can be there for him now.' Joe's manager at the movie theater - where he has worked since 1980 - Ray Barker, told GMA that the 'worst case scenario' is that they may have to amputate a finger, and he will also likely need a skin graft. Buffalo received a record-breaking 51 inches of snow across two days during the gruesome storm, and at least 64 people were killed. Yvonne said that the 'silver lining' of the terrifying ordeal was that she gained a 'sister' in Sha'Kyra. 'Sha'Kyra and I will be sisters no matter what,' she gushed. If you enjoyed this article... A woman revealed simple Uber safety hacks to help you in dangerous situations A cleaning expert shared her 'foolproof' way to sanitize leather furniture in seconds An etiquette expert spoke about all the bad habits you should ditch in 2023, like lying to get out of a function and having your phone out while company is over Zara Tindall looked to her cousin Princess Beatrice for fashion inspiration as she stepped out at Cheltenham Racecourse yesterday. The daughter of Princess Anne wrapped up in a stylish coat by The Fold, which has been seen previously on her cousin the Duke of York's daughter, 34. The 41-year-old donned the indigo coat, which is named 'Finchley' and features metal crest buttons, pockets and ruffle feature at the back, and paired it with with Fairfax & Favor knee-high boots, a Lalage Beaumont bag and Somerset Millinery trilby. Princess Beatrice, wore the same collarless coat in a camel shade last year when she attended the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey hosted by the Princess of Wales with her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 39. Zara Tindall, 41, (pictured) wore an indigo dress coat from The Fold while enjoying New Year's Day at Cheltenham Racecourse The 650 coat is a firm favourite among royals and was even seen on Pippa Middelton in forest green at the same carol concert as Prince Andrew's daughter. The brand has rocketed in popularity since starting up in a discreet Chelsea boutique in 2012, designed to feel like a 'members club', where it offers personal services to its clients - which include the likes of Kate Middleton, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Holly Willouhby. And the reappearance on Zara has proved just why the stylish royal women had chosen the elegant coat, which boasts a flattering nipped-in hemline with black Fold logo buttons. The tailored waist flows into a mid-length soft flared skirt, and is designed to fit perfectly over dresses. Princess Beatrice, 34, (left) wore the same coat as the daughter of Princess Anne (right) in camel in 2021 for a carol concert at Westminster Abbey, hosted by the Princess of Wales Pippa Middleton (pictured) wore the same coat from The Fold in forest green in 2021 at the same carol concert as Princess Beatrice Princess Beatrice opted for a velvet headband and coordinating clutch bag with midnight blue shoes when she wore the coat in 2021. The Fold was co-founded by former financier Polly McMaster, whose mission was to make women look 'as smart as a man in his bespoke suit'. Its popularity no doubt lies in its clever design which boasts a 'contouring' wrapped waistline to give the illusion of a slimmer figure and a flattering, fit-and-flare silhouette. With prices for a dress starting at 165, it's certainly not a budget brand but is still affordable enough to compete for custom with the likes of Reiss, L.K.Bennett and Hobbs. Zara Tindall with her eight-year-old daughter Mia at Cheltenham Racecourse on New Year's Day The brand has also received the royal seal of approval from the Duchess of Cambridge, who first wore one of its smart grey dresses to visit a rehab centre at Send women's prison in 2015. In 2018 'Camelot' dress boasted a waiting list of 700 as women scrambled to get their hands on one after it sold out in every size in just 30 minutes. The blush pink, fit-and-flare dress costs 275 and has consistently sold out season after season, with TV presenter Holly Willoughby boosting sales after wearing it live on air. Zara, enjoyed her day at Cheltenham racecourses with her husband Mike Tindall, 44 and their two daughters Mia, eight and Lena, four. Zara with her four-year-old daughter Lena at Cheltenham Racecourse. Zara wore a Somerset Millinery trilby The daughter of Princess Anne could be seen carrying her Lalage Beaumont 'Odette Mini Palmellato Bag in Wine' which retails for 750 The daughter of Princess Anne could be seen carrying her Lalage Beaumont 'Odette Mini Palmellato Bag in Wine' which retails for 750. Zara first debuted this handbag at Cheltenham in January last year in 2022, and later wore it at the same festival in March, and later on Christmas Day in 2022. The mother-of-three accessorised with simple gold hoop earrings, her 140k engagement ring and a Rolex watch. READ MORE: Sharing a stylist? Princess Beatrice and Pippa Middleton wore the SAME 645 collarless coat by royal go-to brand The Fold for charity Christmas carol concert Seeing double! Princess Beatrice and Sophie Windsor wore same 775 Beulah London dress in different colours to St Paul's thanksgiving service New year, same cheeky children! Mia Tindall, 8, and sister Lena, 4, prove a handful for parents Zara and Mike as they cheer on horses at Cheltenham Racecourse Narcissists had their 'year in the sun' in 2022, according to Politico magazine - which named Meghan Markle, Donald Trump, Kanye West, Elizabeth Holmes and Sam Bankman-Fried among some of the worst offenders from the past 12 months. But how can we spot partners, friends or colleagues who have this self-centered personality style? Dr Greg Kushnick, a New York-based psychologist who doesn't endorse Politico's views, revealed to DailyMail.com 10 traits that narcissists typically display and the best ways of handling such characters. From a lack of empathy to a preoccupation with their own talents, read on for Dr Kushnik's narcissistic telltale signs... Dr Greg Kushnick, a New York-based psychologist revealed to DailyMail.com 10 traits that narcissists typically display and the best ways of handling such characters (stock image) 1. An obsession with power and success Many narcissistic people are obsessed with gaining power and success. They seem like they will do anything to get ahead and they will have no qualms about hurting people in the process. Typically they will try and control others for their personal gain. They might employ unethical tactics to get what they want, by lying or cutting corners. 2. A need for admiration Like peacocks, some narcissists will strut around in a bid to get admiration and attention from others and they have an exaggerated sense of self-importance. They might demonstrate a range of attention seeking behaviors in order to get the attention they think they feel they deserve or need. It could involve everything from wearing expensive attire to driving a flashy sportscar. The attention helps hide their actual fears of not being good enough or undesirable. However, there are just as many covert narcissists as there are overt narcissists. Surprisingly, there are just as many narcissists who are not out there in the public spotlight. They suffer behind closed doors. Narcissists had their 'year in the sun' in 2022, Politico magazine said, with Meghan Markle (seen), Donald Trump, Kanye West, and Elizabeth Holmes named among the worst offenders HOW TO DEAL WITH A NARCISSIST Dr Greg Kushnick is a New York-based psychologist Dr Kushnick serves up three suggestions around coping with a narcissist both on the personal and professional front: Know thyself Learn what really matters to you - your values, interests and opinions. This will allow you to notice when a narcissist is questioning your reality or trying to make you doubt yourself. More importantly, know your worth so it can't be questioned. Therapy is a great way to achieve greater self-awareness and learn what really matters to you. Learn your boundaries Know your limits and learn to recognize when your limits are being ignored or questioned. Decide what you're willing to do and what is considered unacceptable. Knowing your boundaries allows you to stand by your limits and not feel guilty or self- doubting when a narcissist takes advantage of you or pushes things to an uncomfortable place. Don't share feelings Avoid sharing your feelings with a narcissist. They will view that as weakness and ignore the point you're trying to make. Speak from a place of choice. Instead of saying, 'I feel hurt and sad because you keep putting me down so I have to protect myself and pull back,' take the feeling out of it. Instead, declare, 'I choose to distance myself from you. It's not working for me.' Advertisement 3. Instilling self-doubt Narcissistic individuals tend to use self-doubt as a weapon. They will question or criticize you to make you doubt yourself, which gives them power over you. The biggest thing that they do is to play on your insecurities and weaknesses. They will take note of things you mention, whether it's an insecurity about your weight or your performance at work, and play on this at a later date to belittle you. 4. Lacking empathy Narcissistic people lack empathy for others and they have trouble connecting to other people's situations. It really is the case of simply not caring, especially if someone's thoughts or feelings do not match their own. This can be scary to witness as they will refuse to understand, listen or be there to support the other party. 5. It's all about them If you share a story or comment around a narcissist, they will do their best to make the whole thing all about themselves. This self-referential behavior is another form of control and attention seeking. It can be very tiring as it is almost impossible to get a word in edgeways once they have taken control of the conversation. 6. A habit of gaslighting If you get to know a narcissist well, especially in the context of a romantic relationship, they might make a habit of gaslighting you, which involves bullying you into questioning your own reality, and wondering if you're losing your sanity. This is achieved by constantly challenging your version of the truth, distorting facts and creating a false narrative. 7. A sense of entitlement People with narcissistic traits believe they deserve special treatment and they are preoccupied with their own talents, which they tend to over-celebrate. They have a strong self-belief that they are more important and better than others. This can be intimidating. 8. They're always right Narcissistic people love to make others wrong. They like to be right. They freely judge others, especially when they feel challenged or one-upped. If you're in a relationship with this person, it can make you feel bad about yourself and impact your self image, as you will feel like you're always in the wrong. 9. They're skilled at 'future faking' In relationships, narcissists often engage in future faking. They promise the world to you after knowing them for a short time. They convince you that you will travel the world together or some other unbelievable promise, but eventually you get mic dropped. They suddenly leave when you were just naming your children with them. In other words, they say whatever they need to say to get you hooked on them and the relationship, but it doesn't end well. 10. It's all take, take, take If you're a co-worker, friend or lover with a narcissist you will find that you are constantly serving their needs with limited or no reciprocity. Being in a relationship with a narcissist can therefore be a particularly thankless task. You might offer emotional support or shower them with gifts but don't expect anything in return. The narcissist will take, take, take without stopping to say thank you. If you enjoyed reading this article... Memo to Meghan: From a writer banished by her father-in-law for being 'unspeakably vulgar'... Letting your husband take your side against his family never ends well Does your partner ALWAYS have to take centre stage? Body language expert reveals six signs your dating a narcissist Princess Diana told her confidante Richard Kay it was his 'duty' to learn more about Dodi Fayed's background and his use of cocaine A father was left outraged when his family received a measly three pieces of meat and some orange juice after they ordered a 30-piece chicken bucket from KFC on Deliveroo. Steve Hunt, from Norwich, was excited for the celebratory meal, which he decided to splash out for after getting a new job as a wellbeing coordinator. The family-of-four said they were 'starving' with their mouths 'watering at the prospect of a delivery from the Colonel'. However, Steve, 48, his wife Syreeta and their children - Myro, 15, and Sonny, 12 - were deeply disappointed by the 'burnt scraps' they got, alongside a beverage they didn't even order. A father was left outraged when his family (pictured) received a measly three pieces of meat and some orange juice after they ordered a 30-piece chicken bucket from KFC on Deliveroo The 36.99 Matchday Party Bucket was meant to contain 30 pieces of chicken - a 14-piece party bucket along with 8 mini fillets and 8 hot wings - and a large portion of popcorn chicken. It was also meant to come with six portions of fries, a large tub of coleslaw, a large serving of gravy, and a 1.5-litre bottle of Pepsi. To make matters worse, Steve said that after contacting KFC and Deliveroo, he was told that no refund or new order would be possible as his had already 'been fulfilled'. He explained that the portion was so tawdry, his wife initially thought he'd ended up just ordering the meal for himself. Steve, 48, his wife Syreeta and their children - Myro, 15, and Sonny, 12 - were deeply disappointed by the 'burnt scraps' they got, alongside a beverage they didn't even order (pictured) 'I had just got a new job and we were celebrating with a KFC,' Steve revealed. 'I went through and looked at the bucket - which has three bits of chicken in it and a couple of burnt scraps. 'I went to open the bag and all that was there was a tiny bottle of orange juice, which we hadn't even ordered.' He added: 'Where were the other 27 bits of chicken, the popcorn chicken, the fries, the gravy, the coleslaw, the Pepsi?' The family decided to snub KFC and ordered a McDonald's instead - having to fork out another 30. To make matters worse, Steve said that after contacting KFC and Deliveroo, he was told that no refund or new order would be possible as his had already 'been fulfilled' Steve admitted he feels that 'Colonel Sanders has really let us down', dubbing the experience 'the worst culinary miscarriage of justice of all time'. A spokesman for Deliveroo apologised to Steve and his family, giving them a full refund as well as 50 in credit. The spokesman said: 'We're sorry to hear that Mr Hunt didn't have a great experience with his order. We've now refunded Mr Hunt and apologise for the disappointment - and would like to wish him all the best in his new job.' A KFC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We're really sorry that Steve and his family were disappointed with their order, this is certainly not up to the Colonel's high standards, we'll check in with the team to see what happened and make sure this doesn't happen again. 'Our partners at Deliveroo have offered Steve and his family a full refund and a 50 voucher to help make things right.' READ MORE: I'm a TikTok foodie, here's how to make a McDonald's sweet chilli chicken wrap in your air fryer! Ex McDonald's employee shares her 'hack' for saving money on your next meal: 'I used to do this all the time' Kentucky Fried Christmas! While you tuck into turkey, KFCs across Japan will be packed with diners who have ordered WEEKS in advance Foodies with a sweet tooth have been going wild as Krispy Kreme announced the launch of two new doughnuts at just 195 calories each for the New Year. The two new flavours will sit alongside the iconic Original Glazed, making up a new tempting low calorie trio, and will be available for a limited time until 29 January. The flavours, Berry Burst and Lemon Crunch has landed in Krispy Kreme shops, supermarket cabinets, Welcome Break, Road Chef, Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Many doughnut fans online went wild over the tasty bakes, with one commenting: 'Forget the calories I'm going for a dozen all for myself!' Foodies with a sweet tooth have been going wild as Krispy Kreme announced the launch of two new doughnuts at just 195 calories each for the New Year The Berry Burst Krispy Kreme describes itself as fruity, flavourful take on the classic ring doughnut. It has been dipped in raspberry icing glaze and topped with raspberry flavoured meringue pieces and fruity sugar sprinkles. While the Lemon Crunch doughnut is dipped in lemon icing glaze and topped with lemon sugar sprinkles and lemon flavoured meringue pieces. The new 195 KCAL doughnuts will retail at 2.35 each or 10.80 for a six pack of all three low calorie flavours. The new flavours, Berry Burst and Lemon Crunch will be available for a limited time until 29 January (left and right) Fans quickly went wild for the doughnuts online, with one commenting: '@krispykremeuk it's the week between Christmas and New Years, calories don't count.' It was only a few months ago that Krispy Kreme launched in McDonald's, with flavours including chocolate iced with sprinkles and raspberry filled. The company wanted to see how new products on its menu fared against its McCafe range and 'give fans what they crave.' Fans quickly went wild for the doughnuts online, with one commenting they couldn't wait to try the snacks In a statement, McDonald's said that the tests will be run at nine locations in Louisville, Kentucky, from 2 October 2022 and donuts will be delivered to the restaurants every day by Krispy Kreme. The statement went on: 'This small-scale test will help us understand how offering new bakery items like Krispy Kreme could impact operations in our restaurants.' And the test, running for a limited time, is being piloted to help 'inform future menu decisions.' READ MORE: A VERY Happy Meal! McDonalds starts selling Krispy Kreme donuts across some outlets, including chocolate iced with sprinkles and raspberry filled, to give fans what they crave Krispy Kreme joins forces with Hershey's to launch three VERY sweet new doughnut flavours - but you'll need to be quick Meet the scientist turned entrepreneur creating 'guilt-free' doughnuts: Urban Legend inks deal with Tesco to bring 'healthy' doughnuts to the masses Photographer says he finds people's reaction to his work 'fascinating' Simon Menner, from Germany, has been photographing snipers since 2010 Razor-sharp focus, capable of dealing with stress and the ability to disguise themselves from the enemy - these are just a few of the qualities a sniper needs to have. But most importantly, any top-tier marksman needs to be able to pick out their target in a matter of seconds. Since 2010, photographer Simon Menner, from Germany, has been photographing army snipers hiding in various deserted landscapes. Last year, the photographer travelled to Lithuania to capture their army shooters in action - but can YOU spot the one disguised in this snowy landscape below? Simon Menner travelled to Lithuania last year where he captured this picture of a sniper hiding in plain sight - so can YOU spot the marksman within the snowy scene? In a previous interview with Wired, Simon said he enjoyed challenging art fans with this his work. He said: 'They look for the sniper and think they found them, but then begin to question themselves. I find that fascinating.' At first glance, some might think the forest environment would be the perfect setting to camouflage themselves. But if you're struggling to spot them, it's worth taking a closer look at the deserted building. The sniper was disguised on the second floor of the abandoned building Holed up on the second floor, the sniper can be seen looking directly at the camera from window directly above the front door. Although he's been photographing snipers for over a decade, Simon says he still struggles to find them in his own images. He added: 'I like this project because the key aspect of the photos isn't visible.' Read More: You're not fooling us! People whose photoshop attempts have gone VERY wrong - from ghostly complexions to cartoon-like eyes Keep it professional! Employees share horror stories of being tormented by their boss What NOT to call your baby! Viral list of 'cool and exotic' girl names (that are very inaccurate) include 'Burnadette' and Candi An Australian teacher is being applauded for the heart-warming gesture she made to her students for Christmas. The primary school teacher, from Melbourne, asked her 22 pupils to draw their 'dream monster' and surprised them weeks later with a unique plush toy each designed off their artwork. Michelle, mum to one of the lucky students, six-year-old Kit, told SBS News her son's class was 'blown away' by their one-of-a-kind Christmas gift. A Melbourne teacher surprised her 22 primary school students by making them soft toys based on their drawings The primary school teacher, from Melbourne, asked her 22 pupils to draw their 'dream monster' and surprised them weeks later with a unique plush toy designed off their artwork Kit drew a yellow, green and grey caterpillar with spikes down its back which he named DooDoo and, along with his classmates, was surprised when he received his special toy two months later. 'Their monsters have come to life. It's pretty incredible,' she said adding the teacher made the toys at her own expense. 'He said, 'I love my monster and now I get to keep it to remember prep and [my teacher].' Michelle, the mum of student Kit, said he loves his monster doll (pictured) which he named 'DooDoo'. Kit told her the toys showed him how much his teacher loved her students She said Kit was 'so, so excited' and 'pulling all of his excited faces he he gushed about his new toy to his mum. She said Kit told her he loves his monster and the sweet gift showed him how much the teacher loves him. Another of the student's parents, Reid, delighted users on Twitter after sharing a series of images of the various toys the children received from their beloved teacher. 'My kid's teacher made toys for her class based on their drawings. Pay teachers more,' he said in one of his tweets. Another of the student's parents, Reid, delighted users on Twitter after sharing a series of images of the various toys the children received from their beloved teacher Ill add more when I can pic.twitter.com/15JU4rzNS7 Reid Parker (@ReidParker_) December 19, 2022 His tweets have gone viral with more than 130,000 'likes' and told SBS his daughter has brought her new toy on holiday to show her extended family. Reid said the teacher had done the same for her students in the past and said it was an example of why teachers should be paid more. 'Apparently, during [the COVID-19] lockdown, she rode around the neighbourhood and dropped off the toys to each child's house,' he said. 'Teachers are the people our children spend half of their waking hours with. They help to create the people those children are going to become. There are countless stories of people who credit inspirational teachers for their own success.' Reid said the teacher had done the same for her students in the past and said it was an example of why teachers should be paid more This one is The Bloop pic.twitter.com/DvKxI8jl0m Reid Parker (@ReidParker_) December 20, 2022 SBS tried to contact the teacher who said she felt 'very appreciated' by the positive response on social media but wanted to remain anonymous. Reid has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the generous teacher and encouraged people to donate to local schools in their area. He did warn other Twitter accounts have impersonated him and started their own scam fundraisers so to be cautious and only donate to the link on his page @ReidParker_. XBB.1.5 has mutations that help it better infect people and dodge immunity Strain has caused alarm in US over its quick spread and a rise in hospitalisations A 'highly infectious' Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK, data suggests. The strain dubbed XBB.1.5 has caused alarm in the US over its quick spread and a recent rise in hospitalisations. It is behind four in ten cases in the country, up from two a week ago. The variant, which is a version of Omicron, has mutations that help it dodge protection from vaccination and prior infections. Experts told MailOnline that strain is a 'wakeup call' and could worsen NHS crisis, which has seen the health service battered by a 'twindemic' of Covid and flu. However, officials caution that there is no indication the strain causes more severe illness than earlier variants. A highly contagious Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK, data suggests Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows 4 per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5 (shown in purple, bottom right corner) December 17 marked the first time XBB.1.5 was listed on the institute's virus dashboard, which is updated weekly What do we know about XBB.1.5? What is XBB.1.5? XBB.1.5 is a new Covid variant that is sparking concerns across the world. The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. XBB.1.5 has gained additional mutations, including F486P, which help it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies that were generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Another change S486P is thought to improve its ability to bind to cells. Where has it been spotted? Concern about XBB.1.5 is largely based on how it is currently sweeping the US but it has also already been spotted in Britain and other countries around the globe. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday showed that the strain is behind 41 per cent of cases. The figure is up from 22 per cent one week earlier. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows four per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. It is the first time the strain has been listed on the institute's virus dashboard, which is updated weekly. XBB.1.5 has also been spotted in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia, Singapore and India. Is the variant concerning? Experts are concerned XBB.1.5's rapid rise in the US could be caused by mutations that help it to better infect people and dodge protection from vaccination and prior infections. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline that the emergence of the strain is a 'wakeup call' and could exacerbate the NHS crisis in Britain. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the majority of new variants 'fizzle out in a few weeks'. However, the sharp increase in XBB.1.5's prevalence is 'certainly very worrying' and suggests 'a pretty dramatic growth advantage and enough to drive a new wave of infections', he said. Why are some scientists not worried? Not all experts are so concerned, however. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist based at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that while XBB.1.5's ability to evade immunity has only been observed in the lab. 'So it's difficult to know how this will translate into real life,' he noted. While hospitalisations in the US are rising in many regions, 'the presence of this variant doesn't seem to be responsible for that', Dr Clarke said. Also, it doesn't seem to be causing more serious disease than other circulating variants, which are the most important metrics to watch when tracking Covid, he said. Dr Clarke added: 'It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the coming months as the usual annual wave of flu hospitalisations is usuallyhighest in January and February.' Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert based at University College London, told MailOnline that XBB.1.5 cases 'will likely go up in frequency globally' in the near future. He added: 'As such, it would contribute to push case numbers higher over the coming weeks. That said, it is far from clear XBB.1.5 will cause a massive wave on its own.' Advertisement XBB.1.5 has gained mutations, including F486P, which help it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies that were generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Another change S486P is thought to improve its ability to bind to cells. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows 4 per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. It is the first time the strain has been listed on the institute's virus dashboard, which is updated weekly. The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline that the emergence of the strain is a 'wakeup call' and could exacerbate the NHS crisis. He said: 'The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. 'Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US.' He added: 'We don't know how this variant is going to behave in the UK in a population that has been previously exposed to other Omicron variants and where many of the over 50s have had booster shots with a bivalent vaccine. 'Nevertheless, this is a wakeup call a sharp reminder that we can't be complacent about Covid. 'The threat of XBB.1.5 and other Covid variants further exacerbating the current NHS crisis stresses the need for us to remain vigilant. 'We need to continue to monitor levels of infection with different variants in the UK, encourage those who are eligible to get their boosters shots why not extend this to the under 50s? and promote the value of other mitigation measures.' The new strain comes amid the worst winter on record for the NHS. Patients have been forced to wait up to four days to be admitted to A&E, children have had to sleep on plastic chairs and sick Britons have been treated in corridors due to 'Dickensian overcrowding'. Health leaders have warned the long waits for care is killing up to 500 people across the UK every week. The NHS blames a rise in demand, staff shortages and bed blockers. It is battling a 'twindemic' of flu and Covid, with around 8,600 Covid patients taking up beds on December 21, up 84 per cent on last month. Meanwhile, 3,746 patients with influenza were in hospital each day, on average, last week up seven-fold in one month. There are also workforce shortages, with 130,000 vacancies across the NHS entire workforce. On top of this, staff absences are on the rise, with one in eight of those off work sick blaming Covid. Further adding to the crisis is the fact that 12,000 hospital beds were taken up by bed-blockers in the last week. Concern about XBB.1.5 is largely based on how it is currently sweeping the US. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday showed that the strain is behind 41 per cent of cases. The figure is up from 22 per cent one week earlier. Meanwhile, virus hospitalisations jumped 40 per cent in the month to December 28, from 1.2 to 1.7 admissions per 100,000 people. The rise is even more stark in the over-70s, with 52 per cent more seeking hospital care on that day, compared to one month earlier. Dr Barbara Mahon, director of the CDC's Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, told CBS News: 'We're projecting that it's going to be the dominant variant in the North East region of the country and that it's going to increase in all regions of the country.' She said: 'There's no suggestion at this point that XBB.1.5 is more severe.' Covid hospitalisations have been rising across the US and levels 'don't appear to be notching up more in the areas that have more XBB.1.5', Dr Mahon added. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the majority of new variants 'fizzle out in a few weeks'. However, the rapid increase in XBB.1.5's prevalence is 'certainly very worrying' and suggests 'a pretty dramatic growth advantage and enough to drive a new wave of infections', he said. But he noted that the US data is based on estimates and it is difficult to accurately measure Covid data, including variant levels, due to delays in testing and reporting. Professor Hunter said this makes it 'too early to say whether XBB.1.5 will cause big problems' or not, though it will likely become the dominant variant in the UK. While it has some mutations that allow it to better dodge immunity from previous infections and vaccinations, protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death have held up 'very well' against similar strains, he said. 'So I doubt XBB.1.5 will cause a major disruption for health services but we need to wait a couple of weeks to see what is happening in the US to be certain,' Professor Hunter added. Customers some wearing face masks queue outside a Boots store in west London today amid fears around the 'twindemic' of Covid and flu The flu-nami has swept across the NHS in England, the latest round of health service data shows, with over 3,800 admissions for the virus on December 23. Graph shows the number of beds on wards taken up by those with flu (red) and the number of beds occupied due to the virus in critical care (blue) Latest Covid daily admission data shows nearly 1,300 people infected with the virus were hospitalised on December 19. The figure is up by a third week-on-week The number of people infected with Covid taking up beds in wards across England soared above 8,600 on December 21, data shows. The figure has jumped 29 per cent in a week The Our World in Data graph shows the number of Covid cases logged daily, on average, in the UK (pink) and US (black) per million people. It shows the UK recorded 97 on December 27, while the US reported 183. However, the figures only reflect positive tests that are reported, so underestimate the true scale of infections Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday showed that Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 is behind 40.5 per cent of cases The graph shows the proportion of cases each week that are caused by each variant, according to surveillance data. It suggests that prevalence of XBB.1.5 jumped from 22 per cent to 41 per cent in just one week US virus hospitalisations jumped 40 per cent in the month to December 28, from 1.2 to 1.7 admissions per 100,000 people The rise is even more stark in the over-70s, with 52 per cent more seeking hospital care on December 28, compared to one month earlier Latest data from the Office for National statistics covid infection survery, considered the gold-standard for measuring the outbreak, suggests cases began rising in late November. One in 45 people were thought to be infected in the week to December 9 in England, up by a tenth in a week. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist based at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that XBB.1.5's ability to evade immunity has only been observed in the lab. 'So it's difficult to know how this will translate into real life,' he noted. While hospitalisations in the US are rising in many regions, 'the presence of this variant doesn't seem to be responsible for that', Dr Clarke said. Additioanlly, it doesn't seem to be causing more serious disease than other circulating variants, which are the most important metrics to watch when tracking Covid, he said. Dr Clarke added: 'It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the coming months as the usual annual wave of flu hospitalisations is usually highest in January and February.' Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert based at University College London, told MailOnline that XBB.1.5 cases 'will likely go up in frequency globally' in the near future. He added: 'As such, it would contribute to push case numbers higher over the coming weeks. That said, it is far from clear XBB.1.5 will cause a massive wave on its own.' UK health chiefs told MailOnline that they are 'monitoring the situation closely' and urged those eligible for jabs to come forward 'as soon as possible'. Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: 'It is not unexpected to see new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge. UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. 'Vaccination remains our best defence against future Covid waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible.' In other health news: Unions warn of more NHS strikes over the coming months amid fears ministers will impose a 'real-terms pay cut' on thousands of frontline workers by capping increases at 2% Defiant Rishi Sunak insists 'the fightback starts here' despite Labour's commanding lead in the polls and a host of domestic woes including 500 deaths a week due to NHS delays, record numbers of migrants crossing the Channel and rail union walkouts Everything you need to know before starting dry January: As millions prepare to go cold turkey on alcohol for a month, MANSUR SHAHEEN's video guide explains all the pros and potential cons... including that it can lead to 'wet February' Concerns about a new deadly Covid wave are ramping up after infections caused by a highly transmissible new variant doubled in a week - but experts say there is no need to panic. XBB.1.5 another spinoff of the Omicron strain was behind 40 percent of positive cases across America in the last week of 2022, up from 22 percent the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has been dubbed the most antibody-resistant strain ever after acquiring mutations that make it less recognizable to vaccinated or previously infected immune systems, leading some experts to fear it could cause a new outbreak. But others said today they expect Americans to have 'meaningful' protection against the new variant, adding that XBB.1.5 was 'not somehow magically turbocharged to usher in our extinction'. They pointed to XBB.1.5 hotspots where hospital admissions and deaths have yet to rise. A highly contagious Covid strain has emerged and is already behind three in four cases in some parts of the US, surveillance data shows Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday showed that Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 is behind 40.5 percent of cases, making it the most prevalent strain in the US currently. All of the circulating versions of Covid in America are spinoffs of the original Omicron strain The graph shows the proportion of cases each week that are caused by each variant, according to surveillance data. It suggests that prevalence of XBB.1.5 jumped from 22 per cent to more than 40 per cent in just one week XBB.1.5 has gained mutations, including F486P, in the spike protein, which help it bypass Covid-fighting antibodies generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Another change S486P is thought to improve its ability to bind to cells. The sub-variant is now present in every region across the US, with most cases in areas like New York which tend to be the first to record new variants due to them being travel hotspots. It is estimated to be behind up to 75 percent of infections in northeastern areas. The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of two other subvariants, BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. What do we know about XBB.1.5? What is XBB.1.5? XBB.1.5 is a new Covid variant that is sparking concerns across the world. The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. XBB.1.5 has gained additional mutations, including F486P, which help it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies that were generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Another change S486P is thought to improve its ability to bind to cells. Where has it been spotted? Concern about XBB.1.5 is largely based on how it is currently sweeping the US but it has also already been spotted in Britain and other countries around the globe. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday showed that the strain is behind 41 per cent of cases. The figure is up from 22 per cent one week earlier. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance center, shows four per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. It is the first time the strain has been listed on the institute's virus dashboard, which is updated weekly. XBB.1.5 has also been spotted in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia, Singapore and India. Is the variant concerning? Experts are concerned XBB.1.5's rapid rise in the US could be caused by mutations that help it to better infect people and dodge protection from vaccination and prior infections. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline that the emergence of the strain is a 'wakeup call' and could exacerbate the NHS crisis in Britain. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the majority of new variants 'fizzle out in a few weeks'. However, the sharp increase in XBB.1.5's prevalence is 'certainly very worrying' and suggests 'a pretty dramatic growth advantage and enough to drive a new wave of infections', he said. Why are some scientists not worried? Not all experts are so concerned, however. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist based at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that while XBB.1.5's ability to evade immunity has only been observed in the lab. 'So it's difficult to know how this will translate into real life,' he noted. While hospitalisations in the US are rising in many regions, 'the presence of this variant doesn't seem to be responsible for that', Dr Clarke said. Also, it doesn't seem to be causing more serious disease than other circulating variants, which are the most important metrics to watch when tracking Covid, he said. Dr Clarke added: 'It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the coming months as the usual annual wave of flu hospitalisations is usually highest in January and February.' Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert based at University College London, told MailOnline that XBB.1.5 cases 'will likely go up in frequency globally' in the near future. He added: 'As such, it would contribute to push case numbers higher over the coming weeks. That said, it is far from clear XBB.1.5 will cause a massive wave on its own.' Advertisement Dr Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, sought to calm fears over the strain today. He told DailyMail.com: 'We cannot ignore that recovery from infection coupled with vaccination provides some meaningful community-level protection.' He added: 'Sadly, we will still likely see a corresponding rise in hospitalizations and deaths with XBB, but perhaps to a lesser extent compared to prior waves due to the community-based hybrid immunity developed during the Omicron era. 'Unfortunately, places like China with under-vaccinated and vulnerable populations and relatively few people that have recovered from prior infection will see far more significant acute manifestations of a Covid outbreak, namely with healthcare systems overwhelmed and high fatality rates.' Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia in England, also told DailyMail.com: 'I doubt XBB.1.5 will cause a major disruption for health services, but we need to wait a couple of weeks to see what is happening. 'What we have seen with all new variants for some time, even though we get immune escape with new variants, it is only ever partial escape and protection against more severe disease (respiratory distress, hospitalization and death) still holds up very well. 'From what I have read there is no suggestion that this variant is more cirulent and mnore likely to hospitalize or kill people.' Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, predicted there would not be 'big changes' in the number of people falling severely ill with Covid due to XBB.1.5. 'We shouldn't see big changes in terms of disease severity, since infections will happen in a population that isn't immunologically naive,' she said. She added: 'XBB.1.5 is not somehow magically turbocharged to usher in our extinction. 'It's another evolutionary advance which is what viruses do and it's one that we can counter.' She called on all Americans to get their booster shots. Covid cases in the United States remain flat, with around 57,000 recorded daily. Hospitalizations are rising nationally, ticking up 10 percent in a week. Dr Barbara Mahon, the CDC's proposed director of its Covid response, said there had not yet been a rapid spike in areas where XBB.1.5 had become dominant. That suggests that the new variant is not more likely to put people in hospital. 'We're seeing hospitalizations have been notching up overall across the country,' she told NBC News. 'They don't appear to be notching up more in the areas that have more XBB.1.5.' Covid deaths are also flat, with about 350 people dying from Covid nationwide every day. Other scientists also sought to calm fears over XBB.1.5 today. Virologist Dr Marion Koopmans at the Europe-based Erasmus University Medical Center, said on Twitter: 'Studies looking at antibodies show XBB is clearly less well neutralized. 'But that may not translate to a higher rate of complications, as spike antibodies are only a part of the immune repertoire. 'So far, indications are that protection from severe disease from vaccination is retained.' Experts also pointed to the experience of Singapore, which faced a surge in XBB infections last year. Cases more than doubled in the face of the new sub-variant last October. But there was not a surge in hospitalizations and deaths. Experts have partly attributed this to the country's excellent vaccination record. About 90 percent of adults there have received two doses of a Covid vaccine, compared to 69 percent in the US. Lab studies show XBB is better able to evade antibodies from previous Covid infections or vaccinations than other Covid strains. But this does not consider other parts of the immune system like T-cells that also offer protection. Singaporean scientists previously estimated that XBB was about 30 percent milder than the BA.5 Omicron strain. Some scientists have still raised concerns over this sub-variant, however. Dr Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters: 'Ironically, probably the worst variant that the world is facing right now is actually XBB.' Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told MailOnline that the strain's emergence is a 'wakeup call' and could exacerbate hospitalisations. He said: 'The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. 'Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US. 'We don't know how this variant is going to behave in the UK in a population that has been previously exposed to other Omicron variants and where many of the over 50s have had booster shots with a bivalent vaccine. 'Nevertheless, this is a wakeup call a sharp reminder that we can't be complacent about Covid.' The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious diseases expert, has previously warned that XBB reduces the protection from boosters 'multifold'. 'You could expect some protection, but not optimal protection', he told reporters during a White House briefing in November. In other health news... CDC says it is considering testing sewage from airplanes for Covid variants amid concern over new strains emerging in China, which is experiencing a wave of Covid infections; Women who think they have long Covid may actually be suffering from the menopause and need hormone replacement therapy, an expert suggests; Experts warn worrying variants could spring up in China amid exit wave, but say immunity should keep severe illnesses at bay. Travelers from Covid-stricken China will need a negative Covid test to enter Canada and Australia from this weekend. They join a growing list of countries - including the UK and US - to introduce the measure despite little proof it stops incoming infections. Officials are adopting the policy amid fears China's devastating outbreak could spawn a dangerous new strain. Beijing has been notoriously secretive in disclosing its virus data. But it is the latest example of pandemic restrictions creeping their way back into Western life. Schools across the US are bringing back mask policies this week and UK health officials have urged Britons to wear face coverings if they leave the house amid the spread of other respiratory bugs. Travelers from Covid-stricken China will need a negative Covid test to enter Canada and Australia from this weekend. Pictured: Travelers walk with their luggage at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport on December 30 Australian health authorities said Sunday that from January 5, all air travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao, will need to show a negative Covid test taken within two days of their departure. Canadian authorities announced similar measures that will also come into effect January 5. Kerry Bowman, assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said the requirement is 'not based on science at this point.' 'This isn't the early days of the pandemic,' he said. 'It's pretty clear that point-of-entry screening is not very effective at all. Often people can test positive days and weeks later.' Dr Isaac Bogoch, associate professor at University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said it's not entirely clear what the policy's goals are, but such measures have not helped. 'We know from the past that very focused and targeted travel measures such as this don't do much to prevent the spread of COVID, either by importing COVID to Canada, or by the threat of variants of concern in Canada,' he said. India, Japan and several European nations have put restrictions on Chinese travelers amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China and fears of the possibility that new variants may spread. Research has shown how the virus spreads through human mobility, which means that the next variant of the virus may not even emerge from China. Even if it did, Bowman said it could land in Canada from other indirect routes, adding that a more effective measure would be testing wastewater from airplanes and airports to check for the viral load and mutations. Vancouver International Airport said Saturday it would expand its wastewater testing pilot program. An elderly patient is pushed along a corridor of the emergency ward at a hospital in Beijing, where Covid infections are peaking For most of the pandemic China adopted a 'zero-COVID' strategy that imposed harsh restrictions aimed at stamping out the virus. But the abrupt axing of those measures in December has led to a catastrophic wave. In the first 20 days of December, the government's top health authority estimates a staggering 248 million people - equivalent to 18 per cent of the population - contracted the virus. Chinese authorities previously said that from January 8, overseas travelers would no longer need to quarantine upon arriving in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel. Hong Kong is also preparing for quarantine-free travel to China, with plans to resume operations of more border checkpoints as early as Jan. 8, according to a Facebook post by Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan. However, a quota will remain in place, limiting the number of travelers between the two places. 'Depending on the first phase of the situation, we will gradually expand the scale for a complete reopening of the border,' Chan said. In China, eased restrictions meant that residents could celebrate New Year's in large-scale gatherings that were prohibited for much of the pandemic, even though the country is experiencing a massive outbreak of cases. 'There are still some worries, more or less,' said Wu Yanxia, a 51-year-old Beijing resident who works at a logistic company. 'I hope that next year everything will be normal, such as domestic travel.' Others hope that 2023 will bring better things after a difficult past year. 'We have experienced a very uneven year, particularly unforgettable, with many things out of our imagination,' said Li Feng, a teacher in Beijing, adding that 2022 was a difficult year for both the people and the government. 'But I think we have come through and everything will be fine,' Li said. 'All of us will be better, and better in both work and life.' Recently qualified as a secretary, Susan Ellis, then aged 23, was excited to take on a position as a personal assistant in a leading firm of architects in Birmingham. It was 1968 and she couldnt wait to join the world of work, be independent and earn her own money. She was also joining the legions of women whod recently entered the workforce. Not long after starting the job, Susan went on a site visit with her boss to a new shopping centre he had designed in Liverpool. It was a trip she made a number of times while she worked at the firm over the course of a year. But what seemed an unremarkable part of her job at the time would come back to haunt her 50 years later as, in 2018, Susan was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Recently qualified as a secretary, Susan Ellis, then aged 23, was excited to take on a position as a personal assistant in a leading firm of architects in Birmingham. It was 1968 and she couldnt wait to join the world of work, be independent and earn her own money. She was also joining the legions of women whod recently entered the workforce And investigations have shown that during one of those visits to the construction site, lasting just a few hours, asbestos was being sprayed on the ceilings. The diagnosis was quite a shock, says Susan, 78, who lives in Pershore, Worcestershire. My parents both lived into their 90s and, as I had no illness or health conditions, my expectation was that I had a good few years ahead of me to enjoy life with my two sons and five grandchildren. Susans experience is becoming increasingly common. Latest figures from Cancer Research UK show that, while men account for most cases of mesothelioma, cases among women rose by 93 per cent between 1993 and 2018 (compared with 47 per cent in men). The proportion of women being diagnosed with mesothelioma has never been higher, says Dean Fennell, a professor of thoracic medical oncology at the University of Leicester. Given the disease can take decades to develop, this rise seems to coincide with when more women joined the workforce from the 1950s onwards. Roughly 2,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. Asbestos, a flame retardant used in construction in the UK until 1999, is the main cause. Breathing in tiny asbestos fibres can damage the lungs and their lining (the mesothelium) although it can take years, even decades, for symptoms breathlessness, coughing and chest pain to develop. Latest figures from Cancer Research UK show that, while men account for most cases of mesothelioma, cases among women rose by 93 per cent between 1993 and 2018 (compared with 47 per cent in men) As these kinds of symptoms are common to a number of illnesses, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed or not picked up until the cancer is advanced and treatment is more difficult. Mesothelioma is a devastating and hard-to-treat disease with people often diagnosed at a late stage and typically facing a poor prognosis, says Liz Darlison, chief executive of the charity Mesothelioma UK. Mesothelioma mainly affects the lining of the lung rather than the lung itself, making it different from lung cancer (and asbestosis, which is non-cancerous scarring of the lung tissue caused by asbestos). There are six million tonnes of asbestos in 1.5 million UK buildings, including workplaces, public buildings even schools as well as homes, according to research published in 2019 by the think tank ResPublica. The Health and Safety Executive says it is potentially in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before 2000. Susan first became aware of a problem in January 2018 when she found herself out of breath walking up the stairs at home. It was unusual, she says. Ive kept myself in good shape I was a yoga teacher for many years and had never had lung problems. I didnt think much of it as there were no other symptoms but, when it didnt go away, I saw my GP. He examined me and could find nothing wrong but said to come back if it persisted. Two weeks later, Susan went back to her GP and was sent for an Xray. She recalls: As I was putting my coat on the radiographer rushed in and said, You must go straight to A&E! A doctor showed me the X-ray, indicating a collapsed lung and fluid in the chest cavity. I was hospitalised for a week so the fluid could be drained. Susan needed surgery to reinflate the lung but as the NHS couldnt operate for six weeks, she used her health insurance to go private. During the operation the surgeon took biopsies which revealed the mesothelioma diagnosis, says Susan. He told me the average life expectancy for someone in my condition was 15 months. I was just so disappointed. Recent breakthroughs mean there are more treatment options for mesothelioma patients, says Professor Fennell: For years we only had chemotherapy, but theres been a lot happening in this area in the last couple of years which has led to advances in treatment. Following successful trials, last year NICE [the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] approved the first new treatment in over ten years for patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma which accounts for 90 per cent of cases. (This is the form that Susan has.) The treatment is a type of immunotherapy, where we attempt to train the body to fight the disease itself, and is a combination of two drugs: nivolumab and ipilimumab. It can be used now as a first-line treatment for these patients and trials show this gives patients a survival advantage of four months compared with chemotherapy alone. For patients whose cancers have grown after chemotherapy, nivolumab also improves survival by over a month, according to data from the Cancer Research UK-funded CONFIRM trial, led by Professor Fennell. The NHS is now making nivolumab available to these patients. This is a huge breakthrough as many patients only have months to live by the time they are diagnosed, says Professor Fennell. New research is focusing on trying to uncover why some mesothelioma patients respond better to treatment than others, by looking at their genes and microbiome, the community of microbes including bacteria that live in the gut. If we can identify mesotheliomas Achilles heel we could target treatments much more effectively, says Professor Fennell. Since her diagnosis, Susan has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy followed by nivolumab and ipilimumab and most recently, in autumn 2022, radiotherapy to reduce pain. And she has done remarkably well. This month it will be five years since she was diagnosed far exceeding the average life expectancy. The frustrating thing is I am otherwise totally fit and have no other conditions, she says. Once they had reinflated my lung, I didnt really have any symptoms other than the side-effects of chemotherapy. Sadly immunotherapy didnt work for me. But recent scans have shown that the cancer has spread to her ribs and diaphragm and Susans breathing is now more difficult. I am still functioning I can walk for short distances but have got myself a buggy to go to the shops, she says. I find standing quite difficult and even the slightest movement has an effect on my breath. I think I am in the last year now and Ive taken the positive decision not to have more treatment, even though I was offered more chemotherapy and to go on a clinical trial. The benefits, if any, are small and I want to focus on quality of life, she says. I have a wonderful GP who is dedicated and the local hospice nurse looks after me both physically and psychologically. All along I have had this overwhelming feeling of disappointment but now, as the end isnt far off, I am angry. Investigations by a solicitor, which included getting hold of original construction notes for the shopping centre, showed with some certainty that it was those site visits in Liverpool more than 50 years ago which had caused Susans disease, and she received a payout in 2021 from the Governments mesothelioma compensation scheme. I want people to be aware that mesothelioma is not just an industrial disease, linked to the building sector it affects normal people like me who never realised they were putting themselves at risk, says Susan. And it is still present in a huge number of hospitals, schools and other public buildings. One woman I know developed it after going into a cellar at school to pick up some files, another from washing overalls belonging to her husband, a builder. He didnt get mesothelioma, but she did. Research into mesothelioma lags behind many other cancers. We need to put more money into it to find a cure for this disease, not just pay out compensation to those who develop it. To donate to research into mesothelioma, visit junehancockfund.org In related news: Have we learnt nothing from being caught off guard by covid? In a compelling dispatch from the Oxford lab behind coronavirus jab, scientists say they fear too little is being done to prepare for the next pandemic DR MEGAN ROSSI on how a New Year detox won't do you any good Inspiring new study that proves you CAN conquer Type 2 diabetes - even if you've had it for 15 years! As one patient found, swapping bread and pasta for a low-carb diet helped her lose more than six kilos New Labour remember them? had their 'prawn cocktail offensive' when Gordon Brown and his acolytes successfully seduced the City ahead of the landslide 1997 victory. As Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves looks ahead to 2023, her thoughts will be turning along similar lines. She and her boss, Sir Keir Starmer, have been sidling up to business leaders. Reeves was spotted hobnobbing at the distinctly un-socialist Chelsea Flower Show, a magnet for corporate grandees. We can expect these efforts to intensify this year. Perceptions among the electorate of the two main parties and their competence to run the economy have changed since Boris Johnson won the 2019 election when Jeremy Corbyn and his hard-Left sidekick John McDonnell were rejected by voters. Happy days: Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and her boss Sir Keir Starmer have been sidling up to business leaders Starmer is parading about, declaring himself to be proudly pro-business. The party just before Christmas hosted a shindig for CEOs in Canary Wharf, sponsored by no less an agent of international capitalism than the banking giant HSBC. The event was a sell-out, with a waiting list. Guests and keynote speakers included top tier figures such as Tesco's John Allan and Aviva's Amanda Blanc. This should give the Tories pause for thought. Business people closest to the party the donors tend to come from a narrow sub-set of the commercial world self-made entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers or financiers who do not answer to a board or shareholders. Leaders of large listed corporates usually remain party-neutral in public for fear of offending. The cosying up to Labour is a blend of pragmatism and frustration with the Tories over strikes, the Liz Truss debacle and lingering resentment over Brexit. Leaving the EU, plus the Truss interlude when the UK was given a 'moron premium' to cover the risks of political stupidity has, they believe, deterred overseas investors. There is an undercurrent among business leaders of feeling ignored and slighted by the Conservatives. It barely matters whether any of this is correct or fair. Perceptions have taken root in the absence of a strong counter-narrative. Hunt is working on plans to turbo-charge growth ahead of the Budget, but he will face intense scepticism. We are told, as if it were fact, that Britain is a basket case, that we are performing far worse than comparable economies, and that our situation is uniquely awful. It is nonsense. The UK is still the sixth largest economy, our financial sector remains world-beating, we have the huge advantage of the English language, robust property rights and the rule of law. The Truss/Kwarteng mini-Budget needs to be put in perspective. There were no military coups, no riots and the boring blokes in suits were soon back in charge. Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt have steadied nerves on markets but they need to do more. The pair looked impotent in the face of the wave of strikes over Christmas. They have slapped millions with higher taxes and failed to articulate a convincing vision of how they will reboot the economy. This has left a void for Labour. Reeves says she will make the UK the start-up capital of the world, scrap business rates and draw up a new industrial strategy. Spending squeeze: Next has pencilled in a year-on-year sales decline of 2 per cent Fashion chain Next will this week shed light on how Britain's squeezed consumers shopped over Christmas. Thursday's trading update should provide clues about how the wider sector performed. Lord Wolfson, Next's chief executive, has predicted that shoppers were likely to draw in their spending. The company has pencilled in a year-on-year sales decline of 2 per cent for the year to January. Greggs, the bakery chain, will deliver its update on Friday followed next week by Marks & Spencer and a slew of other retailers. Analysts at AJ Bell said Next was normally slower than others to mark down its goods after the Christmas rush but this year went live with sales on Christmas Eve. That suggested the firm is 'not immune to the squeeze on consumers' pockets by the cost of living crisis'. Britain's electric car revolution is being held back by a lack of vital infrastructure, with London boasting nearly a third of all charging points. Of the 36,752 public charging points available in the UK, 11,515 or just over 31 per cent were in Greater London compared to 1,106 in the North East, latest figures show. And one central London borough has more charging points than six of Britains largest regional cities combined. Of the 36,752 public charging points available in the UK, 11,515 or just over 31% were in Greater London compared to 1,106 in the North East, latest figures show Westminster, with nearly 1,500 devices, has more than the 1,412 available across Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham. As the UK aims to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, the Government wants to have 300,000 public charging devices by the end of the decade. The Policy Exchange think-tank estimated that the UK will need to install 35,000 chargers a year up from 7,000 to meet such a target. But fears are mounting that this target will be missed as attention focuses on London and the well-off at the expense of the rest of the country. Alex Simakov, senior fellow at Policy Exchange, warned that the greater risk is a split market, with extensive charging connections in our largest cities while rural areas are left behind. Sarah Lee, director of policy at the Countryside Alliance, said: While the impression from a central London perspective might be that the rest of the country is ready to move over to electric, the reality in the countryside is far from that because of a lack of charging points. Meanwhile, Tory MP Jake Berry, a former party chairman, called on the Government to make policy for the nation, not just SW1. He recently asked: Charging your 100,000 Tesla is fine in your 500,000 house with a drive in Surrey. 'Can someone let me know how you do that on a row of terraced houses up north? But Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader, said the stark disparity in charging points was more about a wealth divide than a North vs South split. He said: Even though electric vehicle drivers can save 124 in running costs per 1,000 miles, the barrier remains high upfront costs and a lack of affordable models compared to petrol or diesel cars, so there is much higher take-up in more affluent areas. A DfT spokesperson said: This Government is providing over 1.6 billion to support the continued roll-out of chargepoints and we recently pledged 450 million through our Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund for local authorities throughout England to develop plans for, and install, charging infrastructure. 'We are also encouraging councils to make use of our 20 million On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme to support the rollout of public chargepoints in residential areas. Jeremy Hunt faced a fresh backlash from industry chiefs over his crazy so-called tourist tax. Opposition is growing among bosses from the retail industry to hotels, bars and restaurants over the removal of VAT-free shopping for international tourists. In the latest intervention, the boss of Bicester Village, above, renewed warnings that Hunts tax is driving shoppers away from Britain to European rivals. 'No growth': The boss of Bicester Village (pictured) renewed warnings that Hunt's tax is driving shoppers away from Britain to European rivals James Lambert, who set up the Oxfordshire luxury shopping outlets owner Value Retail, said international shopping tourism across Europe has seen an unprecedented jump this year. But, he said, there has been no growth in international shoppers visiting the UK, suggesting the 20 per cent VAT tourists now have to pay has dampened the countrys appeal. His intervention came days after Kurt Geiger boss Neil Clifford warned that the tax is driving visitors to Paris and Milan. Clifford said he was immensely disappointed when the UK gave up VAT-free shopping for international tourists. It was crazy to give the green light for British consumers to travel abroad and shop more cheaply. The true scale of wartime rape - and now in Ukraine - is unknown due to stigma In the last century, millions of women have been systematically raped during war - in Bosnia in 1992, Rwanda in 1995, China in 1937 to name but a few instances Women and girls have been raped as part of systematic campaign of sexual violence for centuries - and they continue to be in Ukraine for instance For centuries, women and girls have been raped by soldiers as part of a systematic campaign of sexual violence - and they continue to be. In the ten months since Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of women have been raped, tortured and beaten by Russian soldiers - often while their husbands and families were forced to watch. Horrific testimonies - including how Russian soldiers gang-raped a 22-year-old Ukrainian mother, sexually abused her husband and made the couple have sex in front of them before raping their four-year-old daughter - have shown how Vladimir Putin's men have used rape as a weapon of war. And this horrific abuse is commonplace in war - and has been for centuries. In the ten months since Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of women have been raped, tortured and beaten by Russian soldiers - often while their husbands and families were forced to watch. Pictured: File image of a woman and child walking past anti-tank steel hedgehogs in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 15 amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine In the last century alone, millions of women have been systematically raped during war - in Bosnia in 1992, Rwanda in 1994, China in 1937 to name but a few instances. Systematic mass rape campaigns use forced impregnation as a tool to ethnically cleanse a nation and psychologically traumatize generations of people. The true scale of wartime rape - and now in Ukraine - will continue to remain unknown as many women remain silent about their experiences for fear of being stigmatised. The children born as a result of this wartime rape are often stigmatised themselves as they become a 'living reminder of the conflict', academics say. Here, MailOnline looks at how rape has been used as a weapon of war in five conflicts. Nanjing, China, 1937 It has been 85 years since Japanese soldiers captured the Chinese city of Nanking during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. In what has become known as the 'Rape of Nanking', Japanese soldiers raped, tortured and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians during a six-week bloodbath from December 13, 1937. Japanese soldiers raped at least 20,000 women and girls - many of whom were mutilated and murdered -, and slaughtered at least 300,000 civilians. There were 40 military brothels in the city alone where Japanese soldiers would rape women and girls as young as 12 years old. It has been 85 years since Japanese soldiers captured the Chinese city of Nanking during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. In what has become known as the 'Rape of Nanking', Japanese soldiers raped, tortured and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians during a six-week bloodbath from December 13, 1937. Pictured: Japanese soldiers massacre surrendered Chinese soldiers following the capture of Nanking in December 1937 Chinese youths with their hands bound together getting on a truck under armed escort of Japanese invaders in Nanjing, east China, during World War II. They were transported to the outskirts of Nanjing and killed One of the darkest chapters in China's history, the carnage was part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and bore witness to a multitude of atrocities, including killing contests, mass rape, the bayoneting of children and babies as well as the looting of homes. The rampage of murder and rape in Nanking - China's capital at the time - continued for months and has become an enduring symbol of the savagery of Japanese occupation for Chinese citizens. Decaying bodies filled the streets and the safety zone which was established for the protection of civilians was ignored. The safety zone was about the size of Central Park. Rwanda, 1994 In Rwanda, nearly one million people - one tenth of the country's population - were killed and 500,000 were brutally raped in 100 days of horrific abuse in 1994. During the genocide, an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and the moderate Hutus who tried to protect them were killed by Hutu extremists, led by the Rwandan army and a militia known as the Interahamwe. Rwanda's genocide was ignited on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down and crashed in the capital, Kigali, killing the leader, who like most Rwandans was an ethnic Hutu. Rwanda's Tutsi minority was blamed for the crash, igniting revenge attacks targeting Tutsis across the country of 12 million people. In Rwanda, nearly one million people - one tenth of the country's population - were killed and 500,000 were brutally raped in 100 days of horrific abuse in 1994. Pictured: Tutsi women hide in a church on April 13, 1994 in Kigali, Rwanda during the genocide During the genocide, political and military leaders encouraged rape to further destroy the Tutsi ethnic group, which today makes up just 14 per cent of the population. An estimated 500,000 women sexually abused in a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing. Hutus also released AIDS patients from hospitals in order to form 'rape squads' to infect Tutsi women. As a result, thousands of survivors and their children born from wartime rape are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus and suffer long-term effects. The wartime rape survivors are still affected by the horrific abuse, with many suffering from PTSD as a result of the violence they endured. A soldier fighting in Rwanda's civil war holds two large knives and stands on a pile of more knives in 1994 Bosnia, 1992 - 1995 During the three-year Bosnian war, which began in 1992, up to 50,000 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence as part of a military campaign of ethnic cleansing. Paramilitary units and the Bosnian Serbian army expelled the non-Serb population, destroyed their homes and separated families while forcing thousands into detention camps where many were tortured and later executed. An estimated 100,000 people were killed and between 20,000 and 50,000 Bosnian women were raped - many in special rape camps - by Serbian soldiers as a tool of warfare. During the three-year Bosnian war, which began in 1992, up to 50,000 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence as part of a military campaign of ethnic cleansing. Pictured: A family attend a funeral in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1994 during the Bosnian war The women - who were mainly Muslim Bosniaks - were imprisoned in gyms, abandoned houses and concentration camps where they were raped with objects, such as guns and broken glass bottles. The Serbian commanders ordered their troops to rape the Bosnian women as part of a strategy of ethnic cleansing. Several victims recalled how Serbian soldiers told them: 'It is better to give birth to Chetniks [Serbians] than to Muslim filth'. It is not known how many children were born as a result of the wartime - and they have since become known in Bosnia as the 'invisible' children due to the stigma surrounding their birth in a patriarchal society. The ethnic cleansing and genocidal campaigns in Bosnia and Rwanda in the 1990s led to an understanding of 'rape as genocidal', with rape being declared a 'tool of warfare' by the United Nations. Paramilitary units and the Bosnian Serbian army expelled the non-Serb population, destroyed their homes and separated families while forcing thousands into detention camps where many were tortured and later executed. Pictured: Bosnian women hug each other in Sarajevo, Bosnia, amid the war in 1994 Germany, Second World War, 1945 Russian soldiers raped two million German women during their occupation of eastern Germany at the end of the Second World War in 1945. Hundreds of women at Ravensbruck, the Nazi concentration camp exclusively for women, were also raped by the Red Army soldiers as they arrived to 'liberate' the camp. Ravensbruck survivors have detailed how thousands of women were gassed by the SS guards - 2,500 were killed over one weekend as the Red Army closed in on the Nazis. Russian soldiers raped two million German women during their occupation of eastern Germany at the end of the Second World War in 1945. Pictured: A Russian soldiers stops a woman with a bike in Berlin, 1945, after he tried to buy it from her But there were still thousands left at the camp on April 30, 1945, when the surviving women heard Russian artillery. The women - realising that the SS guards had fled - prepared a red banner to hang across the camp gates for who they thought would be their saviours after years of horrific torture. But the Russian soldiers brought a fresh horror and raped thousands of women. Prisoners at Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany stand near barbed wire in 1945, the year 2,500 women were murdered in one weekend as Russian forces approached The advancing Red Army had been carrying out mass rapes of German women ever since it had crossed the German border - but the soldiers also raped starving concentration inmates, many of whom were Russians. In the book 'If This Is A Woman: Inside Ravensbruck, Hitler's Concentration Camp For Women' by Sarah Helm, Nadia Vasilyeva, a nurse detailed how the Russian soldiers 'at first greeted us as sisters but then they turned into animals'. 'I was little more than a corpse,' said Ilse Heinrich, 'and then I had to undergo that!' Prisoners at the camp were shot, posioned, hung and gassed. Above, the emaciated bodies of prisoners at Ravensbruck lie on the ground at the Nazi concentration camp in Germany Pregnant women were also raped at the concentration camp by the Red Army soldiers. Another prisoner said the Russian soldiers demanded payment for their liberation. She said: 'The Germans never raped us because we were Russian swine, but our own soldiers did. Stalin had said that no soldiers should be taken prisoner, so they felt they could treat us like dirt.' Ethiopia's Tigray region, present day Thousands of women and girls, including those as young as eight-years old, are being raped by Ethiopian soldiers and allied forces in the country's Tigray region. Sexual violence in the region is being used as a weapon of war to both humiliate the women and their Tigrayan ethnic group, with some victims reporting being gang-raped over several days. No one knows the real toll during the two-year conflict, as most of the health facilities across the region of 6 million people were looted or destroyed. Women have described being held for days or weeks while being raped multiple times, usually by several men. Others told Amnesty International they were raped in front of family members. Thousands of women and girls, including those as young as eight-years old, are being raped by Ethiopian soldiers and allied forces in the country's Tigray region. Pictured: Captive Ethiopian soldiers walk towards Mekele Rehabilitation Center in Mekele, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia, on July 2, 2021 The soldiers would also rape pregnant women. The victims said they had nails, gravel and shrapnel shoved into their varginas. They said they were raped by Ethiopian soldiers and their allies from Eritrea. UN-backed investigators said in September that they have found evidence war crimes and crimes against humanity by Ethiopian government forces, Tigray forces and Eritrea's military including rape, murder and pillage over the nearly two-year war centering on Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. Eritrean troops have fought alongside Ethiopia's federal military against Tigray's former ruling party since hostilities resumed in the region on August 24 2022 after a lull in fighting. Pictured: Internally displaced women from the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp of Guyah, 100 kms of Semera, Afar region, Ethiopia wait to have their children screened by helth personnel on May 17, 2022 Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in the mountainous region of about 5 million. The conflict, which began nearly two years ago, has spread from Tigray into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara as Tigray's leaders try to break the blockade of their region. BBC news presenters will be forced to fight for their jobs in screen tests, it was reported yesterday. Leading hosts including Ben Brown, Joanna Gosling and Martine Croxall may be affected. Up to 14 presenters could be axed as part of a rebrand which will see the BBC News and BBC World News channels merged, according to the i newspapers website. Leading host Martine Croxall (pictured) may be affected by BBC News and BBC World News channel merger Up to 14 presenters could be axed as part of a rebrand which will see the BBC News and BBC World News channels merged. Pictured: Ben Brown could be affected The merger means there will be no dedicated domestic news service for viewers in the UK from the spring. It was reported that there will be just five presenting positions on the BBC News Channel under the plans, with current hosts asked to take a studio-based practical test lasting 40 minutes. They could be sacked if they fail to impress. Brown, 62, joined the corporation in 1988 while Ms Gosling, 51, has been a BBC presenter for 23 years and Ms Croxall, 53, for more than 30 years. The merger of the BBC News and BBC World News channels means there will be no dedicated domestic news service for viewers in the UK from the spring. Pictured: Joanna Gosling could be ask to sit the screen test Last year Ms Croxall was temporarily taken off air for breaking impartiality rules after a gleeful response to Boris Johnson scrapping his possible bid to return as Tory leader. High-profile presenters such as Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce and Clive Myrie are thought to have been spared the re-application process. The BBC expects to save more than 1 million a year by cutting the number of presenters. But the broadcaster hopes to find new roles for some of those affected. The merged channel will broadcast from London in the daytime and Singapore and Washington at other hours. The BBC declined to comment on the screen tests last night. A driving instructor has been arrested by police after he tested positive for cannabis while giving a 17-year-old pupil a driving lesson. Thames Valley Police stopped the vehicle, that had been driving through Slough in Berkshire, after receiving a tip-off that the instructor was under the influence of drugs. After pulling the white driving school car over, the instructor was asked to get out of the car and take a drugs test. The results showed he had been driving under the influence of cannabis and was subsequently arrested. A driving instructor has been arrested by Thames Valley Police in Slough after he tested positive for cannabis on a drugs test, while giving a lesson to a 17-year-old student A statement from the force, posted on social media, said: 'We stopped the vehicle in Slough which at the time was being driven by a 17-year-old student, and shockingly the Driving Instructor tested positive for Cannabis. 'The Driving Instructor was arrested on Suspicion of Drug Driving. He was released under investigation whilst officers await his blood test results. 'However, Due to the profession that he is in, all necessary authorities will be notified as we have a duty of care to safeguard those involved.' If a driving instructor receives a drink or drug driving conviction, they usually face at least a four-year ban. A statement from the force, posted on social media, said: 'We stopped the vehicle in Slough which at the time was being driven by a 17-year-old student, and shockingly the Driving Instructor tested positive for Cannabis.' Pictured: Stock photo of drug test In 2017, a female driving instructor was banned from driving for 18 months after she tested positive for being under the influence of drugs. In Surrey in 2015, a similar incident happened when police found a learner driver, who tested positive for drugs, and their instructor - who was four-times over the legal limit. A different instructor in 2018 failed a roadside test when they were found to have cocaine in their system, while out with a pupil. Driving instructors go through a rigorous training process to make sure they are fit for teaching. Those who have found to be guilty of driving under the influence of drink or drugs are 'unlikely to be classed as a "fit and proper" person' to become a driving instructor. The light display caused a fire to start in the area and scorched a hill Tony Malkin set off fireworks at his retreat near Queenstown in New Zealand An American billionaire's controversial New Year's Eve fireworks has started a bushfire in a rural area of New Zealand following protests from locals against his festive plans. Tony Malkin, chief executive of Empire State Realty Trust, which owns the landmark, was hosting a party at his luxury hilltop retreat in Dalefield, a rural area on the outskirts of Queenstown. He set off the extravagant display, believed to have cost tens of thousands of dollars, to bring in the new year, and sparked three fires that burned along a hill nearby. Firefighters were called to Mr Malkin's property just 10 minutes later and spent several hours putting out the blaze. A fire started in a rural area of New Zealand on New Year's Day following a fireworks display (picture courtesy of Davis Decor Limited Painters & Decorators) New York billionaire Tony Malkin (pictured) set off the fireworks at his Dalefield retreat despite widespread objection from residents The fire was contained at 2.30am after ripping through about 0.5 hectares of land and completely blackening a hill. Guests at the New York billionaire's exclusive party were evacuated as the fire came within 15m of his retreat, according to Stuff. Volunteer firefighters stayed until 7am to put out spot fires and monitor the situation. Furious residents protested against Mr Malkin's plans to launch fireworks at his retreat due to the risk of a fire and the distress loud noises would cause for horses and other animals in the area. Irate neighbours had to cancel their festive plans to stay at home with their animals to ensure they were not spooked. Neighbour and horse owner Johnny Quinn, who created a petition to stop Mr Malkin's plan, said the billionaire's insistence to set off pyrotechnics at his retreat conveyed a 'screw you' attitude towards residents. He claimed that the 'system was broken', after his rich neighbour got approval for his expensive light show despite widespread objection. Mr Quinn moved his family and horses south for the New Year's weekend and returned on Sunday to see the fireworks damage to the hillside. Firefighters were called to the retreat around ten minutes after the fireworks began to put the blaze out. It's understood guests at his party were also evacuated. (picture courtesy of Davis Decor Limited Painters & Decorators) Tony Malkin's sprawling New Zealand home sits atop a hill in Dalefield, near Queenstown He told Daily Mail before New Year's Eve that Mr Malkin's intention to go through with the fireworks display was 'un-neighbourly'. 'He literally hasn't interacted with the local community,' he said. 'It will definitely spook the horses. People are very nervous, and are staying around to look after their animals - it's not just horses, it's cats and dogs, and other livestock.' Mr Malkin has not apologised for going ahead with the fireworks or publicly acknowledged the fire. Neighbour Johnny Quinn created a petition to try and stop the CEO's plans. He said the billionaire's insistence to set off pyrotechnics at his retreat conveyed a 'screw you' attitude towards residents Dalefield near Queenstown, New Zealand, is a luscious, rural escape which has attracted a handful of billionaires in recent years The billionaire's property manager and spokeswoman, Donna Stewart-Freemantle, did not comment on the fire but thanked firefighters and police for their efforts in containing the blaze and evacuating guests. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Empire State Realty Trust for comment. Mr Malkin's office did not respond to requests for comment before New Year's Eve. Dalefield has become a mecca for foreign billionaires, such as PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, William Foley, and Google co-founder Larry Page, who bought properties in the area. The heartbroken daughter of a woman killed in a fiery crash has recalled her mum's final voicemail message as police wait to speak to an NRL star's mother over the devastating smash. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, 46, the mum of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, remains in hospital with multiple fractures, internal injuries and bruised lungs after a horrific two-car collision in Bonogin on the Gold Coast hinterland on Friday. Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer's daughter Stephanie, 35, died in the fiery crash while sole survivor Taufua had to be dragged from a black Mercedes wagon before she was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. As CCTV emerged of the black Mercedes wagon allegedly speeding moments before the tragedy, Ms Zimmer's surviving daughter spoke of her heartbreak while visiting the crash site. Claudine Snow broke down in tears as she recalled her last conversation with her mum, whom she described as her best friend. Claudine Snow (pictured) broken her silence over the crash that claimed the lives of her mum, sister and stepfather in the Gold Coast 'The last thing (mum) said to me in a voicemail was she was worried about driving at this time of the year,' Ms Snow told reporters. 'I wish she had of just listened to her gut feeling and didn't go out.' She also relived the phone call from police early Saturday. 'I just dropped to my knees,' she said. 'I knew it was about mum. (The person on the phone) said, "They're all gone".' She recalled how her 'incredible' sister could 'light up the room' and 'make anyone laugh' and said her stepfather Dr Fawcett, a former skin cancer specialist had 'saved so many lives'. Ms Snow said her life would never be the same again and doesn't know how she will recover the heartbreaking loss as she issued a harrowing plea to drivers. 'My mother, my stepdad, my only sibling - my sister - have been taken from me,' she said. 'This shouldn't have happened. 'I want people to know, when you get behind the wheel, you have people's lives in your hands. 'It's destroyed my life. I don't know if I can ever be happy again.' The community has placed floral tributes and wooden crosses honouring the three victims at the crash site. 'It's really nice to come down here and see complete strangers and just hug them for their support.' Claudine Snow is mourning the tragic loss of her sister Stephanie (left) and mum Susan Zimmer (right) Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, 46, the mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas was the sole survivor of Friday's fiery crash and remains in hospital with extensive injuries Ms Snow's tragic tribute comes as footage emerged showing the black Mercedes wagon Taufua was in allegedly speeding down Bonogin Road minutes before the crash. The wagon was involved in a collision with a silver Mercedes carrying the three victims on the same road shortly afterwards. The CCTV emerged after Queensland Police alleged Taufua was seen 'driving erratically' shortly before the crash and sped off when a patrol activated lights and sirens in an attempt to pull her over. Police revealed on Sunday officers are yet to interview Taufua about the crash as they wait for her condition to improve. CCTV has emerged of the black Mercedes wagon Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua was allegedly driving speeding moments before the tragedy Claudine Snow also paid tribute to her stepfather Chris Fawcett (pictured), who also died 'Police have been checking with the hospital with regards to (her condition),' Acting Chief Superintendent Christopher Stream said. 'The female driver (Ms Taufua) of that vehicle sustained significant injuries as well, and as of yet police don't have a medical clearance to interview that female driver. 'But as soon as we possibly can, that driver will be interviewed.' Taufua's licence was allegedly suspended at the time after she recently served a month's jail time for assaulting two security guards at Star Gold Coast casino. Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon, said the scene shocked the police and emergency crews attending as well as members of the public who assisted. The 45-year-old man who helped free Taufua from her burning car needed treatment at Robina Hospital for 'emotional distress'. Her NRL star son is yet to speak about the tragedy while the Brisbane Broncos declined to comment. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. Witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the crash or moments leading up to it are being urged to come forward. The 18-year-old daughter of television presenter Emma Alberici cannot approach her mother's home in Sydney's eastern suburbs as part of a restraining order taken out by police. Allegra McCauley, one of the former ABC journalist's three children with ex-husband Jason McCauley, is not to go within 50m of her mother's Coogee address or anywhere she works, court documents revealed. Police took out an apprehended violence order on December 29 to protect 52-year-old Alberici, who was made redundant by the national broadcaster in 2020. The intensely private Alberici was a foreign correspondent and chief economics correspondent for the ABC where she also fronted the current affairs program Lateline for five years. The 18-year-old daughter of television presenter Emma Alberici (above) cannot approach her mother's home in Sydney's eastern suburbs as part of a restraining order taken out by police Allegra McCauley, one of the former ABC journalist's three children with ex-husband Jason McCauley (above), is not to go within 50m of her mother's Coogee address or workplace She married 60 Minutes sound recordist McCauley in 2003 and the couple separated in 2016. Under the terms of the AVO, her daughter must not assault, threaten, stalk, harass, intimidate or recklessly destroy or damage any property belonging to Alberici. McCauley has also been charged with destroying or damaging property worth less than $2,000 on the same day the interim AVO was issued. The teenager is not to contact her mother except through a lawyer and is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on January 12. Alberici, who was once a reporter for the Nine Network's A Current Affair, became the ABC's chief economics correspondent after Lateline was axed in October 2017. The intensely private Alberici married 60 Minutes sound recordist McCauley in 2003 and the couple separated in 2016. They have two daughters and a son (all pictured) In that role she wrote a news story for the ABC website in February 2018 which stated only one if five large Australian companies paid tax, as well as an analysis piece critical of the Coalition federal government's proposed company tax cuts. Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull attacked Alberici in parliament over the news story which he described as 'one of the most confused and poorly researched articles I've seen on this topic'. The ABC took down the story and analysis but both were edited and republished after negotiations between the broadcaster and a lawyer acting for Alberici. Supporters of the journalist accused the ABC of buckling to pressure from Turnbull and unfairly targeting Alberici. The ABC claimed it had identified errors or misleading statements in Alberici's company tax cuts story and found her analysis piece lacked impartiality. She was made redundant in 2020 and reached a settlement with the ABC after taking a complaint to the Fair Work Commission. Alberici responded to news of that settlement in a social media post which referred to then ABC director of news Gaven Morris. 'It is true that the ABC and I reached an agreement yesterday,' she wrote. Under the terms of the AVO, Alberici's daughter must not assault, threaten, stalk, harass, intimidate or recklessly destroy or damage any of her property 'After 18 years of loyal service, including as one of the country's first mother foreign correspondents (with three kids under three) I am no longer employed by them. 'Despite the enormous toll his actions have taken on my mental health, Gaven Morris wanted to call it a termination payout, no doubt so he could tell the world I was fired for incompetence or some such. 'To be crystal clear: I have never coveted the camera. I will no longer be on TV and will not accept any role if it's offered. It is too painful to be in the public eye. For further removal of doubt, I have been made no offers from anyone in the media.' Since then, Alberici has worked in strategy, government relations and communications for financial comparison website Compare the Market and as a headhunter for recruitment firm Derwent. She is reportedly writing a memoir called Rewrite the Story and is an ambassador for the children's cancer charity Camp Quality. Sitting at the Christmas dinner table with other members of their family, Teresa and Paul Hanson looked the picture of happiness. But three days after what their daughter described as the 'the best day', Mr Hanson, 54, was found dying from a stab wound by police. His wife was later charged with his murder. Teresa Hanson marked her 54th birthday behind bars yesterday after being remanded in custody. The grandmother appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with murdering her husband at their home in West Cowick, a village near Snaith, East Yorkshire. She spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth January 1, 1969. Wearing a grey tracksuit she addressed the court in a near whisper as family members sobbed from the public gallery. When the couple's daughter Sherri Hanson posted happy Christmas Day photos on Facebook there was no hint of the tragedy to follow three days later Three days after Christmas, Paul Hanson, 54, (left) was found dying from a stab wound by police and his wife, Teresa Hanson, 54, (right) was later charged with his murder Describing the case as a 'difficult situation for all concerned', magistrates said it had to be sent to the crown court. Hanson is due to appear at Hull Crown Court tomorrow. When the couple's daughter Sherri Hanson posted happy Christmas Day photos on Facebook there was no hint of the tragedy to follow three days later. The photos included Hanson and her husband wearing festive hats and sitting around the dinner table with other relatives. Sherri commented that they 'had the best day today with family'. Her mother responded: 'Was a fantastic day. Goes too quick x.' Sherri then replied: 'We had the best day! Thank you for the best Christmas dinner!' But the happy family scene was forgotten when police were called to the house at 7.15pm on December 28. Humberside Police said they received 'reports that a man had sustained a stab wound'. Mr Hanson was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards despite attempts by the emergency services to save him. The couple had two children and had been married for 34 years. Mr Hanson is believed to have worked in construction while his wife was a hairdresser who ran a business from home selling luxury homeware items. Police were called to the house at 7.15pm on December 28 The tragedy has shocked the rural community. One villager said: 'The husband seemed like a very nice guy. He would always say hello to you. 'I would pass him in the road sometimes and see him going to work in his van. I think they have lived here quite a few years. 'I could not believe it when police knocked on the door and said they were making inquiries you do not expect this at any time of year around here, let alone Christmas and they had just had all the family around.' A homeless Oregon woman has been arrested and charged for pushing a three-year-old girl onto a train track in a shocking moment captured on video in a city where the homelessness crisis continues to spiral out of control. Brianna Lace Workman, 32, allegedly shoved the little girl onto the Gateway Transit Center MAX platform in Portland on Thursday. It's the latest shocking incident as crime surges in the Democratic stronghold. The little girl, wearing a pink coat, was waiting in line with her mother as surveillance footage captured someone in a red hat, allegedly Workman, pushing her face-first onto the metal rail. Luckily, she was pulled back onto the platform by onlookers. She said she had a severe headache and the local district attorney said she had a red mark on her forehead. A homeless Oregon woman - 32-year-old Brianna Lace Workman - has been arrested and charged for pushing a three-year-old girl onto a train track in a shocking moment captured on video as the city's homelessness crisis continues Workman is listed, according to court records, as homeless and living in Portland. The district attorney's office said the unprovoked attack happened when the woman came out of nowhere and shoved the child. Workman was charged Thursday with first and third-degree attempted assault, interfering with public transportation, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. The DA's office has recommended that she remain in custody. Her attorney said in a statement: 'At Ms. Workman's request, I am not requesting her release at this time, but I am objecting to the state's motion of preventative detention.' Woke Democratic mayor Ted Wheeler has been blamed for skyrocketing crime in the city. Portland set a record for murders in 2021. Homelessness is rampant in Portland, where the mayor recently made plans to create pickleball courts, skate ramp and bicycle track in a spot known for homeless camping. The district attorney's office said that the woman came out of nowhere and shoved the child The little girl, wearing a pink coat, was waiting in line with her mother as surveillance footage captured someone in a red hat, allegedly Workman, pushing her face-first onto the metal rail Luckily, she was pulled back onto the platform by onlookers. She said she had a severe headache and the local district attorney said she had a red mark on her forehead The DA's office has recommended that Workman remain in custody after the attack Liberals have been in charge for four decades, but locals say they see that changing after rising crime, drug use and homelessness left the city in shambles. It almost led reliably blue Oregon to elect a Republican governor, with Democrat Tina Kozek winning by just four points over Republican Christine Drazen in November's election. Homelessness and crime in Portland have exploded since the civil unrest brought about by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Streets are overrun with tent cities and littered with trash. The issue is scaring away both locals and tourists. Workman was charged Thursday with first and third-degree attempted assault, interfering with public transportation, disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment In 2019, the city recorded just over 2,000 homeless individuals. Less than three years later, that number has risen by 50 percent, now at more than 3,000 living on the streets. The city says there are more than 700 encampments in less than 150 square miles. A few of his policies include ending deforestation in the Amazon and gun control He ousted former leader Jair Bolsonaro and vowed to save the country Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil's president on Sunday, delivering a searing indictment of conservative former leader Jair Bolsonaro and vowing a drastic change of course to rescue a nation plagued with hunger, poverty, and racism. In a speech to Congress after officially taking the reins of Latin America's biggest country, Lula said democracy was the true winner of the October presidential vote when he ousted Bolsonaro in the most fraught election in a generation. Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for the United States on Friday after refusing to concede defeat, rattled the cages of Brazil's young democracy with baseless claims of electoral weaknesses that birthed a violent movement of election deniers. 'Democracy was the great victor in this election, overcoming ... the most violent threats to freedom to vote, and the most abject campaign of lies and hate plotted to manipulate and embarrass the electorate,' Lula told lawmakers. Lula da Silva, 77, took office as Brazil's president for his third term. Luca is pictured on the left walking with a group representing diverse segments of society Lula previously served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011. His supporters gathered to watch him be sworn in on Sunday Lula, who was behind bars during Bolsonaro's 2019 inauguration on graft convictions that were later overturned, delivered a veiled threat to his predecessor. Bolsonaro faces mounting legal risks for his anti-democratic rhetoric and his handling of the pandemic now that he no longer has presidential immunity. The former president's trip to Orlando, Florida, insulates him from any immediate legal jeopardy in Brazil. It is unclear exactly where he is staying in the Sunshine State. 'We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who tried to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we will guarantee the rule of law,' Lula said, without mentioning his predecessor by name. 'Those who erred will answer for their errors.' He also accused Bolsonaro's administration of committing 'genocide' by failing to respond properly to the COVID-19 virus that killed more than 680,000 Brazilians. 'The responsibilities for this genocide must be investigated and must not go unpunished,' he said. Lula's plans for government provided a stark contrast to Bolsonaro's four years in office, which were characterized by backsliding on environmental protections in the Amazon rainforest, looser gun laws, and weaker protections for indigenous peoples and minorities. Lula said he wants to turn Brazil, one of the world's top food producers, into a green superpower. He reinforced his commitment to ending deforestation in the Amazon, which surged to a 15-year high under Bolsonaro, and to revoking Bolsonaro's looser gun policies, which prompted a sharp rise in gun ownership. 'Brazil does not want more weapons, it wants peace and security for its people,' he said. Lula was seen standing by his wife Rosangela Silva (right) and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (second left). Alckmin's wife Maria Lucia Ribeiro was also present (far left) Spectators emotionally reacted to Lula being sworn in as president One woman was seen wiping away her teas while looking toward Lula Firefighters sprayed water over those who attended Lula's inauguration outside of the Planalto presidential palace Another supporter was seen holding back her tears Supporters were seen with their hands over their hearts while listening to the national anthem Several signs with Lula's face were seen in the crowd along with t-shirts and hats with his name on it After the swearing-in, Lula drove in an open-top Rolls-Royce to the Planalto palace, where he walked up its ramp with his wife and a diverse group that included Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapo tribe, a young black boy and a disabled man. Lula was then handed the presidential sash - a hugely symbolic act in Brazil that Bolsonaro had repeatedly said he would never do - by Aline Sousa, a black garbage collector. Tens of thousands who had gathered to celebrate on Brasilia's esplanade cheered as Lula wiped away tears. In a subsequent speech, he pledged to unite the polarized country and govern all Brazilians. 'No one is interested in a country on a permanent war footing, or a family living in disharmony,' Lula said. 'There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one great nation.' Lula said he would be fiscally prudent, but made clear his main focus would be on ending hunger and narrowing rampant inequality. He also said he aims to improve the rights of women and attack racism and Brazil's legacy of slavery. 'This will be the hallmark of our government,' he said. Allies said Lula's new-found social conscience was the result of his 580 days in prison in 2018 and 2019. Lucia was welcomed by Indigenous Brazilian leader Raoni Meturktire (third from the left) Lula was seen standing by Metukire known as Chief Raoni Lula's inauguration took place amid heightened security. Some of Bolsonaro's supporters have claimed the election was stolen and called for a military coup to stop Lula from returning to office in a climate of vandalism and violence. On Christmas Eve, a Bolsonaro supporter was arrested for making a bomb that was discovered on a truck laden with aviation fuel at the entrance to Brasilia airport and confessed he was seeking to sow chaos to provoke a military intervention. Bolsonaro has seen his support among many former allies evaporate due to the anti-democratic protests. On Saturday night, then-acting President Hamilton Mourao, who was Bolsonaro's vice president, criticized his former boss for allowing anti-democratic sentiment to thrive after his defeat at the polls. 'Leaders who were supposed to reassure and unite the nation ... allowed silence or inopportune and deleterious protagonism to create an atmosphere of chaos and social disintegration,' Mourao said. Lula (center) was seen standing with his wife (right) and Metikire (left) Lula's election victory marked a stunning political comeback, winning an unprecedented third term after a hiatus that saw him spend a year and a half behind bars. In his previous years as Workers Party (PT) president from 2003-2010, the former union leader lifted millions of Brazilians from poverty during a commodity boom that buoyed the economy. Now, he faces the daunting challenge of improving Brazil's stagnant economy while also uniting a country that has become painfully polarized under Bolsonaro. 'A lot is expected of Lula. He'll have the difficult mission to restore normality and predictability in Brazil, and above all to rapidly deliver results that improve the quality of life for its inhabitants,' said Creomar de Souza, director of Dharma Political Risk consultancy in Brasilia. Gigi Jordan, a wealthy pharmaceutical executive who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of her eight-year-old son, was found dead in her Brooklyn apartment in what authorities are investigating as a possible suicide. The news came just hours after US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order that was expected to send Jordan back to prison. Jordan's body was discovered around 12:30am on Friday at her apartment in Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn The cause of the 62-year-old's death has not yet been determined, but sources said a note was found at the scene. Gigi Jordan, 62, a millionaire pharmaceutical exec convicted of manslaughter in the 2010 death of her eight-year-old autistic son, was found dead in her home. She is pictured in 2011 Authorities are investigating the 62-year-old's death as a possible suicide. Her son, Jude Mirra was found dead in the $2,300-a-night hotel suite next to his mother in 2010 Jordan was convicted in 2014 of giving the eight-year-old a cocktail of Ambien and Xanax while the two were staying at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel Jordan was accused of administering a fatal dose of pills to her autistic son, Jude Mirra, in February 2010 at the high-end Peninsula Hotel on Fifth Avenue. She then made an unsuccessful attempt to take her own life. During the trial, Jordan's defense team argued that she killed the boy while in a state of extreme emotional disturbance, fearing that he would be murdered by her ex-husband. Jordan was acquitted of the top murder charge, but was found guilty of manslaughter in 2014. Jordan was sentenced in 2015 to 18 years in prison, but her manslaughter conviction was overturned in 2020 due to a procedural error. Gigi Jordan's body was discovered at her apartment in Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn at around 12:30am on Friday - the cause of death has not yet been determined In September 2020, a federal judge overturned Jordan's conviction, saying her Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated when the lead prosecutor requested a closed-door courtroom discussion during her trial In 2010, she was accused of administering a lethal dose of pills to her autistic son, Jude Mirra, at a luxury hotel and was found guilty of manslaughter in 2014 On Thursday, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order reversing a previous decision that allowed Jordan to remain free on bail while the high court considered her appeal On Thursday, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order reversing a previous decision that allowed Jordan to remain free on bail while the high court considered her appeal. During her trial, lawyers for the nurse-turned-pharmaceutical entrepreneur argued that Jordan acted out of fear that her life was in danger and that her son would be left susceptible to abuse. Jordan testified at her trial that she also took pills to kill herself but the suicide attempt failed. 'I didnt see any way out of this situation,' she said during the trial. 'I made a decision that I was going to end my life and Judes life.' Following the judge's ruling overturning Jordan's conviction, then Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance that he 'strenuously disagreed' with the decision and intended to immediately appeal the decision to Manhattan federal appeals judges. A gurney carrying Jude Mirra's body is seen being wheeled out of the tony hotel on February 5, 2010. Jordan later said she tried to kill herself as well, but failed in her attempt If it becomes necessary, the office had said it would consider retrying Jordan for killing her son, said spokesman Danny Frost at the time. Under the conditions of her release, Jordan was also required to post $250,000 bond, remain in New York City under electronic monitoring, commit no further crimes and avoid coming in contact with illicit drugs or firearms. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 24hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Thousands of Americans across the country have gone for a dip in icy waters to ring into the new year and raise money for charity. While some dressed in New Year's party props, Christmas colors, and Poseidon outfits, others wore nothing but underwear or bathing suits at the annual Coney Island New Year's Day Polar Plunge, a New York tradition since 1903. With the temperature sitting at 40 degrees, some said the water was a little warmer, at 41.5 degrees. Supporters of the hardy souls who dared to go for a swim stood by with towels and warm robes as they observed their loved ones returning from the sea. Coney Island is a neighborhood located on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn and is home to more than 50,000 residents with a poverty rate close to 30 percent. The Polar Plunge ensures that money is being raised for local charities including, the Alliance for Coney Island, The New York Aquarium, and others. Thousands of people participated in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge in Brooklyn, New York, on January 1, 2023, as a couple kiss in the Atlantic Ocean during the event Thousands of brave and dressed swimmers met outside the Coney Island boardwalk before rushing into the Atlantic Ocean, which was set at at 41.5 degrees on Sunday NEW YEAR, NEW FACE: A man wearing a black top hat in a suit shaved his facial hair in the freezing water while enjoying the clear sky and sunshine People dressed as polar bears run into the Atlantic Ocean to kick off 2023 in original fashion A man waves the U.S. flag as he runs into the Atlantic on a sunny but cold day in New York City Swimmers dressed up as birds put their feet in the frigid water before diving into the Atlantic THIS.IS.CONEY ISLAND: A man in a Roman or Greek outfit carrying a trident is seen running into the Atlantic Ocean during the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge In 2022, there were more shark sightings off New York City's coastline than in recent years. Pictured: A man dressed up as a shark is seen coming out of the Atlantic during the Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge in Brooklyn, New York Funds are also donated to free local public programming, as well as environmental and educational programming, and the arts. 'The Alliance for Coney Island is proud to partner on this great event,' Steve Cohen, chairman of the Alliance for Coney Island, told SILive.com prior to the start of Sunday's event. 'The Polar Bear Plunge marks the official start of the new year in Coney Island and is a fun event, even for those not brave enough to take the plunge.' 'We appreciate all the support from fundraisers that help our local nonprofits,' he added. 'We hope that plungers and spectators will stop into our local businesses that will be open on the boardwalk and throughout Coney for their New Year's Day celebrations.' As of Sunday evening, the club raised more than $80,000, and will still be accepting donations until January 8. The Coney Island plunge was just one of several other polar plunge events that took place on the first day of the year. Three women held hands as they were brave enough to swim in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday NEW YORK OR RIO?: A woman was fearless enough to get into the water in a two-piece bikini Swimmers in one-piece bunny costumes entered the water at Coney Island beach in Brooklyn, New York, on January 1, 2023 There was a large amount turnout for the 2023 Polar Bear Swim in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY After the event was over, many people stayed to enjoy the remainder of the first day of 2023 at the beach Men, women, and children of all ages also gathered on Sunday morning in Racine, Wisconsin, jumping into the frigid Lake Michigan for the 30th annual Splash and Dash Polar Plunge. The air temperature was in the low 40s and the water temperature was 36.9 degrees in a part of the U.S. where there it is not uncommon to see sheets of ice on the sands of local beaches in the winter. All donations from this year's event will go to Racine County Food Bank, H.A.L.O. Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, and The Hospitality Center. More than $20,000 was raised each of the last three years, according to the fundraiser's official website. Another Polar Plunge took place at Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Hundreds of local residents gathered to celebrate the new year together The air temperature was in the low 40s and the lake's water temperature was 36.9 degrees Men, women, and children of all ages participated in the event, which will benefit several local charities SUPERMAN'S GONE FOR A SWIM: A man immediately ran out of the lake after taking a quick dip Elsewhere, a dozen of people participated in the sixth annual New Years' Day Polar Plunge at the Mystery Lake Scuba Park in Wendell, North Carolina. All proceedings were donated to N.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), as an estimated 432 people were killed in the Tar Heel state by impaired drivers. This year about 70 fewer people have died since 2021 but the 2022 death toll is still seven percent higher than in 2019, according to ABC 11. The 50-degree Mystery Lake is a 15-acre granite quarry lake for the exclusive use of scuba diving and scuba training. It is also 105 feet deep. As of Sunday, $895 out of a $3,000 goal was raised, according to the fundraiser's website. A dozen of people participated in the sixth annual New Years Day Polar Plunge at the Mystery Lake Scuba Park in Wendell, North Carolina, on Sunday The 50-degree Mystery Lake is a 15-acre granite quarry lake for the exclusive use of scuba diving and scuba training A couple held hands as they jumped into the water together. Lake Mystery is believed to be 105-feet deep NEW YEAR, NEW SMILE: A woman is pictured swimming in the lake on Sunday. Donations will be given to N.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving after 432 people were killed in the Tar Heel state by impaired drivers In New Jersey, temperatures were in the 50s, but the waters were about ten degrees colder when thousands jumped into the ocean in Atlantic City. Proceeds for this event went towards the Cancer Support Community New Jersey, according to resortsac.com. Similar events took place off the New Jersey coast in Brigantine and in Long Branch. 'What I tell everyone, even if they've never gone in or intimidated by the thought of it, is, wear your bathing suit under your clothes, because you'll go in. You'll get caught up in the energy of the crowd,' Sean Clifford told NJ.com. He's been swimming on New Year's Day for the last 21 years. 'It's exhilarating because everyone is screaming and hitting the water at the same time,' Clifford added. It's a total rush.' Boston and Pittsburgh also held local polar plunge events on the first day of 2023. Free enterprise: The obligated conservatives perspective By Mark Bard web posted January 2, 2023 Depending on the extent of government power, every economic system falls into just one of two general classifications. The first, the socialist systems, provides for authoritative government control over the economy. Characteristics of these systems include: The empowerment of government officials to dictate all significant economic activities, Private property either abolished or restricted by the government, Free enterprise is either prohibited or hindered by the government. The means of production either owned or coercively controlled by the government, Four similar economic systems possess all four of the above features: Socialism, Fascism, Communism, and Nazism (i.e., National Socialism). For certain, there are many frightening similarities between the economic beliefs of Fidel Castro and Bernie Sanders. Perhaps those two should have read, Crossroads, The Great American Experiment a brilliant 1984 book in which the economists, Dr. Barry Asmus and Dr. Don Billings concluded that Never mind the historical fact that systems other than capitalism trample freedom, spawn totalitarian political regimes, and make a mockery of economic efficiency. The non-socialist economic system is capitalism aka free enterprise. The social elements of this decentralized economic system are founded on the Love Thy Neighbor (LTN) rights of every individual to make their own decisions as to their and their familys security and happiness. For the most part, the governments role is limited to such functions as regulating and policing worker, product, and environmental safety; preventing profiteering from immoral services and products; preventing or busting up unfair monopolies; ensuring efficient and honest financial and economic systems; and protecting individual rights to contract and property. In terms of living standards, conservative capitalism - as historically practiced in the U. S. - has produced astonishing results. Free enterprise encourages creativity and innovation. There are competitive forces encouraging individuals to continuously build better quality and less expensive mousetraps and cellphones. In the 1912 rural Maine home of my father-in-laws birth, there was no central heating, electricity, indoor plumbing, or automobile. When my mother and father first brought me to their two-bedroom apartment back in 1954, they had no television, telephone, FM radio, stereo, microwave oven, air-conditioner, washer, dryer, or dishwasher. For anyone my age; plastics, hairdryers, DVRs, CD players, computers, cell phones, digital TVs, video games, Facebook, and many other common gadgets and gizmos are all recent inventions. In agriculture alone, as the result of productivity gains from mechanization, fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides, the percentage of the US population involved with farming has decreased from 70% early in the 19th century to only 1.3% today. And as another example, just in my lifetime, the average amount of milk produced by your average everyday dairy cow more than tripled to nine tons per year and bushels of corn per farm acre increased from 39 to 153. For the American worker, the 20th century produced unforeseeable material gains in terms of compensation and working conditions. In 1900, per capita annual income (in 1999 dollars) was $4,200 and was eight times as much by 1999. Employee fringe benefits - which were non-existent in 1900 - cost employers another $11,600 per employee per year a century later. Yet another example of improved working conditions, 1,500 workers were killed in Americas mines in 1900 and that was down to 35 in 1999. (Much better, but still an unacceptably high number.) All those remarkable gains in material comforts and compensation are fine to brag about. But, perhaps the most telling measure of free enterprises contribution to the welfare of Americans is the miraculous increase in our average life expectancies. An American born in 1900 had an average lifespan of 47.3 years. By the turn of our new century, the average American was expected to celebrate their 77th birthday. This gift of more than three decades of precious life per person is partially attributed to the increase in time and resources we have available to focus on our safety, health, and nutrition, but more so to the fantastic advancements in medical knowledge, technologies and treatments achieved over the past one hundred years. When I was a child, a heart attack resulted in a $50 ride to the funeral home. Now, its a $250,000 triple by-pass and 15 more years of life. Lets not forget, its only by Americas free enterprise economic system that we are free today. Our innovation and our industrial and agricultural output were critical to the 1945 defeats of Nazi Germany and Empirical Japan. And, it was our economic freedoms, along with our vigilant determination, that led to the cold war consolidation of the post-war Soviet Union. But, if asked why they prefer capitalism to any socialist economic system, I dont think those factors of material well-being, life expectancy, or totalitarianism defeat would be the first reason that comes to the minds of Obligated Conservatives (OCs). Instead, I believe most of us would focus on every individuals LTN rights to liberty and pursuit of happiness that only the capitalistic economic system equally protects for all individuals regardless of any demographic characteristic. In any society, where moral people are free, they will naturally develop a voluntary system of mutually beneficial exchange that we call free enterprise or capitalism. What may be the greatest single cause of the gulf between OCs and Entitled Liberals (ELs) is their opposing perceptions of what constitutes the fairest economic system. To ELs, social justice demands an equality of income between people. This, of course, all boils down to money. Such a perception is certainly understandable given that our human natures cause many of us with entitled moral characters to envy those who have more than we do and to look for ways to rationalize confiscation. Further, to the entitled, capitalism is oppressive because it tends to reward those who work hardest more than it does those who dont. To OCs, social justice isnt about money. Its about the equality of rights. Conservatives want all social elements to equally protect the LTN rights of everyone man or woman, rich or poor, black or white, big guy or little guy. Per George Straits Amarillo by Morning, country classic: I aint got a dime, but what I got is mine, I aint rich, but Lord Im free. To conservatives, individual freedom and the equality of rights trump the confiscation and redistribution of money every time. ++++++++++++++++++++ Suppose four individuals survive a shipwreck and find themselves on a secluded island. They take a vote and agree that each should farm their own section of the island and are free to voluntarily trade vegetables with each other at any mutually agreed-upon exchange rate. Lets say each person must work an average of 80 hours per week to produce four units of vegetables. One of the four puts in even more work hours and through her brains, sweat, risk, and luck, she invents a tractor. By using her new machine in the field only five hours per week, her total weekly work effort is reduced by half to a total of 40 hours, and her production increases from four units to nine. The other three, seeing this awesome increase in productivity, at first, eagerly agree to pay the inventor one unit of vegetables per week in exchange for use of her tractor for 5 hours. With this deal, for each of the three, their work week has been cut in half and their net production has doubled to a net of eight units. Given human greed, the three soon perceive that the inventor is an oppressive capitalist and, as the result of a 3 to 1 vote, they forcibly tax the inventor six units per week - which is then distributed to each of the three ELs. ++++++++++++++++++++ FANS Contract: A Proposed Solution for an Angry Socialist (EL) Angry Socialist (EL): Listen; I hear that in that country called Europe they got free health care, free college, and lots of other free stuff. In this oppressive country, we got to pay for all dat stuff. America sucks! Its so unfair! Were entitled to more free stuff! Obligated Conservative (OC): You know, I sincerely believe that you, and everyone who thinks like you, has the right to free health care, free college, and free other stuff. All you have to do is just go for it. EL: Youre kidding me! I always pegged you as a stupid racist conservative. But I was wrong. Yous really cool! OC: Oh, Im still a conservative. And as such, I believe everyone has a moral right to voluntarily contract with anyone that they want for any purpose that they want. I would never interfere with your or anyones right to enter or not to enter any type of contract. You agree that everyone has that right to voluntarily contract, dont you? EL: Yeah, sure, I guess. Who doesnt its like some kind of principle or something like dat? OC: Good! Now, all that you and your fellow liberals need to do is simply devise some sort of comprehensive contract where every signer voluntarily agrees to be bound to each other in a kind of socialistic type of relationship. We can call it the Free American National Socialist Contract, the FANS for short. OC continued: As examplesunder the legal FANS contract, you could authorize Biden to control all your health care services. You could promise each other free college educations through the doctoral level. You could agree that the employment practices at the businesses that you own be policed to enforce quotas based on race, sex, religion, height, favorite color, or whatever. You could even guarantee each other that all of your needs and comforts will always be provided to each of you absolutely free. I know youd like that. EL: Yeah, sounds great! OC continued: Of course, to pay for all these wonderful things, your contract would have to enforce some kind of a fee or tax which for example - would confiscate earnings of all signers to the extent that all provided social services are paid for and so that every signer is left with the same net after taxes. Under your moral right to pursue happiness, all liberals are completely free to voluntarily enter into such a legally enforceable contract. EL: Huh? OC continued: However, as you agreed, because everyone else has that same right to enter or not to enter a contract, it would be immoral for you liberals to use government power to coerce me or anyone who thinks like me to be part of their voluntary agreement. Im happy with my doctor and with my insurance company and Ill gladly pay for my own education and other stuff. But, hey, I wish you nothing but the best with your mutual FANS agreement however you all decide to construct it. EL; Wait! No fing way! That aint going to work. I could never get even one socialist to agree to the stupid fee or tax payment part of such a thing. OC: You know what, lets just be honest. You and every other entitled liberal who makes compassionate demands for free health care, college, and other things for themselves, do so only because you all truly believe that a national socialist government will force someone else to pay for them. And you really dont give a hoot who that someone is, as long as it isnt you. EL: Oh yeah! That just proves it! Youre nothing but a stupid, racist conservative. I hate you! Authors note: Mark Bard, author of Obligated Conservatism: Striving for a Love Thy Neighbor Society, is a lifelong and now retired conservative. For the most part, the above essay is an excerpt from that book. His email address is mabardpax@gmail.com . Home A young cowboy tragically killed after he was thrown off a bull while competing has been remembered as one of most down to earth and upstanding people in his community. Hue Mills, 25, from Atholwood in northern NSW, travelled 180km interstate to compete in the novice bull ride at the Warwick New Year's Eve Rodeo on Saturday night. It's understood he was 'bucked off' several seconds after entering the arena before being crushed by the bull's hind legs while lying on the ground as hundreds of shocked spectators watched on in horror. Mr Mills suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Warwick Hospital where he later died. He leaves behind a wife and young son. Hue Mills (pictured right) tragically died while competing at Warwick New Year's Eve Rodeo National Rodeo Association has paid tribute as more details emerged about what's been described as a tragic accident. NRA chairman Jason Hall was calling the event at the time. 'The competitor came off about half way into the ride, the bull's legs came down on his back,' he told The Courier Mail. 'It didn't look any more serious than anything that happens every week.' Mr Mills was wearing a helmet and protective vest at the time. 'But they are obviously to help limit any injury, it can't obviously prevent everything from happening,' Mr Hall said. 'It was an unfortunate accident. Bull riding is a dangerous sport and everyone competing knows this is always a possibility.' Devastated friends have penned heartbreaking tributes to Mr Mills. 'Such a shocking tragedy to one of the nicest, most humble friendly upstanding people I've ever met .....his down to earth personality was one you couldn't help but admire and strive to become a better person having known him,' one man wrote. Another added: 'RIP old son you were always a wild one was great knowing you for the short time I did. Cowboy Hue Mills (pictured) from northern NSW was 'bucked off' by the bull before being crushed by the animal's hind legs Harrowing photos from the tragedy show an ambulance in the middle of the arena being assisted by locals Footage and photos posted showed the shocked crowd watching on as Mr Mills was treated by paramedics behind a white shield before being loaded into an ambulance. Another video showed one of the ambulances in the middle of the arena towed by a tractor and pushed by up to a dozen locals. 'One of the saddest things I had ever witnessed,' a spectator later posted. Another woman added: 'As the DJ for this event, I am deeply saddened... my deepest condolences to his family... I wish to thank all the volunteers and paramedics who did all they could for this young cowboy.' Mr Mills' death has not only rocked the rodeo industry but also the close-knit of Warwick in Queensland's Southern Downs region. Devastated event organisers announced plans to support the cowboy's grieving family at a junior rodeo held on Sunday. One mate described Hue Mills (pictured) as one of most down to earth and upstanding people you could ever meet 'In an effort to support the family, the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society will be 'Passing the Hat Around' today at our National Rodeo Association Junior Rodeo to assist in any way we can financially for the family with funeral arrangements, and where possible, any long term care for the family,' organisers posted. 'Please understand that this is a very difficult time for the family, the Society, the National Rodeo Association, and his fellow competitors, so we request that the privacy of the family is upheld at this difficult time.' President John Maher later added, 'We want to offer our condolences to his family, friends and his fellow riders. 'A man losing his life doing the sport he loves is such a great tragedy.' The New Year's Eve event is one of the the biggest for the year for Warwick Show and Rodeo Society. The family friendly fireworks were scheduled to take place at 8.30pm but were delayed due to the 'serious arena incident'. Multiple ambulance crews were called to the showground to treat critically injured Hue Mills Before the pandemic their family-run business made a profit of under 1million The couple's firm became the single biggest beneficiary of NHS PPE deals Splashing around in the Caribbean surf, the former nurse who made millions in NHS PPE deals appeared to enjoy the fruits of her labour this Christmas. Sarah Stoute, 49, took a luxury Christmas break with her husband Richard, 52, after the pair pocketed close to 2billion in contracts for medical gowns and masks their firm becoming the single biggest beneficiary of NHS PPE deals. Before the pandemic their family-run business made a profit of under 1million. But now the pair have bought themselves a Caribbean villa for 30million, an equestrian centre and a country mansion in the south of England for 6million. Sarah Stoute (pictured), 49, took a luxury Christmas break with her husband Richard, 52, after the pair pocketed close to 2billion in contracts for medical gowns and masks Now the pair have bought themselves a Caribbean villa for 30million, an equestrian centre and a country mansion in the south of England for 6million. Pictured: Richard Stoute on holiday in the Caribbean When the Mail revealed their Caribbean getaway, the couple hired heavy-hitting lawyers including a KC to threaten an injunction to stop details being revealed. A source close to the couple said they were spending it like EuroMillions jackpot winners. Shortly before the new photos first published in The Sun on Sunday were taken, a jet ski had just returned Mrs Stoute to shore from a yacht where she was relaxing with family and friends. The Government has estimated that 85million of the PPE provided by their firm, Full Support Healthcare, has remained unused. The Jersey-registered company said it delivered the contracted PPE in full, to the required regulatory standards, and ahead of schedule and any unused kit was the result of decisions made by the Government. Stoute enjoying time on the beach during a Caribbean getaway with her husband The couple were pictured enjoying the sunny weather with a group of friends The firm won big after scrambling to order PPE in 2019. It had received a tip-off about a deadly virus, enabling it to cash in when the first wave hit Britain. The couple have insisted they are not Covid profiteers. They say they ran a well-placed business and their know-how played a vital role in bolstering PPE supplies. Mrs Stoute said: We were thus able to deliver in as timely a way as possible and this undoubtedly saved lives. The couple - pictured on holiday in the Caribbean - have insisted they are not Covid profiteers The husband of newly-elected Illinois Democratic congresswoman Delia Ramirez, 39, could face deportation along with hundreds of thousands of others if Congress does not act to pass DREAM Act legislation during its next session. Boris Hernandez, who married Ramirez during the pandemic, arrived in the US as a 14-year-old under a 2012 Obama-era policy known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). It allowed certain immigrants who came to the US as children, also known as 'Dreamers,' to apply for protection from deportation and to receive a work permit. Hernandez is one such DACA recipient and has lived in the US for most of his life but even though he is legally married to Ramirez, a US citizen, it still means together they are a 'mixed-status family' and he is still not a US citizen, nor can her vote for his own wife. 'I'm going to be fighting to keep my husband here and I'm a member of Congress. . What happens to the other 2 million undocumented immigrants that the DREAM Act would protect? What happens to his brother? What happens to my best friend from high school? What happens to all of them who have no pathway, who don't have a citizen husband or wife or partner?' Ramirez asks. Boris Hernandez, left, husband of newly elected Illinois Democratic congresswoman Delia Ramirez, 39, right, could face deportation along with hundreds of thousands of others if Congress does not act to pass DREAM Act legislation during its next session Husband Boris Hernandez, left, was out campaigning for his wife, Delia Ramirez to be elected to Congress but he was unable to vote for her because he is not a U.S. citizen Delia Ramirez, an incoming member of the US Congress, is calling for lawmakers to pass the DREAM Act during the next session which starts on Tuesday The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) would provide a pathway to citizenship for around 2 million undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children. It includes Hernandez who came to the country as a young teenager. If passed, the Act would allow 'Dreamers,' to apply for legal permanent resident status and eventually become eligible for citizenship. Ramirez met Hernandez in October 2020 describing her relationship as 'one of those pandemic loves.' Throughout her childhood, Ramirez's mother, now 61, seen left, would often remind her of the sacrifices she had made for her daughter's future Her mother endured a harrowing journey while pregnant with Delia as she crossed the Rio Grande with currents so strong she was almost swept away to her death. She is pictured with her brother and parents Hernandez and Ramirez tied the knot in 2020. He is a recipient of DACA after arriving in the U.S. as a young teen at 14 In a press conference held by Ramirez in early December at the US Capitol, the congresswoman emphasized the personal significance of the issue for her and her family. 'This is very personal for me. It is time it is past time that we deliver on the promise that we have made to our Dreamers,' she said. 'I am the wife of a DACA recipient. I am the daughter of Guatemalan working immigrants. I know firsthand the challenges and constant fear our families live every single day,' Ramirez told reporters. 'We have to end this.' 'It is time to deliver for our Dreamers. It is time for Boris Hernandez to finally have a pathway to citizenship.' Ramirez has been very open about her husband's status and often tells his story in speeches and chats with her constituents. Hernandez has even appeared standing by her side at campaign events. Ramirez, who will be the first Latina elected to Congress from the Midwest, grew up in Chicago and was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018. She has always been deeply connected to the issue of immigration. Ramirez is pictures, center, having been newly elected to Congress during the midterms Delia Ramirez is pictured alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Her mother endured a harrowing journey while pregnant with Delia as she crossed the Rio Grande with currents so strong she was almost swept away to her death. Throughout her childhood, Ramirez's mother would often remind her of the sacrifices she had made for her daughter's future. 'I nearly died so that you could be born. Now I have to fight to keep you alive,' she would remind her. She was forced to work 'multiple low-wage jobs to give her children a fighting chance to escape poverty,' Ramirez's election profile reads. Ramirez continues to speak about the constant fear and challenges faced by families like hers every day and has vowed to keep advocating for immigration reform, even in the face of such obstacles. The DREAM Act would provide a potential pathway to citizenship for around 2 million undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children. 'I didn't have to shy away from the fact that I'm working class and my husband's a DACA recipient, that I'm worried about how I'm going to pay for housing. That is the reality of so many people,' she told CNN. 'I want men and women, young and old, to see me and think, 'That was me, my daughter.' Or'I'm an intern somewhere and I don't feel seen. But if she could do it, so can I.'' Ramirez believes her personal connection to the issue gives her a unique perspective and helps her connect with voters. She is pictured with her husband, Boris Hernandez Ramirez believes her personal connection to the issue gives her a unique perspective and helps her connect with voters Ramirez's pro-immigration stance has drawn criticism and accusations that she supports 'open borders', but she is keen to use such attacks as a source of strength and a unique position that allows her to understand the issues facing those who arrive in the country by unconventional means. 'I am clear that anyone willing to risk dying, starving or even being raped in the long journey through desert, cold and tunnels is crossing because they feel like there is no other solution to their situation. Their migration is the only way they see themselves and loved ones surviving deep poverty and, in some cases, persecution,' Ramirez says. 'My mother wouldn't have risked my life or hers had it not been the only option she saw for her unborn child to have a chance at a life and childhood better than hers.' 'I am the daughter of a woman who at 61 has given so much to this country and is a minimum-wage worker that can't afford health care, so she's on Medicaid, and diabetic,' Ramirez says. 'I am the daughter of a man who spent 30 years working in an industrial bakery, a union-busting company, and the day he retired, he got a frozen pie. He didn't get a retirement pension and he struggled with Medicare supplemental, covering the cost.' Border patrol officers on the southern border of the United States recorded 233,740 illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico in November- a 33 percent increase from 2021 Border patrol officers on the southern border caught 233,740 illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico last month. The figure is the highest number of illegal border crossings ever recorded for November underscoring the chaos that exists even while the Title 42 pandemic border expulsion policy has been delayed. The Department of Homeland Security announced the numbers quietly in a Christmas Eve data dump. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to solve the crisis, and has asked the Supreme Court to delay the end of Covid-era Title 42 - which makes it easier for the US to expel undocumented migrants - until after the holidays. The Biden-Harris team is currently facing scrutiny over the chaos at the US-Mexico border as thousands of migrants are expected to try and seek asylum or sneak through. Desperate migrants huddled at bus stops and propped up makeshift tents in freezing temperatures in El Paso, after making their long and treacherous journeys to Texas. When broken down, the data reveals significant surges of migrants from Nicaragua and Cuba which offset drops in Venezuelans at the border. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in November, up 21 percent from 28,848 times in October. Large numbers of migrants continue to cross illegally into the United States with the Yuma, Arizona seeing a spike in numbers Around 400 people are pictured at the Arizona/Mexico border with the surge in numbers attributed to the supposed lifting of title 42 which the Supreme Court has delayed until later this month A man in his twenties remains in custody in connection with the suspicious death of Brazilian national Bruna Fonseca, who was pronounced dead at an apartment in Cork City early yesterday. Ms Fonseca, 28, who was from Formiga in Minais Gerais in Brazil was working as a contract cleaner at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork city and was understood to have been living in Ireland for less than a year. The emergency services and gardai attended at the scene at 6.30am yesterday. Gardai had met a man known to Ms Fonseca outside the building and he took them to a bedroom in the flat over Picasso Hair Studio on Liberty Street. Ms Fonseca was found unresponsive and despite efforts to resuscitate her, she was then pronounced dead at the scene. Ms Fonseca, 28, (pictured) who was from Formiga in Minais Gerais in Brazil was working as a contract cleaner at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork city The rented flat is within metres of the Washington Street courthouse and also near to Cork city centre. A man was subsequently arrested and he remains in custody at the citys Bridewell Garda Station. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be detained for up to 24 hours from the time of his arrest. The body of Ms Fonseca was removed from the scene at lunchtime yesterday. Her body was taken to Cork University Hospital for a Post Mortem examination, conducted by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. The results have not been released for operational reasons. The scene was sealed off for a full technical and forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. Efforts are under way to track the last known movements of the deceased woman. Door to door inquiries will be carried out and CCTV footage from the area will be reviewed. The area is home to number of businesses so gardai will be able to access security camera footage, which could assist them in their investigation. Meanwhile, locals and passers by expressed shock about the passing of the young woman. One elderly man said it was a dreadful start to the New Year. What is the world coming to? The world has gone mad. That is so sad. A middle-aged man also stopped and said God have mercy on her soul, when he realised a young woman had died suspiciously in the area. A number of people also expressed disbelief at what had occurred as they made their way in to Mass at the nearby St Francis Church. The investigation into the death is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to keep the family of the deceased abreast of developments. Divisional Scenes of Crime Officers are continuing to examine the flat, which remains sealed off. Anyone who can assist Gardai with their inquiries is asked to contact the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork on 021 4943330. Alternatively, contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station. Police in western Washington believe that vandals who attacked four power substations in western Washington on Christmas Day, leaving more than 14,000 without power, were trying to 'send a message.' The incidents were the latest of a series of similar attacks that some believe is the work of right-wing terrorists. Sergeant Darren Moss, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, said they are investigating the attacks as if they were done by either one person or a connected group. 'We can't confirm that,' he said. 'But obviously, we are going to look at it that way. Four of them in one day. On Christmas Day. That screams, "I want to make a point." What point do they want to make? I don't know.' Police in western Washington believe that vandals who attacked four power substations in western Washington on Christmas Day, leaving more than 14,000 without power, were trying to 'send a message' Authorities have yet to publicly identify a cause or suspects in the attacks, nor have they announced the extent of the damage done, according to the Seattle Times. Residents have also given conflicting accounts of hearing gunshots in the lead-up to the incidents. Gary Moore, who lives across from the Puget Sound Energy substation, didn't hear any shots ring out. However, Eva Robinett, who lives less than a mile from the Spanaway substation, said her husband was among those who did. Deputies became aware of the attacks after a call from a worker at a substation where officers were tipped off about 'a burglary.' Investigators arrived and saw signs of 'forced entry' but nothing taken. Equipment had been damaged, spurring the mass outages. A few hours later, officers received another call - from another plant a few miles away also reporting a burglary. Again, nothing was taken from the site. A third and fourth plant in the vicinity quickly reported the same, with photos showing a fenced area at one site cut. At the other, deputies found the station set on fire. Deputies are investigating the break-ins, which officials - including the head of Tacoma's power grid - are slamming as 'intentional' and 'criminal.' Sergeant Darren Moss, a spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, said they are investigating the attacks as if they were done by either one person or a connected group The electrical substations in Washington state were vandalized - cutting power to 14,000 people - just two weeks after seven across America were deliberately sabotaged A Tacoma Power crew works at an electrical substation damaged by vandals early on Christmas morning. They cut a padlock to gain entry, according to a crew manager Eight attacks targeting power plants have been recorded in Washington and nearby Oregon in recent weeks, leading to them coming under scrutiny by the FBI 'It was a person who chose to disrupt so many people's livelihood on a wonderful holiday,' Joe Wilson of Tacoma Power told Fox13 Seattle Sunday, shortly after officials learned of the fourth attack, which happened later than the others at around 7pm. The number of attacks in progressive states of Washington and Oregon - eight - is particularly pronounced. The attacks were preceded by a warning from federal law enforcement of a threat to the local electrical grid. The Tacoma Public Utilities - which oversees the attacked substations - did not describe the specific nature of the attack, aside from a tentative time frame of Sunday morning. Without a suspect, deputies have been hesitant to label the attacks as domestic terrorism. Although many, based on the context of the crimes, contend that is the case. A Tacoma Power crew works at an electrical substation damaged by vandals early on Christmas morning Photos show a fenced area at one of the four sites targeted near Tacoma Sunday. The trope of attacking power infrastructure, one expert said after the attacks, 'is an old tenet of the American extreme right wing' A Tacoma Power crew placed this new padlock at a substation gate after one that was cut off to break into the substation was taken away by law enforcement Earlier this month, Washington law enforcement sources said they received a memo from the FBI warning them about similar attacks on power stations in the Pacific Northwest. Eight attacks targeting power plants have been recorded in Washington and nearby Oregon in recent weeks, leading to them coming under scrutiny by the FBI. Joe Wilson of Tacoma Power criticized the perpetrators in an interview Sunday, saying they 'chose to disrupt so many people's livelihood on a wonderful holiday' An attack earlier this month in North Carolina prompted the bureau to say that it was investigating if the grid attack was triggered by opponents of a drag show in the small town of Southern Pines. The Department of Homeland Security officials has warned that extremists have harbored 'credible, specific plans to attack electricity infrastructure since at least 2020.' Others have argued that the US power grid - comprising over 7,300 plants and connecting more than 145 million Americans - needs better security to prevent such attacks. Ali Winston, a journalist who has spent years researching extremist groups, says they fit the criteria for domestic terrorism. Most of the vandalism happened in the morning, but the fourth was not reported until later, at 7:20 pm in the evening - with officials arriving to the station, also operated on Puget, set on fire, which deputies say was set intentionally In all, the outages affected about 14,000 customers, with 7,700 situated southeast of Tacoma The trope of attacking power infrastructure, the electrical grid or critical infrastructure 'is an old tenet of the American extreme right-wing,' Winston said Sunday. Officials released a bulletin warning of threats to power infrastructure following the December 3 attacks in which unknown actors shot up two power stations in Moore County, North Carolina, with guns, knocking out power to more than 40,000 homes. Tacoma Public Utilities first received the report of vandalism at about 5.30am Sunday at one substation, at 22312 46th Avenue E, followed by vandalism at the second, at 8820 224th Street E, the sheriff's office said. A third incident was reported later in the morning, this time by Puget Sound Energy - which operates two of the stations. The substation at 10915 144th St E was targeted at 2.39am, cops said, which caused power outages to around 7,300 customers. Most of the vandalism happened in the morning, but the fourth was not reported until later, at 7.20pm. When officials arrived at the station, also operated on Puget, it was on fire. Deputies say the fire was set intentionally. This fire knocked out power to residents in the nearby communities of Kapowsin and Graham, which have a combined population of 37,000. Without a suspect, deputies have been hesitant to label the attacks as domestic terrorism, though, based on the context of the crimes, many, including journalist Ali Winston (pictured), contend that is the case In all, the outages affected about 14,000 customers, with 7,700 situated in an area southeast of Tacoma. While many were left without lights for the entire Christmas holiday, power officials, by noon, said they had restored power to all but 2,700 customers. All customers affected by the outages have since restored power. The nearly 8,000 Puget customers who lost power had it restored by 5am, spokesperson Andrew Padula said. The company is investigating, along with authorities, and declined to comment further, Padula said. In all three cases, the sheriff's office says someone forced their way into the fenced area surrounding the substations and damaged equipment to cause a power outage. Officials have not said how the substations were damaged. No suspects are in custody and officials don't know if it was a coordinated attack. Oregon Public Broadcasting and KUOW-FM in Seattle reported earlier this month that Portland General Electric, the Bonneville Power Administration, Cowlitz County Public Utility District and Puget Sound Energy confirmed six separate attacks on electrical substations in Washington and Oregon in the previous weeks. Gerald Tracy, the media engagement program manager at Puget Sound Energy said that he was unable to 'comment on the incidents because they are both an ongoing investigation involving the FBI.' A federal law enforcement memo revealed that the Pacific Northwest substations have described attacks using 'handtools, arson, firearms, and metal chains possibly in response to an online call for attacks on critical infrastructure.' 'In recent attacks, criminal actors bypassed security fences by cutting the fence links, lighting nearby fires, shooting equipment from a distance or throwing objects over the fence and on to equipment,' read the memo. While many were left without lights for the entire Christmas holiday, power officials, by noon, said they had restored power to all but 2,700 customers. All customers affected by the outages have since been restored power Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating if the two attacks in North Carolina were intended to kill the power at a drag queen event. An LGBTQ nonprofit in North Carolina had set up a drag show at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines on Saturday night around the same time when the electric facilities were targeted with gunfire around 7pm. The incident led to officials declaring a state of emergency as about 32,000 southeastern residents were left without power. One in eight patients in Scotland has been forced to become a DIY doctor after failing to secure face-to-face GP appointments. Those unable to see their doctor are resorting to carrying out their own treatment or asking someone else who is not a qualified professional to do so, an alarming survey has revealed. It found that a quarter of adults across the country had tried and failed to see their doctor in person in the past year. Of those, 12 per cent went on to diagnose and attempt treatment themselves. One in eight Scots has admitted they have become a 'DIY doctor' due to delays in being able to make a face-to-face appointment to see their GP It found that a quarter of adults across the country had tried and failed to see their doctor in person in the past year One in five Scots admitted they had resorted to buying medicine online or from a of staff shortages or lack of beds. Last night, critics said the terrifying number of people being made to self-diagnose and treat themselves was a reflection of Scotlands deepening NHS crisis. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton blamed the problem on SNP mismanagement of the health service. With face-to-face GP appointments almost extinct in some areas of the country, he said the numbers who had resorted to being a DIY doctor was staggering. He added: We now have the devastating and potentially risky situation where people are left treating themselves or even self- prescribing medication because they cant see their local GP. The Liberal Democrats commissioned Savanta ComRes, which polled 2,061 adults across the UK in December, including 174 in Scotland. The survey was carried out amid concerns over the fate of patients who are struggling to access NHS care. One third of GP practices in Scotland reported vacancies during the past year. The number of practices in Scotland has fallen 8 per cent, from 1,007 to 922 since 2011. Meanwhile, the number of patients over 65, who need more medical care, has gone up 20 per cent in the past decade. A recent Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland survey of members found 36 per cent said they would be unlikely to be working in general practice in five years, with many saying they planned to retire. Andrew Buist, chairman of the British Medical Associations Scottish GP committee, has warned that Scotland is sleepwalking into the death of general practice. He has also warned that Scotland is now short of around 1,000 whole-time equivalent GPs and that this means there is less GP capacity available to care for the people of Scotland than at any point since 2009. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: Its a terrifying reflection of the crisis in Scotlands NHS under [Health Secretary] Humza Yousaf that a quarter of people are unable to get an appointment with a GP. Patients resorting to DIY treatment as a result is dangerous, unacceptable and could lead to greater pressures on the health service down the line. A Scottish Government spokesman said: There are a record number of GPs working in Scotland, with more per head than any other country in the UK. Trainee recruitment last year was the most successful year of any of the last five, with 98 per cent of GP training posts filled and we are committed to 800 additional GPs by the end of 2027. To support GP practices, we have recruited more than 3,220 healthcare professionals since 2018. The Chinese Communist Party has banked more than 1billion in dividends in just five years after buying shares in UK firms, analysis reveals. The authoritarian regime in Beijing owns at least 45billion of assets in the UK through its sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment Corporation (CIC). The list includes stakes in Heathrow airport, which paid CIC 162million in dividends between 2017 and 2021, and North Sea oil and gas firm Neptune, which paid out 218million to CIC in 2021. Meanwhile, The Peoples Bank of China, the nations central bank, has stakes in dozens of FTSE 100 companies, including a 2.5billion holding in Shell and 1.4billion worth of shares in BP many of which also pay large dividends. The Chinese Communist Party has banked more than 1billion in dividends in just five years after buying shares in UK firms Senior Tories warn the figures show the UK is sleepwalking into the Chinese Communist Partys dependence trap. A further 152billion of assets in the UK are owned by investors in China and Hong Kong, The Sunday Times found. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been sanctioned by China after criticising its record on human rights, said: This is a murky mess that successive British governments have plunged us into. 'We are more vulnerable than ever to a state which is clearly so antithetic to almost everything that we believe in. Suspected Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger showed 'unsettling red flags' after the murders, always looked 'exhausted' and 'never slept' according to a neighbor and a former classmate. Kohberger, 28, was arrested at his parent's home in Pennsylvania on Friday for the quadruple murder of the University Idaho students Kailee Golcalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Ben Roberts, a classmate of Kohberger, recalled the suspect's usual quiet nature in class and how his demeanor changed after the killings. Bryan Kohberger appeared too weak to kill the four University of Idaho students, according to his neighbor in Washington Ben Roberts, a classmate of Kohberger, recalled the suspect's usual quiet nature in class and how his demeanor changed after the killings 'He was starting to show up really tired,' Roberts told the Seattle Times. 'He'd always have a cup of coffee in his hand, and he kind of looked like he was riding the knife edge between worn out and completely exhausted.' Kohberger's unidentified downstairs neighbor echoed his strange late-night behaviors and claimed he didn't appear to be capable of murder. His neighbor in Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was a criminology student, revealed the suspected murderer kept a low profile and appeared too weak to kill. 'I dont know how he couldve killed people because he doesnt look that tough,' the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous told the New York Post. The neighbor, who is a woman, told the news outlet that she always heard Kohberger up late at night since he moved into the complex in August. 'Hes normally a very late-night person, going to the bathroom and vacuuming at 1 or 12 in the morning,' she said. 'I have kids, so sometimes I thought of speaking to him or complaining, but never did. It seemed like he never slept because he was always doing something all night.' While Kohberger was never talkative with his neighbors, he occasionally greeted others in passing. She recalled him bringing a woman home with him one night and hearing them talk through the walls of the complex. The alleged killer also brought home a woman with him in his white car, but the two immediately parted ways when he parked, according to the neighbor. His neighbor said she was in disbelief when she learned Kohberger was the suspected killer in the horrific November 13 murders. 'We are all PhD students here so it takes a lot of hard work and smarts to get to this point,' she said. 'You dont think someone like that could do something like this.' Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am (Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin) Kohberger's downstairs neighbor recalled the strange movements of the suspected killer, including his late night movements and appearance. Pictured: Kohberger's Washington complex While Kohberger was never talkative with his neighbors, he occasionally greeted others in passing. Pictured: Forensic teams working outside of Kohberger's apartment The neighbor recalled him bringing a woman home with him one night and hearing them talk through the walls of the complex Students who attended Washington State University with Kohberger were also shocked to learn that the quiet man in their classroom was the prime suspect in the brutal slaying. BK Norton, who was in the same criminal justice graduate program with Kohberger, said her classmate appeared more animated and talkative following the murders. 'He seemed more upbeat and willing to carry a conversation,' she told the New York Times. But Norton noted all his enthusiasm would go away and he would become 'quiet and deadpan' when the class would discuss the Idaho murder case. 'I don't believe he had any reaction,' Norton told the New York Post, saying it was odd because everyone else was glued to the case and speculated on the lack of public information. 'We had quite a long conversation in class about it too. I don't believe I remember him commenting about it at all.' Another student, who spoke with the Times under the condition of anonymity, backed up Norton's claim and said Kohberger didn't have many friends at the school because of alleged LGBTQ+ remarks he made. The suspect is believed to have driven some 2,300 miles from Moscow to Pennsylvania. He was attending college in nearby Washington State Meanwhile, Kohberger's family addressed the charges, shared condolences with the victim's families, and asked for people to refrain from judgment. 'We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family, we will love and support our son and brother,' the family said on Sunday. 'First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. 'There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them,' the statement, obtained by TMZ, read in part. 'We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions,' the family continued. Kohberger's family addressed the charges, shared condolences to the victims families and asked for people to refrain from judgement Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place Kohberger's family asked for privacy during this time as they cooperate with law enforcement to get to the bottom of the case. 'We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process,' the family said. Law enforcement officials believe Kohberger had been stalking the victims in the weeks leading up to the November 13 slayings. In addition to stalking the young students and being careful to not leave evidence at the scene, sources say the man wore gloves for weeks after the murders to not distribute DNA. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder. Two lucky punters have started the new year as multi-millionaires after buying winning tickets in the lotto - but they don't even know it yet. A dozen players shared the division one jackpot around Australia in the $40 million Gold Lotto draw on Saturday, each winning $3.3 million. There were four each in Queensland and Victoria, three in NSW, and one in Western Australia. Four Queenslanders including a man from Forest Lake and a mum from Loganholme celebrated new years after realising they had won. The Forest Lake man said he did not get a wink of sleep after checking his ticket and realising he had become a multi-millionaire. 'Normally I don't really check my ticket straight away, but on Saturday night I thought I'd have a quick look,' he told an official from The Lott. There were 12 division one winning entries across Australia in the Gold Lotto draw 4325, drawn on Saturday, December 31, scoring over $3.3 million each (stock image) 'Then I started scrolling, and I could see all six numbers lit up. We didn't get much sleep that night. We just couldn't believe it. It's pretty surreal. What a New Year's Eve present!' The Brisbane resident said the prize money was life-changing for he and his wife as they plan to pay off their mortgage and help their children get 'a foot up in life'. The Loganholme woman who had bought two tickets in the $40 million draw said she won $35 on one and scored $3.3 million on the other. 'At first, I checked another ticket, and I won $35 on that,' she explained. 'I was pretty happy with that. Then I checked this ticket! It was a nice surprise! A good way to start the New Year.' The mum said she had yet to decide what she would do with her millions, but before winning wanted to pay off her house and change careers. However, two lucky Queenslanders have yet to come forward with their winning tickets. The two winning entries were sold at Nextra Orion, Shop 29, 1 Main Street in Orion Springfield, and Julia Creek News on Burke Street in Julia Creek. Two lucky Queensland punters have yet to claim their prize money. The Lott is urging anyone who purchased an entry in the draw to check their tickets (stock image) Anyone who bought an entry in the December 31 draw is urged to check their tickets and call The Lott on 131 868 to claim their prize money. The winning numbers in Gold Lotto draw 4325 were 11, 23, 35, 42, 20 and 45, with supplementary numbers 8 and 38. Out of the 12 division one winners, four each were in Queensland and Victoria, three in NSW, and one in WA. The heartbroken father of one of the five teenagers who died in an alleged ute smash has turned his own vehicles into touching mobile shrines to his tragic daughter. Lily Van de Putte, 14, died when a Nissan Navara she was in allegedly ploughed into trees on East Parade in Buxton, south-west of Sydney, just before 8pm on September 6. She was allegedly killed alongside her Picton High School mates Antonio Desisto, Tyrese Bechard, Summer Williams and Gabby McLennan - all aged 14 to 16. John Van de Putte (left) has turned his vehicles into mobile shrines to his daughter Lily (right) who died with four other teenagers in a horrific crash in September Lily's heartbroken father John Van de Putte has revealed a set of custom-made stickers (left) to honour his daughter, and a registration number plate bearing her name and year of birth (right) The driver and sole survivor, Tyrell Edwards, 18, has since been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death driving in a manner dangerous and will face trial later this year. Now Lily's heartbroken father John has revealed a set of custom-made stickers to honour his daughter, and a registration number plate bearing her name and year of birth. The stickers feature angel wings in rainbow colours around an image of a purple lily above her name Lily Van de Putte, 2008-2022. Above the wings is the heartrending message: 'Forever in my heart'. The stickers have been put in the back window of the wheelchair-bound father's family car and on the back of his Mercedes Sprinter van which has the rego 08-LILY. Mr Van de Putte - who suffers from multiple sclerosis - showcased the stickers in a Facebook post and added: 'Great Christmas presents. 'Thank you everyone for your support x.' Gabriella McLennan is pictured left with her best friend, Lily Van de Putte. They died together in the crash John Van de Putte also revealed a Christmas tree bauble (left) inscribed in glitter with the name of Lily (pictured right decorating the family Christmas treet in 2019) and her best friend Gabby John Van de Putte later posted a picture of his family with Lily and Gabby's bauble in prime position as the star at the top of their Christmas tree He also revealed a Christmas tree bauble inscribed in glitter with the name of Lily and her best friend Gabby who died alongside her in the crash. He later posted a picture of his family with the bauble in prime position as the star at the top of their Christmas tree. The posts sparked an outpouring of grief and sympathy from friends and relatives still devastated by the tragedy. The tribute was revealed two months after the families of the teenagers killed in the crash came together for an emotional gathering. Family and friends of the five who died in the horror smash met up for a solemn barbecue in quiet parkland after being picked up by limousine by the organisers. One parent called the gathering a 'beautiful day...enjoyed by all'. 'We would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts,' they said. 'There were games for the children, amazing food, gift packs and all families were picked up with the free limousine service which put so many smiles on everyones face.' Tyrell Edwards was allegedly behind the wheel when his Nissan ute smashed into a tree in Buxton Antonio Desisto (pictured right) and Summer Williams (left) also died in the incident on September 6 Tyrese Bechard (pictured) died in the car accident when a Nissan ute slammed into two trees on East Parade in Buxton Mr Van de Putte previously said just days after his daughter's funeral that he wanted to meet the parents of the driver accused of killing his child and her friends in the crash. 'I just want to give them a hug,' Mr Van de Putte said at the time. Edwards was bailed in October under strict conditions he lives with his parents and doesn't contact anyone under 18 unless accompanied by his mother. Conditions imposed on Edwards while on bail include that he abide by a curfew, he must not leave his parents' home unless in the company of his mother, he is not allowed to drink alcohol and is not allowed to get behind the wheel of any vehicle. John van de Putte said he wants to meet with the parents of Tyrell Edward (pictured), who was the driver and sole survivor of the crash, to give them a hug Over 333,472 Class 2 misdemeanors committed in Kari Lakes election, but trial court judge shrugged them off By Rachel Alexander web posted January 2, 2023 Distrust in the justice system over its refusal to stop voter disenfranchisement is spiraling after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson dismissed Kari Lakes lawsuit challenging the results of Arizonas botched midterm election, where Democrat Katie Hobbs was declared the winner. Hobbs was losing in almost every MSM poll and didnt bother to debate Lake, prompting one of the most prominent progressive journalists in the state to denounce her hiding in her basement as political malpractice. Hobbs was such an unremarkable candidate that she has only 177k Twitter followers to Lakes 834k followers, over 400% fewer. The Republican Party has a 4% voter registration over Democrats in both Maricopa County and statewide. Despite this, 14% of voters supposedly flipped to oppose Arizonas top Trump candidates. Just like how no one believed Donald Trump lost the state in 2020, when he led Joe Biden three or four points going into the election, no one believes Hobbs really won. This is why instead of being happy and gloating at their win, the left is reacting with a bizarre level of intense anger towards the right. Lakes team discovered that over 298,942 ballots delivered to third-party signature verification service Runbeck Election Services on Election Day had no chain of custody, and provided this evidence to Thompson. A Runbeck employee stated there were at least 9,530 duplicate ballots printed and issued with no chain of custody. And two days after the election, 25,000 more ballots were found which lacked a chain of custody, totaling over 333,472 ballots. Under Arizona law here and here , every one of those constitutes a class 2 misdemeanor. This doesnt even include all the Door 3 ballots that were commingled with counted ballots at the vote centers plagued with printing problems; it is unknown how many of them have botched chains of custody. Detractors assert that the courts do not want to be in the business of deciding elections conveniently leaving out that plenty of judges around the country have frequently ordered new elections where there was far less evidence of voter disenfranchisement, such as a Georgia House race where merely four people were found to have voted who were ineligible. Legal expert Robert Barnes pointed out that Thompson required a standard of intentionality that wasnt even required. Arizona law is clear: even inadvertent errors in election require setting aside result if it casts outcome in doubt, he tweeted . Intentionality is NOT required when the error casts actual winner in doubt. Another legal expert, Robert Bowes, observed that Thompson relied upon an old case in order to require a high bar of clear and convincing evidence. The 1959 case Buzard v. Griffin, Thompson cited is no longer the standard; Miller v. Pacacho overruled it in 1994. There, the court stated, We therefore hold that a showing of fraud is not a necessary condition to invalidate absentee balloting. It is sufficient that an express non-technical statute was violated, and ballots cast in violation of the statute affected the election. Instead, Thompson just blew off all the violations, including the more serious class 2 misdemeanor crimes. Bowes also pointed out that Thompson erred by conflating mere misconduct by an election official under 16-672(A)(1) with the election officials intent to affect an elections outcome. Misconduct includes negligent maladministration as well as intentional acts, he tweeted . The MSM is ignoring the prosecution threats that county supervisors have received for merely considering conducting a hand count of the ballots. Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould was threatened with a felony and jail. Hobbs threatened county attorneys into not doing their legal job of representing county supervisors like him. A.R.S. 13-1804 , extortion theft, states that it is a class 4 felony to threaten to Take or withhold action as a public servant or cause a public servant to take or withhold action. The Law of Large Numbers contradicts the odds of so many coincidences happening in the election to favor Hobbs and the other Democrats who strangely swept Arizonas top races. The coincidences should reasonably balance out to half favor Hobbs, half favor Lake, but they dont, they are all in favor of Hobbs. New votes were recently found in Pinal County favoring Republican Abe Hamadeh in his tight race against Kris Mayes, dropping her lead to only 280, but his case remains dismissed by a judge. In similar close races around the country, the election results were often reversed due to similar anomalies. Maricopa County has been getting away with this kind of behavior since at least the botched 2020 election. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office sent the county four requests yes four, not just one request demanding it turn over items related to the Arizona Senate-ordered independent ballot audit, and they ignored the letters. Unfortunately the AZ AG has no statutory authority to enforce the requests, so the county got away with it and its been swept under the rug, no one talks about the strange secrecy anymore. Some more coincidences favoring Democrats previously include bad signatures accepted 14 more times during the 2020 election than during this years primary election. Maricopa County hired 145 more Democrat poll workers than Republicans to staff the primary election, despite the massive push Republicans made to work there. Arizona State Rep. Sonny Borrelli recently discovered that over 21,000 ballots in a five percent sample were illegally cast in 2020. All eyes are now on the Arizona Supreme Court and then SCOTUS to see if they go along with the trial court judge and cover for the wrongdoing using a bogus technical excuse. In 2020, SCOTUS didnt provide reasons for rejecting certiorari on Trumps election lawsuit and others. The people need to watch both courts closely and hold them accountable if they do not correct this travesty of justice, by refusing to reelect the Arizona Supreme Court judges and creating awareness about the inaction of SCOTUS justices. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home The California Republican needs 218 votes on Tuesday to win the speakership Opposition to Kevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker is growing after nine Republican members wrote a stinging letter warning how electing him would be more of the status quo 'dysfunction' in the lower chamber. The group said that McCarthy had 14 years in House GOP leadership, and lamented that his election could mean a 'continuation of past, and ongoing, Republican failures.' On Sunday, McCarthy held a private conference call with Republicans in an attempt to garner support for his speakership vote on Tuesday, January 3, which is when the new Congress takes office. While McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes if he wants to clinch the Speakership, the call appeared to worsen his outlook from five dissenters last week to 14 total just 24 hours before the vote. The Republicans who pledged to vote against McCarthy are Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Harris of Maryland and Andrew Clyde of Georgia, along with Representative-elects Andy Nogales of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Eli Crane of Arizona. GOP opposition to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's bid to become the next House Speaker appears to be growing rather than shrinking after nine Republicans wrote a stinging letter warning how electing him would be a 'continuation of past and ongoing Republican failures' On New Year's Eve McCarthy wrote a letter entitled 'Restoring the People's House and Ending Business as Usual,' where he admitted to dysfunction in the House of Representatives and pledged to make it right. 'For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure,' the nine GOP members wrote in their letter. They added that his 'statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd.' 'At this state, it cannot be a surprise that expressions of vague hopes reflected in far too many of the crucial points still under debate are insufficient. This is especially true with respect to Mr. McCarthy's candidacy for speaker because the times call for radical departure from the status quo not a continuation of past and ongoing, Republican failures,' the letter stated. 'McCarthy's statement also continues to propose to restrict the availability of the traditional motion to vacate the chair as a means of holding leadership accountable to its promises; we have from the beginning made clear that we will not accept following Nancy Pelosi's example by insulating leadership in this way,' the nine House GOP members said in their letter on Sunday. 'We also note that the statement fails completely to address the issue of leadership working to defeat conservatives in open primaries. The progress made thus far has been helpful and should guide our thinking going forward.' On New Year's Eve McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote on a letter entitled 'Restoring the People's House and Ending Business as Usual,' where he admitted the dysfunction of the House of Representatives and his pledge to make it right Members of the House Freedom Caucus, the most conservative group in the House, led the calls for a shake-up in leadership. Rep. Andy Biggs, a former chairman of the caucus, had launched a bid against McCarthy within the party to be the nominee for Speakership, but was defeated in a secret ballot. Biggs of Arizona, along with Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana were all part of the initial 'Never Kevin' lawmakers publicly expressing their plans to vote against McCarthy in the January 3 elections. While Perry is vice chair of the Freedom Caucus, the current chairman and co-founder of the caucus, Representative Jim Jordan, is an ally of McCarthy. He could be the only person who can get through to the detractors. In recent weeks, Jordan has gone to bat for McCarthy by arguing on several right-leaning media outlet interviews that the current GOP Leader deserves the gavel. The five original 'Never Kevin' lawmakers have organized to prevent McCarthy from garnering the 218 votes needed to take the gavel from outgoing Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They have also vowed not to be picked off individually by McCarthy and said they would discuss any concessions he offers. McCarthy announced on the private call Sunday evening that he would give into one of the top demands from detractors, which is shrinking the threshold needed to vote out the Speaker in exchange for his ascent to the position. Under the current rules, only a member of the House leadership can initiate a motion to remove the Speaker, but McCarthy's proposal would allow any House member to force a vote to remove the Speaker at any time. Currently, only members of House leadership are able to do so, under rules implemented by Pelosi. The letter is proof that those who oppose his speakership don't think this concession from McCarthy is enough. House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) said Sunday that he would be 'surprised' if Kevin McCarthy weren't elected by his party to become next Speaker of the House "Do you think he's going to get the votes to be speaker?"@DanaBashCNN asks outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) about his relationship with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/R2tKP6XSbM CNN (@CNN) January 1, 2023 When asked if McCarthy has what it takes to be Speaker, Democratic House Leader Steny Hoyer said on Sunday: 'We'll see.' He added that if McCarthy wins the election, it's proof that he's able to at least put in the work against adversity. 'He obviously if he gets 218 votes has the ability to put together the votes to be the leader of the Party,' Hoyer told CNN. 'And he will then be tested as to whether or not he can lead.' 'But, you know, he's worked pretty hard at it. He got close to the Holy Grail, and he had to step back. He didn't give up, he kept going. And it appears to me that he will be the Speaker.' Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs launched an unsuccessful bid against McCarthy to get the GOP nomination for Speaker McCarthy's efforts to nab the gavel at the start of the new Congress comes seven years after his last failed bid to become Speaker. To secure the speakership, McCarthy needs at least 218 votes, but with the Republican Party's slim majority in the House with 222 seats, any additional defections could jeopardize his chances. During his meeting with fellow GOP members, he acknowledged how rank-and-file members would be able to call for the speaker's removal, although it is unclear how many members would need to sign on to the motion. Earlier on Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would be surprised if Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy weren't elected by his party to become the next Speaker - but stopped short of saying whether he's up to the task. 'I would be surprised if he doesn't [win],' Representative Hoyer insisted to CNN's State of the Union on Sunday morning. 'My expectation he'll be Speaker.' The new Congress will convene on Tuesday, January 3 and will see Republicans take back a majority in the lower chamber but not in the Senate. The mum of NRL star Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly killing three people in a fiery crash on Friday. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, 46, whose son plays for the Brisbane Broncos, remains in hospital battling bruised lungs, multiple fractures and internal injuries after being pulled from her black Mercedes wagon after it smashed into a silver Mercedes and a power pole on the Gold Coast hinterland. The three people in the silver Mercedes - Chris Fawcett, 79, his partner Susan Zimmer, 70, and her 35-year-old daughter Stephanie - all died in the crash. Police allege Ms Taufua was seen 'driving erratically' shortly before the crash, which happened at around 5pm on Bonogin Road, Bonogin, and sped off when a patrol activated lights and sirens in an attempt to pull her over. Ms Taufau refused to be interviewed by police from her hospital bed on Monday morning before being charged with three counts of manslaughter and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and drive without a driver's license (demerit point suspended). Her case will appear in court on January 11 for a bail application. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, remains in hospital after being involved in a fiery car crash that cost the lives of three people Police earlier confirmed they they did not pursue the car due to public safety before Ms Taufua crashed 1km down the road. Ms Taufua's licence was allegedly suspended at the time after she served a month's jail time, ending in October, for assaulting two security guards at Star Gold Coast casino. After being pulled from her vehicle by a man living nearby, Ms Taufua was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition. Ms Taufua's manslaughter charges come after Ms Zimmer's surviving daughter Claudine Snow spoke of her heartbreak while visiting the crash site. Ms Snow broke down in tears as she recalled her last conversation with her mum, whom she described as her best friend. Claudine Snow (pictured) spoke about the crash that claimed the lives of her mum, sister and stepfather in the Gold Coast 'The last thing (mum) said to me in a voicemail was she was worried about driving at this time of the year,' Ms Snow told reporters. 'I wish she had of just listened to her gut feeling and didn't go out.' She also relived the phone call from police early Saturday. 'I just dropped to my knees,' she said. 'I knew it was about mum. (The person on the phone) said, "They're all gone".' She recalled how her 'incredible' sister could 'light up the room' and 'make anyone laugh' and said her stepfather Dr Fawcett, a former skin cancer specialist had 'saved so many lives'. Stephanie Zimmer (left) and her mum Susan (right) both died in the crash Chris Fawcett also perished in the incident Three crosses have been set up near the charred accident site in tribute to the victims. Mr Fawcett and Stephanie were dead by the time emergency crews arrived at the scene and despite their frantic efforts, Ms Zimmer died a short time afterwards. Ms Snow's tragic tribute comes as footage emerged showing the black Mercedes wagon Taufua was in allegedly speeding down Bonogin Road minutes before the crash. CCTV has emerged of the black Mercedes wagon Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua was allegedly driving speeding moments before the tragedy Passing motorists stopped to assist at the horrific crash site, with the man who pulled Ms Taufua from the fiery wreckage of her van later needing treatment for trauma Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon, said the scene shocked the police and emergency crews attending as well as members of the public who assisted. The 45-year-old man who helped free Ms Taufua from her burning car needed treatment at Robina Hospital for 'emotional distress'. A local woman said her husband ran to help after hearing a 'massive bang' and pulled a woman from a vehicle just moments before it exploded. Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon said the force of the impact pushed the silver Mercedes into a power pole, which fell on Ms Taufua's vehicle setting it alight. The mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas (pictured, left) was pulled from her van after the crash Supt Hanlon expressed his condolences to friends and family of the victims. 'This was a tragic, tragic incident,' he told reporters. 'But to lose three people from the same family, you can't recover from that. 'The thoughts and prayers of the Queensland Police service are with their friends and family at this time.' More than 1,000 homes and businesses in the area were left without electricity after the power pole was downed although most had their lights restored two hours after the accident. The father of the University of Idaho murder suspect flew from Pennsylvania to Washington to accompany his son on a cross country road trip weeks after the quadruple homicide. Bryan Kohberger's public defender revealed that the 28-year-old PhD student at Washington State University in Pullman didn't make the 2,000-mile journey back to his family home alone. Kohberger was spotted with his father in the white Hyundai Elantra police were on the hunt for, including at a car maintenance shop in Pennsylvania on December 16. 'He was home for the holidays,' Public Defender Jason LaBar told CNN. The suspected killer was arrested on Friday after a more than a month-long man-hunt for the murderer behind the brutal deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21. Bryan Kohberger, 28, drove from Washington to Pennsylvania with his father weeks after he allegedly murdered the four University of Idaho students, his defense attorney revealed Kohberger's father had bragged to the witness about flying out to Washington to make the cross country drive with his son in the white Hyundai Elantra. Police were previously on the hunt for the exact model they said was spotted near the Idaho murder house Kohberger is accused of breaking into the home of the four students' off-campus Moscow residence and stabbing them to death in their beds on November 13. He is currently behind bars in Pennsylvania and is currently waiting to be extradited to Idaho in hopes of being 'exonerated of these charges,' LaBar told Idaho Statesman. LaBar is preparing for Kohberger to arrive back to Idaho and already requested he receive a public defender immediately. Kohberger may possibly face the death penalty in the state - which his family can't afford to hire an attorney to fight. 'He does not have the funding to get a private attorney,' LaBar said. Surveillance footage on the night of the slayings showed a white Hyundai Elantra nearby the home around the time the murders occurred at around 3am. Police believe it belonged to Kohberger. The Ph.D. student had driven in the car back to Pennsylvania where police recovered it at his parents' home. An unidentified person at the car shop confirmed Kohberger was getting maintenance done on his car with his father after the trip. According to the source, Koherberger's father was bragging about flying out to the west coast to join his son on his trip home for the holidays, and recalled the 28-year-old as being reserved. It is unclear if Koherberger's father knew about the murders. He filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Police later recovered the car at Kohberger's parent's house where he was arrested. Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am. Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin The crime took place six weeks ago, 2,500 miles from where Kohberger was arrested. His father flew to meet his son in Washington and drove with him back to their Pennsylvania home Police were on the hunt for Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra, which officials began tracking around Christmas time as the suspect drove across the country Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place Kohberger's family addressed the charges on Sunday and asked for people to refrain from judgment. 'We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family, we will love and support our son and brother,' the family wrote in a statement obtained by TMZ. 'First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. 'There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them,' the statement read in part. 'We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.' Kohberger's family asked for privacy during this time as they cooperate with law enforcement to get to the bottom of the case. 'We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process.' The suspect was attending college in nearby Washington State, where he pursued criminology Forensic teams and police work at the apartment of Kohberger nearby Washington State University in Pullman, Washington Police said they began tracking and surveilling Kohberger around Christmas and stayed on him for four days when they spotted the white Hyundai Elantra they believed was connected to the murders. Friday's arrest is the first major break in the case - with Kohberger asking if 'anyone else was arrested' when he was taken into custody. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Law enforcement sources told CNN that his DNA was discovered at the scene of the crime with officers managing to track down who owned the car seen in the area of the slayings. However, Kohberger has no prior arrests, according to public records, so it is unclear how officials got hold of his DNA. Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Pictured is the home where the murders took place, just over eight miles from where he worked as a PhD student and teaching assistant Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Moscow Chief of Police James Fry refused to rule out that the killer had an accomplice. Details of the killings, and the motive for them, are yet to be released with law enforcement saying a sealed arrest affidavit will be released once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho. He believes Fauci deserves more scrutiny for his actions during the Covid pandemic and accuses him of secretly funding research at a Wuhan lab Elon Musk has teased the release of bombshell Twitter files related to Dr Anthony Fauci this week, as part of what he calls the 'Fauci Files'. The 51-year-old Twitter CEO has has repeatedly criticized Fauci, who has recently retired from his role as White House chief medical adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). On Sunday, Musk tweeted: 'Hope you're having a great day 1 2023! One thing's for sure, it won't be boring.' Many took that to be a hint about further revelations from inside Twitter, specifically relating to Fauci. Juanita Broaddrick, an 80-year-old former nurse who alleged she was raped by former US president Bill Clinton in 1978, replied to Musk's tweet to say that she is waiting for the Fauci Files. 'Later this week,' Musk replied, making it clear that it was only a matter of time until his beef with America's top infectious disease expert would re-emerge. Elon Musk has hinted at the release of bombshell 'Fauci Files' in this week's latest 'Twitter Files' leak amid his ongoing feud with America's top infectious disease expert 'One thing's for sure, it won't be boring,' Musk tweeted shortly after the New Year, which many took that to be a hint about further revelations from inside Twitter, specifically relating to Fauci Juanita Broaddrick, an 80-year-old former nurse who alleged she was raped by former US president Bill Clinton in 1978, said that she is waiting for the Fauci Files Dr Anthony Fauci stepped down as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and chief medical advisor to President Biden in December The 'Twitter Files' are a series of revelations about the company's inner workings before Musk arrived. They focus on a range of controversial issues including shadow banning, FBI collaboration and the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story. The most recent revelations focus on content moderation decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sunday wasn't the first time that Musk has attacked the 82-year-old Fauci - he has been angry with his approach for most of the pandemic. On Friday, Musk taunted him and called him 'creepy' after the New York Times revealed that the immunologist's home office is adorned with fan portraits of him. On December 29, Musk claimed that several Twitter employees had an internal 'Fauci Fan Club' Slack channel. He said Twitter is to change policy and 'follow the science, which necessarily includes reasoned questioning of the science.' Those comments came in response to Fauci saying he won't react to the 'cesspool' of attacks on him by Musk. He has described Musk's theories as 'misinformation.' Musk had said: 'Fauci lied to Congress and funded gain-of-function research that killed millions of people. Not awesome. imo.' Last week, Musk asserted that several former Twitter employees were part of a Slack channel titled 'Fauci Fan Club' - in homage to the now-retired infectious disease expert 'Gain-of-function' research involves highly controversial work in which viruses are manipulated to make them more severe or transmissible with the hope of better understanding future mutations and outbreaks. Many believe that the risky research was what led to the Covid-19 virus escaping from a lab in Wuhan. Musk linked to a Newsweek article titled 'Fauci Was "Untruthful" to Congress About Wuhan Lab Research, New Documents Appear to Show.' The story described documents that show the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at the time headed by Fauci, allocated government money to gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Insitute of Virology. Fauci has denied that. Musk also highlighted an article claiming that Fauci argued in 2012 that the benefits of gain-of-function research outweighed the risks brought by a pandemic. Musk claimed that Fauci and his team may have accidentally manufactured the virus, writing: '"Gain-of-function" in this context is just another way of saying "bioweapon".' Musk claimed that Dr Fauci had lied about the White House's sanctioning of gain-of-function research, sharing an article reporting on the Fauci's previous arguments in favor of controversial gain-of-function research Musk mocked the use of nonbinary pronouns in his spat with Fauci Initially a revered figure during his early lockdowns and mask mandate measures, Fauci has come under increased scrutiny for his approach. Fauci has vehemently denied claims that Covid-19 was leaked from a lab, even though many experts have been unable to rule out the theory. In an interview with the scientific journal Nature, Fauci said Musk's approach 'stirs a lot of hate in people' and were the reason he has 'armed federal agents with me all the time'. Questions remain about the origins of Covid. Reporters asking questions about the topic at Fauci's farewell speech in November were shut down by White House staff. Fauci made his final appearance in the official briefing room last month, following a mega 54-year stint at the NIH. Former President Donald Trump declared Sunday 'it wasn't my fault' that Republicans underperformed expectations in the midterms, blaming the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade and his party's position on abortion. Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, also threw in some of his regular criticism of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's spending on candidates. 'It wasn't my fault that the Republicans didn't live up to expectations in the MidTerms. I was 233-20!' he said, referencing his record with endorsements. He then honed in on much of the party's pro-life faction, saying: 'It was the "abortion issue", poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters.' Former President Donald Trump Sunday declared 'it wasn't my fault' that Republicans underperformed expectations in the midterms and blamed the Supreme Court and his party's position on abortion Not only does former President Trump believe that going all-in on abortion lost them voters, but that those who'd seen Roe v Wade overturned then disappeared from the political process altogether. 'The people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the U.S. Supreme Court, & just plain disappeared, not to be seen again,' he said. Trump tossed in one more shot at McConnell's spending on candidates, saying 'Plus, Mitch stupid $'s!' The 45th president appointed three pro-life justices to the court during his term. Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch all voted to overturn Roe v Wade in the June ruling. The Hill reported that exit polls showed abortion was the second-most important issue for voters. While many expected a 'red wave' in November's midterms, Democrats actually picked up a seat in the Senate, with John Fetterman - who had a stroke the day before the Democratic primary - defeating the Trump-endorsed Dr Mehmet Oz. While Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has since left the Democrats and declared herself independent, she like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Maine Senator Angus King caucuses with the Democrats, giving them 51 votes in the upper chamber of Congress. Not only does former President Trump believe that going all-in on abortion lost them voters, but that those who'd seen Roe v Wade overturned basically disappeared from the political process altogether The 45th president appointed three pro-life justices to the court during his term, with Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch all voting to overturn Roe v Wade Republicans won the House, but by a slimmer-than-expected margin. The GOP gained only nine seats. Trump has taken the stance of endorsing candidates that push his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. This has led the former president to put his backing behind some radical candidates that beat out more mainstream Republicans in the primary elections but had poor chances of winning against their Democratic challengers. One of the most notable losses was the Senate race in Pennsylvania, where Oz, who was endorsed by Trump, lost to Fetterman. Many experts believe that if former hedge fund CEO David McCormick had been the Republican nominee he could have easily fended off Fetterman. The Pennsylvania loss was one of the races that led to Democrats increasing their razor-thin majority in the Senate from 50-50 to 51-49. Trump announced in November that he was making a third run for the White House after losing his re-election bid to President Joe Biden in 2020. While Kyrsten Sinema is now an independent, she like Bernie Sanders and Angus King caucuses with the Democrats, giving them 51 votes in the Senate Trump tossed in one more shot at McConnell's spending on candidates, saying 'Plus, Mitch stupid $'s!' Since then, many rank-and-file Republicans have been coming out against Trump's third bid, claiming they want different blood to take on Biden in 2024. Polling has shown Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerging as the most popular Republican to be the nominee in 2024 even beating out Trump. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also told Cats Roundtable host John Catsimatidis this weekend that 'ticket-splitting' was a major factor in the GOP's lack of a 'red wave'. She also deflected blame from the RNC for more radical far-right candidates winning the 2022 midterm primaries. 'We didn't win as much as we wanted to win,' she said when assessing the midterm elections. Many rank-and-file Republicans have been coming out against Trump's third bid, claiming they want different blood to take on Biden in 2024 'We've got to look at what happened in every state, what happened in every race,' she added. 'We saw very high Republican turnout. But we saw a massive amount of ticket splitting, where a Republican would win statewidebut the other Republican running statewide the Republicans actually voted for the Democrat. We've got to figure out what that is.' 'The RNC, we don't pick the candidates. The voters do,' McDaniel went on. 'We don't do the messaging. That's up to the campaigns.' 'But we do do turnout. The one thing we're seeing right now is that turnout was sky high, but Republicans didn't vote for every Republican candidate.' Outgoing Congressman Adam Kinzinger said he believes the US Department of Justice will 'do the right thing' and charge former President Donald Trump and if they don't he fears 'for the future of this country.' Kinzinger, frequently an outspoken Republican critic of Trump who retired from Congress ahead of the midterms, believes the committee's 18-month investigation merits criminal charges. 'If this is not a crime, I don't know what is,' he said. 'If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, then really there's no limit to what a president can do or can't do.' Kinzinger was a member of the committee, which made criminal referrals for Trump to the Justice Department as it concluded its investigation into the Capitol attack two years ago. Outgoing Congressman Adam Kinzinger said he believes the US Department of Justice will 'do the right thing' and charge former President Donald Trump and if they don't he fears 'for the future of this country' Kinzinger believes 'the Justice Department will do the right thing. I think he will be charged, and I frankly think he should be.' He told CNN that if Trump isn't charged, 'then I frankly fear for the future of this country, because now every future president of this country can say here's the bar do everything you can to stay in power.' The Illinois Congressman was one of the two Republicans sitting on the committee, which is set to be dissolved as the GOP takes power in the House of Representatives. Trump didn't appear to directly respond but did post a list of 'People President Trump Strongly Opposed and Fought Against' on Truth Social Sunday. His list showed Kinzinger and several other anti-Trump Republicans - including fellow committee member Liz Cheney - as having either retired or been defeated. Kinzinger isn't alone among Republicans believing Trump, who considers the committee a 'witch hunt,' should face consequences over the January 6 Capitol riot. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he will do everything in his power to try and keep Donald Trump from becoming president again. The GOP governor thinks that Trump's actions on January 6, 2021 'disqualify' him from running for office in the future. Hutchinson has been rumored to be considering a run for office himself, but has refused to directly give an answer despite the exponential increase of media appearances over the last year especially considering his as an anti-Trump Republican. 'I'm going to do everything that we can to make sure there's alternatives, that he is not the nominee,' Hutchinson told ABC's This Week on Sunday morning. 'And, of course, that all depends upon who else is out there,' he added. The Illinois Congressman was one of the two Republicans sitting on the committee, which is set to be dissolved as the GOP takes power in the House of Representatives Trump didn't appear to directly respond but did post a list of 'People President Trump Strongly Opposed and Fought Against' on Truth Social Sunday Arkansas GOP Governor Asa Hutchinson said he would do 'everything I can' to make sure Donald Trump doesn't win the presidency in 2024 I do not believe that Donald Trump should be the next president of the United States...I think Jan. 6 really disqualifies him for the future. And so we move beyond that. And thats what I'm going to be focused on, Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson tells @JonKarl. https://t.co/xCAmiEc9Ly pic.twitter.com/LTm6SvsuqK This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 1, 2023 Hutchinson, however, wouldn't commit to ABC host Jonathan Karl on not supporting Trump in 2024 'no matter what' if he were to become the Republican nominee next year. 'I want to see what the alternatives are,' Hutchinson said. 'And it's premature to get into what might happen in 2024. That issue will come up.' 'But I want to see everything I can do to make sure there is the alternative, and that Donald Trump is not the nominee of the party. That's the first thing. And let's figure out how to do that.' Trump defiantly slapped down the January 6 House select committee's decision to make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice, following last Monday's never-before-seen damning testimony from ex-aide Hope Hicks. 'These folks don't get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesnt kill me makes me stronger,' Trump said Monday evening on Truth Social, labeling the post in all caps: 'STATEMENT ON JAN 6 COMMITTEE REFERRAL.' Earlier Monday, the Democrat-led January 6 House select committee unanimously decided to refer Trump to the Justice Department on four criminal charges. No other president has been the subject of a criminal referral by Congress. Trump, who already announced his 2024 White House bid, hit back that Monday night, suggesting the move was politically motivated. 'The people understand that the Democratic Bureau of Investigation, the DBI, are out to keep me from running for president because they know I'll win and that this whole business of prosecuting me is just like impeachment was - a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party,' he said. No US president has been the subject of a criminal referral by Congress until now. Parts of Sea World have been cordoned off after two helicopters collided outside the theme park leaving four people dead, three fighting for their life and others injured. Sea World on the Gold Coast took the step to stop park visitors from looking at the crash scene, as traumatised witnesses speak out about what happened. Witness Emma Burch told Daily Mail Australia how the accident unfolded at about at around 2pm on Monday. 'From what we saw one was taking off, the other landing. They clipped each other,' she said. 'Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart. 'It's just awful. Everyone is in shock.' Sea World Helicopters expressed its sympathy for those involved in the crash and said it is cooperating with the authorities to find out what happened. A helicopters involved in a crash is seen on a sandbank just outside the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast It is estimated hundreds of witnesses saw the shock mid-air collision unfold. 'I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers. It was smoking and wobbling to the ground,' one said. 'One person was asking whether it was part of the Sea World show.' Local man Tor Kumpel and his wife were swimming at the nearby Broadwater estuary when he saw the helicopters crash into each other. 'I could see two helicopters. One was coming up and the other one was coming down and the back rotor collected the one coming down,' he told the Courier Mail. Mr Kumpel said the helicopter that was taking off crashed but the helicopter above it managed to land. 'It was only one helicopter that crashed. The one that was coming up. It was horrific to see,' he added. 'The (pilot) who was in the other one landed that.' The two helicopters involved in the collision are seen on the sandbank on the Gold Coast in Queensland A man called John who was on holiday with his wife and toddler son on the Gold Coast phoned Melbourne's 3AW radio about the tragic scene. 'I'm at Sea World at the moment and it looks like there has been a massive crash with two helicopters,' he said. 'Basically it's all happening here at the moment, ambulances, fire trucks. I was just walking with my son and some Sea World staff were running outside. 'I didn't really know what had happened, but there was a massive bang,' he said. Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar after two helicopters (pictured) collided on Monday The two-helicopter crash left four people dead, three fighting for their life and others injured John said Sea World had 'closed that side of the park now so people can't look out the side into the water there. It's pretty scary stuff, actually.' 'It happened just outside the theme park, apparently one was taking off and the other was flying over or something like that... 'It is literally just outside the theme park, we could hear it on that side.' John described what he heard as 'a massive, massive bang. It was just huge. I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other.' Rescue workers are pictured at the scene of a helicopter crash over the Broadwater estuary in Gold Coast The crash between two helicopters (pictured) happened at around 2pm Queensland time He saw a woman 'and her son at the helipad there in tears' and speculated that she may have had family members on one of the helicopters. 'There was no announcement over the park's speaker system about what had happened,' he said. 'The theme park is basically running as normal. They've only really blocked that side so no one is looking out over the water, for obvious reasons. 'They're just trying to keep the thing running as normal, I guess.' One NSW woman saw the crash unfold as she queued for the Vortex ride at Sea World. 'My son said there were two helicopters coming at the same time and I'd never seen that but then one turned and hit the other with its tail,' Amii McDermott from the Blue Mountains west of Sydney told the Gold Coast Bulletin. Police officers are pictured holding up a white sheet to shield a victim of the helicopter crash Police officers are pictured at the scene of a crash between two helicopters on Monday afternoon Ms McDermott said she had never seen anything like that before and that she and her family were shocked and horrified. The 42-year-old emergency dispatcher said there was 'debris everywhere, the tail fell off one of them and the helicopter nosedived into the ground at full-speed'. She said although her toddlers don't know what they have seen, her older children do. Sea World Helicopters expressed its shock and sympathy for those involved in the crash. Investigators are pictured looking at the damage done to one of the two helicopters that crashed A rescue boat is pictured beside one of the crashed helicopters on Queensland's Gold Coast 'We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased,' a spokesperson said. 'We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage.' The ATSB said it has already begun an investigation into the collision. 'Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon,' ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. The Church of England's 'first' non-binary vicar said it was 'difficult' when they came out to their wife and three children after having a 'moment of revelation' while reading the story of Adam and Eve. Bingo Allison, 36, who defines as gender-queer and uses the pronouns 'they/them', experienced an epiphany seven years ago while reading Genesis 1-3 in the Old Testament. The vicar, who works in Liverpool, said they came to terms with their gender identity while reading the story and realised: 'There's space in God's creation for change and transformation, just because you're created one way doesn't mean that you can't live another'. Bingo also said their wife found things 'difficult' when they first came out because 'obviously you marry what you think it a straight guy and obviously things are more complicated than that'. Bingo Allison, 36, is gender-queer and to their knowledge the Church of England's first openly non-binary priest They grew up in a 'strongly religious' household in West Yorkshire and was raised to believe being gay was 'sinful' Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Bingo described coming out as a 'gradual process for me and my family.' They said: 'I'm married and I've got three children, and it was really important to come out to them, give some time letting them understand about me before I emerged on the world.' 'My children are young and when you're little really you accept most things and they've been lovely about it. 'We taught them about trans people before I came out so it wasn't a completely alien thing for them.' Bingo continued: 'It was difficult for my wife to begin with obviously you marry what you think is a straight guy and suddenly things are more complicated than that. 'But I'd like to believe you marry the person someone becomes as much as you marry the person that they are.' Bingo uses social media to spread their message and in one playful post wrote how 'Jesus loves sparkly eyeshadow' Bingo, who previously trained to become a priest in Durham, said the Church of England was 'open to me coming out' but added that it was 'difficult' for some people they had worked with 'because for them I was the first transgender person they had worked with closely'. They have since moved to the Liverpool Diocese 'which does so much to support and empower LGBT people' and they have found their new congregation 'wonderful'. Talking about how it has received them, Bingo added: 'On the outside you might think "oh, they're quite a traditional church so they might have traditional views", but I've always been treated as a person and as a priest.' Bingo is now vocal about gender issues and uses social media to spread their message including posting selfies with captions saying Jesus 'loves sparkly eyeshadow'. They came out seven years ago, halfway through the Church of England's vicar training programme, after having an epiphany while reading the Old Testament The parent of three grew up in a 'strongly religious' household in West Yorkshire and was raised to believe being gay was 'sinful'. But a 15-year journey, which included meeting other LGBTQ+ Christians, completely changed their 'very traditional and conservative' outlook on life, they told the Liverpool Echo. 'My views used to be very traditional and very conservative certainly. Some might call them bigoted and there was a lot of ignorance and a lot of ''othering'',' they said. 'I didn't take the time to learn from other people's experiences. I was definitely in a lot of denial and some of that denial came out in denial of other people's identities.' Bingo came out seven years ago, halfway through the Church of England's vicar training programme. They explained how the language which the bible originally used in Genesis 1:27 spoke about 'from maleness to femaleness' as opposed to men and women. 'I was sitting there in the middle of the night when I realised I might need to run my life upside down it was a deepening spiritual experience,' they said. At that point Bingo had only met two openly gay people and no trans people, and there were times when they questioned their new gender identity. Now they visit schools and speak to youth groups to encourage other LGBTQ+ people they have a place in the church. Now they visit schools and speak to youth groups to encourage other LGBTQ+ people they have a place in the church Bingo is ordained at St Margaret's Toxteth in the Diocese of Liverpool in 2020 In a speech to a panel on making churches more inclusive, Bingo said Christianity had historically been guilty of prioritising the views of 'rich, white, straight, cisgender, able-bodied, neurotypical men'. Explaining that they are also autistic and dyspraxic, Bingo wrote: 'I am passionate about fully including neurodivergent people in the life and faith of the Church, particularly in our telling and retelling of stories from the Bible. 'The history of biblical interpretation is littered with the opinions of rich, white, straight, cisgender, able-bodied, neurotypical men assuming that everyone in the passages that they read thought like them and perceived the world like them. 'The biases that this creates exclude anyone who doesnt fit from fully engaging with the Bible, and often lead the church to miss out on vital perspective on all sorts of biblical narratives. 'So if Biblical scholars tended to be neurotypical and tended to assume that everyone they read about in the Bible was like them unless specifically informed otherwise, what would happen if I assumed the opposite? 'What if a neurodivergent hermeneutic started with the assumption that, unless specifically informed otherwise, certain characters were neurodivergent?' A photo from the ordination in September 2020. Bingo believes they are the first non-binary Church of England vicar Bingo says that during their educational work they are constantly impressed by how 'open-minded' younger people are. A recent survey by Stonewall found that more than a quarter of younger people now identify as LGBT. The LGBTQ+ charity claimed 71 per cent of Gen Z respondents those aged 16 to 26 identify as straight. The figure is a contrast to the Baby Boomer generation those aged 56 to 75 in which 91 per cent described themselves as straight. Of the next generation, Gen X, described as being those aged 43 to 56, Stonewall said 87 per cent said they were straight. The figure was 82 per cent for Millennials those aged 27 to 42 according to the charity. In its report, which uses data from polling company Ipsos UK, Stonewall said the results show Britain is becoming a 'rainbow nation'. Russia has acknowledged that scores of its troops were killed in one of the Ukraine war's deadliest single strikes, when Kyiv's forces struck a building housing troops at the exact moment Vladimir Putin was delivering his televised New Year address. In a rare admission, Russia's defence ministry said 63 soldiers had died in the fiery blast which destroyed the temporary barracks in a former vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk. It said the accommodation had been hit by four rockets fired from U.S.-made HIMARS launchers, claiming two rockets had been shot down. The Russian disaster has drawn demands from nationalist bloggers for commanders to be punished for housing soldiers alongside an ammunition dump. Kyiv said the Russian death toll was even higher - in the hundreds - though pro-Russian officials claimed this was an exaggeration of the true figure. Rubble is strewn across the ground in Russian-occupied Makiivka, in the eastern Donbas region, in the aftermath of the strike. The missiles hit a vocational school which had been turned into a barracks for Russian forces Russian president Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year address on December 31, which he recorded with dozens of troops Unverified footage posted online of the aftermath of the Makiivka strike on the Russian barracks showed a huge building reduced to smoking rubble. Russian military bloggers, many with hundreds of thousands of followers, said the huge destruction was a result of storing ammunition in the same building as a barracks, despite commanders knowing it was within range of Ukrainian rockets. Igor Girkin, a former commander of pro-Russian troops in east Ukraine who has emerged as one of the highest profile Russian nationalist military bloggers, said the death toll was in the hundreds, later editing his post to include wounded in that figure. Ammunition had been stored at the site and Russian military equipment there was uncamouflaged, he said. Another nationalist blogger, Rybar, said around 70 soldiers were confirmed dead and more than 100 wounded. 'What happened in Makiivka is horrible,' wrote Archangel Spetznaz Z, another Russian military blogger with more than 700,000 followers on Telegram. 'Who came up with the idea to place personnel in large numbers in one building, where even a fool understands that even if they hit with artillery, there will be many wounded or dead?' he wrote. Commanders 'couldn't care less' about ammunition stored in disarray on the battlefield, he said. 'Each mistake has a name.' Russia's acknowledgement of scores of deaths in one incident was almost without precedent. Moscow rarely releases figures for its casualties, and when it does the figures are typically low - it acknowledged just one death from among a crew of hundreds when Ukraine sank its flagship cruiser Moskva in April. Ukraine's military command contradicted Russia's death toll, saying the number of Russian deaths was up to 400, with 300 wounded. The attack is the latest in a growing list of embarrassments suffered by Moscow's armies since the start of the invasion on February 24. A dramatic video posted online from the night of the attack shows a family watching Putin's address on a smartphone as they prepare to eat a traditional New Year meal, minutes before midnight. A woman on the balcony ran back inside as the strike hit its targets Another video shows a Ukrainian soldier in a festive Santa hat as a missile is launched around the time of the Makiivka strike. The HIMARS rocket system behind him has been decorated with Christmas lights The incident was known about yesterday but it is the scale of the deaths that has been revealed by both sides today. Russian commanders were among those killed, reports say. Staunchly pro-Kremlin Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy posted in dismay: 'There are SEVERAL HUNDRED killed in Makiivka.' He added sarcastically: 'Someone smart put them all together in one place.' Russian pro-war sources said two HIMARS missile strikes hit the barracks in Makiivka, while the Moscow-installed administration of the Donetsk region in Ukraine said on Sunday that at least 25 rockets were fired at the region overnight on New Year's Eve. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In its daily report yesterday, it claimed that it had destroyed seven HIMARS rockets, including in the area of Makiivka. A dramatic video posted online from the night of the attack shows a family watching Putin's address on a smartphone as they prepare to eat a traditional New Year meal, minutes before midnight. A woman is on the balcony of her residential block and returns screaming in terror as an incoming attack targets a building nearby, which was later revealed to be a vocational school that was turned into a barracks for Russian forces. From elsewhere, a Ukrainian video showed a soldier in a festive Santa hat as a HIMARS missile is launched around the time of the Makiivka strike. The HIMARS rocket system behind him has been decorated with Christmas lights. 'According to a number of sources, we can talk about 50 to 70 people [dead] at the moment. The building is completely destroyed,' reported the Grey Zone outlet which is linked to Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private army. 'Of course, we are not talking about 500 to 600 dead, this is the enemy's propaganda. But still there were more than 100 people in the building, approximately 120 to 150. Even our most positive channels evasively refer to losses as 'significant, large and heavy'.' Another Russian account said: 'There were dead and wounded, the exact number is still unknown. The building itself was badly damaged.' The dead were reported as mobilised Russian troops from the Saratov region who had been stationed in Makiivka. More footage appears to show the body of a woman near a roadside in Makiivka. Videos highlight the total destruction of the school premises where the Russian mobilised forces were reportedly barracked. The aftermath of the HIMARS missile strike is seen in Russian-occupied Makiivka HIMARS - which stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System - is a US-made launcher which can fire six guided missiles. The Romanov Light channel said ammunition was also detonated at the barracks - 'hence such destruction'. Military blogger Boris Rozhin told of 'a substantial number of dead and wounded'. Earlier reports had said there were four dead and around 50 wounded. Ukrainian source Obozrevatel said that HIMARS had destroyed 'hundreds of invaders'. 'The number of dead is still unknown. According to various estimates, there were from 150 to 700 occupiers at the base during the attack, most of whom were allegedly mobilised from Saratov. 'According to the Strategic Committee of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 400 Russian soldiers were killed, and about 300 were wounded.' Daniil Bezsonov, a senior Russian-backed official in the Moscow-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said that there was a strike on a vocational school, which according to preliminary information served as military personnel quarters. The attack, Bezsonov said, happened two minutes after midnight on New Year's Day. 'A massive blow was dealt to the vocational school from American MLRS HIMARS. There were dead and wounded, the exact number is still unknown,' Bezsonov said on the Telegram messaging app. 'The building itself was badly damaged.' A Himars rocket system, such as those used by Ukraine, is shown launching a missile Obozrevatel claimed that senior commanders were among the dead. The Russians were searching for 'traitors' who had revealed the location of the barracks. Pro-war Russian sources angrily criticised commanders for gathering so many soldiers in one place, making them a clear target for attack. The strike was just 115 miles from where Putin supposedly pre-recorded his New Year's message with dozens of troops in Russia's Rostov region. Putin sipped Russian Champagnski with the troops to toast the arrival of 2023 after he told Russians in his annual televised address that 'moral and historical' justice was on their side. The West was 'cynically using Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia', he claimed. Another video shows mobilised Russian men leaving Saratov in November. These new recruits are reported to have been among those in the stricken barracks. Christmas music and decorations on the Ukrainian missile launch video are because Russians mark the festive season as midnight strikes at New Year, rather than on 25 December. People wait behind the safety tape in a damaged neighborhood after Russian missile attacks in the Solomyansk district of Kyiv, Ukraine on January 1 Local residents stand near a missile crater after a massive rocket attack as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Kyiv, Ukraine on January 1 Russia has seen in the new year with nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, hundreds of kilometres from the front lines. The nightly attacks mark a change in tactics, after months in which Moscow usually spaced such strikes around a week apart. After firing dozens of missiles on Dec. 31, Russia launched dozens of Iranian-made Shahed drones on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. But Kyiv said on Monday it had shot down all 39 drones in the latest wave, including 22 shot down over the capital. Kyiv said the new tactic was a sign of Russia's desperation as Ukraine's ability to defend its air space had improved. 'Now they are looking for routes and attempts to hit us somehow, but their terror tactics will not work. Our sky will turn into a shield,' presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Telegram. In his latest nightly speech, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised Ukrainians for showing gratitude to the troops and one another and said Russia's efforts would prove useless. 'Drones, missiles, everything else will not help them,' he said of the Russians. 'Because we stand united. They are united only by fear.' Ukraine's air defence systems worked through the night to bring down incoming drones and to warn communities of the approaching danger. 'It is loud in the region and in the capital: night drone attacks,' Kyiv Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said. Russia has turned to mass air strikes against Ukrainian cities since suffering humiliating defeats on the battlefield in the second half of 2022. A man walks by a damaged house after the Russian missile attacks in the Solomyansk district of Kyiv, Ukraine on January 1 It says its attacks, which have knocked out heat and power to millions in winter, aim to reduce Kyiv's ability to fight. Ukraine says the attacks have no military purpose and are intended to hurt civilians, a war crime. Russia has flattened Ukrainian cities, killed thousands of civilians and annexed swathes of Ukraine since Putin ordered his invasion in February, calling Ukraine an artificial state whose pro-Western outlook threatened Russia's security. Ukraine has fought back with Western military support, driving Russian forces from more than half the territory they seized. In recent weeks, the front lines have been largely static, with thousands of soldiers dying in intense warfare. In a stern New Year's Eve message filmed in front of a group of people dressed in military uniform, Putin vowed no let-up in his war. 'The main thing is the fate of Russia,' Putin said. 'Defence of the fatherland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical righteousness is on our side.' The daughter of a Romanian politician and TV mogul has claimed Andrew Tate tried to recruit her to his lurid webcam operation when she was just 16 years old. Daria Gusa - the daughter of political analyst, journalist and businessman Cozmin Gusa - said she received a message online from the influencer who was arrested last week as part of a probe into alleged sex crimes, rape and human trafficking. Miss Gusa, now 19, said she turned down his direct offer to go out with him and said she is amazed it has taken so long for the authorities to crack down on his operation, with two of his 'angels' also arrested in the raid. Prosecutors say Tate and his brother Tristan allegedly recruited women on social media platforms and persuaded them to travel to their 600,000 bolthole by falsely professing love for them, before forcing them to perform on webcams. Daria Gusa (pictured) has claimed Andrew Tate tried to recruit her to his lurid webcam operation when she was just 16 years old It comes as neighbours near the kickboxer's Romanian hideaway claim dozens of young men from Britain and the US travelled to the secretive site where at least eight women were performing on webcam sites at any time throughout the day and night. On Thursday, officers raided the property and detained the Tate brothers and the so-called 'Tate's Angels' - one a former sub-inspector in the Romanian police and the other his girlfriend. Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel are accused of being involved in the ring by luring women to the compound and then 'coercing' and 'controlling' them to create social media pornography. Miss Gusa told Romanian site Realitatea Plus: 'I had just created an account on Instagram when I received a message, quite suggestive, in which Andrew Tate basically asked me to go out with him. 'I then asked my other colleagues, who had received similar messages, because it seemed strange to me that someone with millions of followers would contact me, who had 200. 'Another colleague continued to chat with him and [he] invited her directly to go out with him. Basically it was the "loverboy" method, he applied it to girls from Ilfov or Prahova, from areas as close as possible to his home.' Miss Gusa said she does not believe she was targeted because of her influential father but because she was a young girl in the area. Tate and his brother Tristan allegedly recruited women on social media platforms and persuaded them to travel to their 600,000 bolthole by falsely professing love for them Georgiana Naghel (left), 28, is described as a businesswoman and influencer who is believed to have been dating Tate for almost a year before her arrest. Luana Radu (right), 32, was previously based at a police station in central Bucharest but quit the force eight years ago to pursue a career working in video chat rooms Daria Gusa, the daughter of political analyst, journalist and businessman Cozmin Gusa (pictured together), said she received a message online from the influencer She said Tate boasted to her friends in messages about his luxury cars, a private plane and the exclusive restaurants he would take them to. Miss Gusa added: 'I find it incredible that these people who publicly brag about how much money they have, and especially how they got it - from girls who video chat for them, through pimping. Hopefully it's not about drugs or of sexual violence but it seems strange to me that they were not detected by the authorities earlier. 'It's very likely that a lot of people are involved. These guys have trained their girls to record their customers and, of course, when it comes to intimate poses, it's very easy to blackmail important people.' Despite outrage at the many allegations surrounding Tate in the past week, his follower count on Twitter has soared. Across his online platforms, the shock influencer has gained nearly a million followers since his row with climate activist Greta Thunberg thrust him into the headlines. Meanwhile, neighbours said ardent followers of the arrested 'Webcam King' flew to the high-security concrete bolthole on the outskirts of Bucharest before he was arrested on Thursday for alleged sex crimes. Dozens of teenage men from Britain and the US travelled to the Romanian headquarters of Tate's 'Hustler's University', it has been claimed The 'university' serves as Tate's home and the headquarters of his online porn webcam business. It proved so popular it was added to Google Maps to help taxi drivers Neighbours said the young men aged 18 or 19 were seen regularly entering the compound since last summer but it is not known what they were doing inside the secretive property where Tate stashed guns and cash. At the site, the disgraced Big Brother star runs an online university to 'free the modern man from socially induced incarceration'. The 39-a-month get-rich-scheme claims to have more than 160,000 'students' who learn from 'experts' on an online Discord server. The curriculum includes 'investment and real estate', 'finance and business' and 'affiliate marketing'. It is not known why Tate's fans were physically travelling to Romania to meet with him. But one neighbour told The Times: 'There were groups arriving three or four times a week, sometimes there were three taxis a day. 'They were young men. They say they were attending the Hustler's University.' The 'university' serves as Tate's home and the headquarters of his online porn webcam business, and it proved so popular it was added to Google Maps to help taxi drivers. Neighbours said at least eight women were hosting online sex shows from the building at any time, although numbers fell after the first police raid at the site in April. The ardent followers of the arrested 'Webcam King' flew to the high-security concrete bolthole on the outskirts of Bucharest Tate and his brother Tristan are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest on Thursday Inside Romanian jail where Andrew Tate will spend the next 30 days amid trafficking and rape probe Tate is being held in the Bucharest detention centre in a cell similar to this shabby, cramped cell Advertisement One said: 'You could see the women inside working on the video cameras. There were women there 24 hours a day. 'Last summer these young English guys started to come. They would get lost and ask how they could find the Hustler's University. I don't know what they were doing inside.' Women - including an American citizen - were allegedly held at the property with employees shadowing their every move before being forced to take part in online pornographic videos. Romanian authorities and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism said the alleged victims were forced to perform pornography through 'physical violence and mental coercion'. The suspects are accused of posting the pornographic material online, to sites such as the adult-only content platform OnlyFans or the video sharing app TikTok, which they then obtained 'substantial financial benefits'. Also arrested alongside the brothers was former policewoman Radu and model Naghel. Radu, 32, was previously based at a police station in central Bucharest but quit the force eight years ago to pursue a career working in video chat rooms. Model Naghel, 28, who is also an American citizen, is described as a businesswoman and influencer who is believed to have been dating Tate for almost a year. Both women are accused of being Tate's closest lieutenants with police claiming that they helped to 'coerce' and 'control' at least six women to create social media porn content and helped to keep them under house arrest 'like prisoners.' Naghel was born in Bucharest and raised in the Tuhari district and is believed to have met Tate through friends soon after he moved to the country five years ago. After initially helping him with his business interests, the two eventually started dating and have become a regular fixture at the city's exclusive clubs and bars. While working in video chat rooms, Radu, who also uses the name Ellie Dely on social media, met Tate and eventually became his administrative assistant. She helped him to manage his online business empire, which is worth an estimated 100 million. They are sharing the same cell at the Bucharest Police Detention Centre where they have been remanded in custody for 29 days, pending further investigation. Investigators also claim one of the suspects raped a victim on two separate occasions in March 2022. Naghel was born in Bucharest and raised in the Tuhari district and is believed to have met Tate (pictured together) through friends soon after he moved to the country five years ago A police source told MailOnline that Naghel (pictured) and Radu are 'Tate's trusted lieutenants and his angels' 'We have information based on what they said on social media, that one of the girls brought in up to 50,000 a month,' a source close to the investigation told the Mail. 'They were given no money from what they earned.' The victims were allegedly transported to buildings in Ilfov county on the outskirts of Bucharest, where they were 'sexually exploited' and forced to make these videos, a police statement said. Tate said in a now deleted post: 'My job was to meet a girl, go on a few dates, sleep with her, test if she's quality, get her to fall in love with me to where she'd do anything I say, and then get her on webcam so we could become rich together'. Claims have been made that the gang would use the 'loverboy' method to recruit the women, by pretending to want to 'enter into marriage/cohabitation' and expressing 'genuine feelings of love'. Tate's initial period in custody was extended from 24 hours to 30 days, but his lawyer Eugen Constantin Vidineac is going to appeal this decision by the judge. He said: 'From our perspective, there are no grounds... for taking this most drastic preventive measure.' The brothers are both dual-citizens off the US and UK, born to an American father and British mother. They grew up in both countries. Violence at the prison, including objects being set alight, also left 13 injured The dead included 10 prison guards and security agents, a statement said Gunmen in armored vehicles attacked a state prison in Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, leaving 14 people dead and allowing 24 inmates to escape An unknown number of gunmen took part in the attack, which happened in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez. The dead included 10 prison guards and security agents, the Chihuahua state prosecutors' office said in a statement. Prosecutors said the outbreak of violence at the prison, including rioting inmates setting fire to various objects, also left 13 people injured. Members of the Mexican army secure an area outside prison Ciudad Juarez number 3 after an attack from armored gunmen Relatives of inmates appear emotional as they wait outside the prison, where 14 were killed and 2 inmates escaped Members of the Mexican Army guard the area outside the prison, where a riot involving setting objects alight took place People are seen comforting each other outside Cereso number 3 state prison - where a riot took place Moments before the attack, armed men fired on municipal police along a nearby boulevard, setting off a car chase that ended with the seizure of a vehicle and four men, the statement added. Later, assailants in a Hummer fired on another group of security agents outside the prison, it said. Scenes of chaos ensued as relatives of some prisoners waited for New Year's visits outside the compound. Inmates at Cereso state prison from differing criminal bands and drug cartels are housed in separate cell blocks Four people were detained, prosecutors said, without specifying if they were inmates or armed assailants. Guns and bullets are seen in front of the Cereso state prison number 3, which has been secured by security forces Security forces after a riot broke out at a prison in Ciudad Juarez, leaving 14 people dead, 13 injured and allowing 24 inmates to escape Members of the Mexican Army stand guard outside the prison - where 10 of the dead where prison guards and security agents Details were not immediately available about how the 24 inmates were able to flee or who they were. About five hours after the attack began, security forces managed to control the situation, which had also erupted into fighting between inmates within the sprawling state prison, near Mexico's border with the United States. Prosecutors in the city, which sits across the border from El Paso, Texas, said they were investigating the motive of the attack. Ciudad Juarez has been the scene of years of violent clashes between security forces and the rival Sinaloa and Juarez drug cartels, which have left thousands dead over the past decade. The prison itself has seen multiple breakouts of fighting and riots, including a bloody March 2009 episode that left 20 dead. Relatives of inmates react outside the prison where an unknown number of gunmen staged an attack Inmates' families wait for information outside the prison, a 24 inmates managed to escape during the riot Security forces stand guard after a deadly attack on a prison took place near the El Paso border In August 2022, a clash between rival gangs left three prisoners dead. According to a February 2022 report by the State Human Rights Commission, more than 3,700 people are detained in the prison, above its maximum capacity of 3,135. In February 2016, as part of his visit to Mexico, Pope Francis officiated mass in the state prison's courtyard with 700 prisoners and their families in attendance. Mexican detention centers, particularly those run by the state, suffer from chronic overcrowding and violence, which has worsened in recent years due to conflict between criminal groups. Advertisement A pilot is being remembered as a 'legend' and 'hero' after he was killed alongside three passengers in a horrific collision between two Sea World tour helicopters on the Gold Coast in front of hundreds of holidaymakers. Ash Jenkinson, 40, was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters which runs the tours from the popular theme park and was behind the controls of one aircraft which nosedived into a sandbar on the Broadwater about 2pm Monday afternoon. Three more passengers are fighting for their lives, and multiple others have been left injured after the mid-air collision - though the second aircraft managed to regain control and land upright with those on board all surviving. Mr Jenkinson leaves behind a wife, young son and members of his close family as well as hundreds of friends who knew the popular Gold Coast local as 'Jenko'. Ash Jenkinson (pictured) was behind the controls of the helicopter which nosedived into the sandbar Friend Ritchie Gregg recounted when Mr Jenkinson lent his prized helicopter to aid the victims of the 2022 NSW and Queensland floods. 'This will always be the highlight of my life and just one of your legacies when we helped flood people. Cheers,' Mr Gregg wrote to Facebook. 'My heartfelt condolences to your family. Blue skies my friend.' another friend Chris Lea wrote. Video from the Sea World helipad shows a holidaymaker and his young son watching the helicopter lift and then within seconds cross into the path of the second aircraft - with the child asking: 'Is he going to crash?'. Witnesses rushed to the crash scene - just metres from the heavily crowded theme park and marina - and frantically called emergency services before pulling out those inside the wreckage. Three people are feared dead after two helicopters collided in mid-air near the Sea World on the Gold Coast theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on Photos showed at least one of the two choppers was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft Paramedics and police on the scene on Monday afternoon (pictured) Ash Jenkinson (pictured with ihs wife) was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters and has been remembered as a 'legend' by his many friends Many people remembered Mr Jenkinson as a 'legend' who was generous and always put others first Witnesses told Daily Mail Australia one of the helicopters was coming in to land when it clipped the rotor of the other aircraft that was taking off. Emma Burch, another witness, had the same account of how the accident unfolded. 'From what we saw one was taking off, the other landing. They clipped each other,' she said. 'Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart. 'It's just awful. Everyone is in shock.' One of the helicopters crashed into the sandbar, leaving wreckage across the shore with the main rotor embedded in the sand some distance from the rest of the wreck. Four onboard died, including the pilot, while another three, a woman and two young boys, are in critical condition. The other helicopter managed to land on the sandbar nearby, with six people on board, some of whom suffered non-life threatening injuries. The two helicopters involved in the collision can be seen on the sandbank - with crashing into the sand and the other landing upright Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar, seen in front of one helicopter with a Sea World logo A young child was transported from the crash site by boat and then transferred to the RACQ Lifeflight helicopter and rushed to hospital in a serious condition Lifeguards and police officers on board one of several vessels that raced to the scene Queensland Ambulance said there were 13 patients in total, six in one helicopter and seven in the other. Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Duty captain Matt Fitzpatrick said three units were dispatched to the scene. 'There are multiple helicopters involved and we do not know the state of those who were aboard,' he said. Photos showed at least one of the two choppers - the one that landed without crashing - was a Sea World helicopter tour aircraft. The company issued a statement hours after the crash. 'Sea World Helicopters (SWH) has expressed its shock and deepest sympathy for those involved in the Sea World helicopter accident on the Gold Coast, Broadwater at Southport this afternoon,' a spokesperson for Sea World Helicopters said. 'We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased. 'We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage.' Paramedics transported one patient to a waiting helicopter to be airlifted to hospital The front of the Sea World helicopter that remained still upright sustained heavy damage It is understood the helicopter taking off clipped another helicopter above and then nosedived into the sand Witnesses expressed their shock at the mid-air collision. 'I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers. It was smoking and wobbling to the ground,' one witness told Daily Mail Australia. 'One person was asking whether it was part of the Sea World show.' A distraught woman and child were seen at the helipad while part of the theme park was shut down so patrons couldn't look out at the crash site. Others said watching the accident unfold was 'beyond horrible'. 'My daughter saw them. People on both. Landed on the sand not in SeaWorld thank goodness. Just praying for all,' one said. 'We heard a loud noise and saw bits of debris flying,' another wrote online. Ash Jenkinson is pictured in February 2022, delivering vital supplies to communities cut off by floods Gold Coast resident Tor Kumpel was swimming in the broadwater with his wife when he witnessed the collision just after one helicopter took off. 'It was only one helicopter that crashed. The one that was coming up. It was horrific to see,' he told The Courier Mail. 'The (pilot) who was in the other one that landed. They deserve a medal. It took a bit to steady but they did it.' Blue Mountains resident Amii McDermot, 42, was in line at Sea World's Vortex ride when she saw the crash unfold. 'There was debris everywhere, the tail fell off one of them and the helicopter nosedived into the ground at full-speed.' She said her two younger children don't realise what they saw but her older two are quite shaken up. Investigators are racing to collect evidence before high tide covers the sandbar Officers scour the sand for pieces of debris that could assist the investigation into the cause The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it has already commenced an investigation into the collision. 'Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon,' ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. 'During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site.' 'Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties. The ATSB is asking for witnesses of the crash to contact them immediately. The 'hero' cop who drowned moments after rescuing his teenage son from a 'substantial' rip on New Year's Day has been identified as Peter Stone. The NSW police rescue officer, 45, dived into rough water at Bogola Beach on the state's far south coast Sunday afternoon to get his 14-year-old son to safety. But Mr Stone was then himself caught up in the dangerous surf and emergency services were called to the beach near Narooma about 1pm. A helicopter from nearby Moruya spotted him in the water and alerted nearby lifesavers who rushed to the beach. He was pulled unconscious from the water and paramedics performed CPR in a desperate attempt to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police rescue officer Peter Stone (pictured) drowned on New Year's Day after diving into rough water at Bogola Beach to save his 14-year-old son to safety A police officer drowned after he saved the life of a teenage boy caught in a rip at Bogola Beach (pictured) on Sunday NSW Police Acting Inspector Paul Hoyer said Mr Stone's selfless actions showed his character. 'As a father, parent and as a police officer, he was obviously doing what he should be doing,' Inspector Hoyer said. 'This is a tragedy ... it's devastating.' Mr Stone, who was on extended leave from the police and had previously served in the Blue Mountains, was holidaying in the Narooma area with his family. Bogola Beach was not patrolled by life savers at the time of the tragedy. 'From what I understand, he was able to push his son out of the rip,' Inspector Hoyer said. 'He was then taken out to sea further in the rip and that obviously will form part of our investigation as we prepare a brief. 'As always NSW Police and Surf Life Saving always recommend that if you do want to go to the beach, swim between the flags at a patrolled beach.' Police rescue officer Peter Stone drowned while holidaying with his family on the NSW south coast (pictured) Police rescue officer Peter Stone (pictured) was taken unconscious from the water and pronounced dead at the scene Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said 'It's a really, really tragic incident.' 'We have numerous cases each year... where someone goes into the rescue and they, in turn, become the victim and the person they went to rescue successfully escapes the rip they were caught in,' he said. Several Australians drowned during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. NSW lifesavers have already carried out a record 1,000 rescues in the last week alone. Officers from the South Coast Police District have begun an investigation and will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner. Viewers also suggested Putin was wearing body armour under his suit Vladimir Putin has been exposed using actors to pose as soldiers and wearing body armour underneath his suit for his annual televised New Year address. The Russian president, 70, delivered the address flanked by dozens of servicemen who were presented as having fought in Ukraine. However, eagle-eyed viewers have pointed out that several of the supposed soldiers have appeared in previous Russian propaganda videos with Putin. The deceit suggests Putin is so paranoid about his position being under threat amid failings in Ukraine that he is doing all he can to avoid meeting the general public. Vladimir Putin has been accused of hiring actors to pose as soldiers and wearing body armour underneath his suit for his annual televised New Year address. Pictured left: A blonde woman, said to be a 'medic', has been spotted at other public appearances by Putin Social media users compared photos of past appearances to match several people seen around Putin on more than one occasion, suggesting they are actors or even members of his security detail One of the actors is a blonde woman seen standing over Putin's right shoulder. Like the others, she is seen in military clothing having been given a medal earlier by the Russian despot, and glances between him and the camera. In the broadcast she was decorated with a medal by the Russian president as a senior captain in the army medical service called Anna Sidorenko. But this is not the first time she has been seen with Putin the mysterious woman was once nicknamed Agent Cornetto, after she was spotted selling ice cream to Putin when he visited an air show. Nor was this her first appearance at his events, media outlet Sibir.Realii linked to Radio Liberty pointed out in the wake of Putin's address. The suspicion is that if this is indeed the same woman she is a trusted member of his security detail rather than a military medic. At the very least, she has been seen standing in as an actor before, posing as various members of the public. 'Realii has noted that one of the military standing behind Putin during his televised address was a woman who has appeared several times in shots with the president, in various roles,' said the outlet. Putin is seen awarding the mystery blonde woman with a medal prior to his New Year TV address A woman, who social media users have said is the same as the one standing behind Putin during his New Year address, is seen dressed as a sailor at a previous appearance made by the Russian president A woman, thought to be the same person seen during Putin's New Year address, stands near the Russian president during an appearance at a church 'In September 2016, the president was photographed on a lake in the Novgorod region along with fishermen she was among them,' the outlet said. The woman was photographed along-side the Russian president wearing orange high-visibility clothing, 'And in January 2017, these same people were noticed at an [Orthodox] Christmas service in a Novgorod monastery.' Most were seen as his security operatives rather than real fishermen. Two others have been photographed with the mysterious women on numerous occasions, also posing as fishermen and church worshippers. In 2017 and 2019, Putin 'bought ice cream from the same saleswoman at the International Aviation and Space Show.' At the Moscow aviation show the blonde vendor was identified as Ekaterina Safonova yet is believed to be the same woman as in the other outings. In 2019 she served Putin ice cream when he treated visiting Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a vanilla cone. She had given the Kremlin leader a snack at the same spot two years earlier. Sources at the air show said her only role was to serve Putin and after doing so she vanished. The outline of what some commentators have said appears to be body armour can be seen under Putin's suit, suggesting the Russian president was taking further precautions Newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets speculated that she is a colonel in the FSO the Federal Protection Service which is responsible for guarding the president. The earlier claims about 'Agent Cornetto' led to accusations that Putin uses his own security operatives to pose as ordinary people so he does not have to meet members of the public. Health or security concerns might be a reason behind such action. Sibir.Realii's claim led to a lively social media debate in Russia as to whether the people in the New Year broadcast was the same as in earlier appearances. Several images were shared of Putin's previous public events, with Twitter users creating composite images and circling the people who have appeared on more than one occasion as 'members of the public' meeting the president. The fatigued dictator made his address from the headquarters of the Southern Military District, close to Ukraine, said his officials. Amid rumours of his failing health and fight against cancer, he claimed to be guiding Russians to 'our common future, our true independence'. He coughed and spluttered on several occasions during his nine-minute speech. Commentators online suggested Putin's address was a poor imitation of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's risky visit to the war's front lines, in which he was seen shaking hands with soldiers and handing out awards. Nobel peace prize 2022 co-winner Oleksandra Matviichuk wrote: 'Putin wanted to copy Zelensky, who came to the Ukrainian defenders in Bakhmut. But after ten months of full-scale war, even actors are in short supply in Russia.' Sir Keir Starmer is plotting a New Year shake up of his shadow ministerial team as he prepares to potentially take power at the next election. The Labour leader is said to be planning to get rid of under-achievers in his shadow Cabinet and replace them with former New Labour ministers and rising stars. Among those tipped for a return is Hilary Benn, the hardline Remainer who was a Cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Others who could be promoted include Darren Jones, the Business Committee chairman, and Stephen Morgan, the shadow schools minister, according to the Times. Mr Starmer's core top team of shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy are believed to be safe despite some criticism. Cooper and Lammy are among the few members of the current shadow cabinet who have ministerial experience. It comes as Labour enjoys a sustained lead in opinion polls. A new analysis at the weekend suggested it is on course for a majority of at least 28 at the next election. But that is closer than previously though. The Labour leader is said to be planning to get rid of low achievers in his shadow Cabinet and replace them with former New Labour ministers and rising stars. Among those tipped for a return is Hilary Benn, the hardline Remainer who was a Cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. While the headline figures put Labour on course to win 517 seats in the new parliament, Best for Britain said that falls to 353 - representing a majority of just 56- if the impact of the high number of 'don't knows' is factored in. It said its analysis suggests the bulk of the undecideds are likely to be 'timid Tories' - as they closely resemble the age and education profiles of people who say they intend to vote Conservative - who could return to the Tory fold come polling day. Best for Britain, which campaigns for the Uk to rejoin the EU, suggested Labour may not be heading for the landslide many predict The finding is based on a survey of 10,010 people by pollsters Focaldata carried out around the time Liz Truss resigned in October, with a further 'top-up' poll of 2,000 people after Mr Sunak became Prime Minister. While the headline figures put Labour on course to win 517 seats in the new parliament, Best for Britain said that falls to 353 - representing a majority of just 56 - if the impact of the high number of 'don't knows' is factored in. It said its analysis suggests the bulk of the undecideds are likely to be 'timid Tories' - as they closely resemble the age and education profiles of people who say they intend to vote Conservative - who could return to the Tory fold come polling day. The findings will however hearten the Tories as the Government enters the new year faced with a mountain of difficult issues - from the continuing cost-of-living crisis through to the small boat Channel crossings and the war in Ukraine. The 2023 local elections will give 'clear indications' of where the political parties stand ahead of the next general election, a polling expert suggested today. Conservative peer and elections analyst Lord Hayward said that thanks to the 'sheer scale' of the polls taking place across England, Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats are likely to see the local elections as a precursor for the next nationwide parliamentary elections. Political scientist Professor Sir John Curtice meanwhile suggested that more 'anti-Conservative' tactical voting will be likely in the 2023 local polls. Thousands of seats across 230 councils in England will face elections on May 4, as well as four mayoralties. Several English councils which usually elect councillors in a cycle of thirds will instead hold all-out full council elections in 2023 due to boundary changes. All 11 Northern Ireland councils go to the polls two weeks later on May 18, with devolved Assembly elections also due to take place following the failure to form a powersharing executive in Stormont throughout 2022. Lord Hayward told the PA news agency: 'Because of the sheer scale of the number of seats that are up, there is no question that all the political parties will look at the results in May and see the base from which they are working. 'Politics has been in chaos - and particularly the Conservative Party - in 2022, so each of the parties will look for the very clear indications as to where they stand after this great period of turmoil so that they can prepare for the general election, whenever it may come, probably in 2024. 'But they really want this as the solid base for going forward.' He added: 'This coming local election cycle is the biggest of the four yearly cycles in that there are about 7,000 seats up, overwhelmingly in England, but not in London, and also in Northern Ireland. Keeping up with the Joneses: Labour rising stars tipped for frontbench roles include Business Committee chairman Darren Jones, and shadow police and fire service minister Sarah Jones 'It is always relevant in these circumstances to look back at what happened in the last time these seats were up.' He said that the Tories 'did appallingly in the Home Counties and the other middle class areas, to the benefit of the Lib Dems and residents groups' in past iterations of the same election cycle. The Conservatives, he added, needed to make gains in 'remain-oriented, middle class, private sector, well-educated seats that you find in Surrey, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire' in order to build a good base for the general election. 'If they are to be seen to be making progress post-Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister and leader of the party, they will be looking to those territories to make gains,' he said, adding that these would also be likely Lib Dem target seats. On Labour, Lord Hayward added: 'In the metropolitan districts, given how relatively poorly Labour did, which was then under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, they must expect to make a lot of gains. The position is much better now than it was in 2019 in terms of the opinion polls. 'Clearly at this time of year, it is dangerous to make any specific projection, but the general expectation for the Labour Party should be that they will make gains relative to 2019.' Prof Curtice meanwhile told PA that more tactical voting could be expected in the 2023 local polls. The professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde said: 'The other thing we will be looking at the local elections for, because it was there in this year's elections really for the first time for quite some time, is the extent to which there is anti-Conservative tactical voting. 'The Liberal Democrats, even if they are not doing fantastically well across the board, do they in places where they are the principal challengers to Tories - and of course there is a lot of those kind of places polling next year - do they start to benefit from Labour voters voting tactically for them? 'That is one of the things we will certainty be on the lookout for in both directions, equally the Labour Party is benefiting from tactical switching by Liberal Democrats. 'Of course, if that happens then the losses of seats in councils for the Tories may well be notably worse than you might expect.' Prof Curtice said there were likely to be few notably exciting results, but claimed that Labour could 'maybe' win a majority of seats at Conservative-controlled Walsall Council in the West Midlands. 'It is only a one-third election, it will need a very good performance', he said. Prof Curtice added: 'If Labour are still 20-odd points ahead in the polls come this May, and obviously it is a long way yet, maybe they might just pick up the Wirral on the whole council election, but it won't be easy.' The 2023 local elections will be the first poll in which voter ID will be required in England, following the passing of the Elections Act 2022. Independent watchdog the Electoral Commission has raised concerns about the timetable for introducing voter ID, joining the Local Government Association in calling for the requirements to be delayed. A boy, 12, rescued in the Channel last month said his family was killed by Taliban A young boy rescued from a Channel boat tragedy last month had 'fled Afghanistan after the Taliban killed his family', the captain of a rescue vessel said. Four people died and more than 30 people were pulled from the icy waters by a fishing crew on December 14 after their flimsy dinghy capsized in the English Channel. Captain Raymond Strachan, 54, said he was woken just before 3am by his crew who had found migrants in the freezing waters desperately holding on to the side of his boat. Those rescued said they came from Afghanistan, Iraq, Senegal and India, and Captain Strachan said the youngest survivor was a 12-year-old boy whose parents had been killed by the Taliban. The 12-year-old boy was the youngest survivor of a Channel boat tragedy last month, when his dinghy capsized in the icy waters The floor of the inflatable dinghy had torn because 'there were too many people onboard' Captain Strachan was told by the migrants that they had each paid 5,000 to a smuggler in France for passage to the UK. They were each given a warm shower before being handed the crew's dry clothing and covered with quilts to get their body temperatures up. He told The Sunday Post: 'The sea was calm, but there was an eerie haze on the water. The first people we rescued were pulled out of the water. They had swum towards us.' He said there were more than 40 people trying to make the crossing in an inflatable dinghy designed for about 12. There were people wearing just 'jeans and a T-shirt and no life jacket' and the captain described how the floor of the dinghy had ripped due to overcrowding and was letting water in. He added: 'One of the youngest we picked up was an Afghan boy. He was the first I spoke to because he looked so young. I asked how old he was and he said 12. 'I took off his wet jacket and life jacket and told him to get down below and get into a warm shower. We made sure he was warm, dry and safe. Another two kids from Afghanistan, 12 and 13, were also rescued by my crew.' A few days after the rescue a police officer called him with a message from one of the 12-year-old boys. 'He said he wanted to thank us for saving his life because that night he thought he was going to die. He said he fled Afghanistan because all his family were killed by the Taliban,' Strachan said. Kent county council has taken 12 children who were on the dinghy into care. More than 30 people were pulled from the icy waters by the fishing crew of the 80ft scallop boat Arcturus, pictured, while four others lost their lives in the tragedy Charles Blyth is the safety officer at Oceanic Drift Fishing, the company that owns the trawler which saved the migrants. In December he told the Today programme on Radio 4: 'The vessel was about 30 miles into the Channel at the time. The skipper was asleep and the first mate was on watch. 'I think it was just by sheer coincidence that our vessel was in the right place at the right time to initiate a rescue. 'As soon as the first mate saw the causality vessel, the alarm was raised, the skipper was out of bed and the coastguard was contacted simultaneously while the dinghy was brought alongside the fishing vessel. 'They were the first on the scene and they immediately started trying to recover all of the individuals out of the water. 'I believe soon after the rescue was initiated there were other resources on the scene from the RNLI and the navy.' He continued: 'I believe as soon as the individuals on that dinghy saw the fishing vessel, many of them started to jump off and swim towards our fishing vessel. 'I must stress how much of a dangerous environment that is. At the time, our vessel was engaged in fishing and she is a scallop dredger. 'I am aware that the skipper immediately brought the gear up to the water line to improve the maneuverability of our vessel and also provide some sort of platform for these individuals to hang onto while we tried to recover them.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his 'sorrow' at the 'capsizing of a small boat' in the Channel, telling MPs last month that there had been a 'tragic loss of human life'. Captain Raymond Strachan, 54, said he was woken just before 3am by his crew who had found people in the freezing waters Survivors said they had paid a people smuggling gang 5,000 per person for the crossing A spokesman for a French charity said it was sent a voice message in the early hours of the morning from migrants in a waterlogged boat begging for help and that babies could be heard screaming in the background. A Government spokesman said: 'At 0305 today, authorities were alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress. 'After a co-ordinated search and rescue operation led by HM Coastguard, it is with regret that there have been four confirmed deaths as a result of this incident. 'Investigations are ongoing and we will provide further information in due course. 'This is a truly tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of all those who have lost their lives today.' Government sources initially said 43 people were rescued, but the figure has since been revised to 39 after updated information from authorities involved. Nikolai Posner, communications officer for charity Utopia 56 which helps migrants in Calais, said a 22-second WhatsApp voice note was left at around 2am UK time. In the message a man can be heard saying there was water inside the boat with 'families and kids' on board, Mr Posner said. A huge rescue operation was launched after the migrant boat carrying more than 40 people capsized in the freezing cold English Channel. Circled is one of the RNLI rescue boats He said: 'It was clearly an emergency, he was calling for help... In the background of the message we can hear babies screaming.' Mr Posner said the charity tried to respond to the message but the reply was not received before they contacted both the French and UK coastguards. It is unclear why a rescue boat was only launched an hour after the charity informed authorities of the distress message, Mr Posner said. He added: 'We don't know what really happened during that time.' In audio of the voice note, obtained by Channel 4 News, a man can be heard saying: 'We're in a boat and we have a problem. Please help. We have children and families in a boat. 'Water is coming in. We don't have anything for this, for feeling safety. Please help me bro. Please, please. We are in the water. We have a family.' Footage broadcast by Sky News showed a group of people, squashed inside a sinking dinghy which was filling with water, being hauled up over the side of a boat with rope. Only Italian and German delegates will be allowed to attend the late pope's 'simple' funeral on Thursday The German-born pope was the first to resign from the role in 600 years in 2013, citing ill health Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on Saturday in the Vatican monastery at 9.34am at 95 years of age The doors of St Peter's Basilica opened just after 9am so mourners could file in to pay tribute Advertisement Catholics bowed their heads and say prayers as they fill up St Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - this is where he will lie in state for three days before a 'simple' funeral at the Vatican on Thursday. The doors of the basilica were swung open just after 9am today so the public, some of whom had waited for hours, could visit the late pontiff. The frail 95-year-old died at 9.34am on Saturday in the Vatican monastery - where he had lived since his shock retirement in 2013. He was the first pope to retire from the papacy in 600 years. His body - dressed in a mitre, the headgear of a bishop, and a red cloak-like vestment in preparation - was placed on a simple dais, with two Swiss guards standing on either side as mourners walked by. The body of Pope Benedict on public display at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, where the public pay their respects Nuns pay their respects to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica Catholic Nuns and faithful leaving St. Peter's Basilica after having paid their respects to the late Pope Catholics bowed their heads and say prayers as they pay their respects Pope Benedict's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica for public viewing for three days before a 'simple' funeral at the Vatican on Thursday People inside St Peter's Basilica looking at the body of Pope Benedict, who died at 9.34am on Saturday Only Italian and German delegates will be allowed to attend the late pope's 'simple' funeral on Thursday Thousands of worshippers are expected to file through the basilica to see the late pope lying in state Huge queues formed earlier in the day to look at the body of the late former Pope, who is laid in state at St Peter's Basilica for the next three days Before the rank-and-file faithful were allowed into the basilica, prayers were intoned and a small cloud of incense was released near the body, its hands clasped on its chest. By mid-morning the queue to enter the basilica snaked around St Peter's Square. Once allowed to enter, the public filed up the centre aisle to pass by the bier with its cloth draping. While the number of visitors was large, there were no signs of the huge crowds who came to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II in 2005, when millions waited for hours to enter the basilica. Last night, Benedict's long-time secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, and a handful of consecrated laywomen who served in his household, followed a van by foot in a silent procession toward the basilica. Some of the women stretched out a hand to touch the body with respect. Benedict's time as pope was filled with controversy, including his alleged mishandling of child abuse cases, misleading investigators, rehabilitating a Holocaust survivor and antagonising Muslims by suggesting Islam was inherently violent. He also said the use of condoms in the fight against Aids only worsened the problem, sparking international outrage. He also claimed in his autobiography, Benedict XVI: A Life, that 'a century ago, anyone would have thought it absurd to talk about homosexual marriage.' However Benedict did order an inquiry into abuse in Ireland, resulting in the resignations of several bishops. But last year, an independent report in his native Germany found that between 1977 and 1982 he had failed to take action in four cases of sexual abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich. The frail 95-year-old died at 9.34am on Saturday in the Vatican monastery - where he had lived since his shock retirement in 2013 Nuns take photographs in St Peter's Square, outside of the Basilica, after paying their respects People waited in the long line to view Pope Benedict XVI lying in state A large queue formed to enter the basilica in order to see Benedict, who was the first pope to retire in 600 years in 2013 The doors of the basilica were swung open just after 9am today so the public, some of whom had waited for hours, could pay their respects to the late pontiff By mid-morning, the queue to enter the basilica snaked around St Peter's Square Nuns and other members of the public queue to see Pope Benedict's body during the three-day lying in state Visitors queued to pay their respects to Pope Benedict who was the first pope to retire from the papacy in 600 years The Vatican has said Benedict's funeral on Thursday will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony in keeping with his wishes A portrait of the late former pope with a black mourning ribbon on display along with a book of condolence at the apostolic nunciature in Berlin Huge queues form to enter Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican where Pope Benedict lies in state The former pope's body was placed in front of the main altar of St Peter's Basilica - Christendom's largest church Filippo Tuccio, 35, came from Venice on an overnight train to view German-born Benedict's body. 'I wanted to pay homage to Benedict because he had a key role in my life and my education. I arrived here at around 7.30am, after leaving Venice last night,' he said. The Pope who shocked the world after becoming first to resign since 1415: How Joseph Ratzinger, son of a police officer who lived through Nazi rule, became Benedict XVI in 2005 aged 78, the first German to be head of Catholic Church in 1,000 years Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Munich airport before his departure to Rome in 2020 Advertisement Mr Tuccio added that he had studied theology and 'his pontificate accompanied me during my university years'. 'He was very important for me, for what I am, my way of thinking, my values. This is why I wanted to say goodbye today.' Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger in Marktl, Germany, will lie in state until Wednesday and his funeral will be held on Thursday in St Peter's Square, presided over by Pope Francis. The Vatican has said it will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony in keeping with his wishes. The 'simple' funeral is in keeping with the wishes of the former pope, who for decades as a German cardinal had served as the Church's guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy before he was elected pope in 2005. Papal funerals typically draw heads of state from around the world, but the Vatican has said that only official delegations from Italy and from Benedict's native Germany were formally invited to attend the ceremony. Representatives from other countries or organisations can attend in a private capacity, diplomats were told. A few VIPs had a moment at the basilica before the general public to pay their respects, including Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the far-Right leader who in the past has professed admiration for the conservative leanings of Benedict. Italian president Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella also paid their respects to the former pope and theologian. Security officials expected at least 25,000 people to pass by the body on the first day of viewing. Marina Ferrante, 62, was among them and arrived an hour before the doors were opened. 'I think his main legacy was teaching us how to be free,' she said. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has previously professed admiration for the conservative leanings of Benedict The far-Right leader pays her respects to Benedict at St Peter's Basilica this morning The body of Pope Benedict is transported to the basilica in preparation for three days of his lying in state Italian president Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura also paid their respects to the former pope The former pope's body was dressed in a mitre, the headgear of a bishop, and a red cloak-like vestment and watched over by Swiss Guards 'He had a special intelligence in saying what was essential in his faith and that was contagious for other faithful. 'The thing I thought when he died was that I would like to be as free as he was.' Mountain Butorac, 47, who is from Atlanta but lives in Rome, called viewing the body 'an amazing experience.' Mr Butorac said he arrived 90 minutes before the doors opened to the public. 'I loved Benedict, I loved him as a cardinal, when he was elected pope and also after he retired,' Butorac said. 'I think he was a sort of people's grandfather living in the Vatican.' He came to the Vatican to pray for Benedict when he was ill, 'so I wanted to be here today to say goodbye.' Referring to Benedict's relationship with the current pope, Mr Butorac added: 'I think he and Francis were close, they cared for each other.' Veronica Siegal, 16, a US high school student studying in Rome, said: 'I feel like he was a grandfather to us.' She said she had read one of Benedict's books on Jesus for one of her courses. Her classmate Molly Foley, also 16, said: 'I know that he is in a better place because he was a holy man and he led so well.' A third girl in the group wore an American flag on her back. Members of the public queued in St Peter's Square and filed up the centre aisle of St Peter's Basilica to pass by the bier with its cloth draping Security officials expect at least 25,000 people to pass by the body on the first day of viewing Public viewing of Pope Benedict's body will last for ten hours today in St Peter's Basilica and twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday Benedict will lie in state until Wednesday and his funeral will be held on Thursday in St Peter's Square, presided over by Pope Francis The Vatican has said it will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony in keeping with Benedict's wishes Pope Benedict died at the age of 95 on Saturday in the Vatican monastery, where he had lived since his retirement in 2013 Benedict's body, dressed in red and gold liturgical vestments and placed on a simple dais, was moved in a procession just before dawn through the Vatican Gardens from the monastery to a spot in front of the main altar of Christendom's largest Church. Public viewing of the former's pope's body lasts for ten hours today in St Peter's Basilica. Twelve hours of viewing are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday morning's funeral. Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor's passage to heaven as he presided over a special New Year's Day Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday. Joseph Ratzinger was elected as the 265th pope on April 19 2005, aged 78, and chose the name Benedict. He spent eight years leading the world's 1.3 billion Catholics before stepping down from the papacy in 2013, citing his old age and declining health. Thor was also seen off the coast of Netherlands, Belgium and France last month Celebrity walrus Thor has left Yorkshire to return to his Arctic home following an incredible 3,000-mile journey that saw him swim past France and the Netherlands before visiting two English coastal towns. The marine mammal delighted crowds in Scarborough on Friday, weeks after he was spotted resting up on a beach in Southampton. Such was the excitement, a cordon was erected around him to keep buoyant crowds in place, with wildlife experts having warned that he was 'taking a break' before continuing his journey north. Thor is believed to have left his home in the Arctic circle earlier this winter and may have travelled from as far as Canada before he was spotted on the coast of Zeeland, in the south east corner of the Netherlands, on November 6. The Arctic walrus continued his journey along the North Sea towards and was seen along the Belgian coast, before reaching the English Channel and the shores of Dieppe and Brittany in northern France. Thor was pictured resting ashore at the port of Dieppe, Normandy, with no signs of ill health on November 19. Local authorities again cordoned off the area from the public with the warning of giving the walrus a wide berth, before he dropped back into the water the following day. More than three weeks later, the walrus was spotted resting on Calshot Beach in Hampshire. Fisherman Darren McKell was out with his wife Caroline and son Luke in the early hours when they found the 'big lump' on December 11. The 49-year-old said: 'It was unbelievable and such a shock. I thought it was a seal at first but as I got closer I saw it was huge and it was a walrus. 'It was absolutely amazing to see something like that, especially in these waters. I hadn't realised how rare it was to see a walrus here. 'It was lovely to see but something you'd never expect. I've never seen a walrus in the wild as they don't normally live in these areas. Seeing the walrus was a double-take moment.' Local wildlife experts asked people not to disturb the creature after saying he appeared to be 'taking a break' in Scarborough The moment Thor finally returned to the sea after resting at the seaside town of Scarborough in Yorkshire The marine mammal arrived in Scarborough on Friday night and drew huge crowds to the harbour on New Year's Eve Scarborough's New Year fireworks display was cancelled to avoid disturbing or discomforting the walrus Thor is believed to have left his home in the Arctic circle earlier this winter and may have travelled from as far as Canada It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire, and a cordon was put around him to keep excited crowds from getting too close British Divers Marine Life Rescue were at the scene alongside coastguard, with medics checking on the large mammal. During his time at the beach, a video showed the moment the walrus grunted at a group of people who got a little too close. His sighting was said to be 'extremely rare' and he was believed to be heading back to the Arctic circle when he returned to the water hours later. But Thor reappeared in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough on New Year's Eve. It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire. Council officials cancelled the town's New Year fireworks in order to avoid disturbing the mammal, which is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Speaking on Saturday, local resident Richard Coulson, 51, said: 'I live just round the corner from where it actually is and the traffic up and down our road - it's just like a summer's day, it really is absolutely teeming with cars and people. It's amazing how much attention it's brought. 'It's been well protected - it's been cordoned off so you can't get within 20 feet of it. 'It's the first time I've ever seen one. It's huge. We see seals quite regularly round Scarborough coastline but something of that size, it's enormous. Thor arrived in Scarborough on Friday evening, spending two days resting before returning to the water The Sea Life Scarborough aquarium said its animal care team monitored the walrus's situation, along with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue 'You respect nature when you see something of that size. Its tusks are bigger than my arms.' Stuart Ford, who runs the Sealife Safari boat tour agency, said: 'I was going down to my boat and there it was on the slipway - magnificent. It's got to be half a ton. 'I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime, first-time-ever thing in Scarborough to see.' The Sea Life Scarborough aquarium said its animal care team had monitored the walrus's situation, along with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR). RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond, who was with the walrus on Friday night and Saturday morning prior to his departure, said it does not appear to be sick or injured, and encouraged people to enjoy the sight from a respectful distance. Mr Edmond said: 'We understand it's exciting and unusual to have the walrus take up a temporary residence, however, it's in his best interests to be left alone as much as possible, so we're asking people to remember he is a wild animal and avoid the temptation to get near to him and disturb him. 'We would also remind everyone that the walrus is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and so disturbing the animal may constitute an offence.' But Thor finally returned to the water on New Year's Day, departing to cheers from locals. The walrus surfaced for a few times before finally disappearing into the darkness to continue his journey back to the Arctic circle. Thor the walrus pictured during a brief stop-off at Calshot beach in Hampshire, not far from Southampton Members of the public line a cordon put in place to protect the marine mammal in Calshot, which is protected under UK law Beth Clyne, a BDLMR medic, tweeted: 'Originally from the Arctic, "Thor" the Walrus hauled out on the Harbour slipway at Scarborough Friday night where he remained for c18hrs to rest and regain his energy. 'Estimated to be around 8yrs old, he's quite young for a Walrus and may only just be maturing. 'As Medics, we also devoted a large amount of our time to the public. I really enjoyed talking and educating 100's upon 100's of the interested, respectful members of the public. Some were so kind to offer drinks, food and encouraging words to keep us going in the rain and cold! 'Despite the crowds, he seemed to remain relatively unphased and comfortable although, a couple of times once the tide went out or he fancied a change, he would move from the bumpy cobbles & waddle over to the flatter concrete She added: 'After hours of him teasing us (I thought he was going to rest again) I was so excited and relieved when he finally made his way back to sea! We sprinted to the end of the harbour where we watched him surface a few times before disappearing into the darkness.' Jeremy Hunt is resisting a 300million bailout for the Chinese owners of British Steel despite a plea from fellow Cabinet ministers, it has emerged. The Chancellor is reportedly hesitant to stump up the cash for 'a Chinese company with deep pockets' and might instead look at broader support for the industry. Both Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the Business Secretary, have warned Mr Hunt about thousands of job losses if British Steel's two blast furnaces are closed. In a letter to the Chancellor, they have urged the Treasury to consider providing 300million of taxpayers' money to prevent closures. British Steel was bought out by Jingye Group less than three years ago, with the Chinese steel giant promising 1.2billion in investment over 10 years. But in their letter, seen by Sky News, Mr Gove and Mr Shapps revealed British Steel has already informed the Government it could soon close one of its Scunthorpe blast furnaces. This would be followed by the second blast furnace closing later in 2023 with 'cumulative direct job losses of around 3,000', the ministers warned. According to the Financial Times, Mr Hunt is considering the case for a taxpayer-funded rescue but wants to look at broader support for the industry to help it transition to green technology, such as electric arc furnaces. A Government official told the newspaper: 'Hunt doesnt want to bail out a Chinese company with deep pockets. 'He wants to help the entire steel industry transition to green tech. Thats a key difference.' British Steel is said to have already informed the Government it could soon close one of its Scunthorpe blast furnaces Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reportedly hesitant to stump up the cash for 'a Chinese company with deep pockets' and might instead look at broader support for the industry Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the Business Secretary, have warned Mr Hunt about thousands of job losses if British Steel's two blast furnaces are closed Jingye Group recorded a turnover of 224.4 billion Chinese Yuan (27billion) in 2020 and has affiliates in 22 countries around the world. Mr Gove and Mr Shapps have warned Mr Hunt that the closure of British Steel's blast furnaces at Scunthorpe could leave the UK more reliant on Chinese steel imports. 'Closing one blast furnace would be a stepping-stone to closure of the second blast furnace, resulting in a highly unstable business model dependent on Chinese steel imports,' they wrote in their letter to the Chancellor. 'The local economic impact of closing both blast furnaces is estimated to be in the region of 360million to 640million, with a further 500million to 1billion liability for HMG through compulsory liquidation, insolvency and land liabilities (though 40million could potentially be raised through asset recovery). 'Given the magnitude of the liabilities due to fall on HMG in the event of blast furnace closure, and following the PM's steer, we would like officials to test whether net government support in the region of 300million for British Steel could prevent closure, protect jobs and create a cleaner viable long-term future for steel production in the United Kingdom.' Mr Gove and Mr Shapps also highlighted how every other G20 nation has maintained domestic steel production. They added: 'We do not want to become reliant on steel sources elsewhere in the same way that energy security has become self-evidently important.' Two other blast furnaces in Britain are run by Tata Steel, which has also requested financial help from the Government, at Port Talbot in Wales. A Government spokesperson said: 'The Government is committed to securing a sustainable and competitive future for the UK steel sector and we are working closely with industry to achieve this. 'We recognise that businesses are feeling the impact of high global energy prices, including steel producers, which is why we announced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to bring down costs. 'This is in addition to extensive support we have provided to the steel sector as a whole to help with energy costs, worth more than 800million since 2013.' GPs today admitted that they are 'happy' if patients ask to go private due to crippling NHS waiting lists, with some even trying to cash in on the boom by offering 20 appointments. With waiting lists for routine treatment at an all-time high, Britons are even going private to deal with minor issues such as fungal nail infections, verrucas and warts. The number of patients paying for private treatment in the UK has risen by 39 per cent over the past two years - now one in ten - with millions now bypassing their own GP completely as they struggle to get appointments and beat the lengthy queues. At least 1.6 million people have used a paid-for GP for the first time since the pandemic, where face-to-face NHS appointments were slashed and two-week waits for non-urgent consultations common. Lloyds Pharmacy is offering 20 for a video appointment with a GP - up to 49.99 after that - with the price including basic medication, referrals and even a sick note for work. Marley White (pictured) has been on a waiting list since he was just two after suffering painful bouts of chronic tonsillitis. His family is raising money for him to go private Lloyds pharmacy is offering 20 appointments with private GPs with the price including basic medications and notes A&E crisis is killing 500 patients EVERY WEEK: Health chiefs warn of worst winter on record as twindemic sees Dickensian overcrowding and pressures equivalent to the start of Covid crisis This map shows the NHS organisations which have declared critical incidents within the last few days Advertisement Dr Sarah Levy, an NHS GP at Bushloe Surgery in Leicestershire, told The Daily Telegraph: 'I'm happy when patients ask for a private referral because I know it's going to save the NHS some work and the patient isn't going to have to wait as long'. Private GPs are busier than ever despite Bupa, for example, charging 79 for a short appointment or 250 for 60 minutes. The costs soon stack up further if blood tests, scans and small procedures are needed. A non NHS psychiatrist will charge 300 or more for a first meeting. Yet a recent YouGov survey found that 7 per cent of people had used private GP services since 2020. Almost half of those were doing so for the first time. Spire Healthcare, which runs 39 private hospitals across Britain, says self-pay cases - where customers pay for treatment themselves rather than via an insurer - is up 81 per cent since before the pandemic. According to a study by myTribe Insurance, the average UK price for a colonoscopy is 2,005, 7,531 for a hysterectomy, 13,982 for a new knee and 16,403 for prostate cancer treatment if the patient avoids the NHS. Dr Hana Patel said: 'For conditions such as kidney stones or hip replacements, you might choose to go private. There are also problems the NHS will no longer deal with, like warts and verrucas, so you'll need to go private to treat these'. Nigel Bunce, 75, from Hertfordshire, has suffered hip problems since a fall in the autumn, so plans to pay around 16,000 for a hip replacement because of a year-plus wait on the NHS. He told The Daily Telegraph: 'I was losing sleep because of the sharp stabbing pain. The pain was so severe, I came to the decision to self-fund my treatment privately'. GP Dr Sarah Levy has said she is pleased when people ask to go private because it reduces pressure on the NHS Six-year-old Marley White has been on a waiting list since he was just two after suffering painful bouts of chronic tonsillitis. He was finally set to attend the hospital for a pre-operative appointment this month - but it was cancelled just five hours before. His mother Lisa White, 28, is now hoping to raise money for her son to have a tonsillectomy as his condition has become worse over the years. It comes after doctors previously said Marley was not 'not a priority case' even though he has had 18 episodes in just one year. His pre-op appointment was cancelled due to the nurse being off sick at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Ms White, of Monmouth in South Wales, said: 'I am very upset and so is Marley. He is suffering his worst bout of tonsillitis to date, he has blisters at the back of his throat which is extremely distressing for him. 'He was really excited on the day of pre-op, he even went into school whilst ill to do his nativity performance, but he was heartbroken when the teacher broke the news to him of the cancelled appointment.' General view of the waiting room at the NHS Bodmin Treatment Centre The GP practices in England that provided the fewest in-person appointments in October (red), the fewest consultations with GPs (purple) and the fewest same-day appointments (green) Ms White says she is concerned about how much school her son is missing due to his ongoing medical issues. She said: 'His friends have been understanding and welcome him back to school when he's been off ill but it's putting him at a disadvantage as he is missing out on so many things.' In November, GPs seeking to cut their working hours to 9-5 during the worst NHS crisis in history have been labelled 'insensitive' by patient groups. Members of the public also criticised the radical proposal, saying it will make it even harder for patients to get appointments. One family doctor approaching retirement said he 'didn't recognise' the profession anymore and said GPs should be looking to do 'more not less'. The staggering scale of the appointment crisis was laid bare after worst-performing services were 'named and shamed'. MailOnline converted NHS figures from 6,000-plus surgeries into a handy search tool which allows you to check how yours fared. Family doctors in England, who earn 111,900 a year on average, voted to cut their working hours last year. It means they will now lobby the NHS to adopt their demand. Currently, all practices are required to provide services during 'core hours' 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. They do not necessarily have to be open during all of that time, but they must ensure patients can access services. If lobbying is successful, it could mean GP services are cut by 2.5 hours a day, making it even harder for patients to see a GP. GPs supporting the proposal claim giving family doctors a better work/life balance will boost numbers in the profession, which have dwindled over the past decade. This, they claim, could boost the number of appointments available during core hours, even if those hours themselves are reduced. Family doctors have complained their workloads are now 'intolerable' and that appointment limits are needed 'before it's too late'. They have warned that squeezing so many appointments into a single day raises the risk of missing diseases and prescribing the wrong drugs. But campaigners have also warned that GPs shutting doors at 5pm could essentially eradicate the chance of getting an appointment for many working families. A young woman has been left traumatised after seeing her reggae DJ boyfriend allegedly beaten so badly he is in a critical condition in hospital. Darrien Fisher, 23, who performs as DJ Dazz, was allegedly assaulted by four men outside Jackson's Hotel in Melbourne's Toorak in the early hours of January 1. He had been playing at the New Year's Eve Sounds of Africa party and was leaving with his girlfriend to go home about 3am when he was allegedly punched and kicked by the group. His girlfriend, 20, who did not wish to be named and was also allegedly assaulted when she tried to help Mr Fisher, said 'I am very traumatised. I am not mentally OK right now.' Michael Nous, 19, Mohamed Buram, 20, Ayoub Abdulrahman, 19, and Cleveland Momia, 23 have since been charged with recklessly causing injury in circumstances of gross violence, affray and assault. Reggae DJ Darrien Fisher (pictured) is in a critical condition in hospital after an alleged assault Darrien Fisher (pictured) is a 23-year-old reggae lover who performs in nightclubs as DJ Dazz Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard on Monday heard the group were allegedly leaning on Mr Fisher's white Jeep Compass before the argument. Prosecutors allege the music star 'politely' asked the men to move away from his car, which led to one responding with a slur. The court heard Mr Fisher was was allegedly punched by Momia before the other three are accused of joining in, kicking him in the head, groin and back. His girlfriend tried to shield him but was allegedly injured in doing so. Mr Fisher was left blood-soaked and unconscious with the four men accused of fleeing the scene, the court heard. Darrien Fisher (pictured) who performs as DJ Dazz, was allegedly attacked in the early hours of New Year's Day The men were arrested nearby after being filmed by a witness running east along Jackson Street, the court heard. Detective Senior Constable Christos Pappas said CCTV from a nearby Woolworths captured 'most of the incident' including the moment Mr Fisher fell to the ground. Momia, who appeared without a lawyer and requested bail, said he was 'a bit intoxicated' and only remembered 'glimpses, bits and pieces' of what happened, the court heard. He claimed Mr Fisher had thrown the first punch in the alleged attack. Magistrate Robert Stary said the alleged assault was a 'serious attack on a defenceless person' The Age reported. The four men who allegedly assaulted Darrien Fisher (pictured) have been refused bail 'In my view, it's a serious allegation of recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence and, in my view, there are no exceptional circumstances,' he told the court. Fellow DJ Dizzy Dee said Mr Fisher is a 'friendly guy' who he never saw get into any trouble. He said Mr Fisher's girlfriend was seen crying with blood on her dress after the alleged assault. 'She was really distraught,' he said. Nous, Buram, Abdulrahman and Momia will return to court in March. Andrew Tate was today likened to a radicalising 'Pied Piper' after schools warned his misogynistic rants were being used to challenge female teachers. The controversial TikTok star's influence is considered so malign some staff are asking for advice on how to deal with questions about his views. Sexist diatribes from Tate currently detained in Romania as part of a human trafficking investigation are being parroted by male pupils in classrooms. And the problem has become so serious some of the students, aged around 14, are reportedly refusing to be taught by some female teachers. Andrew Tate is led away by police, in the Ilfov area, north of Bucharest, Romania, last week The 36-year-old says he is the 'world's first trillionaire' after making a fortune in online videos Michael Conroy, founder of Men At Work, trains in areas including challenging sexism and promoting violence-free relationships. He has delivered 50-plus sessions to social workers and schools in recent months. He told MailOnline: 'What Andrew Tate is saying is nothing new, it's basic misogyny. I look at him as a radicaliser in the same way you would look at an extremist or jihadist. They are using a platform to groom young men it is a grooming process. 'Since September every training session I have done teachers have mentioned his name. Teachers are saying 14 or 15-year-olds are basically using Andrew Tate as a kind of catalyst for a conversation they have at school. Tate monetised his misogynistic TikTok videos, which have over 11billion views and counting Michael Conroy, founder of Men At Work, says Tate is is a 'Pied Piper' figure peddling misogyny EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Tate sparks family feud over his 'misogynistic' videos - as we reveal his humble upbringing at his single mum's 275,000 Luton council house Tate's enviable lifestyle today is a far cry from his humble beginnings where his mother Eileen raised him and his brother Tristan and his sister Janice (all pictured together) from her humble council house in Luton Advertisement 'It tends to be with female teachers, pupils are quoting Andrew Tate and saying 'Well what about this?'. Maybe it's about consent or something like that. 'They tend to be raised with female teachers, like some kind of power play or provocative act. Almost as if he is like a Pied Piper. 'Teachers have said that when the pupils talk about him they kind of puff out their chests like that they represent him. There is definitely the idea that he is some kind of avatar for them. 'The teachers talk about how his influence is palpable and there are very few young men that are not aware of his work.' Tate's misogynistic TikTok videos have racked up more than 11.6billion views. He claims to be worth 100million and is frequently seen showing off his money in expensive cars, private jets and designer clothes. For Mr Conroy, Tate had managed to spread his views relatively unnoticed by most sections of society due to the platforms he uses. He added: 'You can be huge within your own algorithm sphere but most people in the street wouldn't know who you are. They are separate worlds. 'But it's problematic because they can go under the radar for a while but because it's not in the mainstream news, parents might not know what their children are absorbing. 'The radicalisation process is similar to it, the whole 'no-one understands you apart from me' that kind of thing. Andrew Tate, who has now left the UK to live permanently in Romania, is said to be worth as much as 100m as he monetises the global attention that TikTok has brought him Tate's fortune came from crypto-currency and his online Hustler's University where 127,000 mostly men and boys pay him 39 a month for tips on getting rich and dealing with life What does Tate say to his army of fans? Tate preaches that life as a man is 'more difficult' than it is for a woman. He tells his fans that men should view life as 'a war', show no emotions and depression in men is not a 'real' medical condition. In return men are entitled to sleep with as many women as they want and - if they have a girlfriend - it is 'not cheating'. However, an attached female even talking to another man is 'cheating'. As Tate told a podcast: 'A man can only cheat if he loves someone else. If I have a woman who I truly love, and I go out and f***, and I come back to her, and I don't care about her, and I only love my girl, that's not cheating. That's exercise. If she even talks to a dude, it's cheating.' Tate also believes women should be subservient to men and belong in the home, while it is a man's 'masculine imperative' to provide financial support. He has said some women rape victims 'bear responsibility' for being raped. And he has described violence against women. In one video ,he told fans how he would respond if a lover attacked him with the machete he keeps next to his bed. He said: 'It's bang out the machete, boom in her face and grip her by the neck. Shut up b***h.' Advertisement 'As an individual, I think he took schools a bit by surprise over the summer when some of them started to write to children's parents about him, just to let them know about him. a bit by surprise over the summer when some of them started to write to children's parents about him, just to let them know about him. 'He has become rich by telling a powerful narrative to young men. He positions himself as thinker but his ''thinking'' very shallow because he is all about gratification and doing whatever he wants. 'Of course there are young men who are horrified by what Tate says too. 'I think Andrew Tate hates men. Someone that claims to be this alpha character, but at the same time is milking men for money. He is basically a parasite.' Gender equality campaigner Gina Martin said there was a serious problem with misogyny in some schools. She wrote: 'I've met teachers who had male students come into classes refusing to learn from 'women' because they 'don't know anything'. 'Later, Tate's name was mentioned one group of boys who were parroting these sexist lines. 'I've met parents who found out their son's were listening to podcasts by men that framed success as controlling women. 'They were terrified that their son's seemed exactly the same around the dinner table, but were deeply engaged with misogynistic ideas in private.' Prosecutors say Tate and his brother Tristan allegedly recruited women on social media platforms and persuaded them to travel to their 600,000 bolthole by falsely professing love for them, before forcing them to perform on webcams. Despite outrage at the many allegations surrounding Tate in the past week, his follower count on Twitter has soared. Across his online platforms, the shock influencer has gained nearly a million followers since his row with climate activist Greta Thunberg thrust him into the headlines. The first migrants to cross the Channel this year arrived in Dover today - as it emerged Border Force officers have begun patrolling French beaches for the first time. Pictures showed a Border Force cutter sailing into Dover marina before migrants wearing life jackets came ashore. The first joint UK-French patrol took place just before Christmas after months of negotiations between officials from both countries. The co-operative effort aims to grant UK officers greater real-time intelligence of people-smuggling activity, tactics and migrant movements. Pictures showed a Border Force cutter sailing into Dover marina this morning Migrants wearing life jackets were then seen disembarking the boat for processing However the UK officers embedded in the French patrols are 'observers' only, meaning they will have no rights to exercise powers such as arresting someone for a criminal act, the Telegraph reported. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed a record 45,756 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in 2022. The last crossings of the year took place on Christmas Day when 90 people made the journey from France in two boats. The provisional annual total for 2022 is a record and is 60% up from 28,526 in 2021, but it is lower than the 60,000 that Home Office officials previously estimated could make the journey. Over the last 12 months, politicians have made a series of attempts to get a grip on the migrant crisis amid a tumultuous period which saw three prime ministers and three home secretaries. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently confirmed a record 45,756 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in 2022 Suella Braverman told of her 'dream' of seeing the Government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda succeed after she was appointed Home Secretary - a policy which High Court judges ruled is lawful but has so far been stalled by legal action. Since the deal was signed in April by her predecessor Priti Patel, 40,460 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to bring in legislation in 2023 to make it 'unambiguously clear that if you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here'. The number of migrants crossing the Channel has steadily increased since 299 people were detected in 2018. There were 1,843 crossings recorded in 2019 and 8,466 in 2020, according to the Home Office. August last year was the highest month on record for crossings when 8,631 people arrived in the UK. August 22 saw a record 1,295 migrants crossing in a single day on 27 boats. The last crossings of the year took place on Christmas Day when 90 people made the journey from France in two boats. Pictured are migrants arriving today The number of arrivals began to fall towards the end of 2022, which could reflect seasonal changes as a result of the weather. In December 1,745 people made the journey - slightly fewer than the 1,770 recorded in the last month of 2021. The MoD said its data is taken from 'live operational systems' and is subject to change, 'including reduction'. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Our work with the French is vital to tackling the unacceptable rise in dangerous Channel crossings and we are committed to building on our close co-operation to date. 'The new agreement will significantly increase the number of French gendarmes patrolling the beaches in northern France and ensure UK and French officers are working hand in hand to stop people smugglers.' Poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to have takeaways with lower scores The Food Standards Agency gives out scores of 0 to 5, a score under a 3 is a fail In areas of the UK, 20 per cent of takeaways have failing food hygiene scores Cockroaches, mould and dead mice are not uncommon sights for health officials inspecting UK eateries, as data shows food hygiene standards are likelier to be lower in more deprived areas. Atrocious conditions and low food hygiene ratings have been attributed to a backlog of inspections due to Covid, employers struggling to recruit workers after Brexit and the cost of living crisis. A new report shows that takeaways in poorer parts of England are more likely to fall below hygiene standards, according to data from the Food Standards Agency One in 16 takeaways across the UK fell below legally required standards at the beginning of December, The Guardian reported. Food hygiene ratings are scored out of five, a business must score of three or higher to comply satisfactorily with food hygiene standards. Some of the areas with the highest proportion of unhygienic takeaways include the Scottish Borders (32.5 per cent), Halton (20.6 per cent), Aberdeen City (19.9 per cent) and Enfield (18.4 per cent). In some areas of the UK 20 per cent of the takeaways fail to meet food hygiene standards , a report suggests (pictured: a huge cockroach infestation at an Enfield takeaway) Poorer parts of England were significantly more likely to have takeaways with failing food hygiene scores (Flies and mice droppings were found at an Indian restaurant in Hull) Food hygiene ratings are scored out of five, a business must score of three or higher to comply satisfactorily with food hygiene standards (A Staffordshire pub was fined after food hygiene inspectors found a raft of mouldy food and unrefrigerated meat) Analysis showed richer neighbourhoods in England had just one in 24 takeaways with poor food hygiene standards - compared to one in 10 in poorer neighbourhoods. Nearly 16,700 food providers across the UK require improvements to their food hygiene, including almost 4,000 takeaways, 4,500 restaurants and 1,200 pubs. Tottenham: Costa customer films 'revolting' flies and ants crawling over treats In Tottenham a 'shocked' Costa customer saw what he claims was 'revolting' ants and flies crawling over their festive treats - only for staff to allegedly tell him the infestation 'doesn't bother' other customers. Daniel Renak, 34, had been craving something sweet after his lunch when he ventured into Costa Coffee on Fore Street in Tottenham late last year. But Mr Renak, an operations manager from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was 'quickly put off' after claiming to spot some of the chain's festive range 'crawling with ants'. The concerned customer flagged the issue to a member of staff but says he was told 'it doesn't bother some of our customers' and that the manager was already 'aware'. After suggesting the staff remove the food, he claims the baristas had 'no intention' of throwing it away and it remained on display for 25-30 minutes afterwards. A Costa Coffee spokesman said: 'At Costa Coffee we take food hygiene extremely seriously and incidents like these are unacceptable. 'We have robust cleaning and hygiene procedures in place and our franchise partner, who owns and operates the store, have taken immediate action. We have responded to the customer to apologise for their experience.' Ant attack: A customer claimed they saw ants and flies crawling over the festive treats in the Costa Coffee on Fore Street in Tottenham Staffordshire: Mouldy food and unrefrigerated meat stored next to tools and paint In 2022 in Staffordshire, a former pub boss was fined more than 3,000 after hygiene inspectors found mouldy food and unrefrigerated meat stored next to tools and paint. When inspectors visited the George and Dragon in Alrewas, Staffordshire they found 'extensive' mould growing on meat pies and fisherman's pie stored unrefrigerated on the floor of a dirty storeroom. Richard Maley, 50, from Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, was the director of the company running the pub and restaurant when the offences occurred in 2016. He was fined 1,280 and ordered to pay 1,800 court costs and a 32 victim surcharge. Maley is no longer associated with the restaurant which now has a five-star hygiene rating. He had been due to attend North Staffordshire Justice Centre in 2017 but failed to turn up. In a Staffordshire pub, two uncovered homemade cooked meat pies were found, as were a tub of uncovered cooked chicken, ham-and-leek filling, a covered jug of gravy and a covered jug of diced sausage and bacon stored unrefrigerated next to a box of DIY waste on dirty stairs Maley had been due to attend North Staffordshire Justice Centre in 2017, but failed to turn up Grimsby: Filthy Chinese takeaway shut down by health inspectors for the SECOND time in four years Stomach-churning pictures show inside a filthy Chinese takeaway that health inspectors shut down for the second time in four years. Revolting images show the filthy kitchen covered in rat droppings and pools of vermin urine while meat was left defrosting in a sink and dumped in dirty washing-up bowls. Owner Wen Yi Cao, 50, of Grimsby, admitted 13 severe food hygiene offences when he appeared at Grimsby Magistrates' Court on July 15. Council officials made the shocking discovery during a routine inspection of China House takeaway in Grimsby last November and temporarily closed it down, saying it posed an 'imminent risk' but it has since reopened. Pictures released on Facebook by North East Lincolnshire Council on July 19, taken inside the eatery on Pasture Street, also show dirty cooking utensils, stained tea towels and mouldy food containers. In January 2022, China House was re-inspected by council officers where it achieved a food hygiene rating of three, meaning it was 'satisfactory'. Customers trolled a Chinese takeaway for 'putting the grim in Grimsby' after health inspectors released stomach-churning pictures from inside. Pictures from a Grimsby Chinese show disgustingly dirty containers and shelves, with one tub caked in old food Stomach-churning images of China House takeaway in Grimsby, including extremely dirty fridges and buckets of uncovered sauce Liverpool: 27 mice are found inside filthy Chinese restaurant A pest control company found 27 mice inside a Chinese restaurant and their droppings all over the kitchen after a member of the public raised the alarm. Health inspectors declared Chung Ku, in Liverpool, posed an 'imminent risk to health' after a visit to the restaurant in 2019. A dead rodent was found on a counter used to prepare food and droppings were found on bags of sugar, the cookers and on shelving and it was given a food hygiene rating of zero. After their visit the restaurant was closed voluntarily by its owner, Dove Ross-Williams, for two weeks, during which time a pest control company found an extensive rodent infestation. The court was told inspectors revisited on August 28, 2019, where Chung Ku was given a new food hygiene rating of three. In 2021 Ross-Williams was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling 3050. A health inspector found a dead mouse in the kitchen at Chung Ku in Liverpool in 2019 Nearly 16,700 food providers across the UK require improvements to their food hygiene, (Food inspectors in Liverpool shut a takeaway for the second time in under a year after deeming it an 'imminent risk of injury to health') Enfield: 'Huge' cockroach and rat infestation found at takeaway An Enfield kebab shop was fined thousands after health officials discovered a cockroach and rat infestation. A 'huge population' of cockroaches and their faeces were found at Ponders End Kebab in High Street during a visit in August 2020. During a follow up inspection in 2021 Enfield Councils food safety team found uncovered rat activity. The shop's director Kazim Recber, of Town Road in Edmonton, pleaded guilty to 15 offences at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on December 9, 2021. The 42-year-old and the kebab shops limited company, EMB Catering, were told to pay a total of 4,241.12 in fines, legal fees and damages. This was the second time in four years the takeaway was made to close, and the revolting pictures showed leftover food all over the premises A 2020 survey of 2,000 adults by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found 82 per cent of people would not consider buying food from a business with a score lower than three or four. While popular takeaway delivery apps have been refusing to sell products from restaurants who receive a food hygiene score of zero. Last year the FSA said the UK is facing 'significant risks' to its food standards after the impact of Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine in the last two years, according to a new report. One main concern identified was the fall in the number of inspections of food businesses because of fewer resources being available to local authorities. The other was the delay in establishing full UK imports controls for high-risk food from the EU, which could mean more unsafe products reaching the UK market. Lumps of raw chicken were found defrosting in sinks that were surrounded by dirty cloths and grime in a Grimsby Chinese restaurant Enfield had the second-lowest compliance rate in England and the council leader, Nesil Caliskan, told The Guardian the local authority would take appropriate action and prosecute when necessary. Jesse Williams, the Food Standards Agency's head of food hygiene ratings, told the news outlet: 'All food businesses are able to achieve the top rating of "five very good" by doing what is required by food law.' The rating system in Scotland differs from the rest of the UK and gives food providers that do not meet the hygiene standards an 'improvement required' grade. The FSA inspect food premises within a range of at least every six months to at least every five years. Though they are only guideline frequencies and are varied where appropriate. Andrew Tate has been pictured caged in the back of a police van alongside his 'angels' after their arrest as part of a probe into alleged sex crimes. The influencer, 36, was seen behind bars as he was escorted to the Romanian detention centre on Thursday evening after the surprise raid of his 600,000 concrete bolthole on the outskirts of Bucharest. Pictured alongside the millionaire in the van were Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel, who are accused of luring women to the compound and then 'coercing' and 'controlling' them to create social media pornography. The images, taken by local news site Gandul, show Tate dressed in a black hoodie on one side of the van next to Naghel, his alleged girlfriend of one year, who in turn was sat next to Radu, a former policewoman. Andrew Tate has been pictured caged in the back of a police van alongside his 'angels' after their arrest as part of a probe into alleged sex crimes. (Centre: Georgiana Naghel, Tate's alleged girlfriend and right: Luana Radu, a former cop who left the force to work in webcams) Georgiana Naghel (left), 28, is described as a businesswoman and influencer who is believed to have been dating Tate for almost a year before her arrest. Luana Radu (right), 32, was previously based at a police station in central Bucharest but quit the force eight years ago to pursue a career working in video chat rooms Radu, 32, was previously based at a police station in central Bucharest but quit the force eight years ago to pursue a career working in video chat rooms, which attract men from all over the world and have become a lucrative industry in Romania. Naghel, 28, who is a US citizen, is described as a businesswoman and influencer who is believed to have been dating Tate for almost a year. The group, along with Tate's brother Tristan, have been locked up since Thursday after a court agreed to extend their detention by 30 days. That meant Tate's New Year's Eve celebrations were a far cry from his usual lavish parties surrounded by wads of cash, bikini clad models and his fleet of supercars. The brothers had been organising their own New Year's Eve party at a 48-room mansion they own in the mountain village of Comarnic before their sudden arrest. Tate bought the stunning century-old property 80 miles north of Bucharest, which features an underground car park and swimming pool, a year ago. The influencer, 36, was seen behind bars as he was escorted to the Romanian detention centre on Thursday evening Ms Naghel was born in Bucharest and raised in the Tuhari district and is believed to have met Tate (pictured together) through friends soon after he moved to the country five years ago Both Ms Radu (pictured) and Ms Naghel regularly post glamorous photographs of themselves in designer clothes often in exotic locations A police source told MailOnline: 'These two women are Tate's trusted lieutenants and his angels' (Pictured: Ms Naghel) The two women were arrested on Thursday night at Tate's 600,000 warehouse-style mansion (Pictured: Ms Radu) The group, along with Tate's brother Tristan, have remained locked up since Thursday after a court agreed to extend their detention by 30 days But when he was detained last week at his concrete compound on the outskirts of the capital, he was forced to abandon his festive plans and prepare for a slightly more meagre celebration to ring in 2023. Instead of champagne and caviar, the former Big Brother star feasted on traditional Romanian cuisine, according to news site Cancan. He was served a grilled pork chop steak with mashed potatoes, assorted pickles, an apple and a cake at the Rahova prison. Blessed Father Daniel, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, also delivered a box of cookies to inmates. Romanian prosecutors have been granted permission to detain the controversial star along with Tristan and the two Romanian women for 30 days. Tate is being held in the Bucharest detention centre in a cell similar to this shabby, cramped cell measuring 15 square metres which has a hole-in-the-ground toilet set in an open cubicle It is alleged Tate and his brother Tristan recruited women on social media platforms and persuaded them to travel to their 600,000 bolthole by falsely professing love for them, before forcing them to perform on webcams. According to Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, six alleged victims have been identified in relation to the investigation, one of whom is said to have been violently sexually assaulted in March. Some of the suspects allegedly used the 'loverboy' method of trafficking, which involves a man luring a victim into a relationship in order to sexually exploit them later, DIICOT said. The victims were transported and housed in buildings in Ilfov county, which surrounds Bucharest, where they were coerced into making pornographic content, it is alleged. Daria Gusa the daughter of political analyst, journalist and businessman Cozmin Gusa said she received a message online from the influencer when she was just 16 years old. Daria Gusa (pictured) has claimed Andrew Tate tried to recruit her to his lurid webcam operation when she was just 16 years old Miss Gusa, now 19, said she turned down his direct offer to go out with him and said she is amazed it has taken so long for the authorities to crack down on his operation, with two of his 'angels' also arrested in the raid. She told Romanian site Realitatea Plus: 'I had just created an account on Instagram when I received a message, quite suggestive, in which Andrew Tate basically asked me to go out with him. 'I then asked my other colleagues, who had received similar messages, because it seemed strange to me that someone with millions of followers would contact me, who had 200. 'Another colleague continued to chat with him and [he] invited her directly to go out with him. Basically it was the "loverboy" method, he applied it to girls from Ilfov or Prahova, from areas as close as possible to his home.' Miss Gusa said she does not believe she was targeted because of her influential father but because she was a young girl in the area. She said Tate boasted to her friends in messages about his luxury cars, a private plane and the exclusive restaurants he would take them to. Miss Gusa added: 'I find it incredible that these people who publicly brag about how much money they have, and especially how they got it from girls who video chat for them, through pimping. Hopefully it's not about drugs or of sexual violence but it seems strange to me that they were not detected by the authorities earlier. 'It's very likely that a lot of people are involved. These guys have trained their girls to record their customers and, of course, when it comes to intimate poses, it's very easy to blackmail important people.' Despite outrage at the many allegations surrounding Tate in the past week, his follower count on Twitter has soared. Across his online platforms, the shock influencer has gained nearly a million followers since his row with climate activist Greta Thunberg thrust him into the headlines. Meanwhile, neighbours said ardent supporters of the arrested 'Webcam King' flew to the high-security concrete bolthole on the outskirts of Bucharest before he was arrested on Thursday for alleged sex crimes. Dozens of teenage men from Britain and the US travelled to the Romanian headquarters of Andrew Tate's 'Hustlers University', it has been claimed The 'university' serves as Tate's home and the headquarters of his online porn webcam business, and it proved so popular it was added to Google Maps to help taxi drivers Neighbours said the young men aged 18 or 19 were seen regularly entering the compound since last summer, but it is not known what they were doing inside the secretive property where Tate stashed guns and cash. At the site, the disgraced Big Brother star runs an online university to 'free the modern man from socially induced incarceration'. The 39-a-month get-rich-scheme claims to have more than 160,000 'students' who learn from 'experts' on an online Discord server on a curriculum including 'investment and real estate', 'finance and business' and 'affiliate marketing'. It is not known why Tate's disciples were physically travelling to Romania to meet with him. But one neighbour told The Times: 'There were groups arriving three or four times a week, sometimes there were three taxis a day. 'They were young men. They say they were attending the Hustler's University.' The 'university' serves as Tate's home and the headquarters of his online porn webcam business, and it proved so popular it was added to Google Maps to help taxi drivers. Neighbours said at least eight women were hosting online sex shows from the building at any time, although numbers fell after the first police raid at the site in April. The ardent followers of the arrested 'Webcam King' flew to the high-security concrete bolthole on the outskirts of Bucharest Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest on Thursday Inside Romanian jail where Andrew Tate will spend the next 30 days amid trafficking and rape probe Tate is being held in the Bucharest detention centre in a cell similar to this shabby, cramped cell Advertisement One said: 'You could see the women inside working on the video cameras. There were women there 24 hours a day. 'Last summer these young English guys started to come. They would get lost and ask how they could find the Hustler's University. I don't know what they were doing inside.' Women including an American citizen were allegedly held at the property with employees shadowing their every move before being forced to take part in online pornographic videos. Romanian authorities said the alleged victims were forced to perform pornography through 'physical violence and mental coercion'. The suspects are accused of posting the pornographic material online, to sites such as the adult-only content platform OnlyFans or the video sharing app TikTok, which they then obtained 'substantial financial benefits'. Radu and Naghel are accused of being Tate's closest lieutenants with police claiming that they helped to 'coerce' and 'control' at least six women to create social media porn content and helped to keep them under house arrest 'like prisoners.' Naghel was born in Bucharest and raised in the Tuhari district and is believed to have met Tate through friends soon after he moved to the country five years ago. After initially helping him with his business interests, the two eventually formed a romantic bond and have become a regular fixture at the city's exclusive clubs and bars. While working in video chat rooms, Radu, who also uses the name Ellie Dely on social media met Tate and eventually became his administrative assistant, helping him to manage his online business empire, which is worth an estimated 100million. They are sharing the same cell at the decrepit Bucharest Police Detention Centre where they have been remanded in custody for 29 days, pending a further probe. Investigators also claim one of the suspects raped a victim on two separate occasions in March last year. 'We have information based on what they said on social media, that one of the girls brought in up to 50,000 a month,' said a source close to the investigation told the Mail. 'They were given no money from what they earned.' The victims were allegedly transported to buildings in Ilfov county on the outskirts of Bucharest, where they were 'sexually exploited' and forced to make these videos, a police statement said. Tate said in a now deleted post: 'My job was to meet a girl, go on a few dates, sleep with her, test if she's quality, get her to fall in love with me to where she'd do anything I say, and then get her on webcam so we could become rich together'. Tate's initial period in custody was extended from 24 hours to 30 days, but his lawyer Eugen Constantin Vidineac is going to appeal this decision by the judge. He said: 'From our perspective, there are no grounds... for taking this most drastic preventive measure.' The brothers are both dual-citizens off the US and UK, born to an American father and British mother. They grew up in both countries. Miss B events has hosted a wild party at a $17 million mansion by the ocean. The luxury events company celebrated the first day of the year in style filling a unique home in Sydney's South Coogee with burlesque dancers and models. The VIP party was headlined by celebrity DJ Shiralee Coleman and there were also racy dance performances from Porcelain Alice and Clara Fable. 'It wouldn't be a Miss B event without including Sydney's best burlesque dancers. Porcelain Alice swallowed a sword, and Clara Fable lit her body on fire,' Miss B told Daily Mail Australia. The host with the most! Miss B is pictured at her glamorous party in Sydney These young women are probably well aware of the old saying that blondes have more fun The party was held at a large mansion known as the 'Coogee Crypto Castle' Bikinis and one-piece swimsuits (pictured) were popular at the exclusive Sydney party The DJ (pictured) spins up a storm at the wild pool party on New Year's Day A saxophone player brings some live music to the party Guests sipping champagne at the shindig opted for a wide range of fashion attire, with models and influencers on the guest list. Some donned racy bikinis making the most of the luxurious infinity pool. Others went for colorful summer dresses and soaked up the sun. While elegant white gowns were also very popular for partygoers. There were a few that appeared chic in all black as the men mostly kept it casual in designers jeans and stylish summer shirts. A woman with a microphone throws her hands in the air like she just doesn't care A partygoer in a black dress signals a message of peace for the new year The glamorous DJ kicks things up a notch blowing bubbles in the air The party was held in honour of Miss B, with her name lit up in lights Three bikini-clad guests are seen relaxing at the edge of the pool as the shindig continued into the evening Glamorous guests watch the world go by from the infinity pool Play me a tune! The stylish DJ is seen rocking the decks at the pool party Time to chill out in the shade: Stylish duo kick back on an air chair Couple enjoy drinks by the sea in a stunning Sydney mansion on New Year's Day Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger was studying in detail how forensics, DNA and other evidential procedures help prosecutors secure convictions just two weeks before the quadruple murders. The 28-year-old criminal justice major had enjoyed learning about the ways convictions were brought, according to a former classmate. Graduate PhD student Kohberger had previously studied under a professor in Pennsylvania known for her expertise on serial killers and was studying criminology at Washington State University at the time of the slayings just minutes from the crime scene. The suspected killer was arrested on Friday after a more than a month manhunt for the murderer behind the brutal deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21. Bryan Kohberger was studying in detail how forensics, DNA and other evidential procedures help prosecutors secure convictions just two weeks before the quadruple murders Kohberger had previously studied under Dr Katherine Ramsland while at DeSales University - with other students saying he would interrupt their famed lecturer as though he 'knew more' than she did Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show cop cars from Washington State University Police parked outside Wilson Short-Hall which houses the criminology department Investigators in Moscow, Idaho, have yet to outline a motive in the murders of the four students, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. Friends from high school claim that he struggled with heroin addiction in his younger years but appeared to have moved past it. Jack Baylis told the New York Times that Kohberger was fascinated with why people act the way they do, and had a job as a security guard for the Pleasant Valley School District. Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. He was taught in part by renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who has written The Mind of a Murderer and How to Catch a Killer. Ramsland has declined to comment, but spent decades researching serial killers and mass murderers and is best known for developing a close relationship with serial murderer Dennis Rader known as BTK. Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case Ramsland has written books including, How to Catch a Killer, The Mind of a Murderer and The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor His daughter, Kerri Rawson, told NewsNation that she was finding it hard to live with and understand if her dad had influenced it. She said: Its hard to be the kid of this guy and live with this. You know? And then see somebody else go do this and wonder did your dad influence this? Did my dad talk to him? Was he studying my father outside of academics? Am I ever going to get answers to that, I dont know. A student who was in Kohbergers criminology class said that he would often interrupt Ramsland - as if he knew more about the subject matter than her according to Law and Crime. Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case. The investigators are also interviewing people who knew Kohberger, including those at Washington State University. Authorities are searching his office on the University of Washington Pullman campus, DailyMail.com can reveal The suspect graduated from DeSales with a Bachelor's in 2020 and a Master's in 2022. Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Friday that Kohberger attends Washington State University Forensic teams and police work at the apartment of Kohberger nearby Washington State University in Pullman, Washington The crime took place six weeks ago, 2,500 miles from where Kohberger was arrested. His father flew to meet his son in Washington and drove with him back to their Pennsylvania home Another former professor of his from Washington State University told DailyMail.com that she was shocked as s*** by his arrest. In an exclusive interview, DeSales University Professor Michelle Bolger said she's in absolute shock after hearing what her former student has been accused of. 'He's a brilliant student,' she told DailyMail.com exclusively from her house in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. 'I'm shocked as s**t at what he's been accused of. I don't believe it, but I get it,' she said. Brittany Slaven, who attended DeSales with Kohberher, said the alleged murdered had a particular interest in crime scenes and serial killers. She said: At the time, it seemed as if he was just a curious student, so if his questions felt odd we didnt think much of it because it fit our curriculum. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of federal burglary with Moscow Chief of Police James Fry saying he broke into the student home with the intent to commit murder. Police confiscated a white Hyundai Elantra, the same model Moscow police had been hunting for after being spotted close to the crime scene, from outside Kohbergers home. DeSales University Professor Michelle Bolger said she's in absolute shock after hearing that her former student Bryan Kohberger is the accused Idaho quadruple murder suspect Earlier this year, Kohberger appealed to criminals on Reddit, asking them to share their experiences to help him with his college studies He had been home for the festive holidays after his father flew 2,000 miles from Pennsylvania to Idaho to drive with his son. It is unclear if Kohbergers father, who went bankrupt in 2010, or the rest of his family were aware of the murders. Law enforcement officials confirmed that his DNA was found at the scene of the crime, though he has no criminal record, which would put his DNA on file. Investigators were able to match genetic evidence to a family member of the suspect using genealogy databases, CNN reported, citing a source. Kohberger may possibly face the death penalty in the state - in which his family can't afford to hire an attorney to fight. Investigators are still trying to locate the murder weapon more than six weeks after the murders, which they believe was a large knife. Kohberger's family addressed the charges on Sunday and asked for people to refrain from judgment. In a statement they said: 'We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family, we will love and support our son and brother. 'First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the Idaho quadruple murders, once canvassed Reddit asking criminals how they planned their crimes and selected victims as part of his research for his criminal studies degrees The suspect was attending college in nearby Washington State, where he pursued criminology Police were on the hunt for Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra, which officials began tracking around Christmas time as the suspect drove across the country Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Pictured is the home where the murders took place, just over eight miles from where he worked as a PhD student and teaching assistant 'There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. 'We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.' Kohberger's family asked for privacy during this time as they cooperate with law enforcement to get to the bottom of the case. Police said they began tracking and surveilling Kohberger around Christmas and stayed on him for four days when they spotted the white Hyundai Elantra they believed was connected to the murders. Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am. Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place Moscow Chief of Police James Fry refused to rule out that the killer had an accomplice. Details of the killings, and the motive for them, are yet to be released, with law enforcement saying a sealed arrest affidavit will be released once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho. Friday's arrest is the first major break in the case - with Kohberger asking if 'anyone else was arrested' when he was taken into custody. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. He is currently in custody at Monroe County Jail in Pennsylvania until a hearing on January 3. Public Defender Jason LaBar, who is defending Kohberger, told CNN that he was home for the holidays. LaBar is preparing for Kohberger to arrive back in Idaho and already requested he receives a public defender immediately. He added: 'He does not have the funding to get a private attorney. Two 'lost' train carriages that are believed to have transported Titanic passengers to the dockside for their doomed maiden voyage have been discovered languishing in a yard after 110 years. The dining saloons formed part of the 'Boat Train Express' run by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) during the golden age of train and maritime travel. They carried first class passengers from London Waterloo to Southampton for embarkation on White Star Line and Cunard passenger liners, including the Titanic. Now, more than a century later, the British Titanic Society has set up a charitable trust with the aim of raising 550,000 to save the two carriages and return them to their former glory. Two 'lost' train carriages that are believed to have transported Titanic passengers to the dockside for their doomed maiden voyage have been discovered languishing in a yard after 110 years. Pictured: Captain Charles James with carriage number 76 The dining saloons (pictured) formed part of the 'Boat Train Express' run by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) during the golden age of train and maritime travel The style and opulence of the dining carriages was in keeping with the surroundings the passengers would experience on Titanic, which was regarded as the world's most luxurious liner. After the tragedy in April 1912, the carriages were converted to ambulance compartments in the First World War. And years later they took troops evacuated from Dunkirk in the Second World War from Dover to London. Evidence of their military past can still be seen in the form of a cartoon drawing of a duck titled 'Jocke Duck' which is thought to have been drawn by a soldier. In the 1970s they were in a dilapidated condition and were acquired by a heritage railway in the hope they could be preserved. But that never happened and in 2000 they were bought by Captain Charles James of the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway in South Wales. Pictured: A group poses outside Dining Car 69 in a photograph likely taken in 1912 The style and opulence of the dining carriages was in keeping with the surroundings the passengers would experience on Titanic. Pictured: Artwork by Frank Burridge that features the train carriage and the Titanic They carried first class passengers from London Waterloo to Southampton for embarkation on White Star Line and Cunard passenger liners, including the Titanic. Pictured: Waterloo Station in 1912 After WWI, the trains took troops evacuated from Dunkirk in the Second World War from Dover to London. Evidence of their military past can still be seen in the form of a cartoon drawing of a duck titled 'Jocke Duck' (pictured) which is thought to have been drawn by a soldier The former British army officer and steam train enthusiast hoped to find someone to help fund the restoration of the 58ft long wooden compartments. But he was unsuccessful and all he could do was put glass back into the windows and cover the carriage to protect them from the elements. Then last year the British Titanic Society learned of their existence and got in touch. Excited historians from the organisation have now set up a charitable trust, called the Titanic Boat Train Heritage Trust, with the aim of raising 550,000 to save the two carriages and return them to their former glory. So far they have bought timber to strengthen the interior of the dining carriages to prevent them collapsing in on themselves. In January they hope to be able to ship the 34 tonne carriages to a heritage railway in Hampshire where the restoration work will begin. David Scott-Bedard, secretary of the Titanic Society, said: 'These are the last remaining carriages that remain of the Boat Trains that ferried people to Southampton at the turn of the 20th century. The style and opulence of the dining carriages was in keeping with the surroundings the passengers would experience on Titanic. Pictured: The first class dining carriage Excited historians from the organisation have now set up a charitable trust, called the Titanic Boat Train Heritage Trust, with the aim of raising 550,000 to save the two carriages and return them to their former glory. Pictured: The train leaving Waterloo Station in 1912 Historians say there is a 'strong possibility' that the carriages they found were the exact carriages which took passengers to their deaths on the Titanic. Pictured: The Titanic in 1912 Officials say the best outcome of the project would be to fully restore the carriages so that they can take passengers to Southampton again. Pictured: The train leaving Waterloo Station He continued: 'There is a strong possibility that these were the exact carriages which took passengers to their deaths on the Titanic. 'Captain James has been doing the best he can to keep the carriages from completely falling apart. He was over the moon when we said that we were starting the project. 'We have formed the trust and with the early donations we have bought timber to help strengthen the interiors. 'All of the work done so far has been done on a voluntary basis and we just need to get tarpaulin in place to keep the rain off them. 'We intend to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for more money which will hopefully help us to get the carriages back to Hampshire. 'The best outcome would be to fully restore the carriages so that passengers can use them to go to Southampton again. On their website they have set out financial goals for the amount of money that they need to completely restore them. In total, they believe it will cost 557,000. In the 1970s the trains were in a dilapidated condition and were acquired by a heritage railway in the hope they could be preserved. Pictured: Captain Charles James with carriage number 76 The Titanic Society intends to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for more money for the restoration project. Pictured: The interior of carriage number 76 The Boat Trains operated by LSWR would have had eight to 10 carriages, with two dining carriages. Pictured: Original pull chain to alert the guard Both carriages would have been able to comfortably cater for 20 people each. Pictured: Details of the old train The Boat Trains operated by LSWR would have had eight to 10 carriages, with two dining carriages. Captain James, 87, said: 'I managed to save these two historic carriages in 1996 after a previous project to save them had failed. 'I asked myself what I should do and the answer was bloody well save them. 'I did the best I could to keep them in a reasonable state, I put new glass in the windows and tried to cover them in tarpaulin to keep the rain off them. 'Both carriages have incredible stories. They not only took passengers from London to sail on the Titanic from Southampton but they also helped get soldiers out of Dover when they had been rescued from Dunkirk. 'They would have been incredibly luxurious when they were used as Boat Trains. 'There was a special compartment for Champagne and there were plenty of wine glasses available. 'Both carriages would have been able to comfortably cater for 20 people each. 'In the Second World War, chaps were coming back from the hell of Dunkirk soaking wet and freezing cold. 'These carriages provided some sort of welcome for them while taking them to safety. 'They were later used as ambulance carriages during the rest of the war. The next step is to get the trains in a state where they can be transported back down to Southampton to once again escort passengers from London. Pictured: Exterior train details Captain James, 87, (pictured inside carriage number 76) said: 'I managed to save these two historic carriages in 1996 after a previous project to save them had failed. I asked myself what I should do and the answer was bloody well save them' After the Titanic tragedy in April 1912, the carriages were converted to ambulance compartments in the First World War. Pictured: Dates inside a cupboard marking the work undertaken to turn it into military medical car Pictured: A close-up photograph of the exterior details of the train 'I hope I last long enough to see them going again,' Captain Charles James (pictured with the train) has said 'I first saw them in Pontypool, after someone else had tried to arrange for them to be restored and sadly failed. 'At the time I thought the best thing we could do was get them to Blaenavon and try to find somebody to look after them. 'I was delighted when the Titanic Society got in touch to say that they wanted to fully restore these amazing carriages. 'The next step is to get them in a state where they can be transported back down to Southampton to once again escort passengers from London. 'I hope I last long enough to see them going again.' Advertisement How two experienced pilots failed to see each other before colliding mid-air above a crowded theme park and killing four people will form the basis of a major investigation into Monday's helicopter tragedy at SeaWorld on the Gold Coast. Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, and three passengers were killed after their Eurocopter EC130 hit an incoming EC130 seconds after they took off from the theme park. Two British citizens are reported to be among the dead. The collision sent the helicopter plunging 30 metres to a sandbank below, where it crashed upside down after both rotors were damaged during the collision. Three other passengers on board Mr Jenkinson's chopper, understood to be a woman and two children, were rushed to hospital in serious conditions. The other aircraft managed to stabilise and land upright, causing only minor injuries despite the cockpit being smashed in and those on board showered in glass. One of the hundreds of holidaymakers who witnessed the horror unfold said she had a panic attack after realising she and her husband, along with their daughter, 8, were next in line to board the doomed helicopter. The two helicopters involved in the collision can be seen on the sandbank - with one plummeting into the sand and the other landing upright Ash Jenkinson (pictured) was behind the controls of the helicopter which nosedived into the sandbar 'We are up from Sydney for a holiday on the Gold Coast and we spent the day at Sea World and thought we would book in for a joy flight,' the woman, who asked not to be named, told The Daily Telegraph. 'We watched the helicopter load with the people. There was the pilot and two elderly people in the front, a lady and a little boy next to her in the back, and another person next to them. 'They buckled everyone up, everything was normal, everyone was excited, then we watched it all happen.' Air safety experts told Daily Mail Australia that a helicopter already in the air should typically give way to a rising aircraft. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is now examining whether a communication error, system malfunction or some other failure led to the two helicopters colliding. What happened 30 years earlier in a similar tragedy? A Sea World helicopter setting off from the theme park crashed into South Stradbroke Island off the Gold Coast and burst into flames in 1991. All seven people on board the Bell Long Ranger were killed. After a lengthy investigation it was determined pilot Glenn Wells, 27, had collapsed at the controls. Advertisement Footage shot from holidaymakers on the ground shows both helicopters appearing to maintain a straight flightpath before the collision, with neither appearing to alter course before impact. Conditions appeared ideal with clear afternoon skies when the collision occurred. Sea World Helicopters has been operating at the site for about three decades. Its early days were marked by an eerily similar tragedy, when in 1991 a joy flight aboard a Bell Long Ranger plummeted into South Stradbroke Island off the Gold Coast and burst into flames, killing all seven people on board. After a lengthy investigation by the Bureau of Air Safety as it was then known, it was determined pilot Glenn Wells, 27, had collapsed at the controls. The helicopter fleet has undergone multiple upgrades since then, being replaced with Eurocopter AS350 'Squirrel' aircraft and the EC130s to cater for the up to 600 joy flight customers a day - along with an expansion to the ground facilities - making it the biggest privately owned heliport in Australia. The helicopters are fitted with Spidertracks GPS locating systems, which are designed to alert all pilots in the vicinity of the location of other aircraft. 'It's an easy system to use and the monitoring system compared to everything else is very reliable and accurate.' Mr Jenkinson said in an interview for the company in 2021. He is being remembered as a 'legend' and 'hero' who leaves behind a wife, young son and members of his close family as well as hundreds of friends who knew the popular Gold Coast local as 'Jenko'. Friend Ritchie Gregg recounted Mr Jenkinson volunteered to help deliver aid to the victims of the 2022 NSW and Queensland floods. 'This will always be the highlight of my life and just one of your legacies when we helped flood people. Cheers,' Mr Gregg wrote to Facebook. 'My heartfelt condolences to your family. Blue skies my friend.' another friend Chris Lea wrote. Four people are dead after two helicopters collided in mid-air near Sea World on the Gold Coast theme park as horrified holidaymakers watched on Photos show emergency workers rush to help those on board the two Sea World helicopters Pictured: Paramedics and police on the scene on Monday afternoon Video from the Sea World helipad on Monday shows a holidaymaker and his young son watching the helicopter lift and then within seconds cross into the path of the second aircraft - with the child asking: 'Is he going to crash?'. Jetski riders and pleasure boaters nearby raced to the crash scene - just metres from the heavily crowded theme park and marina - and called emergency services as they frantically tried to aid those inside the wreckage. Witnesses told Daily Mail Australia one of the helicopters was coming in to land when it clipped the rotor of the other aircraft that was taking off. Emma Burch, another witness, had the same account of how the accident unfolded. Ash Jenkinson (pictured with his wife) was the chief pilot for Sea World Helicopters and has been remembered as a 'legend' by his many friends 'From what we saw one was taking off, the other landing. They clipped each other,' she said. 'Massive bang heard right through the Broadwater tourist park then the swooshing as the one that lost control hit the water and broke apart. 'It's just awful. Everyone is in shock.' One of the helicopters crashed into the sandbar, leaving wreckage across the shore with the main rotor embedded in the sand some distance from the rest of the wreck. The other helicopter managed to land on the sandbar, with six people on board, some of whom suffered non-life threatening injuries, mostly from the shattered glass. Marine Rescue raced to the sandbar, seen in front of one helicopter with a Sea World logo A young child was transported from the crash site by boat and then transferred to the RACQ Lifeflight helicopter and rushed to hospital in a serious condition Pictured: Lifeguards and police officers on board one of several vessels that raced to the scene Operators of the theme park issued a statement in the aftermath of the tragedy. expressing 'shock and deepest sympathy for those involved'. 'We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased,' the statement said. 'We are cooperating with all the authorities including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police. As it is now a police investigation we cannot provide any further information at this stage.' Paramedics transported one patient to a waiting helicopter to be airlifted to hospital The front of the Sea World helicopter that remained still upright sustained heavy damage It is understood the helicopter taking off clipped another helicopter above and then nosedived into the sand Witnesses expressed their shock at the mid-air collision. 'I heard a bang and saw smoke billowing from one of the choppers. It was smoking and wobbling to the ground,' one witness told Daily Mail Australia. 'One person was asking whether it was part of the Sea World show.' A distraught woman and child were seen at the helipad while part of the theme park was shut down so patrons couldn't look out at the crash site. Others said watching the accident unfold was 'beyond horrible'. 'My daughter saw them. People on both. Landed on the sand not in SeaWorld thank goodness. Just praying for all,' one said. 'We heard a loud noise and saw bits of debris flying,' another wrote online. Ash Jenkinson is pictured in February 2022, delivering vital supplies to communities cut off by floods Gold Coast resident Tor Kumpel was swimming in the broadwater with his wife when he witnessed the collision just after one helicopter took off. 'It was only one helicopter that crashed. The one that was coming up. It was horrific to see,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'The (pilot) who was in the other one that landed. They deserve a medal. It took a bit to steady but they did it.' Blue Mountains resident Amii McDermot, 42, was in line at Sea World's Vortex ride when she saw the crash unfold. 'There was debris everywhere, the tail fell off one of them and the helicopter nosedived into the ground at full-speed.' She said her two younger children don't realise what they saw but her older two are quite shaken up. Investigators are racing to collect evidence before high tide covers the sandbar Officers scour the sand for pieces of debris that could assist the investigation into the cause The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it has already commenced an investigation into the collision. 'Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon,' ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. 'During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site.' 'Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties. The ATSB is asking for witnesses of the crash and those with footage of the collision to contact them immediately. A police report will be prepared for the coroner. Kevin McCarthy has only 24 hours to convince more than a dozen members of his own party to vote for him for Speaker as one dissenter cemented his opposition by calling the GOP Leader a member of the 'swamp cartel.' Representative Bob Good said he expects up to 15 Republican lawmakers to vote against McCarthy and told Fox & Friends on Monday morning that he is 'part of the problem, not the solution.' A group of five GOP lawmakers voiced their opposition to McCarthy's bid for Speaker last month, vowing not to give into concessions unless they all discussed it first. A New Year's Day letter added nine more Republicans to the list of those who say they won't vote for McCarthy. McCarthy needs 218 votes to win Speaker, meaning he can only afford to lose the support of four Republicans. Virginia Rep. Bob Good (right) told Fox & Friends that he expects up to 15 Republicans to vote against Kevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker on Tuesday, claiming the current GOP Leader is a part of the 'swamp cartel' House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry demanded that McCarthy 'get out of the way.' McCarthy appeared to be claiming a hasty victory on Monday as he was seen entering the House Speaker suite on the second floor of the Capitol. He told Punchbowl News, surprisingly, that he is feeling 'actually really good' about his chances of winning. Good said his constituents in Virginia's 5th congressional district 'told me not to support Kevin McCarthy' for Speaker. He also claimed that while the group of 14 lawmakers who have already publicly said they won't back McCarthy don't necessarily have an alternative in mind they just want to block him from taking over from outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Virginia Republican said they will likely all write-in the ballot for Representative Andy Biggs, another anti-McCarthy Republican and influential member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Biggs lost his bid to be the Republican nominee against McCarthy in a 18831 secret ballot vote. Five other Republicans wrote in names other than McCarthy or Biggs. 'If it's not Kevin, who would you vote for?' Good was asked on Monday. 'What we will do is block Kevin,' he replied. 'I suspect there will be 10 to 15 members who will vote against him on the first ballot tomorrow that will vote for Andy Biggs.' 'But then I think you will see on the second ballot an increasing number of members vote for a true candidate who can represent the conservative conference. Motivate the base,' Good said. The House majority has only failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot once since the Civil War and the last time it happened was exactly 100 years ago in 1923. Support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid appears to be weakening in the GOP as 14 lawmakers have publicly said they oppose his run, a day ahead of the vote. Nine current and incoming Republicans warned in a New Year's Day letter how electing McCarthy would be a 'continuation of Republican failures' McCarthy has tried to garner some favor with those in the party against his continued leadership by conceding to a demand that he lowers the threshold needed to remove a House speaker from their post. A 'motion to vacate the chair' has only ever been used twice in U.S. history. In practical terms, it's akin to a vote of 'no confidence' in which members can submit a request for the current leader to step down. The parliamentarian procedure was first invoked in 1910 against Republican Speaker Joseph Cannon and the second time was more than 100 years later in 2015 against Republican Speaker Mark Meadows who later served as former President Donald Trump's chief of staff. The five original 'Never Kevin' lawmakers who rallied against McCarthy are Representatives Good, Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Montana. The nine additional Republicans who pledged to vote against McCarthy in the Sunday letter are Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Harris of Maryland and Andrew Clyde of Georgia; along with Representative-elects Andy Ogales of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Eli Crane of Arizona. Perry, who is Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, posted the letter to his Twitter calling for change and a shake-up in leadership. 'Nothing changes when nothing changes, and that must start from the top,' Perry wrote. 'Time to make the change or get out of the way.' Good slammed McCarthy for allowing massive omnibus spending bills to pass the House before breaking for the holidays. 'There is nothing that indicates to me that he is going to change his pattern since he has been in leadership where he is part of the swamp cartel,' the Virginia Republican said. 'He is the reason on the Republican side why we pass massive omnibus spending bills that just got rammed down our throats by Republicans in the Senate. He was part of that in leadership.' The 'swamp cartel' reference stems from Trump, who dubbed Washington, D.C. a 'swamp' in his 2016 presidential campaign and said he was going to go to the nation's capital to 'drain the swamp'. 'There is nothing about Kevin McCarthy that indicates he will bring the change that's needed to Washington or that's needed in the Congress, or he will bring the fight against Biden-Schumer agenda and represent the interest of the voters who sent us to Washington to bring us real change.' Opposition to McCarthy's bid for House Speaker appears to only be growing after the nine Republican members who wrote the stinging letter on Sunday warned how electing him would continue the status quo 'dysfunction' in the lower chamber. The group said that McCarthy had 14 years in House GOP leadership, and lamented that his election could mean a 'continuation of past, and ongoing, Republican failures.' On Sunday, McCarthy held a private conference call with Republicans in an attempt to garner support for his speakership vote on Tuesday, January 3, which is when the new Congress takes office. While McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes if he wants to clinch the Speakership, the call appeared to worsen his outlook from five dissenters last week to 14 total just 24 hours before the vote. McCarthy released a New Year's Eve letter entitled 'Restoring the People's House and Ending Business as Usual,' where he admitted the dysfunction of the House and pledged to make it right On New Year's Eve McCarthy wrote a letter entitled 'Restoring the People's House and Ending Business as Usual,' where he admitted to dysfunction in the House of Representatives and pledged to make it right. 'For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure,' the nine GOP members wrote in their letter. They added that his 'statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd.' 'At this state, it cannot be a surprise that expressions of vague hopes reflected in far too many of the crucial points still under debate are insufficient. This is especially true with respect to Mr. McCarthy's candidacy for speaker because the times call for radical departure from the status quo not a continuation of past and ongoing, Republican failures,' the letter stated. 'McCarthy's statement also continues to propose to restrict the availability of the traditional motion to vacate the chair as a means of holding leadership accountable to its promises; we have from the beginning made clear that we will not accept following Nancy Pelosi's example by insulating leadership in this way,' the nine House GOP members said in their letter on Sunday. 'We also note that the statement fails completely to address the issue of leadership working to defeat conservatives in open primaries. The progress made thus far has been helpful and should guide our thinking going forward.' Members of the Freedom Caucus, the most conservative group in the House, led the calls for a shake-up in leadership. Rep. Andy Biggs, a former chairman of the caucus, had launched a bid against McCarthy within the Party to be the nominee for Speakership, but was defeated in a secret ballot. Biggs of Arizona, along with Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana were all part of the initial 'Never Kevin' lawmakers publicly expressing their plans to vote against McCarthy in the January 3 elections. While Perry is vice chair of the Freedom Caucus, the current chairman and co-founder of the caucus, Representative Jim Jordan, is an ally of McCarthy. Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs launched an unsuccessful bid against McCarthy to get the GOP nomination for Speaker He could be the only person who can get through to the detractors. In recent weeks, Jordan has gone to bat for McCarthy by arguing on several right-leaning media outlet interviews that the current GOP Leader deserves the gavel. The five original 'Never Kevin' lawmakers have organized to prevent McCarthy from garnering the 218 votes needed to take the gavel from outgoing Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They have also vowed not to be picked off individually by McCarthy and said they would discuss any concessions he offers. McCarthy announced on the private call Sunday evening that he would give into one of the top demands from detractors, which is shrinking the threshold needed to vote out the Speaker in exchange for his ascent to the position. Under the current rules, only a member of the House leadership can initiate a motion to remove the Speaker, but McCarthy's proposal would allow any House member to force a vote to remove the Speaker at any time. Currently, only members of House leadership are able to do so, under rules implemented by Pelosi. The letter is proof that those who oppose his speakership don't think this concession from McCarthy is enough. House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said Sunday that he would be 'surprised' if Kevin McCarthy weren't elected by his Party to become next Speaker of the House "Do you think he's going to get the votes to be speaker?"@DanaBashCNN asks outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) about his relationship with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/R2tKP6XSbM CNN (@CNN) January 1, 2023 When asked if McCarthy has what it takes to be Speaker, Democratic House Leader Steny Hoyer said on Sunday: 'We'll see.' He added that if McCarthy wins the election, it's proof that he's able to at least put in the work against adversity. 'He obviously if he gets 218 votes has the ability to put together the votes to be the leader of the Party,' Hoyer told CNN. 'And he will then be tested as to whether or not he can lead.' 'But, you know, he's worked pretty hard at it. He got close to the Holy Grail, and he had to step back. He didn't give up, he kept going. And it appears to me that he will be the Speaker.' McCarthy's efforts to nab the gavel at the start of the new Congress comes seven years after his last failed bid to become Speaker. To secure the speakership, McCarthy needs at least 218 votes, but with the Republican Party's slim majority in the House with 222 seats, any additional defections could jeopardize his chances. During his meeting with fellow GOP members he acknowledged how rank-and-file members would be able to call for the speaker's removal, although it is unclear how many members would need to sign on to the motion. Earlier on Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would be surprised if Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy weren't elected by his party to become the next Speaker - but stopped short of saying whether he's up to the task. 'I would be surprised if he doesn't [win],' Representative Hoyer insisted to CNN's State of the Union on Sunday morning. 'My expectation he'll be Speaker.' The new Congress will convene on Tuesday, January 3 and will see Republicans take back a majority in the lower chamber but not in the Senate. The discovery of an unknown Romanian dinosaur having a wide and flathead has researchers buzzing over this latest find. New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Transylvania An international research team discovered a previously unknown type of dinosaur in Romania and named it after its unusually shaped head and the region where it was discovered, Transylvania, reported Sci Tech Daily. The discovery refutes the widely held belief that there was a limited variety of these animals in Europe during the Late Cretaceous period, just before the dinosaurs went extinct 66 million years ago, as said by experts from the Universities of Tubingen, Bucharest, and Zurich, citing B Explore. Findings have been reported in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Scientists have been shocked by the revelation of Transylvanosaurus on the "Island of the Dwarf Dinosaurs," which is now Transylvania, even though its head is described as "long," "widely splayed," and possessing "exceptionally wide frontals," which are far broader than most other members of the Rhabdodontidae family found within the same location, Europe was a tropical archipelago for the vast bulk of the dinosaur age, which persisted from 145 million to 66 million years ago. This dinosaur lived during a period in Earth's history when the islands were home to many other small saurians, turtles, and giant pterosaurs with wing spans of at least 30 feet. Read Also: Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign in Trouble After More Classified Docs Found in ex-POTUS Florida Storage Unit A widely held assumption that Cenozoic plants and animals in Europe had such a low degree of diversity is refuted for every recently discovered species. Rhabdodontidae constituted Europe's most pervasive family of small to medium-sized land animals during the Late Cretaceous, noted Phys Org. Wide and Flat-Headed Dinosaur Discovered How the small Transylvanosaurus wound up to be seen in the eastern part of the European archipelago is something unsure for now, said the study authors. Data is too little hand to make any guesses about the pygmy species of dinosaurs, and more research is needed. The group only had a few bones for taxonomic identification, none of which were longer than 12 cm. these were the rear bottom portion of the cranium with an occipital foramen and two different frontal bones. One of the authors Dylan Bastiaans, from the University of Zurich/ Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden, added that inside the frontal bone, it was even possible to discern the contours of the brain. He said about ten dinosaur species had been identified from that part of the world. Finding bones can lead to the discovery of a new animal, which is strange. The bones of Transylvanosaurus were able to survive for millions of years as they were shielded by the sediments of an antiquated river bottom until another creek washed them free once more, citing Taylor & Francis Online. Coming across a Romanian dinosaur with a wide and flathead in Transylvania is something that does not always come. Related Article: Dual Exo-Earths Might be Suitable To Support Life Like Earth, Says Experts @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A powerful storm that battered California with widespread flooding and heavy snowfall is now heading east into the Central United States. The storm pummeled northern California over the weekend, stalling traffic and prompting water rescues and evacuation orders - and 15 million people are now under winter weather alerts. At least three people have died from the treacherous conditions, including one person found dead inside a completely submerged car Saturday in Sacramento County and a 72-year-old man who died after being struck by a fallen tree at a Santa Cruz park. Another was rescued from a submerged vehicle along with two others, but was stuck in the heavy floods and later died of hypothermia at a local hospital. Vehicles were submerged off Highway 99 in south Sacramento following a deadly storm over the weekend Wilton, California was completely flooded after a levee broke nearby following a devastating storm over the weekend Cars were left submerged on major highways across Sacramento County Near the Nevada border, heavy snowfall stalled trucks and forced officials to close off roadways And as of Monday, more than 50,000 Californians remained without power down from a high of 300,000 on Saturday. Meanwhile, in nearby Nevada, over 22,000 are without power, according to PowerOutage.us. More than 15 million people from the West Coast through Illinois are now under winter weather alerts from the storm, with conditions set to worsen through mid-week. The tempest comes just one week after another powerful snowstorm killed nearly 40 people in northern New York. Snow is now expected to fall across the Rocky Mountains, northern Plains and parts of the Midwest Monday afternoon, dropping four to eight inches of snow along the way. Higher elevations, however, could see up to two feet of slush. Meanwhile, in the South, a severe storm outbreak is possible from Monday to Tuesday, as parts of severe Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana are under severe storm watches. The National Weather Service warns that the powerful winter storm will now move east Those areas could see damaging winds, strong tornadoes and even hail beginning Monday afternoon and lasting in the overnight areas. As the National Weather Service warned on Twitter: 'A winter storm will move from the Four Corners tonight across the central Plains and Upper Midwest Monday and Tuesday with areas of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain. 'Further south, a strong cold front will bring the threat for thunderstorms with tornadoes and flooding.' The storm is being attributed to a so-called atmospheric river a region in the atmosphere that can carry moisture for thousands of miles. That 'river' has already devastated the Sacramento area, where emergency crews spent the weekend rescuing multiple flood victims by boats and helicopter, and responding to calls of fallen trees and disabled vehicles stuck in the flood waters. An evacuation order was issued on Sunday for the rural Sacramento County areas of Point Pleasant just one day after rising flood waters forced evacuations in Wilton, California as well as three communities near the city of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. California is also expected to receive even more rainfall and snow in the coming days A flash flood watch was also in place along and west of Freeway 5 leading to the Sacramento River, where there were already concerns about excessive rainfall and flooding. A levee was ultimately overtopped and breached by the Cosumnes River on Saturday night due to the heavy rainfall, leaving Wilton under water. And on Sunday morning, Sacramento County spokesman Matt Robinson said helicopter images showed there was a second levee that was breached. Residents in areas near Interstate 5 were told to 'prepare to leave the area now before roadways are cut off to evacuate the area.' The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services also urged residents in the rural area to move their livestock to high ground. Meanwhile, on Highway 99, vides showed cars submerged past their door handles. The highway was later closed south of Elk Grove in Sacramento County, Sacramento County officials were ultimately forced to issue a local state of emergency. CalTrans workers are pictured here on Saturday working to clear a downed tree blocking traffic in both directions of state Highway 68 in Monterey amid a devastating storm Streets in rural Wilton, California were completely submerged under water from the storm More than a dozen abandoned vehicles were submerged under water, while some 50 occupied cars not underwater were stranded nearby CALIFORNIA INUNDATION: This video from Highway 99 - covered in water over the weekend in Sacramento County, California. A break today but then by Thursday another round that could cause mudslides. @KentonGewecke @RileyWinchWx pic.twitter.com/Ei28LuOcQd Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) January 2, 2023 According to Dan Quiggle, the deputy fire chief for operations for the Cosumnes Community Service District Fire Department, three to four dozen motorists had to be rescued from Highway 99 since midnight as personnel used large vehicles, boats and helicopters to ferry motorists away from the floodwaters. Dramatic video taken by KCRA showed firefighters lifting people from cars throughout Sunday morning, as authorities went car to car in search of stranded motorists. California Highway Patrol incident logs also reported more than a dozen abandoned vehicles were submerged under water, while some 50 occupied cars not underwater were stranded nearby. Most of those who were rescued were not injured, local officials told the Sacramento Bee, and were brought to Barbara Morse Wackford Community and Aquatic Complex in Elk Grove to be reunited with their family. Others who did suffer minor injuries were brought to local hospitals. Rising flood waters forced evacuations in Wilton, California over the weekend A levee was overtopped and breached by the Cosumnes River on Saturday night due to the heavy rainfall, leaving rural Wilton under water Authorities urged residents in the area to prepare to evacuate on Twitter They also pressed residents in the rural town to move their livestock to higher ground Residents in areas near Interstate 5 were told to 'prepare to leave the area now before roadways are cut off to evacuate the area' Sacramento County officials issued a local state of emergency following the storm In one dramatic rescue, three people were spotted in a vehicle that became stranded on Highway 99. A helicopter technician was lowered down in a rescue basket and pulled two of the people off the roof of the vehicle and carried them one-by-one into the chopper. But a third person was under the water and had to be airlifted to a local hospital with hypothermia and other conditions related to being in the water for an undetermined amount of time. That person, who has not been named, later died. Rachel Thorpe also told the Bee how she was driving early Sunday from her home in Acampo to her job as a nurse in the Emergency Room at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center when she saw that Highway 99 was closed ahead. She said she decided to exit the highway and make her way onto I-5 instead. 'I was following a couple of cars, and before I knew it, we were in water,' Thorpe recounted later in the day. 'It was like a flash flood, and it just kind of swept us out.' Soon, Thorpe said, water started seeping into her car. At that point, Thorpe said she realized she needed help and called her husband, Jamey. As she waited for him, she climbed onto the roof of her car to get to safety. 'I really thought I was going to die to be honest,' she said. Oakland, California recorded its wettest day on record with 4.75 inches Cars are seen submerged in the streets of Oakland, California over the weekend Heavy rainfall throughout the area prompted local evacuations as emergency crews responded to dozens of calls The heavy rainfall caused a giant rift through one of the roadways in Oakland Floodwaters rushed into residents' homes, and prompted the evacuation of some residents Debris is seen scattered along a road in Oakland following the New Years storm But the storm was not limited to just Sacramento County, as other parts of California found itself under feet of snow or inundated by heavy rainfall. Chris Schamber, the fire captain of the Cosumnes Fire Department, told KCRA that 'dozens upon dozens' of people had also been rescued from US Highway 101 one of California's most famous routes. It was temporarily closed in both directions in southern San Francisco on Saturday, when the California Highway Patrol reported that 'water is not receding due to non-stop rainfall and high tides, preventing the water to displace.' San Francisco recorded 5.46 inches of rain on Saturday the second-highest total in more than 170 years, while nearby Oakland had its wettest day on record with 4.75 inches. The parking lot of a Walgreens in San Carlos is seen here completely submerged following the weekend atmospheric river storm A bench at a local bus stop was completely under flood waters in San Carlos In Castro Valley, Alameda County firefighters and sheriff deputies rescued 19 elderly people from a nursing home that flooded, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The Fern Lodge Inc. Christian Science Nursing home called the fire department for help after water sloshed into the building, creating dangerous conditions for the wheelchair-bound and medically vulnerable seniors. But by 11am, the rain was pounding so heavily that emergency responders could no longer drive along the winding streets leading to the facility, which borders a creek that had swollen into a 'raging river,' Sheriff Sgt. Stuart Barnes said. Fortunately, sheriff's deputies who were summoned to the scene were able to find an alternative path by asking the owner of a nearby property to open his gate so they could cut through his driveway to reach the nursing home. 'It was one of those situations where you had to improvise,' said Sgt. Brandon Dennington. He and other deputies eventually reached the lodge and escorted the residents into vans. And when two people could not communicate and were unable to leave their wheelchairs, deputies and paramedics ripped seats out of the van to transport them to safety. None of the displaced residents were injured, authorities say, and county officials were able to find temporary shelter for all of them. Alameda County firefighters had to use a resident's driveway to reach a local nursing home after the roads surrounding the facility were flooded Sheriff's deputies and paramedics were able to rescue all 19 residents from the facility and find them other shelter Further east, near the Nevada border, I-80 was closed briefly because of heavy snow that caused spinouts, collisions and poor driving conditions as dozens of drivers were rescued from the area. The road later reopened, the Wall Street Journal reports, but drivers were required to use tire chains to make it through the heavy snow. Highway 50, near El Dorado National Park, was also shut down for several hours after several large boulders fell onto the roadway. Fortunately, no vehicles were damaged. Sierra locations above 5,000 feet received around 20 to 45 inches of snow Saturday through early Sunday morning, according to CNN. The Sierra Snow Lab also recorded 24 hour snow totals of 29.9 inches, the Bear Valley Ski Resort recorded 21 inches, the Boreal Ski Resort received 40 inches, while the Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort 42 inches and Soda Springs saw 40 inches. Reno, Nevada also recorded six to 12 inches of snow on Saturday, with the local airport setting a new daily precipitation record. Bryon Wilson is pictured helping Shobhit remove snow that accumulated on a vehicle at Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge and Spa on sunday Officials closed Interstate 80 and Highway 50 during the storm, and only reopened I-80 in the aftermath to vehicles with chains on their tires Several large boulders fell onto Highway 50 just east of Kyburz during the storm Saturday night, California Department of Transportation officials say Fortunately no vehicles were impacted from the avalanche in El Dorado National Park California, though, is not in the clear yet with another round of storms expected in the coming days. It is expected to see light to moderate rain in the Valley areas. And in the mountains, there will be light to moderate snow from Monday to Tuesday, with conditions worsening on Wednesday. At that point, Sacramento County is expected to see more rain, heavy snow and wind gusts potentially reaching up 50mph. More flooding from the Cosumnes River is also possible, with Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, telling the Sacramento Bee: 'The Cosumnes right now is an evolving situation. 'Were taking that hour by hour at this point.' The daughter of serial killer Dennis Rader believes that Idaho murders suspect could have had contact with her father after it was revealed his criminology professor had close ties to the murderer. Kerri Rawson, daughter of Rader who is better known as the BTK killer said it was 'possible' that there had been letters between her father and Bryan Kohberger. The 28-year-old was arrested on Friday and charged with four counts of murder and one count of felony burglary. It comes after a manhunt of nearly seven weeks for the killer behind the brutal deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, in Moscow, Idaho. Kerri Rawson, daughter of Rader who is better known as the BTK killer said it was 'possible' that there had been letters between her father and Bryan Kohberger Bryan Kohberger could have had contact with serial killer BTK after 'close' relationship with a criminology professor was revealed Graduate PhD student Kohberger had previously studied under a professor in Pennsylvania known for her expertise on serial killers and was studying criminology at Washington State University at the time of the slayings just minutes from the crime scene. Rawson told NewsNation she fears that Kohberger could have been in contact with her father, after discovering that he had been taught by Dr Katherine Ramsland while at DeSales University. Ramsland has declined to comment on the arrest but spent decades researching serial killers and mass murderers writing both 'The Mind of a Murderer' and 'How to Catch a Killer'. She is best known for developing a close relationship with serial murderer Dennis Rader known as BTK. Rawson said: 'My first reaction was my stomach churned and I literally physically got ill. I've been pretty invested in the Idaho case, and I was shocked to see there was a connection to Ramsland and my father. 'There is potentially a connection to my father, but we're going to have to wait and see. Kohberger could have had communication with my father. Rawson, pictured with her father, said she was 'shocked' to see how far Kohberger had come in the criminology field She added that after discovering the connection between Kohberger and Dr Katherine Ramsland she thought there could be a link between BTK and the alleged quadruple killer Authorities searched his office on the University of Washington Pullman campus, DailyMail.com can reveal 'It's very common for criminal justice students and in general the true crime community or fans to contact my father via mail and occasionally speak on the phone. 'Knowing how personally connected Ramsland is to my father, I would not be surprised if at the very least Kohberger tried to write to him. 'If he has contacted my father there would be letters in his house and in my father's jail cell. It's hard to be the kid of this guy and live with this. 'And then see somebody else go do this and wonder did your dad influence this? Did my dad talk to him? 'Was he studying my father outside of academics? Am I ever going to get answers to that, I don't know.' Rawson also said she thinks the Kohberger family is 'going through hell' after his arrest, pointing out that there is currently 'no reason to suspect that they knew'. Investigators have yet to outline a motive in the murders of the four students, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals Dennis Rader (left) and Joseph James DeAngelo (right) known as the Golden State Killer both had criminology degrees. The crime took place six weeks ago, 2,500 miles from where Kohberger was arrested. His father flew to meet his son in Washington and drove with him back to their Pennsylvania home She added that she is 'shocked' at how far Kohberger made it into the criminology field, before comparing him to other major serial killers including her father. Dennis Rader (BTK) and Joseph James DeAngelo known as the Golden State Killer both had criminology degrees. Rason added: 'I'm shocked how far he's made it into the criminology field - but it's happened before. 'My father has a criminology degree, the Golden State Killer he has one. Bundy I believe studied criminal law so it happens. 'I mean you can be an expert on psychopaths and they're still going to trick you.' Investigators have yet to outline a motive in the murders of the four students, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. Friends from high school claim that he struggled with heroin addiction in his younger years but appeared to have moved past it. Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am. Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin The suspect was attending college in nearby Washington State, where he pursued criminology Forensic teams and police work at the apartment of Kohberger nearby Washington State University in Pullman, Washington Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. A student who was in Kohberger's criminology class said that he would 'often interrupt' Ramsland - 'as if he knew more about the subject matter than her' according to Law and Crime. Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case. The investigators are also interviewing people who knew Kohberger, including those at Washington State University. Another former professor of his from Washington State University told DailyMail.com that she was 'shocked as s***' by his arrest. Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Pictured is the home where the murders took place, just over eight miles from where he worked as a PhD student and teaching assistant Police were on the hunt for Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra, which officials began tracking around Christmas time as the suspect drove across the country In an exclusive interview, DeSales University Professor Michelle Bolger said she's in absolute shock after hearing what her former student has been accused of. 'He's a brilliant student,' she told DailyMail.com exclusively from her house in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. 'I'm shocked as s**t at what he's been accused of. I don't believe it, but I get it,' she said. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of federal burglary with Moscow Chief of Police James Fry saying he broke into the student home with the 'intent to commit murder.' Police confiscated a white Hyundai Elantra, the same model Moscow police had been hunting for after being spotted close to the crime scene, from outside Kohberger's home. Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor He had been home for the festive holidays after his father flew 2,000 miles from Pennsylvania to Idaho to drive with his son. It is unclear if Kohberger's father, who went bankrupt in 2010, or the rest of his family were aware of the murders. Law enforcement officials confirmed that his DNA was found at the scene of the crime, though he has no criminal record, which would put his DNA on file. Investigators were able to match genetic evidence to a family member of the suspect using genealogy databases, CNN reported, citing a source. Kohberger may possibly face the death penalty in the state - in which his family can't afford to hire an attorney to fight. Investigators are still trying to locate the murder weapon more than six weeks after the murders, which they believe was a large knife. Kohberger's family addressed the charges on Sunday and asked for people to refrain from judgment. Moscow Chief of Police James Fry refused to rule out that the killer had an accomplice. Details of the killings, and the motive for them, are yet to be released, with law enforcement saying a sealed arrest affidavit will be released once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho. Friday's arrest is the first major break in the case - with Kohberger asking if 'anyone else was arrested' when he was taken into custody. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. He is currently in custody at Monroe County Jail in Pennsylvania until a hearing on January 3. United Airline passengers who spent New Year's Eve in American Samoa following an unannounced emergency landing have been pictured bringing in the holiday with a boozy, beachside gettogether - as they awaited rescue on the remote island. The travelers, who had been flying from LA to Sydney, were forced to stop off on the chain of islands between Hawaii and New Zealand Friday for roughly 21 hours - missing Sydney's famous fireworks procession in the process. However, photos shared by family members of the passengers showed that the group managed to make the most of the situation - with passengers seen sipping wine, beer, and tropical drinks to pass the time. The unannounced layover transpired Friday at 6:22am, and saw more than 300 passengers stranded. Recorded instances of kindness from the local population and the plane's pilot helped keep the travelers' spirits high - with the group getting a free tour of the scenic isle, some shots, and a fast food feast at the island's only McDonald's. United Airline passengers are seen drinking beer and other tropical drinks on an deserted beach in American Samoa, after their flight made an emergency landing on Saturday Passengers (pictured Saturday at Pago Pago airport) were forced to spend nearly a full day on the remote island, set between Hawaii and New Zealand Concerned family members attempted to keep up with the travelers' strange saga on social media, after reports surfaced that United flight 839 was forced to land at Pago Pago Airport around midnight Friday after one of the plane's engines gave out. 'Today's flight diverted to Pago Pago to address a mechanical issue,' a statement from the airline announcing the incident Friday read. 'We're making use of our facilities, including available hotel options, to accommodate our customers, and will fly in a new aircraft to the island so they can finish their trip to Sydney soon.' Stranded in a setting that most would consider a paradise, passengers on the wayward flight reportedly found themselves without food when touching down in Pago Pago, the idyllic island nation's urban capital. Relatives of passengers quickly took to Twitter to report in real-time on the situation, including a mother of one of the passengers who shared the clip of the beachside procession. Others confirmed that those on board were being looked after by locals - while others chided the airline for not providing updates on their relatives' situation. More than 300 travelers were left stranded in scenic Pago Pago (pictured), where passengers spent 21 hours taking a tour of the island, drinking beers, and eating fast food Eventually, a crew headed by United Airlines South Pacific Regional Manager Susan Lilley (second from right) made it to the island to end the traveler's ordeal, sharing several photos of the 'rescue' in the process 'My daughter is now stranded,' one man wrote at 7:22 pm Saturday, 13 hours into the flight's strange saga. 'They (passengers) showered at hanger, got (a) tour of island and (are) drinking beers on deserted beach.' A few hours before, a woman wrote that her family - including her young granddaughters - had also been on the flight. She also said that the Samoan people were helping the passengers, but questioned why the airline was not the one addressing the issue. She added that a replacement flight was expected in the early hours of New Year's Day - meaning passengers would still miss the world famous firework celebrations at off the Sydney Harbor. 'My son and granddaughters were on that flight,' the woman wrote Friday at 4:42pm. Relatives of passengers quickly took to Twitter to report in real-time on the situation, with many saying that those on board were being looked after by locals who luckily graciously received the travelers. Some, however, chided United for allowing the incident to happen 'Just spoke with him and he said the Samoan ppl (sic) have been incredibly generous(as they always are ) and everyone is being looked after before their flight early tomorrow morning.' The concerned mother proceeded to tag United on her post, asking the airline, 'Why the silence?' Someone else added that she had also heard from a family member on the plane that the native population, as well as the flight crew, were helping passengers out. 'My daughter was on the flight too, she said the islanders and crew were amazing at looking after everyone. Thank goodness everyone is safe.' As the traveler's woes unfolded in real-time, relatives continued to shed new light on the strange incident, including how the plane was forced to spend hours circling the runway early Friday before landing because the runway didn't have enough lights for the craft - a Boeing 787 - to safely land. Further heightening the danger of the situation was the fact that the runway at Pago Pago International Airport, also known as Tafuna Airport, is only 10,000 feet - just 1,000 feet more than the 10,000 feet required to receive such a large aircraft. The father of one stranded passenger was quick to point that out. 'Im thankful the runway is 10,000 get as their Boeing 787 needs 9,000 feet,' he wrote around 7:30 pm Saturday - still more than seven hours before a rescue craft was chartered to rescue the group. Another parent of a passenger revealed that the plane had been grounded because it had 'lost one of its two engines,' and that 'the plane had to circle Pago Pago for an hour, until daylight, as the 10,000 foot runway does not have lights. 'They had to circle the island until sunrise,' he wrote. 'We are blessed the and pilots and crew navigated the situation well. The kids and passengers were well cared for by the islanders.' Later on, he reported that his daughter on the flight had 'quite an adventurous day,' receiving 'a tour of the island,' as well as shots courtesy of one of the craft's pilots. Eventually, a crew headed by United Airlines South Pacific Regional Manager Susan Lilley made it to the island to end the traveler's ordeal, sharing several photos of the 'rescue' in the process. 'What a privilege to be part of the rescue flight to bring to SYD customers diverted to PagoPago,' Lilley wrote late on New Year's Eve. She went on thank the airport's 'amazing ground staff that turned the situation into a memorable adventure with heart warming hospitality. Passengers spent 21 hours waiting for this replacement United Airlines plane, pictured at Pago Pago late on New Year's Eve The airline didn't comment on whether the travelers would receive refunds for their unexpected 21-hour layover A photo of passengers sitting in the terminal waiting to board the late night flight, however, seemed to show that they were less than impressed with their 21-hour detour and subsequent rescue. United confirmed the roughly 325 passengers finally arrived in Sydney Sunday. 'Flight 839 diverted to Pago Pago, American Samoa to address a mechanical issue, a a rep for the airline said. 'We made use of our facilities, including available hotel options, to accommodate our customers, and flew in a new aircraft to the island so they could finish their trip to Sydney.' The airline didn't comment on whether the travelers would receive refunds for their unexpected New Year's Eve layover. Around 2,573 miles from Hawaii, Pago Pago is the capital of American Samoa, situated in the heart of Polynesia. Set in the South Pacific, it is unincorporated US territory, making it a popular destination for those looking for a passport-less getaway to a tropical island. The leader of a notorious street gang that has waged violence in Mexico was among the 27 prisoners who fled a prison on Sunday following an orchestrated armed attack that left 10 guards and seven inmates dead. Los Mexicles leader Ernesto 'El Neto Pinon and the gang's second-in-command Cesar Vega fled the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juarez after the assault to break them out left 15 prisoners and one guard with injuries. The Mexican Secretariat of National Defense said two of the prisoners who escaped were killed by the police. El Diario de Juarez reported that at least 25 armed men arrived at the penitentiary at 6:30am and launched a military-style attack, instantly killing two guard at the entrance, where visitors were waiting to enter. Los Mexicles leader Ernesto 'El Neto Pinon is missing after he fled from a prison in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Sunday morning during an armed attack that left 10 guard and seven inmates dead. Pinon was sentenced to 224 years in 2010 after he was found guilty of kidnapping and murder charges Ciudad Juarez authorities arrested five members of the Los Mexicles gang following a high-speed pursuit. All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges. Inmates are rounded up outside the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juarez following Sunday morning's deadly attack that left 10 guards and seven prisoners dead The group later approached a second booth where they tied up and gunned down two more guards. At 7am they then entered the prison's fourth and fifth cell blocks to rescue Pinon and Vega. The gang members fled in multiple vehicles through the same entrance they had entered as the inmates spilled on to the streets and disappeared. Authorities reported at least six carjackings involving the fleeing prisoners. Ciudad Juarez police killed two gang members during a street gun battle and arrested five gang members following a pursuit. All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges Cesar Vega (pictured in September 2015), the Los Mexicles second-in-command, also fled from the Cereso No. 3 state prison Los Mexicles leader Ernesto Pinon is among 25 prisoners who escaped from a jail in Mexico At least five of the inmates who were killed were all alleged members of Los Mexicles. Security forces entered the prison at 10am and restored order at noon following a riot and recovered 10 firearms, drugs, liquor and other personal items that were kept by Pinon in his jail cell. The Secretariat of National Defense revealed during a press conference Monday that investigators searching a jail cell controlled by Pinon found a safe deposit box containing $87,000. 'The money being secured is in a safe in one of those V.I.P cells,' Defense Minister Luis Cresencio said. A total of 10 cells were equipped to the specific likings of the gang members. One of the cells had its own jacuzzi and others had televisions. Mexico's Secretary for Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Rodriguez, said plans are underway to transfer all high-risk inmates from the Cereso No. 3 state prison to other penitentiaries in the country in order to prevent a copycat attack. The Secretariat of National Defense dispatched 400 soldiers and 300 members of the National Guard to canvas Ciudad Juarez. The other 25 prisoners have been identified as Carlos Altamirano, 25; Daniel de Leon, 37; and Alejandro Ayala, 29, who were all jailed on kidnapping charges. Also missing are Adan Aguirre, 32; Francisco Juarez, 26; Edgar Ortiz, 27; David Rios, 24; Joaquin Gutierrez, 42; Felix Sanchez, 43; Ivan Acosta, 39; and Jose Celis, 29, who were each sent to prison for murder. Investigators found an assortment of liquor bottles inside El Neto's jail cell Weapons seized by security forces at the Cereso No. 3 state prison following Sunday's attack Issac Rojas, 30; Brayan Celis, 24; Brian de Santiago, 19; Rodolfo Gonzalez, 41; Christian Reyes, 27; Raul Lopez, 35; Mario Gutierrez, 31; Jorge Melendez, 28; Julio Perales, 32; and Juan Carrasco, 29, were all in prison for illegal possession of military firearms. Jose Espinoza, 27; Ismael Garcia, 30; Daniel Rodriguez, 22; and Javier Rodriguez, 25; were jailed on assault charges. Luis Jurado, 21, was in prison for burying and exhuming human bodies. It's unknown if they all have ties to Los Mexicles. The jail guards who were killed in the attack were identified as Manuel Rodriguez; Carlos Santiago; Abel Juarez; Victor Rivera; Carlos Salinas;, Jose Perez; Jaime Aciniega; Guadalupe Gamez; Domingo Trejo; and Edgar Hernandez. Ciudad Juarez police confiscated gear and rifles from five Los Mexicles gang members arrested during a high-speed chase Inmates are rounded up and sat together outside the Cereso No. 3 state prison moments after security forces regained control of the penitentiary Pinon rose to power as the commander of Los Mexicles after Jesus 'El Lalo' Soto was transferred out of the prison in February 2020. He joined the gang as an 18-year-old in 2007 and was involved in numerous criminal incidents, including kidnappings, in Ciudad Juarez, where the criminal faction acted as the main enforcer for Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's old Sinaloa Cartel. 'The toughest and heartless drug trafficker of the Mexicles criminal group, 'El Neto', a substitute for 'El Lalo', escaped today from Cereso in #CdJuarez aided by an armed commando,' former Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral tweeted. 'He has been one of the generators of the greatest violence in the City from prison, and now he is back on the streets.' Pinon was found guilty of kidnapping and murder in 2010 and sentenced to 224 years in prison. Authorities say he was also involved in ordering a wave of assaults throughout Ciudad Juarez on August 11 that left 11 people dead, 20 injured and multiple vehicles and business torched. At the same time, he organized a riot at the prison in an attempt to flee, but security forces were able to regain control. The citywide assaults were part of a rift reportedly sparked by Los Mexicles' fallout with the Sinaloa Cartel faction that is overseen by Los Chapitos - El Chapo's children - as the gang formed new alliance with Los Aztecas, the armed wing of the Juarez Cartel. Los Mexicles had also joined forces with the Caborca Cartel, the criminal organization founded by infamous jailed drug lord, Rafael Caro Quintero, who is awaiting extradition to the United States, where he is accused of the 1986 kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Kiki Camarena. The Caborca Cartel is also at odds with Los Chapitos. Vega served as Pinon's main confidant at the Cereso No. 3 state prison, where they both shared a cell. SUV seized from Los Mexicles gang members who participated in Sunday's prison attack Security forces take measures after a prison riot broke out at the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Guns and bullets are seen in front of the Cereso No. 3 state prison that were recovered by the security forces U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Vega to Mexico in September 2015, almost four years after he was arrested at an El Paso, Texas, fried chicken restaurant where he was working as a cook. Vega was detained December 27, 2011 at Church's Chicken a year after he fled from Mexican authorities after the ambush of the prison van he was being transported in, according to ICE. He and seven other Los Mexicles gang members abducted Natividad Torres at his Ciudad Juarez home on September 15, 2009. The kidnappers requested around $47,000 for Torres' release but ended up taking just $700, a television and a 2008 Toyota. Torres was shot four times on September 15 and released the following day. He died October 21 as a result of the gunshot wound and Vega and four other kidnappers were arrested the next month. Vega was sentenced to 42 years for kidnapping and murder. George Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district. His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage. Santos flipped the New York seat red and is on track to make history by being sworn in as the first openly gay Republican member of Congress. The New York Times originally broke the story of Santos' resume embellishments on December 19. They reported that there was no evidence Santos had ever worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs and did not attend Baruch College. Now he is under investigation by both federal and local New York prosecutors, while more accusations about his history surface. DailyMail.com breaks down the lies Santos has been caught in - so far: Santos says he is of Ukrainian Jewish descent In one interview, Santos said his family name on his mother's side was the historically Jewish name 'Zabrovsky.' 'My grandfather was born in Kyiv and left in the late 20s and migrated to Belgium where he met my grandmother and then started a family,' Santos told Fox Digital in February. 'We don't carry the Ukrainian last name, for a lot of people who are descendants of World War II refuges or survivors of the Holocaust, a lot of names or paperwork were changed in the name of survival.' George Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district. His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage Reports indicate that there have been no successful efforts to find any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree according to the Forward. Santos said in a separate interview in 2020 that he was raised by 'a white Caucasian mother, an immigrant from Belgium. But Santos' mother, Fatima Devolder, was born in Brazil, according to her obituary in 2016. Additionally, newly resurfaced tweets show that Santos, who is Brazilian-American, claimed in July 2020 on Twitter that he was biracial, meaning 'Caucasian and black.' Santos' claims his mother died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks Santos wrote in a July 2021 tweet that he was 'blocking' an account with the handle '9/11 was a victimless crime' because his mother was a victim of the terrorist attack. He wrote, '9/11 claimed my mother's life so I'm blocking so I don't ever have to read this again,' after the user responded to a tweet from Santos regarding immigration. An obituary for Santos' mother, however, states that she died in December 2016, which is more than 15 years after the attack took place. He also confirmed the real date in a December 2021 tweet where he said: 'December 23rd this year marks 5 years I lost my best friend and mentor. Mom you will live forever in my heart.' Santos' campaign website said his mother 'survived the tragic events of September 11th' in the South Tower office of the World Trade Center and died 'a few years later when she lost her battle to cancer.' A New York Times report had described Santos' mother as a 'domestic worker' or 'housekeeper.' His campaign website described his mother as a top executive. 'George's work ethic comes from his mother, who came from nothing, but worked her way up to be the first female executive at a major financial institution,' the website states. The congressman-elect said in a 2021 tweet that, '9/11 claimed my mother's life,' however Fatima Devolder died in 2016 of cancer and it's unclear if it was 9/11-related. It's also unclear if she was an executive or a housekeeper Santos said he attended a prestigious New York prep school The Representative-elect said that he attended Horace Mann School an elite private school in the Brox where tuition costs $59,800 per year. 'He began Horace Mann preparatory school in the Bronx, however, did not graduate from Horace Mann due to financial difficulties for his family,' read a 2019 biography during his first campaign for Congress, which Santos lost. 'He obtained a GED during his senior year,' it added. The school said, according to CNN, that he never attended. 'We've searched the records and there is no evidence that George Santos (or any alias) attended Horace Mann,' spokesperson for Horace Mann Prep School Ed Adler said. CNN reported late Wednesday that the New York Republican never attended Horace Mann School (pictured), an elite private school in the Bronx Former call center worker Santos' resume includes time at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Santos said that he worked on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup but now says he used a 'poor choice of words' when describing his relationship with the two firms. The incoming congressman worked at a DISH Satellite call center from October 2011 to July 2012. He also worked for LinkBridge, where, in an attempt to justify his lie, Santos said that he did business with Goldman and Citi and made 'capital introductions' between clients and investors. Santos said he 'never worked directly' for either firm. George Santos (right) poses with his then fiance at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve Santos' claim his family-owned real estate portfolio of 10+ properties Santos posted on Twitter in February 2021 that 'my family and I' had not received any rent on 13 properties allegedly owned by him. A review property taxes owed or paid for in New York state shows no evidence of ownership. He claimed to have a brain tumor On March 30, 2020, at the start of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic, an interview with Santos was published on YouTube titled 'George Santos: A Corona Story.' The video has since been set to private In the video, according to Newsweek, Santos tells two men, one wearing a 'Guns and Freedom' hat and the other seated by a 'Don't Tread on Me' flag, that he had 'battled a brain tumor.' Discussing his health Santos said: 'I have an immunodeficiency and I also have acute chronic bronchitis. I also battled a brain tumor a couple of years ago and I had radiation done which really lowers your immunity in general.' Claimed that he lost four employees in Pulse nightclub massacre During an interview with WNYC, Santos alleged that four 'people that work for me' were killed during the June 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 dead. No connection has yet to be establish between any of the victims and Santos. Said he was the founder of a charitable foundation Santos said he founded a tax-exempt animal rights group, Friends of Pets United, which rescued more than 2,500 cats and dogs. But no records relating to the group's charitable status could be found by the IRS, nor could either the New York or New Jersey attorney general's offices uncover documentation confirming Friends of Pets United had been registered as a charity. Public records, however, show that Santos was previously married to a woman named Uadla Vieira, a native of Brazil, until 2019 In 2016, he claimed $2,250 was stolen in a mugging on his way to pay rent - but cops have no record of the incident Santos claimed that in 2016 he was mugged on his way to pay his apartment rent in Queens. In a sworn statement battling eviction, he said $2,250 was stolen. According to Gothamist, he wrote: 'I have been mugged at approx 1:15 p.m. on 01/15/16 on Queens Boro Plaza, as I was on my way to pay the lawyer.' 'I have gone to the checks cash location located on 31st and 23rd Ave in Astoria to request a stop payment. 'I am unable to provide a police report today as I was requested to go back Tuesday to pick it up.' The NYPD, however, have no record of the incident, the outlet reported. Santos eventually moved out of the apartment as a result of the case and paid the rest of what he owed in rent. -- by Katelyn Caralle A Ukrainian soldier had a miracle escape when he was shot through his helmet but miraculously survived. In shocking footage posted to social media, a bullet hole on the front of the soldier's helmet can be seen before he turns around and shows where the bullet came out the other side. The soldier looks visibly shocked and takes off the helmet to show what looks like a gash on the top of his head. In the clip, the bullet appears to have gone through both the hard and soft layers of the Ukrainian's helmet, forcing out the inner material. In the footage, the bullet appears to have gone through both the hard and soft layers of the Ukrainian's helmet, forcing out the inner material The soldier had a miracle escape when he was shot through his helmet but miraculously survived Wreckage can be seen in the background of the video - which is supposedly of Ukrainian soldiers. The video was posted on Reddit yesterday with the caption: 'A close call for this Ukrainian fighter. 'A bullet appears to have gone through his helmet but missed his head.' People were quick to comment their shock at the video, with one commenting: 'Damn son! You've got an angel on your shoulder for sure.' Another wrote: 'Wow that's crazy. Looks like he got some wounding to his head from fragments. Luckiest guy in Ukraine today. Happy New Year.' Some people questioned the quality of the helmet for the bullet to pass through it, with one person asking 'What good are the helmets?'. The soldier looks visibly shocked and takes off the helmet to show what looks like a gash on the top of his head Wreckage can be seen in the background of the video - which is supposedly of Ukrainian soldiers The video was posted on Reddit yesterday with the caption: 'A close call for this Ukrainian fighter' However helmets used by soldiers are reportedly not often designed to stop bullets but more to protect from debris and shrapnel. The clip comes as 'hundreds of Russian troops' were killed in a Ukrainian HIMARS strike on a barracks in Makiivka, in the eastern Donbas region, at the exact moment Vladimir Putin was delivering his televised New Year address. Russian commanders were among those killed in the attack, which happened minutes before midnight on December 31, reports say. It was initially impossible to verify the claims but it is clear from both sides that the Russian president has suffered a grievous blow, and is the latest in a growing list of embarrassments suffered by Moscow's armies since the start of the invasion on February 24. Desperate Brits are scrambling to find supplies of cold and flu medicines amid a surge of seasonal illnesses which is 'flooring' people this winter. As the rate of Covid-19 and flu cases continues to soar, pharmacies have seen a huge spike in under-the-weather people seeking out remedies. But with illness rates skyrocketing, medicines like Lemsip, Day and Night Nurse and own-brand cold and flu treatments have been selling out, sparking fears online of a 'national shortage'. Shoppers say they are struggling to find cold and flu remedies like Lemsip Max in pharmacies and shops amid an apparent shortage following a huge spike in demand over the winter. Among the stores hit by an apparent shortage of the powdered Lemsip drink was this one in west London, which filled shelves instead with the day and night capsules and its own brand Customers some wearing face masks queue outside a Boots store in west London today as they waited for it to open amid fears around the 'twindemic' of Covid and flu Pharmacies have already reported running out of several products, including sachets of Lemsip Max amid 'extreme demand' amid concerns the UK could soon be ravaged by a new 'twindemic' of Covid and flu. At some Boots stores in London, Lemsip Max sachets are entirely sold out, with just boxes 'day and night' tablets left. Meanwhile, social media users have reported stocks running dry in Waitrose and Tesco shops. One Boots worker told MailOnline: 'We don't have any Lemsip powder or our own brand cold and flu sachets at all. Only Beechams. We've not had any for two to three weeks. I believe there are supply problems.' Pharmacists in Northern Ireland have also reported a shortage of the drug following a huge spike in demand for cold and flu cures. Brian Brolly, Superintendent Pharmacist at Grahame's Pharmacy in Lisburn told the News Letter: 'The combination pack Day and Night Nurse capsules have sold out. 'Those we have not been able to get for quite a while. 'Out of the five or six different variations of Lemsip on two are currently available. Everything else has been out of stock.' He added: 'Everything is more extreme this year in terms of medication - both over the counter and behind the counter from the dispensary too. It has been a challenge at times to be honest.' On social media, scores of people have reportedly struggled to find any cold and flu remedies this winter. One woman said: 'Genuine question. Is there a Lemsip shortage? Been to over 8 different shops since before Christmas and the shelves are totally bare.' Another reported a shortage at the Waitrose store in Worthing, West Sussex, while a third - who spent the Christmas break battling a virus - added: 'I have been floored with a nasty bug since Christmas Day. Started feeling better yesterday and thankfully just cold like symptoms now. There's so much of it about. Apparently there's been a shortage of Lemsip and paracetamol round here because of it!' While one man made light of the shortage, tweeting: 'Why is no one discussing the shortage of Lemsip! How am I going to deal with this manflu!?' The news comes as it was revealed a 'highly infectious' Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK. The strain dubbed XBB.1.5 has caused alarm in the US over its quick spread and a recent rise in hospitalisations. It is behind four in ten cases in the country, up from two a week ago. The variant, which is a version of Omicron, has mutations that help it dodge protection from vaccination and prior infections. Experts told MailOnline the strain is a 'wakeup call' and could worsen NHS crisis, which has seen the health service battered by a 'twindemic' of Covid and flu. A highly contagious Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK, data suggests The flu-nami has swept across the NHS in England, the latest round of health service data shows, with over 3,800 admissions for the virus on December 23. Graph shows the number of beds on wards taken up by those with flu (red) and the number of beds occupied due to the virus in critical care (blue) However, officials sought to play down the concerns, insisted there was no indication this strain causes more severe illness than earlier variants. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, show four per cent of cases in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. It is the first time the strain has been listed on the institute's virus dashboard, which is updated weekly. The strain is a mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in India in August. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, warned that the emergence of the strain is a 'wakeup call' and could exacerbate the NHS crisis. He said: 'The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. 'Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US.' It comes as the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 just before Christmas hit more than 8,600 - in one of the biggest spikes of the virus in months. Italy began screening all new arrivals from China for Covid after health officials found half of passengers on two flights into Milan from the nation were infected. Pictured: Milan airport on December 29 The Our World in Data graph shows the daily confirmed Covid cases in China. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped reporting daily cases, without providing a reason. It reported around 5,000 cases per day last week and a small number of deaths. However, some estimates suggest China is actually experiencing one million cases per day and 5,000 deaths Elsewhere, and China is in the midst of a massive resurgence of Covid-19, as the virus runs rampant across cities and towns. Experts believe at least 18 million Chinese have been infected in the last month alone, with 100,000 deaths. In a drastic move, Rishi Sunak announced on Friday that all travellers from China will require a negative Covid test before flying to the UK. The PM in intervened following high-level meetings with ministers and No 10 officials only a day after health chiefs decided against checks. Mr Sunak believes pre-departure tests are now necessary because of a lack of trust in Chinese infection data and vaccine protection. Downing Street sources insisted the 'precautionary and temporary' measure would improve surveillance of the disease sweeping through China's 1.4 billion population after the authorities abruptly ended their 'zero-Covid' regime. But health officials, who have shut down testing sites, have reported only a few thousand cases. Fears are growing that China's surge could produce an aggressive new variant of Covid-19. Britain's move aligns it with countries now demanding travellers from China take Covid tests. France announced it would require passengers to show negative tests less than 48 hours old with their boarding passes, and would carry out random tests on landing. A tattoo artist who left a woman blind after a botched attempt to dye her eyeballs black has been fined 30,000. Piotr A. was found guilty of incompetence by a court in the Polish city of Wroclaw after it was revealed he did not know how to do eye tattoos and used a similar technique to tattooing skin. As a result, 25-year-old Aleksandra Sadowska, from Wroclaw, was blinded in one eye and had to have the other removed following the botched procedure. The former model, who was 21 at the time, had gone to the tattooist after deciding she wanted to emulate a rap artist called Popek, who also had the whites of his eyes dyed black. Aleksandra Sadowska was blinded in one eye and had to have the other removed following the botched procedure Piotr A. was found guilty of incompetence by a court in the Polish city of Wroclaw after it was revealed he did not know how to do eye tattoos and used a similar technique to tattooing skin The former model, who was 21 at the time, had gone to the tattooist after deciding she wanted to emulate a rap artist called Popek, who also had the whites of his eyes dyed black But during the bungled procedure that took place in 2017, the Warsaw tattooist penetrated her eyeballs too deeply with his needle, and used an ink that was uncertified for use on eyes. Shortly after, Aleksandra, who is from the city of Wroclaw, began complaining of pains in her eyes which the tattooist is reported to have said was normal and could be treated with painkillers. After losing complete sight in her right eye, Aleksandra was told by doctors that the damage was irreparable and that she would soon lose sight in her left eye too. During the subsequent investigation it was found that the tattooist had made serious mistakes in the process, including using body ink for tattooing skin, which should not come into contact with the eye. The woman's lawyers told local media: 'There is clear evidence that the tattoo artist did not know how to perform such a delicate procedure. 'And yet he decided to perform it which led to this tragedy. During the bungled procedure that took place in 2017, the tattooist penetrated Aleksandra eyeballs too deeply with his needle, and used an ink that was uncertified for use on eyes Shortly after, Aleksandra, who is from the city of Wroclaw, began complaining of pains in her eyes which the tattooist is reported to have said was normal and could be treated with painkillers. She posted this photo on social media in 2019, initially happy with the outcome After losing complete sight in her right eye, Aleksandra was told by doctors that the damage was irreparable and that she would soon lose sight in her left eye too The woman has since had one eye removed and replaced with a fake. Resolute Aleksandra previously said: 'Unfortunately, for now doctors do not give me much optimism for improvement. The damage is too deep and extensive. I'm afraid I will be completely blind.' She added: 'I will not lock myself in the basement and get depressed. I have sadness behind me, but I live on.' Piotra A., who still runs his salon where he carries out mainly ear piercings, was charged four years after Aleksandra's ordeal began. As well as the fine, Piotra A. was given 360 hours community service. Following the court ruling at the end of December, Aleksandra's lawyers now say they will appeal. Attorney Pawe Jagielski said: In our preliminary assessment, the amount of PLN 150,000 [around 30,000] is still disproportionate to the extent of the harm suffered by severe disability in the form of total loss of sight. Thor was also seen off the coast of Netherlands, Belgium and France last month Celebrity walrus Thor has been spotted resting in a third English coastal town following his 3,000-mile journey from the Arctic to the shores of Europe. The marine mammal delighted crowds in Scarborough on Friday, weeks after he was spotted resting up on a beach in Southampton. Thor left Yorkshire last night, with many believing he was heading back to his Arctic home, but he has now reappeared in Blyth, Northumberland. A large crowd quickly gathered this afternoon when the walrus was spotted resting on a wooden pontoon at a yacht club. The new sighting comes following a report from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) into his visit to Scarborough, which said up to 500 people were watching his antics at any one time with thousands visiting the scene. It said most of the public were 'taking photos and standing in disbelief - presumably floored by seeing a walrus!'. The report added that Thor moved his position as the tide level moved, with concerns at one point that he was heading towards the public road at the top of the slipway. It also noted that he 'demonstrated some natural male behaviour over the evening'. Onlooker Les Hall, 59, a water industry engineer, said: "I saw Thor when I was out doing my regular seabird count at 1.15pm today. I've heard that local fishermen had seen it earlier and alerted marine groups. 'It's actually the second walrus I've seen in Northumberland. About 200 people have turned up to see Thor but it's a much better viewing area than Scarborough as the animal is far less likely to be disturbed.' Thor is believed to have left his home in the Arctic circle earlier this winter and may have travelled from as far as Canada before he was spotted on the coast of Zeeland, in the south east corner of the Netherlands, on November 6. The Arctic walrus continued his journey along the North Sea towards and was seen along the Belgian coast, before reaching the English Channel and the shores of Dieppe and Brittany in northern France. Thor was pictured resting ashore at the port of Dieppe, Normandy, with no signs of ill health on November 19. Local authorities again cordoned off the area from the public with the warning of giving the walrus a wide berth, before he dropped back into the water the following day. More than three weeks later, the walrus was spotted resting on Calshot Beach in Hampshire. Thor (pictured today) left Yorkshire last night, with many believing he was heading back to his Arctic home, but he has now reappeared in Blyth People look at a walrus from a distance at the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club in Blyth this afternoon Thor the walrus spotted lounging on a pontoon in Blyth, Northumberland, this afternoon Local wildlife experts asked people not to disturb the creature after saying he appeared to be 'taking a break' in Scarborough The moment Thor finally returned to the sea after resting at the seaside town of Scarborough in Yorkshire The marine mammal arrived in Scarborough on Friday night and drew huge crowds to the harbour on New Year's Eve Scarborough's New Year fireworks display was cancelled to avoid disturbing or discomforting the walrus Fisherman Darren McKell was out with his wife Caroline and son Luke in the early hours when they found the 'big lump' on December 11. The 49-year-old said: 'It was unbelievable and such a shock. I thought it was a seal at first but as I got closer I saw it was huge and it was a walrus. 'It was absolutely amazing to see something like that, especially in these waters. I hadn't realised how rare it was to see a walrus here. 'It was lovely to see but something you'd never expect. I've never seen a walrus in the wild as they don't normally live in these areas. Seeing the walrus was a double-take moment.' During his time at the Hampshire beach, a video showed the moment the walrus grunted at a group of people who got a little too close. His sighting was said to be 'extremely rare' and he was believed to be heading back to the Arctic circle when he returned to the water hours later. But Thor reappeared in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough on New Year's Eve. It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire. Council officials cancelled the town's New Year fireworks in order to avoid disturbing the mammal, which is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A BDLMR report published following his departure from the town read: 'By 4pm (on December 31) Thor was becoming slightly more active, and at 4.30pm he sat up, turned around, and promptly slid off into the harbour. Thor is believed to have left his home in the Arctic circle earlier this winter and may have travelled from as far as Canada It is believed to be the first time a walrus has been spotted in Yorkshire, and a cordon was put around him to keep excited crowds from getting too close 'A cheer erupted from the crowd while BDMLR medics scrambled with radios to track which direction he went. This was assisted by some local youngsters who saw him swimming and we confirmed that he had swam off out of the harbour.' It said most of the visitors behaved appropriately but police had to deal with 'a small handful of difficult members of public, and one person breaking cordon and entering private property attempting to access the walrus for photographs'. The report continued: 'Kind public asked many questions, offered and brought hot drinks and food, and expressed their appreciation of Thor being protected, with the overwhelming majority being immeasurably respectful to our visitor. 'At all times the crowd was at least 350 thick, at one point seemingly over 500 people were there with more bodies continually appearing from all avenues, roads, and even bus trips. 'It is estimated several thousand people were in attendance over the whole day, though likely far more.' It praised the council for agreeing to its request to cancel the fireworks display. The report added: BDMLR HQ spoke with the local council and liaison officers who explained the situation regarding fireworks to all council members who without reservation agreed the firework display would likely cause stress and alarm to the walrus, and therefore was cancelled without hesitation. 'This was an incredible step forward for animal welfare which has been tremendously backed by the public, official parties and the media.' Humberside Police Sergeant Jenna Jones said: 'Having starting Operation Seabird on the Yorkshire Coast to prevent disturbances to our seabirds and marine mammals it was an unbelievable privilege to support colleagues and volunteers ensuring Thor was healthy and undisturbed. 'I thank the public for keeping your distance & all your questions. You certainly tested my walrus knowledge!' Thor arrived in Scarborough on Friday evening, spending two days resting before returning to the water The Sea Life Scarborough aquarium said its animal care team monitored the walrus's situation, along with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue Speaking on Saturday, local resident Richard Coulson, 51, said: 'I live just round the corner from where it actually is and the traffic up and down our road - it's just like a summer's day, it really is absolutely teeming with cars and people. It's amazing how much attention it's brought. 'It's been well protected - it's been cordoned off so you can't get within 20 feet of it. 'It's the first time I've ever seen one. It's huge. We see seals quite regularly round Scarborough coastline but something of that size, it's enormous. 'You respect nature when you see something of that size. Its tusks are bigger than my arms.' Stuart Ford, who runs the Sealife Safari boat tour agency, said: 'I was going down to my boat and there it was on the slipway - magnificent. It's got to be half a ton. 'I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime, first-time-ever thing in Scarborough to see.' The Sea Life Scarborough aquarium said its animal care team had monitored the walrus's situation, along with the RSPCA and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR). RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond, who was with the walrus on Friday night and Saturday morning prior to his departure, said it does not appear to be sick or injured, and encouraged people to enjoy the sight from a respectful distance. Mr Edmond said: 'We understand it's exciting and unusual to have the walrus take up a temporary residence, however, it's in his best interests to be left alone as much as possible, so we're asking people to remember he is a wild animal and avoid the temptation to get near to him and disturb him. 'We would also remind everyone that the walrus is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and so disturbing the animal may constitute an offence.' But Thor finally returned to the water on New Year's Day, departing to cheers from locals. Thor the walrus pictured during a brief stop-off at Calshot beach in Hampshire, not far from Southampton Members of the public line a cordon put in place to protect the marine mammal in Calshot, which is protected under UK law Beth Clyne, a BDLMR medic, tweeted: 'Originally from the Arctic, "Thor" the Walrus hauled out on the Harbour slipway at Scarborough Friday night where he remained for c18hrs to rest and regain his energy. 'Estimated to be around 8yrs old, he's quite young for a Walrus and may only just be maturing. 'As Medics, we also devoted a large amount of our time to the public. I really enjoyed talking and educating 100's upon 100's of the interested, respectful members of the public. Some were so kind to offer drinks, food and encouraging words to keep us going in the rain and cold! 'Despite the crowds, he seemed to remain relatively unphased and comfortable although, a couple of times once the tide went out or he fancied a change, he would move from the bumpy cobbles & waddle over to the flatter concrete She added: 'After hours of him teasing us (I thought he was going to rest again) I was so excited and relieved when he finally made his way back to sea! We sprinted to the end of the harbour where we watched him surface a few times before disappearing into the darkness.' The father of one of the Idaho murder victims has said his arrest has brought them the 'first bit of joy' in more than seven weeks since the quadruple slayings. Steve Goncalves' daughter Kaylee, 21, was one of the four students allegedly killed by Bryan Kohberger on November 13 as they slept. She was killed alongside her best friend Maddie Mogen, 21, and their housemate Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20. Kaylee's family expressed their 'relief' after Kohberger, 28, was arrested on the same day as a celebration of life memorial for her and Maddie. Steve Goncalves (pictured with daughter Kaylee) said the news that Bryan Kohberger was arrested gave them the 'most joy' since the killings Kaylee's family expressed their 'relief' after Koghberg, 28, was arrested on the same day as a celebration of life memorial for her and Maddie Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing Kaylee, Maddie Mogen, 21, their housemate Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20 Her father Steve told CBS: 'This is the first bit of joy that we've had in close to seven weeks. 'We hope ... they picked the right guy, and that gives us hope. And we haven't had hope for a long time.' He previously revealed that there were 'possible connections' between the criminal justice graduate student and his daughter. After the arrest was made public, the Goncalves family started trying to find answers as to why Kaylee and her friends were targeted. Steve claims that he has started to see a link, but is not ready to share them publicly at the moment adding that he is waiting to see Kohberger in court. The family's attorney, Shanon Grey, told ABC News: 'Now that there's a person and a name that someone can specifically look for and see if there's any connections in any way. So they're just trying to figure it out,' Steve claims that he has started to see a link between his daughter and Kohberger but is not ready to share them publicly at the moment Police had previously refused to rule out that the killings were targeted, but it remains unknown what connections Kohberger could have had with the victims, who were living just eight miles from the suspect's campus The suspect was attending college in nearby Washington State, where he pursued criminology Steve said that no one in the family knew or recognized Kohberger when they were initially told about him by police. Police had previously refused to rule out that the killings were targeted, but it remains unknown what connections Kohberger could have had with the victims, who were living just eight miles from the suspect's campus. The grieving father described Kohberger as a 'broken soul, pitiful human being,' and that he was 'the little coward that had finally got caught running.' He added: 'This guy's gonna have to look me in my eyes multiple times, and I'm going to be looking for the truth. That's really what I'm going to be looking for.' Investigators have yet to outline a motive in the murders of the four students, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am. Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin The crime took place six weeks ago, 2,500 miles from where Kohberger was arrested. His father flew to meet his son in Washington and drove with him back to their Pennsylvania home Kaylee, Maddie (pictured) and Xana Kernodle, 20, were stabbed to death in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13 - with Xana's freshman boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, also killed in the massacre Friends from high school claim that he struggled with heroin addiction in his younger years but appeared to have moved past it. Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case. The investigators are also interviewing people who knew Kohberger, including those at Washington State University. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of federal burglary with Moscow Chief of Police James Fry saying he broke into the student home with the 'intent to commit murder.' According to Kaylee's father Steve, his daughter suffered 'greater' injuries than her friend Maddie who was asleep on the third floor in the same room Authorities searched his office on the University of Washington Pullman campus, DailyMail.com can reveal Police confiscated a white Hyundai Elantra, the same model Moscow police had been hunting for after being spotted close to the crime scene, from outside Kohberger's home. He had been home for the festive holidays after his father flew 2,000 miles from Pennsylvania to Idaho to drive with his son. It is unclear if Kohberger's father, who went bankrupt in 2010, or the rest of his family were aware of the murders. Law enforcement officials confirmed that his DNA was found at the scene of the crime, though he has no criminal record, which would put his DNA on file. Investigators were able to match genetic evidence to a family member of the suspect using genealogy databases, CNN reported, citing a source. Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor Kohberger may possibly face the death penalty in the state - in which his family can't afford to hire an attorney to fight. Investigators are still trying to locate the murder weapon more than six weeks after the murders, which they believe was a large knife. Kohberger's family addressed the charges on Sunday and asked for people to refrain from judgment. Moscow Chief of Police James Fry refused to rule out that the killer had an accomplice. Details of the killings, and the motive for them, are yet to be released, with law enforcement saying a sealed arrest affidavit will be released once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho. Friday's arrest is the first major break in the case - with Kohberger asking if 'anyone else was arrested' when he was taken into custody. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Kohberger is currently in custody at Monroe County Jail in Pennsylvania until a hearing on January 3. The British soldier Harry Turner was 18 when he was deployed to Afghanistan. He returned from the war a broken man. Struggling with PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts, he travels deep into the Peruvian rainforest, where he meets the US scientist Samantha. Together, they take care of an orphaned The British soldier Harry Turner was 18 when he was deployed to Afghanistan. He returned from the war a broken man. Struggling with PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts, he travels deep into the Peruvian rainforest, where he meets the US scientist Samantha. Together, they take care of an orphaned ocelot, a small spotted wildcat. The film consists partly of material that Harry... Tehran's drone caught an unknown recon plane trying to spy on Iranian war games held on the Gulf coast last Saturday. Tehran's Drone Warns Unidentified Recon Plane War games in Iran had an unwelcome visitor as their exercises were underway before the entry of the New Year, reported Arab News. The country of origin of the surveillance aircraft was not mentioned in the report. Still, Iranian forces and US forces in the Gulf also engaged in many such confrontations, noted Malay News. The US forces issued no comment afterward. Iran did their annual joint naval, air, and ground drills in the Gulf region last Friday close to the Straits of Hormuz, a critical point. During the activities, a P-8 manned intelligence aircraft affiliated with extra-regional forces that wanted to reduce its maximum height to gather accurate information from the exercise zone was forced to abandon the territory by air defense firing a Karrar UAV, citing safety concerns, citing US News. After this, the US Departments of Defense and State did not respond to comments. Iranian War Games Proceed Despite Protests Demonstrations against the authorities, which had been continuing for more than three months, persisted. Social media images showed protest movements in the province and the grand bazaar in Tehran and other major cities and towns. Just after protests that the current regime stifled, a fraction of Tehran's bazaar has been shuttered. The military tried out its new attack drones around the areas of the Oman Gulf, close to the critical strait of Hormuz, which drew foreign interest. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Children: Does the Ukraine President Have Kids? According to the report, the Ababil-5 attack drone was tested during the wargames for the first time and hit a designated target 400 kilometers away. The Iranian army has been testing UAVs for over ten years. The US and its allies have targeted these armed UAVs, which are significant issues because of their impact on them, wherein the unmanned vehicles have to pound Ukraine. Kyiv, its proxy, has complained to its western backers due to the efficacy of these autonomous systems. Last November, Iran said it did supply Russia with drones, and it was supplied before the war in Ukraine, but it said it wants an end to the conflict itself. The Arabian Gulf, where the Straits of Hormuz is found, is a critical choke point for energy supplies, and approximately a fifth of all oil trade via maritime trade goes through it. Wargames called Zolfaghar-1401, in which commandoes and airborne troops took part; with jets, helos, military transport planes, and submarines, took part. Missile deployments and air defense are part of the drills as well. Such yearly drills kept the forces in shape and tested armaments as well. As of mid-September, the country had been shaken by anti-government public protests sparked by the death of a woman detained by the government's morality police. The protests quickly turned into calls to end the government and over 40 years of clerical rule. Human Rights Activists in Iran, a collective that has closely followed the uproar, estimate that more than 500 protesters were killed, and more than 18,500 individuals have been held in custody. The Iranian authorities haven't yet supplied figures for all those killed or detained. Tehran's drone spied an unknown recon plane attempting to get information from Iranian war games. Related Article: Serbian Forces Deployed in Kosovo as Tension Worsens, Conflict Looms Over Barriers Placed in Mitrovica @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Rishi Sunak has been warned not to 'give in to unelected Remainers in the House of Lords' after it was claimed peers could force him to delay plans to scrap EU laws. The Government has committed to reviewing all retained Brussels legislation by the end of this year under plans set out in the 'Brexit freedoms bill'. It means any remaining EU law that is not expressly kept by ministers - or changed into domestic law - will automatically expire and be removed from the statute book by 31 December. Concerns have been raised about the size of the task in sifting through up to 4,000 pieces of legislation over the next 12 months in order to meet that deadline. And it has now emerged that the Government could concede to critics and push back the 2023 deadline when the bill goes through the House of Lords. Three Whitehall departments are reportedly ready to extend the deadline - the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Transport, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - until 2026, which is already provided for in the bill. 'I cant see it [the deadline] surviving,' a senior Government source told The Times. 'Well have to compromise when it gets to the Lords. If the object is to review all these regulations properly rather than just cut and paste them into UK law then well need more time. 'Its an entirely arbitrary deadline. Were going to have to make a concession to get it through.' The House of Lords could force the Prime Minister to delay plans to scrap EU laws by the end of this year Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons' Liaison Committee last month that he wanted to move 'as quickly as possible' with the process Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, warned the PM not to 'give in to unelected Remainers in the House of Lords' An ongoing Government audit of retained EU law has so far found more than 2,400 pieces of legislation But Mr Rees-Mogg - the ex-business secretary who introduced the formally titled Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill before resigning from Government in October - urged the Prime Minister not to push back the deadline. He said: 'There is no reason to give in to the unelected Remainers in the House of Lords who have consistently wanted to thwart Brexit. 'Repealing EU law and replacing it with domestic law seven years after we voted to Leave is not especially ambitious and departments ought to be ready to do it. 'It was not going to be hard for BEIS when I was there but there was a bit of whingeing from life's eternal hand-wringers.' An ongoing Government audit of retained EU law has so far found more than 2,400 pieces of legislation. It was recently claimed the discovery of vast swathes of additional pieces of legislation - pushing the total to nearly 4,000 - would delay the process and prompted concerns about the workload for Whitehall officials. Mr Sunak told the House of Commons' Liaison Committee last month that it was 'right that we look at the stock of retained EU law' and decide 'what we want to keep and what we want to flex and change'. The PM insisted he wanted to move 'as quickly as possible' with the process, although he noted there was some 'flexibility' within the bill on the timeline for completing the review. Mr Sunak added the Government wanted to complete the task 'quickly and thoroughly' and would focus on 'the practical changes that we are going to make that will make things better in the UK'. During the Tory leadership contest this summer, Mr Sunak promised to deliver a first set of recommendations as to whether each retained EU law should be scrapped or reformed within his first 100 days as PM. A BEIS spokesman said: 'The programme to review, revoke and reform retained EU law is under way and there are no plans to change the sunset deadline for any Government departments.' The attorney general of the US Virgin Islands has been fired by the territory's governor just days after filing a lawsuit accusing JPMorgan Chase of 'turning a blind eye' to Jeffrey Epstein's prolific sex crimes. USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr confirmed in a statement on Sunday that he had 'relieved Denise George of her duties as attorney general this weekend' without offering further details. George, who had served as the territory's attorney general for four years, on Tuesday filed a massive lawsuit against JPMorgan, accusing the bank of 'knowingly providing and pulling the levers through which [Epstein's] recruiters and victims were paid.' She did not warn Bryan of her intent to file the lawsuit, and the incident was the final straw in the governor's increasingly frustrated relationship with her, the Virgin Islands Consortium reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George (above) was 'relieved of her duties' by the territory's governor over the weekend, days after filing a massive suit against JPMorgan George had been aggressive in seeking financial damages related to Epstein's crimes. The financier owned an island in the territory where authorities say he abused underage girls Bryan's spokesman told DailyMail.com that press reports citing the JPMorgan suit as the reason for George's dismissal were 'not entirely accurate.' The governor's spokesman, Richard Motta Jr, declined to comment further, saying in a statement, 'I am not at liberty to discuss details on personnel matters.' George did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday morning. Governor Bryan, who is elected by residents of the territory, announced George's removal in a statement on New Year's Day, saying, 'I relieved Denise George of her duties as attorney general this weekend.' 'I thank her for her service to the people of the Territory during the past four years as Attorney General and wish her the best in her future endeavors,' added Bryan. USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr announced George's dismissal in a statement The governor said that Assistant Attorney General Carol Thomas-Jacobs will serve as acting attorney general. In November, George reached a settlement of more than $105 million in a sex trafficking case against the estate of Epstein, who owned a private island in the territory where he abused underage girls. Last week, George had filed a lawsuit in Manhattan District Court alleging that JPMorgan ignored the truth surrounding Epstein, such as his 2008 conviction in Florida for procuring a child for prostitution, in order to keep him as a client. The bank kept Epstein as a client between 1998 and 2013 before finally cutting ties. The bank has not yet responded to the allegations in the suit, and a spokeswoman for JPMorgan declined to comment on the suit when reached by DailyMail.com on Monday. In court filings on Friday responding to a separate lawsuit, JPMorgan said it did not participate in or benefit from sex trafficking by its former client Epstein. Epstein, shown here next to one of his private planes, was previously accused of shuttling victims to his home on a private island on the US Virgin Islands For years, the secretive financier was based out of his private island, Little St. James in the Virgin Islands. He was found dead in August 2019 in his jail cell in Manhattan in what was ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on sexual abuse of minors and trafficking charges. In June, Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years prison for trafficking minors for sex. Epstein first became a client at Chase in 1998. There have been numerous reports since his death that the bank's executives sought to keep Epstein as a client due to his connections with some of the richest people in the world. One section of the lawsuit reads: 'Human trafficking was the principal business of the accounts Epstein maintained at JPMorgan.' AG George said that the suit was part of an 'outgoing effort' to bring accountability to those who helped facilitate Epstein's actions. The complaint goes on to accuse Chase of concealing 'wire and cash transactions that raised suspicion of a criminal enterprise whose currency was the sexual servitude' of young girls. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, shown here in September 2022. His bank has yet to comment on the USVI lawsuit The damages being sought by the US Virgin Islands are unspecified in the lawsuit. George had been aggressive in seeking financial damages related to Epstein's crimes. In November, Epstein's estate agreed to pay the territorial government $105 million in cash and half of the proceeds from the sale of Little St. James island, where Epstein owned a home and authorities allege many of his crimes took place. The estate also will pay $450,000 to repair environmental damage on Great St. James, another island Epstein owned where authorities say he removed the ruins of colonial-era historical structures of slaves. The money from the sale of Little St. James island will be placed in a government trust to finance projects, organizations, counseling and other activities to help residents who have been sexually abused, officials said. A man has been charged with attempted rape and burglary after a woman in her 70s was sexually assaulted in her home. James Bex, 35, was arrested on December 31, 2022, in relation to a serious sexual assault involving a woman in her home in Notting Hill, London, just days before Christmas Day. The incident happened on the evening on December 23, 2022 in the vicinity of Ledbury Road. James Bex, 35, (pictured) was arrested on December 31, 2022, in relation to a serious sexual The incident happened on the evening on December 23, 2022 in the vicinity of Ledbury Road Mr Bex, of no fixed address, was charged with attempted rape, cause a female 13 or over to engage in a non-penetrative sexual activity, burglary, two counts of fraud by false representation, and assault by beating. He was charged with the offences on January 1 and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today. He was remanded in custody until his next hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, January 30. Marvel actor Jeremy Renner was airlifted to hospital on Sunday with 'extensive injuries' after the snowcat he was using to plow his driveway ran him over. Renner, a two-time Oscar nominee, was alone and trying to clear a path out of his Lake Tahoe home with his PistenBully, a type of snow groomer made by the German manufacturer Kassbohrer. TMZ reports that the vehicle's safety features failed, and caused it to roll over Renner's leg, around a quarter mile from the property. A neighbor who is also a doctor put a tourniquet on the injured leg to stem the bleeding, but Renner suffered significant blood loss by the time he was airlifted out of the scene at 9.50am. The 51-year-old remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital. TMZ cites sources close to the star who say he suffered injuries on other parts of his body and not just the leg. The air ambulance that took Renner to the hospital on Sunday morning is shown on the highway next to his house Jeremy Renner in the snow cat machine that is believed to have been involved in the accident on Sunday in a 2019 video Renner plowing his Lake Tahoe driveway in the winter of 2019. He is in the hospital today in a stable but critical condition Renner, 51, remains in critical but stable condition in a hospital in Nevada. Police were called to his palatial home on Sunday shortly after 9.30am It's unclear how long he's owned the PistenBully groomer, or whether he bought it second-hand. Kassbohrer did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Monday morning. The type of PistenBully Renner owns is no longer available for sale on the company's website. Similar models are described on second-hand sale sites as 'vintage'. The actor's representatives confirmed yesterday that his family was with him in the hospital. 'We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather related accident while plowing snow earlier today. 'His family is with him and he is receiving excellent care.' Renner's long driveway in Lake Tahoe, which regularly becomes blocked by snow Renner's sprawling home in Lake Tahoe is pictured during the summer. In the winter months, it is more difficult to access The Washoe County Sheriff's Office previously said in a statement: 'At approximately 9:00am on January 1, 2023, the Washoe County Sheriffs Office responded to a traumatic injury in the area of Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada. 'Upon arrival, Deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Mr. Jeremy Renner via care flight to a local area hospital. 'Mr. Renner was the only involved party in the incident. 'The Washoe County Sheriffs Office Major Accident Investigation Team is currently looking into the circumstances of the incident.' Renner shares one daughter with his ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco. Senators and family members who attend the swearing-in photo-op ceremonies with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday are being told they must test negative for COVID prior to joining the event. Harris, who represented California in the Senate before being sworn in as VP in 2021, will carry on the tradition of re-enacting the events inside the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill. But to get up close with Harris, who presides over the Senate as vice president, new senators and family members will have to score a negative on a 'medically-administered antigen test.' That policy is similar to the one the White House imposes on guests who meet with President Joe Biden at the White House. The ceremony, which will air on C-SPAN, is set to be one of the celebratory events that will punctuate Tuesday alongside the political drama in the House, where Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is struggling to cobble together the 218 votes required to become speaker. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to stage ceremonial swearing-in ceremonies for new senators and their families provided they can pass a rapid coronavirus test. She swore in a trio of senators, including her own replacement, two years ago 'The Vice President's office has requested that we send their standard COVID-19 protocol information to offices participating in the reenactment opportunity in the Old Senate Chamber. Please see their suggested process below,' according to an email from the Senate Sergeant at Arms Protocol Office that was obtained by Breitbart News. 'We look forward to welcoming all Senators and their families for the reenactment opportunity on January 3rd.' Sources told the publication some senators are 'so upset' that they might not participate, although none have been quoted by name saying they'll skip. Earlier Tuesday, Harris will swear in the new senators in a group ceremony inside the Senate Chamber. The Senate is a continuing body, so senators who are partially through their terms don't need to be sworn in again. An email from Grisella Martinez of the VP's Legislative Affairs office also cites the policy. The 'ceremonial' swearing-in events are reenactments traditionally held in the Old Senate Chamber 'We look forward to welcoming your Senator on January 3, 2023, to the ceremonial reenactment for incoming and newly re-elected Senators in the Old Senate Chamber,' she wrote. 'As you are aware, White House COVID-19 protocols require that anyone over two-years of age who will interact with the Vice President take a medically-administered antigen test within 24 hours prior to interaction, and receive a negative result. This policy applies regardless of vaccination status.' The protocol comes months after Biden declared the pandemic is 'over' in a remark the White House tried to clean up. There is currently a spike in cases and the administration has repeatedly urged people to get their bivalent vaccine booster shot. Former Vice President Mike Pence kept his distance during swearing in ceremonies January 3, 2021 Republican U.S. Senate candidate JD Vance speaks to supporters with wife Usha Vance and family at an election watch party at the Renaissance Hotel on November 8, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Spear/Getty Images) Senator-elect John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and new Senate colleagues, along with family members, will get close to VP Kamala Harris. The events usually have a festive atmosphere The official swearing-in takes place on the Senate floor The White House takes steps to require people who will interact with Harris to test negative for the coronavirus. Here Vice President Kamala Harris talks with Brianna Taylor, 16, as they volunteer together at Martha's Table in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 Two years ago, Vice President Mike Pence carried out swearing in duties days before the January 6 Capitol riot. He had new senators stand several feet away from him, with the spot marked by a white 'X' on the floor. Although the pandemic was still in full effect in January 2021, Pence took a more laissez faire approach on wearing masks, making it more about personal choice. 'People have been doing it - completely your call - masks or masks off,' a masked Pence said after giving an elbow bump to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). A Canadian law barring foreigners from buying property in the country took effect Sunday, as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to address inflating prices spurred by a recent uptick in home purchases from Asian immigrants. The bill, dubbed the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, seeks to quell the country's housing crisis by prohibiting all outsiders - particularly investors - from purchasing property throughout its 10 provinces. Passed by Parliament in June, the guidance is a cornerstone of Trudeaus proposal to cool speculation that has seen average home prices swell to an eye-watering $800,000 since the pandemic. The countrys housing market has since yet to recover, chiefly due to a now limited supply of homes left by opportunistic investors - the vast majority of whom, data shows, hail from India and China. Scroll down for video: A Canadian law barring foreigners from buying property in Canada took effect Sunday, to address inflating prices spurred by an uptick in home purchases from Asian immigrants The bill, dubbed the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to address rapidly inflating housing prices As demand continues to diminish, frenzied bidding wars for the few homes left have becoming commonplace, with an increasing amount Canadians finding themselves displaced amid the historic highs - up 38 percent from just three years ago. That said, the law - which has received little attention from the mainstream media - has stirred some accusations of xenophobia as immigration numbers in Canada have recently hit all-time highs in Canada. Census data released in October revealed immigrants now make up 23 percent of the population, with most coming from Asia - causing many industry experts to posit that there is a connection. It comes as Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a similar legislation for his state of Florida, which would prohibit buyers from China and seven other 'countries of concern' from buying agricultural land and land that surrounds military bases. The law - which has been criticized as xenophobic - comes as Ron DeSantis proposed a similar legislation for his state of Florida, which would prohibit buyers from China and seven other 'countries of concern' from buying agricultural land and land that surrounds military bases The yet to be approved bans, the politician has said, will make it more difficult for foreign-based powers - including China, Cuba, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela - to engage in espionage or influence operations within the Sunshine State. In a press release touting their own law - which is only a temporary two-year measure - Canadian officials reiterated how, despite recent criticisms, they still stand behind the guidance, which was quietly passed by Trudeau back in June. Housing Minister Ahmed Hussein asserted last month that the legislation is meant 'to ensure that housing is owned by Canadians, for the benefit of everyone who lives in this country.' An increasing amount of Canadians are finding themselves displaced by historic home highs - which are up 38 percent from just three years ago The campaign website for Trudeaus party offered a similar statement regarding the guidance, while also outlining the reasons for recent volatility in the housing market. 'The desirability of Canadian homes is attracting profiteers, wealthy corporations, and foreign investors,' the Liberal Party of Canada wrote ahead of the law's coming into effect on Sunday. 'This is leading to a real problem of underused and vacant housing, rampant speculation, and skyrocketing prices. Homes are for people, not investors.' Trudeau echoed those sentiment back in April at an event touting his signing of the bill earlier in the month, as part of the country's budget proposal for the year. During his speech, the 51-year-old prime minister - who narrowly won his third bid for the position in September - stated that the law was pushed through Parliament 'to make life more affordable for Canadians and grow our economy.' Instead of properties, the progressive - who came under fire for strict lockdown measures during the Covi-19 pandemic that saw several small businesses go out of business - stated that the newly penned plan 'invests in people.' 'Making life more affordable for Canadians... has to start with addressing housing affordability,' Trudeau said of the $8.9million budget, which months before was delayed by Conservatives fearing it would cause the country further economic uncertainty. 'Its a big issue for a lot of Canadians and its a big issue to solve,' the liberal leader went on, speaking to citizens in front of podium adorned with the phrase, 'Make Housing Affordable.' A construction crane sits idle in Vancouver at the site of an office tower under construction last year. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that 3.5 million more homes would need to be built by 2030 to achieve affordability for all Canadians 'Theres no one silver bullet thats going to solve everything. Thats why our plan has three key pillars,' Trudeau said, before detailing what his party hopes to achieve with the new guidance. 'The first is helping people save to buy a home; the second is focusing on housing supply, to make sure were creating more homes across the country; and the third is putting an end to the speculation that is driving up housing prices unnecessarily,' he said. The three-time prime minister singled out Ontario's Hamilton in particular, which, like countless cities across the country, has seen home prices surge. The port city - located less than a two hour's drive across the border to Buffalo - has seen property costs surge 16.8 percent in two years, with the average price of homes now standing at $761,244, even after falling 8.9 percent in 2022. Addressing the crowd, Trudeau conceded that this phenomenon was occurring 'frankly, across the country,' leaving average Canadians in the lurch while investors who bought properties before or in the early stages of the pandemic turn a profit. 'Canada needs more affordable housing,' Trudeau said at the time. 'When Canadians work hard and save, they should be able to afford a home. That said, the new guidance - which comes as The Bank of Canada, like the Federal Reserve, has frantically hiked interest rates to address rampant inflation - states that properties not located within metropolitan hubs will not be subject to the ban 'Homes are to live in. To raise a family and to build a life in.' he added, 'Not a way to boost a balance sheet.' He slammed the often deep pocketed investors - who often hail from countries like the US and the UK - as part of the problem. 'For far too many families, the dream of homeownership in todays market is simply out of reach. But that needs to change. 'Young Canadians deserve the opportunity to build a future in a home of their own, just as their parents were able to do before them.' He added that 'all Canadians deserve to have an affordable home,' and that the then recently approved budget, which includes the recently passed law, gives us the tools to make a difference.' That said, the new guidance - which comes as The Bank of Canada, like the Federal Reserve, has frantically hiked interest rates to address rampant inflation - states that properties not located within metropolitan hubs in places like Vancouver, Ontario, and Toronto will not be subject to the ban. 'This generally means that municipalities with a core population of less than 10,000 people will not be subject to the ban, whereas communities with a core population that is greater than 10,000 people will be impacted,' Western Canada's foremost law Firm MLT Aikins explained at the time. Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act The bill - which was passed on June 23 and will only last two years - prohibits non-Canadian from purchasing, directly or indirectly, any residential property in the country, with the following exceptions: (a) a temporary resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who satisfies prescribed conditions (b) a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of that Act (c) an individual who is a non-Canadian and who purchases residential property in Canada with their spouse or common-law partner if the spouse or common law-partner is a Canadian citizen, person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act, permanent resident or person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) The law also does not apply if a non-Canadian becomes liable or assumes liability under an agreement of purchase and sale of the residential property before the day on which this Act comes into force. Properties not located within metropolitan hubs in places like Vancouver, Ontario, and Toronto will also not be subject to the ban. Advertisement Over the past two years, major markets in those cities - in an effort to deter investors from snapping up properties instead of struggling Canadians - have introduced taxes on non-residents and empty homes. Meanwhile, as homes remain largely unaffordable for the average citizen, countless construction projects in those locales sit sidelined due to diminished demand. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that 3.5 million more homes would need to be built by 2030 to achieve affordability for all Canadians. Realtors in the country, however, have expressed skepticism about the law - which provides exemptions for people who intend to move to Canada - saying its drawbacks far outweigh any prospective benefits. 'Canada has built a reputation as a multicultural nation that welcomes people from around the world,' the Canadian Real Estate Association said in statement. 'As currently proposed, the prohibition on the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians can impact our reputation as a welcoming nation. 'The potential benefits of the ban are likely to be modest,' the group added. Canada's national bank, meanwhile, continues to hike interest rates, resulting in higher mortgage rates that further deter potential homebuyers from purchasing property. According to recent data provided Canadian Real Estate Association - even after some respite seen this year, the country's average price index is still up nearly 40 percent from the end of 2019, before the pandemic. The group also reports that average home prices have fallen from a peak of more than $590,000 at the start of 2022 to just over $465,000 last month. Other experts have echoed the association's stance that the ban on foreign buyers - who account for less than 5 percent of home ownership in Canada - would not have the desired effect of making homes more affordable. Inventory of homes for sale, meanwhile, are now back to pre-pandemic levels. The old ash tree burnt for four hours until all that was left was its stump Bungling villagers volunteered to tidy up an ancient tree where 'Pilgrim's Progress' author John Bunyan preached 400 years ago - and accidentally burnt it down. The 10 volunteers turned up with a chain saw, secateurs and a tractor before spending hours pulling masses of ivy off the famous local landmark which is known as the Pilgrim Tree. Parish council chairwoman Carol McCall had told them the day before: 'If you have any dry material which would help with the fire lighting, do bring that also.' Then after clearing away brambles from around the 30ft high ash tree at Rushymeade Meadow in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, they lit a bonfire to burn the debris. 10 volunteers offered to tidy up the ancient tree in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, before accidentally burning it down But as the villagers gathered round the fire to survey their handiwork, a stray spark set light to overhanging 15ft branches. And they could only watch helplessly as they burned for four hours before falling off to leave just the charred stump of the 500-year-old tree. Parish councillor Leonie Austin wrote in the Pulloxhill Village newsletter afterwards: 'A group of volunteers gathered on Rushymeade to clear brush and ivy from around the Pilgrim Tree. 'A good start was made and an old laid hedge was uncovered in good enough condition to be restored. 'Masses of ivy was removed from the tree. Watchers watched it for four hours before the branches fell off to leave just the charred stump of the 500-year-old tree People spent hours pulling masses of ivy off the famous local landmark which is known as the Pilgrim Tree 'As with previous sessions, a bonfire was lit to get rid of all the brush. Unfortunately, a spark from the fire quickly caught light in its trunk and a few hours later the main branches had fallen. 'Although fire is no longer a risk, the tree and fallen branches are still dangerous so please avoid getting too close.' The group were clearing the surrounding area of the tree, which stands alone in the meadow which belongs to the parish council, to make space to plant a new tree in the new year. Although they believed the bonfire was lit at a 'safe distance', somehow the branches caught fire. The well-known author, John Bunyan, used to frequently preach there, so all the locals began calling it the Pilgrim Tree Who was John Bunyan? John Bunyan, born November 1628, was a celebrated English minister, and author of the well known book 'Pilgrim's Progress'. Bunyan was brought up to be a tinker, like his father, but after his mother died he enlisted in the army. After the army was disbanded he began to become interested in Puritan religion. Taken with the church he began preaching and was very popular. However, as he was unlicensed to preach he was arrested and spent between 1661 and 1672 in prison. It was here he wrote and published several books and his autobiography. Advertisement Because the tree was dead, the it soon started to burn. Due to ts inaccessible placement, the group did not decide to call the fire brigade and decided to let it burn out. It took about four hours before the branches began to fall down. Councillor Austin said yesterday: 'Now we have cordoned off the area until we can get the tree surgeon out again in the New Year to make it safe and remove what is left of the branches. 'Local legend has it that John Bunyan preached there so all the locals calls it the Pilgrim Tree.' Pulloxhill is one of the oldest settlements in Bedfordshire, dating back more than 1,000 years, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book when it was home to 11 villagers, 13 smallholders and two slaves. The Bunyan family were its most famous residents and John, a former tinker, was arrested a couple of miles away in Harlington village after refusing to stop giving sermons in the local area. The ancient tree had a hollow trunk that formed a natural pulpit and could be climbed easily, meaning that John Bunyan could be heard readily as it acted as a natural soundboard. He spent 12 years in Bedford Gaol where he began writing the famous novel, The Pilgrim's Progress. He latdied in 1688 aged 59 and was buried at Bunhill Fields non-conformist cemetery in London. If the GOP support McCarthy for leadership, the bill to create congressional committees to investigate the Biden administration will be filed tomorrow Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and other conservative Republicans are planning to start the 118th session of Congress with a bang - a trio of congressional subcommittees with the Biden administration in the crosshairs. The focus will include possible overreach by U.S intelligence agencies against Americans, China security concerns, and if the U.S. mishandled the federal response to COVID during the height of the pandemic. The freshly installed Republican majority on Tuesday is expected to approve several review panels once Congress reconvenes on Tuesday including the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, with a specific emphasis on President Joe Biden's administration, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. 'We are so serious, it's not just a goal, it's a rule,' Greene tweeted on Sunday, While the 55-page resolution on the House's website does not specifically mention Biden, the GOP wants to put the Democrats on the defensive after the high-profile January 6th committee report filed in December. Other panels expected to be approved: the 'Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party' and a select subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is seen during a vote in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) The subcommittees are considered a concession to a small but vocal minority of Republicans who don't approve of Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to become the next Speaker of the House. The rules will not be passed by the House until a speaker is elected on Tuesday and there are credible concerns whether McCarthy will have the necessary 218 votes to win on the first ballot. Other subcommittee of notes: 'the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and a select subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee to focus on the COVID pandemic. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., sits with Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., left, before an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the House chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. The new 118th Congress, with Republicans in control of the House, begins Jan. 3, 2023, but the first task for the GOP is electing a new speaker and whether House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., can overcome opposition from conservatives in his own ranks to get the job. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) President Joe Biden salutes as he boards Air Force One at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Monday Jan. 2, 2023. Biden is returning to the White House after spending a week with family on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The investigation into the Biden administration is set to take the form of a 'Church-style' committee - a reference to the 48-year-old Senate select committee established in 1975 that investigated abuse allegations against the Central Intelligence Agency and was led by Democratic Senator Frank Church of Idaho. Greene, an avid supporter of the California Republican by helping him rally the troops and the votes - also suggested in a tweet on Sunday that the Republican-led House could bring articles of impeachment against President Biden. '2023 will be a great year to impeach Joe Biden!' Greene tweeted. Suspected Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger spends his days ranting and singing lyrics from violent rap songs inside the Pennsylvania jail where he is being held. And several times the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students tried to expose himself to a female inmate who was held in a cell close to him. Now that inmate, 50-year-old Valerie Cipollina, has revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com how Kohberger taunted guards, saying they were too scared to go in his cell. 'I cut them, I'll cut you,' Kohberger yelled repeatedly, said Cipollina, who was held at the Monroe County Jail for six hours on a New Year's domestic violence charge. 'You come in here and I'll cut you,' Kohberger allegedly yelled at one guard. 'I'm going to pee on your face. Do what you want with me, I don't give a s**t.' Bryan Kohberger was arrested on Friday following a month-long investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students Inmate Valerie Cipollina, 50, tells DailyMail.com that Kohberger tried to expose himself to her while she was in a cell close to him Cipollina was in a cell near Kohberger in the Monroe County Jail in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Cipollina, who was held for six hours on a domestic violence charge, said Kohberger taunted guards, saying they were too scared to go in his cell Cipollina was in a cell catty corner from Kohberger's in the Monroe County Jail in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She could see his upper body clearly through the glass, although his lower body was hidden from her. He was wearing a regular orange prison jumpsuit and not the anti-suicide 'turtle suit' he had on when his mugshot was taken on Friday. 'You come in here and I'll cut you,' Kohberger allegedly yelled at one guard. 'I'm going to pee on your face. Do what you want me with I don't give a s**t' At first she said she didn't realize who he was but then heard jail employees discussing him and another inmate told her: 'That's the guy who killed those college students.' Cipollina described him as 'tall, skinny and young-looking.' She said he repeatedly lifted his shirt and she heard the guard tell him several times to put his pants back on. She believes he was trying to expose himself to her. 'I couldn't see his genitals because the glass wall only went down so far,' she said. Cipollina, who lives in Garnerville, New York, was arrested shortly after 3am on New Year's Day in a hotel in Paradise Township, Pennsylvania, after getting in a fight with her boyfriend. She was booked into the Monroe County Jail at 6.20am and released at 12.11pm the same day. She said being in jail for nearly six hours over New Year was a miserable experience, but it was made far worse by Kohberger's constant ranting. 'I could see him through the polycarbonate glass window of his jail cell. He was standing up right against it, yelling out violent rap lyrics.' At one point he yelled out 'F**k my enemies and foes,' a line from Lil Wayne's Multiple Flows. He also sang violent and misogynistic lyrics from Bad Bunny songs, she said. At one point Cipollina said the jailer who was stationed outside Kohberger's cell told him to shut up and calm down, to which he replied, 'Come on in motherf***er. You come in here let's talk.' 'He then screamed at the top of his lungs: 'Come in all of you. You scared of me? You should be scared of me. 'You're going to do nothing to me because I'm going to cut all of you up,' he allegedly ranted. 'Come into this cell and I'll show you I'm a creeper. Come in this cell and I'll cut you up too.' Kohberger is currently in jail awaiting extradition to Idaho where he has been charged with the murders of students Kailee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. All four were stabbed in their beds in the early morning of November 13 The university where he worked was only a little over eight miles from the murder scene Kohberger is charged with killing childhood friends Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen, both 21, their roommate Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20. All four died in their beds at their home in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of November 13 in a killing so brutal, police described the scene to DailyMail.com as 'the worst we have ever seen'. A Rambo-style knife was used to carry out the murders, police said, at the six-bedroom rental property where three of the victims' lives. The murders the first in Moscow since 2015 left the small town of 25,000 people in a state of shock and the police desperately searching for answers. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of first degree murder and one of felony burglary, prosecutor Bill Thompson said. Idaho is a death penalty state. He is due to be back in court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Kohberger's arrest was the culmination of an investigation that had dragged on for nearly seven weeks and had left the Moscow Police Department facing a barrage of criticism. Cops had been criticized for describing the murders as 'targeted' while refusing to release any information to explain why. Sources say that authorities knew who they were looking for and hunted the suspect down to Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains - more than 2,400 miles from Idaho. NewsNation reported that Kohberger had a quiet, blank stare when arrested by local cops and the FBI on Friday morning. Kohberger is a PhD college student at Washington State University, within the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, and did not attend the University of Idaho. It has not been revealed whether he knew any of the students he allegedly killed. He graduated from DeSales University in Pennsylvania in May 2022 with a master of arts in criminal justice. Kohberger is a PhD college student at Washington State University, within the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, and did not attend the University of Idaho. It is not clear whether he knew any of the students he allegedly killed Moscow Police Chief James Fry said on Friday that officers had searched Kohlberger's office at Washington State University As part of his research Kohberger posted an appeal for help on social media with his research which was looking at how 'emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime.' His sister, Melissa, is a mental health nurse in New Jersey - specializing in 'trauma' and 'emotion regulation'. Cops have raided both Kohberger's apartment in Pullman, Washington, just 15 minutes from the murder scene, and his office in the university. Bill Thompson, the Latah County prosecutor, was seen outside the apartment alongside investigators, gearing up with protective booties before heading inside. Law enforcement sources told CNN that Kohberger's DNA was discovered at the scene of the crime with officers managing to track down who owned the white Hyundai Elantra seen in the area of the slayings. Authorities then discovered that he had left the area and traveled to Pennsylvania, where an FBI surveillance team had been tracking the 6ft tall man. He was kept under surveillance, with the FBI watching him for four days, while investigators from Moscow Police and Idaho State Police worked to get an arrest warrant. Kohberger has no prior arrests, according to public records, so it is unclear how officials got hold of his DNA. Newt Gingrich said on Monday that a small faction of Congressional Republicans who oppose House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy do not have the 'moral right' to derail his bid for the Speaker's gavel. Gingrich, a former House Speaker himself, gave McCarthy's inter-party campaign an 11th hour boost during a Fox News interview just a day before the GOP votes on who will lead their new majority in the House of Representatives. Beginning that majority without a consensus on their leader - and a very public dispute on the matter - has set the GOP off on a bumpy start. Gingrich warned that failing to elect McCarthy could plunge both Congress and the country into 'chaos.' McCarthy's allies have spent weeks trying to convince his critics, mainly conservatives to his right, to fall in line behind the California Republican. But they want concessions that moderates in the party - and until recently, McCarthy himself - have been unwilling to give. With just a slim 222-seat majority in the 118th Congress, McCarthy can afford to lose no more than four votes to win the Speakership. 'This is a fight between a handful of people and the entire rest of the conference,' Gingrich said on Monday. 'And they're saying they have the right to screw up everything.' 'The choice is Kevin McCarthy or chaos. And there's nobody going to replace Kevin, because he has far more people totally dedicated to him than this handful of never-enders.' Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared on Fox News on Monday morning in an effort to give GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy's own bid for the gavel an 11th hour boost Gingrich suggested it would be impossible for any replacement to govern under the circumstances that McCarthy's conservative holdouts put forward. McCarthy agreed to the most controversial among them, the motion to vacate the chair, which under the current proposed rules would allow any five House Republicans to call for a vote for a new Speaker. Moderates argued that it would fuel instability within the conference, comparing it to hanging a sword of Damocles over the party leader's head. Hours before Gingrich's appearance on Fox News, GOP Rep. Bob Good of Virginia - part of the original group of five 'Never Kevin' Republican lawmakers who have led opposition to McCarthy - told the network that as many as 15 Republicans were voting against him for Speaker. Gingrich said of their opposition, 'I hope in the next 24 hours, that this handful of members will realize they don't have the moral right to reject the choice of 85 percent of their conference.' With just 222 Republicans in the new Congress, McCarthy can afford to lose just four votes to still be elected Speaker 'I think it's a remarkably short sighted and, candidly, selfish position, and I don't understand where they're coming from. McCarthy has agreed to every policy they've asked for,' a frustrated Gingrich went on. 'These five guys decided to go out as kamikazes and see if they can't sink the whole Republican Party - that's what they're doing.' Gingrich himself arguably owes his Speakership to an inter-party shift that pushed out late moderate House Republican Leader Bob Michel in favor of Gingrich's brand of brash, bombastic politics. McCarthy himself put up a confident front on Monday, telling reporters according to CNN: 'I think we are going to have a good day tomorrow.' He's had a wide spectrum of surrogates trying to persuade the holdouts over the last several weeks, from traditional conservatives like Gingrich to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of many of McCarthy's biggest detractors. Even Donald Trump endorsed McCarthy's bid for the gavel. But their strategy to pressure detractors to conform and warning that a worse alternative was on the horizon appeared to do little to move the needle. On Monday night, a group of nine current and incoming House Republicans signed onto a letter calling McCarthy's announcement of concessions 'almost impossibly late.' They did not say how they plan to vote on Tuesday. 'For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure,' the letter stated. The suspect in the killings of four University of Idaho college students reportedly plans to waive his extradition hearing this week in order to expedite his return to the Gem State, said his attorney. The individual, identified as Bryan Christopher Kohberger, faces four counts of first-degree murder. The chief public defender for Monroe County, Pennsylvania, Jason LaBar, said that the suspect was "shocked a little bit." Idaho College Murders Suspect The remarks came on Saturday, a day after the 28-year-old suspect was arrested inside his home state on charges related to the murders of 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, 21-year-old Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin. Kohberger also faces a charge of felony burglary, according to Prosecutor Bill Thompson of Latah County, Idaho. On Sunday, LaBar released a statement on behalf of Kohberger's family, saying that there were no words that could describe their sadness. The family's statement read, "First and foremost we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children." They added that they would respect the legal process and have chosen to cooperate with law enforcement until the truth comes to light through the trials, as per CNN. LaBar did not discuss the murder case with Kohberger when they talked for roughly an hour on Friday evening, said the attorney, who added that he did not have probable cause documents related to the case. He said he was only representing Kohberger in the issue of his extradition, which the attorney called a "formality." He said that it was a procedural issue and that the Commonwealth had to prove that Kohberger resembles or is the person who the arrest warrant is for and that he was in the area at the time of the horrific crime. According to Yahoo News, Kohberger was known to some Pennsylvania brewery employees to have made "creepy" and inappropriate comments, said the owner of the business. Following the suspect's arrest, some people started to reflect on their interactions with the individual. Read Also: NBA: 11 Players Suspended After Shocking Pistons-Magic Brawl That KO'd 1 Moe Wagner The "Creepy" Suspect The owner of Seven Sirens Brewing Company in Bethlehem, 34-year-old Jordan Serulneck, said that the suspect had gone by himself to the brewery several times and would simply sit at the bar. The conversations that they had happened several months ago, possibly when Kohberger was a student at DeSales University in Center Valley, which was less than six miles south of Bethlehem, said Serulneck. In June 2020, the suspect received his bachelor's degree from DeSales and in June 2022, completed his graduate studies. The business owner said that Kohberger did not do anything in front of him or management, but noted that the suspect would make comments under his breath or if only one person was working at the bar. Serulneck said that the brewery sometimes had "unusual characters" which was normal but noted that Kohberger was memorable due to some interactions that he had with female patrons and staff. The bar had a system where staff added notes that would pop up when Kohberger's ID was scanned. Serulneck said that it was implemented by his employees to keep an eye on Kohberger, NBC News reported. Related Article: Indiana Man Arrested After Killing, Dismembering Father; Suspect Believed Victim Is a Robot @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A mother-of-two was killed during New Year's Eve celebrations after a firework got caught in her clothes before anyone had time to remove it. Elisangela Tinem, 38, tragically died when a firework exploded on a Brazilian beach amid gatherings, and allegedly some unauthorised firework displays, to mark the start of 2023. A 24-second clip has emerged showing the moments before the tourist's death on a beach in Praia Grande, Sao Paulo, which is now being treated as a homicide investigation. The video shows crowds of people standing in the area watching fireworks in the sky above. But suddenly the camera pans around to show flashes of light closer to the ground, followed by a loud bang. A number of people jump away from the explosion while others, including the cameraperson, run away. Elisangela Tinem, 38, was tragically killed yesterday after a firework exploded on a beach near Praia Grande, Sao Paulo The video shows crowds of people watching fireworks from the beach in Brazil But the camera pans around to show flashes of light closer to the ground, followed by a bang When the camera pans back, a body appears to be on the ground. Elisangela's two children were said to have witnessed their mother's death and her funeral was due to take place this afternoon in the city of Sao Paulo, where she was from. Witness Luiza Ferreira, 20, told a local paper that several unauthorised fireworks displays were taking place on the beach and added: 'I saw a huge flash just as it turned midnight and I was hugging my mum and then everyone started screaming. Elisangela's two children were said to have witnessed their mother's death and her funeral was due to take place this afternoon 'I saw a woman lying on the ground bleeding when I went to look and the boy who was with her was also on the ground. 'Other people were running to get away from the area.' A 41-year-old cousin of the victim is understood to have told police the firework exploded after getting caught in her clothes. It has been confirmed the pyrotechnic device had not been lit by the family and a homicide investigation is now underway that is expected to lead to manslaughter charges if the person who sent the rocket up into the air is located. A friend wrote on social media: 'I cannot believe what has happened. 'My love to all the family. Please God comfort your hearts at this awful time. I am praying for you.' The organiser of a New Year's event in Uganda which ended in a stampede to watch a fireworks display, killing 10 people, has been charged with murder. Organiser Abbey Musinguzi faces murder charges as 'holding charges' before being taken to court following the stampede which ensued in the Freedom City Mall in Kampala on Sunday. The victims, including four children aged between 10 and 17, died after being caught in the crush of hundreds of people trying to leave the venue to watch the fireworks display through a single door. The victims, including four children aged between 10 and 17, died after being caught in the crush of hundreds of people trying to leave the venue to watch the fireworks display Footage from the incident shows people trying to help and comfort others It is believed the incident happened at around midnight when the MC at the venue, which is on a highway linking Kampala to Entebbe airport, encouraged people to go outside to watch the firework display Ugandan Police have said they are investigating how the youngest victims accessed the event, as minors are required to be accompanied by a responsible adult to such gatherings. Previous reports confirmed there were nine deaths but the country's vice president, Jessica Alupo, told reporters one more person had died from their injuries. The police statement issued yesterday read: 'Very many people got stuck as they were entering in large numbers to see fireworks. In doing so, many people suffocated to death.' It is believed the incident happened at around midnight when the MC at the venue, which is on a highway linking Kampala to Entebbe airport, encouraged people to go outside to watch the firework display. Ms Alupo added that the government will pay $1,350 (1,120) to each of the victim's families to help with burial costs. Pope Benedict XVI's personal secretary has written a tell-all book which will reveal the mysteries and scandals that sullied the reputation of a pontiff best known for his historic resignation. Archbishop Georg Gaenswein's Nothing But The Truth: My Life Beside Pope Benedict XVI is being published this month by the Piemme imprint of Italian publisher Mondadori. His publisher has promised the novel would tell the truth about the 'blatant calumnies' and 'dark manoeuvres' the Archbishop encountered during his service for almost three decades. Pope Benedict died on Saturday, aged 95, and his body was put on display on Monday in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a funeral on Thursday to be celebrated by his successor, Pope Francis. Pope Benedict XVI's personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, has written a tell-all book which will reveal the mysteries and scandals that sullied the reputation of the pontiff Archbishop Gaenswein, a 66-year-old German priest, stood by Benedict's side for nearly three decades, first as an official working for then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then starting in 2003 as Ratzinger's personal secretary. Gaenswein followed his superior to the Apostolic Palace as secretary when Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005. And in one of the most memorable images of Benedict's final day as pope on February 28, 2013, Archbishop Gaenswein wept as he accompanied Benedict through the frescoed halls of the Vatican, saying goodbye. He remained Benedict's gatekeeper, confidant and protector during a decade-long retirement, while also serving until recently as the prefect of Francis' papal household. Archbishop Gaenswein, a 66-year-old German priest, stood by Benedict's side for nearly three decades It was Archbishop Gaenswein who celebrated the sacrament of the anointing of the sick last Wednesday, when Benedict's health deteriorated, and it was he who called Francis on Saturday to tell him that Benedict had died. According to Piemme, Archbishop Gaenswein's book contains 'a personal testimony about the greatness of a mild man, a fine scholar, a cardinal and a pope who made the history of our time.' But it said the book also contained a first-hand account that would correct some 'misunderstood' aspects of the pontificate as well as the machinations of the Vatican. 'Today, after the death of the pope emeritus, the time has come for the current prefect of the papal household to tell his own truth about the blatant calumnies and dark maneuvers that have tried in vain to cast shadows on the German pontiff's magisterium and actions,' a press release said. Archbishop Gaenswein's account would 'finally make known the true face of one of the greatest protagonists of recent decades, too often unjustly denigrated by critics as 'Panzerkardinal' or 'God's Rottweiler,' it said, referring to some common media nicknames for the German known for his conservative, doctrinaire bent. Specifically, the publisher said Archbishop Gaenswein would address the 'Vatileaks' scandal, in which Benedict's own butler leaked his personal correspondence to a journalist. It also included sex abuse scandals and one of the enduring mysteries of the Vatican, the 1983 disappearance of the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee, Emanuela Orlandi. The murderer, 49, will die by lethal injection unless Gov. Mike Parson intervenes The first openly transgender woman on death row is set to be executed on Tuesday for raping and murdering her ex-girlfriend whose body she dumped by a Missouri river. Amber McLaughlin, 49, who transitioned in prison, will die by lethal injection 19 years after she killed Beverly Guenther, 45, who had taken out a restraining order and regularly had police officers walk her to her car out of fear for her life. The execution is set to be the first death of a transgender person in the U.S. Before transitioning in 2019, she went by the name Scott McLaughlin. It comes less than a month after the inmate asked Missouri Governor Mike Parson to spare her from death due to 'mental health issues.' Death row inmate Amber McLaughlin, 49, set to be executed on December 3 in Missouri Beverly Guenther, 45, was killed by McLaughin on November 20, 2003 McLaughlin killed Guenther on November 20, 2003 and dumped her body in St. Louis, near the Mississippi River. Formerly Scott, McLaughlin was sentenced to death by a judge in 2006 as a persistent offender to consecutive terms of death for first degree murder, life for armed criminal action, and life for forcible rape. 'It's wrong when anyone's executed regardless, but I hope that this is a first that doesn't occur,' federal public defender Larry Komp, who represents McLaughlin, said. Komp said Monday there are no court appeals pending but they are hoping Gov. Parson grants clemency after a petition was filed in December. McLaughlin will die by lethal injection 19 years after she killed her ex-girlfriend. She is pictured on the right before transitioning, in a mugshot from 2003 when she went by the name Scott McLaughlin 'Amber has shown great courage in embracing who she is as a transgender woman in spite of the potential for people reacting with hate, so I admire her display of courage,' Komp said. A spokesperson for Governor Parson said the review process for the clemency request is still underway. 'These are not decisions that the Governor takes lightly,' the spokesperson said in an email in December. The petition filed by Komp also includes reports citing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a condition that causes anguish and other symptoms as a result of a disparity between a persons gender identity and their assigned sex at birth. 'We think Amber has demonstrated incredible courage because I can tell you theres a lot of hate when it comes to that issue,' her attorney, Larry Komp, said Monday. But, Komp said, McLaughlin's sexual identity is 'not the main focus' of the clemency request. The petition filed in December cited the prisoner's traumatic childhood and mental health issues. An undated post-transition photo of Missouri inmate Amber McLaughlin Lawyers claimed the issues the woman faced by the woman in her early childhood were never brought up during her trial. A foster parent rubbed feces in her face when she was a toddler and her adoptive father used a stun gun on her, according to the clemency petition. It says she suffers from depression and attempted suicide multiple times. Opponents to clemency have pointed to the vicious nature of the crime and the history of stalking leading up to Guenther's death. Others also acknowledge that she's listed on the sex offender registry and was at one point was jailed for five years for the assault of a 14-year-old girl. McLaughlin is currently on death row at Potosi Correctional Center Prison in Mineral Point, Missouri, a prison for high-risk males and death row inmates A spokesperson for Missouri Governor Mike Parson said the review process for the clemency request is still underway In 2003, the victim's neighbors had called police after she failed to return home from work. Officers went to the office building where the woman worked, where they found a broken knife handle near her car and a trail of blood. A day later, McLaughlin led police to the location where her body was dumped. Previous to her death, Guenther reported McLaughlin would show up at her office and sometimes hide out in the building. McLaughlin initially had a deadlocked jury and in 2016 was even awarded a new sentence. In 2021, however, a federal appeals court reinstated the death penalty. McLaughlin's lawyers have pointed to the deadlocked jury in the initial trial as reasons Parson should spare her life. The inmate has been housed at the Potosi Correctional Center Prison in Mineral Point, Missouri, a prison specifically for high-risk male prisoners and death row inmates. McLaughlin officially began transitioning three years ago inside the prison, which is male dominated. McLaughlin is listed on the Missouri Sex Offender Registry and was at one point incarcerated for the 1992 sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. She was released in May of 1997 McLaughlin officially began transitioning three years ago inside the prison, which is male dominated One person who knew Amber before she transitioned is Jessica Hicklin, 43, who spent 26 years in prison for a drug-related killing in western Missouri in 1995. She was 16. Hicklin began transitioning while in prison and in 2016 sued the Missouri Department of Corrections, challenging a policy that prohibited hormone therapy for inmates who werent receiving it before being incarcerated. She won the lawsuit in 2018 and became a mentor to other transgender inmates, including McLaughlin. Though imprisoned together for around a decade, Hicklin said McLaughlin was so shy they rarely interacted. 'There's always paperwork and bureaucracy, so I spent time helping her learn to file the right things and talk to the right people,' Hicklin said. In the process, a friendship developed. 'We would sit down once a week and have what I referred to as girl talk,' Hicklin said. 'She always had a smile and a dad joke. If you ever talked to her, it was always with the dad jokes.' They also discussed the challenges a transgender inmate faces in a male prison - things like how to obtain feminine items, dealing with rude comments, and staying safe. McLaughlin still had insecurities, especially about her well-being, Hicklin said. 'Definitely a vulnerable person,' Hicklin said. 'Definitely afraid of being assaulted or victimized, which is more common for trans folks in Department of Corrections.' The only woman ever executed in Missouri was Bonnie B. Heady, put to death on December 18, 1953, for kidnapping and killing a 6-year-old boy. Heady was executed in the gas chamber, side by side with the other kidnapper and killer, Carl Austin Hall. Nationally, 18 people were executed in 2022, including two in Missouri. Kevin Johnson, 37, was put to death November 29 for the ambush killing of a Kirkwood, Missouri, police officer. Carmen Deck was executed in May for killing James and Zelma Long during a robbery at their home in De Soto, Missouri. Another Missouri inmate, Leonard Taylor, is scheduled to die February 7 for killing his girlfriend and her three young children. Three young children who survived a horror Christmas Day crash that killed both of their parents have returned home to relatives. Jake Day, 28, and Cindy Braddock, 25, died when their Land Rover Discovery rolled over on an isolated road near the West Australian town of Kondinin, 279km east of Perth and less than 10km from home. Their three young children, Synthia, 5, Bevan, 2, and Charlez, 1, all survived the crash, but were stranded for 55 hours until the wreckage was eventually found about midday on December 27. Synthia has been hailed a hero after relatives revealed the little girl unbuckled her baby brother from his car seat, which saved his life. According to family friends, she told her siblings: 'Nanny is going to look after us now.' The children were treated for cuts, bruises and dehydration before being airlifted to Perth Children's Hospital. They spent four days in hospital before being given the all-clear to leave. Synthia, 5, Bevan, 2, and Charlez, 1 have returned home a week after a horror crash that killed both of their parents They smiled and squealed with delight as they played at a park in Perth on Saturday. They returned home to Kondinin the next day to finally open their presents from Santa waiting for them under the Christmas tree. They will live with their grandmother Annette Day, a local hospital orderly. 'The next goal is to just keep looking after the kids,' Mr Day's stepfather Richard Parker told Seven News. The children appear to be doing well, despite their harrowing ordeal. '[They are] full of life, jumped in the car, thought we might have had trouble getting one or two of them in their car seats, but they were straight in,' Mr Parker told Nine News. 'Good chance I'll end up moving down there as well just for support and we'll be going from there.' Cindy Braddock, 25 and Jake Day, 28 have been remembered as loving parents who would do anything for their kids The family had left Northam, WA, at about 1am on Christmas Day and were heading home to Kondinin, some 200km away before the tragic accident He also paid a heartbreaking tribute to the crash victims as he issued an emotional plea to all drivers hitting the road during the holiday season. 'Jake would do anything for those three kids. Cindy was the same. It was hard to pry the kids away from them noticing,' Mr Parker added. 'Nine kilometres, it was only a little bit down the road. So if you're not feeling right or tired, pull over. Don't drive, it's not worth it!' The family also thanked Australians for their support with almost $140,000 raised for the orphaned children. Mr Day's cousin Casey Guyer provided an update on the fundraising page last Friday. 'I have been to visit the kids and can not get over their strength. Three beautiful beautiful children that are so special and strong,' she wrote. Synthia (pictured) and her little brothers were treated to a trip to the park in Perth on New Year's Eve before returning home the next day to live with their grandmother 'We can not thank everyone enough for their donations it's overwhelming. 'And a big thank you to everyone for respecting the families privacy during this extremely hard time.' Upon being discovered by family friends at the site of the crash after 55 hours in 30 degree heat at the crash site, brave Synthia's first words uttered were 'Nanny is going to look after us now'. 'Shes incredible, her brother would not be here if it wasnt for her and she loves her Nanny,' friend Kailee Wallace told The West Australian. The car was found upside-down in an embankment just 10Km away from the family's destination on Corrigin-Kondinin Road, just before midday on Tuesday Synthia's bravery is the reason why she and her little brothers are alive today 'The five-year-old became unstuck in the vehicle and she then got the one-year-old out of the car seat, then they were stuck in the car for the 55 hours in 30-degree heat,' Mr Day's cousin Michael Read said. 'It would have been hard for the three children to be in the car for that whole time. Nobody knows what they went through. 'And if it wasn't for the five-year-old undoing the buckle of the one-year-old's car seat, he wouldn't be with us today.' Synthia, Bevan and Charlez will now live with their grandmother following the tragic loss of their parents Cindy Braddock (right) and Jake Day (left) The wife of ABC News producer Dax Tejera was arrested on child endangerment charges just hours after he died of a heart attack two days before Christmas, it has emerged. Veronica Tejera was arrested by NYPD officers and charged with two counts of 'acting in a manner injurious to a child' on December 23. Police received a 911 call at 11pm over 'unattended children' at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue in Manhattan, home of the members-only Yale Club hotel. They discovered 'a two-year-old female and a five-month-old female were left alone inside of a hotel room for an extended period of time'. Police did not identify the children but their ages are the same as the Tejeras' daughters. Veronica Tejera was given a desk ticket which will require her to appear in court at a future date, police said. Dax Tejera with his children and wife Veronica, who was arrested on child endangerment charges just hours after his death on December 23 Veronica Tejera was arrested by NYPD officers and charged with two counts of 'acting in a manner injurious to a child' after her husband died of a heart attack Variety, which first reported her arrest, said Veronica did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Yale Club is an exclusive club for alumni of Yale University. It includes guest rooms that range from budget studios to luxury 556 sq ft suites. Police have not disclosed details of the arrangements under which Tejera or her children were staying. The Yale Club has luxury rooms for weddings and private events, along with fitness facilities and a library. Dax Tejera died suddenly after suffering a heart attack. The 37-year-old worked with George Stephanopoulos and Martha Raddatz, recently traveling to London to contribute to the network's coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Tejera had worked at ABC since 2017, when he started as a Senior Producer at the network's Washington DC bureau In a memo to staff on Christmas Eve, ABC News President Kim Godwin said: 'Its with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share that our friend and colleague, Dax Tejera passed away suddenly of a heart attack last night. 'As EP of This Week with George Stephanopoulos Daxs energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News, and you, shined every Sunday morning. That same love was extended to his precious girls. 'Our thoughts are with his wife, Veronica, the couples two young daughters, and the entire Tejera family.' Tributes were also paid by colleagues on social media. Good Morning America correspondent Gio Benitez said in one touching Instagram post: 'As you celebrate Christmas Eve with your families, please hold Dax Tejera's family in your thoughts and prayers. 'He was the Executive Producer of This Week ABC, a friend to all of us, and most importantly a loving husband to Veronica and devoted father to two beautiful little girls, Sofia and Ella. 'Dax was a champion for so many at ABC News, leading the way on groundbreaking television specials.' Tejera with Katie Couric and Jorge Ramos at the Republican National Convention in 2016 Tejera with ABC colleagues at a meeting with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Benitez posted a photo of the pair at The White House, explaining that it had been taken after interviewing Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre 'for a first-of-its-kind broadcast network Pride special'. 'We often connected on being exactly the same age: 37. Far too young to now be gone. We will miss you deeply, Dax. Godspeed, my friend,' Benitez wrote. Cecilia Vega posted her own tribute, writing alongside a photo of Tejera: 'Your smile. Your laugh. Your dedication. Your profound love of Veronica and your beautiful daughters. Your pride in your work. The way you looked out for the next generation and fought to pave the way for Latinos coming up. 'The way you broke barriers yourself. The way you always cheered me on and believed in me. Your dapper Miami style and the fact that even on the coldest of cold days you never wore socks. Dax Tejera, you are gone too soon. 'We will miss everything about you. Your familia were so lucky to have you. Your legacy lives on in all those you championed and cheered.' Tejera had worked at ABC since 2017, when he started as a Senior Producer at the network's Washington DC bureau. He previously worked at NBC and held degrees from both Dartmouth and Columbia. He is set to waive his extradition to face the four charges of murder and one of felony burglary in Idaho Kohberger, 28, had gone back to his studies before his arrest on December 30 A suspect in the Idaho quadruple murder was stopped by police twice as he and his father made a 2,500-mile cross-country car journey from Washington state to Pennsylvania. Bryan Kohberger, 28, drove from his student accommodation in Pullman, Washington, to his home state last month after the murders in Moscow, Idaho just a 15-minute drive from his property. His attorney, Jason LaBar claims that Kohberger's father flew from Pennsylvania to Washington to meet his son before Christmas and head home together. On Friday, the criminal justice graduate student was arrested in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on November 13. Bryan Kohberger, 28, drove from his student accommodation in Pullman, Washington, to his home state last month after the murders in Moscow, Idaho just a 15-minute drive from his property The pair drove his white Hyundai Elantra - which is the same vehicle that cops had been hunting for several weeks after the quadruple murders LaBar told CNN that Kohberger and his father traveled across the country in his white Hyundai Elantra a vehicle which the cops had been hunting for several weeks. He added that the pair were pulled over twice during their trip as they passed through Indiana, once for speeding and the other for following a car ahead too closely. Investigators started tracking Kohbergers movements across the US, with witnesses claiming that they saw both him and his father getting repairs done to the car on December 16. Police then impounded the vehicle from outside of his parents' home when they swooped on the property in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County. LaBar said that the Kohberger's arrived home around December 17, and an FBI team kept him under surveillance for several days before his arrest. It is unclear if Kohberger's father, who went bankrupt in 2010, or the rest of his family were aware of the murders. The public defender added that Kohberger is 'shocked' after the charges, claiming that he would be waiving his extradition at a hearing on January 3. Bryan Kohberger was studying in detail how forensics, DNA and other evidential procedures help prosecutors secure convictions just two weeks before the quadruple murders The crime took place six weeks ago, 2,500 miles from where Kohberger was arrested. His father flew to meet his son in Washington and drove with him back to their Pennsylvania home Kohberger was taken into custody in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place In a statement, he said: 'Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible.' It is understood that the alleged killer will be returned to Idaho within 72 hours of the extradition hearing. Graduate PhD student Kohberger had previously studied under a professor in Pennsylvania known for her expertise on serial killers and was studying criminology at Washington State University at the time of the slayings. Investigators in Moscow, Idaho, have yet to outline a motive in the murders of the four students, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University Idaho police said the four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep between 3am and 4am. Pictured: Victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin Friends from high school claim that he struggled with heroin addiction in his younger years but appeared to have moved past it. Kohberger earned a psychology degree at community college in 2018, before studying psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. He was taught in part by renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who has written 'The Mind of a Murderer' and 'How to Catch a Killer'. Ramsland has declined to comment, but spent decades researching serial killers and mass murderers and is best known for developing a close relationship with serial murderer Dennis Rader known as BTK. Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case. Kaylee and Madison were found on the top floor of the Moscow, Idaho home. College lovers Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were found in a second-floor bedroom while survivors Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were sleeping on the first floor Police were on the hunt for Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra, which officials began tracking around Christmas time as the suspect drove across the country The suspect was attending college in nearby Washington State, where he pursued criminology The investigators are also interviewing people who knew Kohberger, including those at Washington State University. Kohberger may possibly face the death penalty in the state - in which his family can't afford to hire an attorney to fight. Investigators are still trying to locate the murder weapon more than six weeks after the murders, which they believe was a large knife. Kohberger's family addressed the charges on Sunday and asked for people to refrain from judgment. In a statement they said: 'We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family, we will love and support our son and brother. Police had previously refused to rule out that the killings were targeted, but it remains unknown what connections Kohberger could have had with the victims, who were living just eight miles from the suspect's campus Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Pictured is the home where the murders took place, just over eight miles from where he worked as a PhD student and teaching assistant 'First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. 'There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. 'We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions.' Kohberger's family asked for privacy during this time as they cooperate with law enforcement to get to the bottom of the case. Moscow Chief of Police James Fry refused to rule out that the killer had an accomplice. Details of the killings, and the motive for them, are yet to be released, with law enforcement saying a sealed arrest affidavit will be released once Kohberger is extradited back to Idaho. McCarthy appeared somewhat rushed as he hurried out of the Capitol today But with less than 24 hours until the House-wide vote, it appears he may not have the 218 supporters necessary to win the Speaker's gavel House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy's staff were seen moving his belongings into the Speaker's chambers earlier on Monday, reportedly standard procedure House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters Tuesday would be a 'good day' after his staff spent Monday morning moving his office furniture into the Speaker's chambers. Looking somewhat stressed on Monday afternoon, the California Republican was rushing out of the US Capitol when reporters asked him about the following day's House-wide vote to elect their chamber's leader. McCarthy's campaign for the gavel has been somewhat bumpy for weeks, but the pressure has ramped up in the final 48 hours with as many as 15 GOP members allegedly ready to vote against him. He can only lose four votes to still clinch victory. Earlier that day, his staff had been seen moving belongings and wheeling carts into the House Speaker's office at the US Capitol. The move is standard protocol, according to CNN, but it means he'll have to move back out if more than four House Republicans rebel against his cause - which is becoming an increasingly likely scenario. A group of five Republicans leading the 'Never Kevin' movement appear to have inspired more to join their cause. One of them, Rep. Bob Good, told Fox & Friends on Monday that he expected between 10 and 15 people to vote against McCarthy. He said the Republican leader is 'part of the problem, not the solution.' It's a sentiment that's been echoed by nine other House Republicans in a New Year's Day letter. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared somewhat harried when leaving the US Capitol on Monday afternoon Reporters were quizzing him on whether he is confident about Tuesday's Speakership vote Earlier, his staff was seen moving boxes into the Speaker's chambers GOP Leader McCarthy has moved into the speakers suite but if he fails to secure 218 he will have to move all his stuff back out @AllieRaffa pic.twitter.com/Lb2swMgQ2p Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) January 2, 2023 McCarthy told colleagues on Sunday that he was ready to make certain concessions to win support that he and moderates in the conference had been wary of for weeks. The most controversial among them is a motion to vacate the chair, which under the current proposed rules would allow any five House Republicans to call for a vote for a new Speaker. But the nine current and incoming House Republicans signed onto a letter calling McCarthy's announcement 'almost impossibly late.' But nevertheless, he told reporters in a video shared by NBC News' Haley Talbot: 'I think we will have a good day tomorrow.' McCarthy needs 218 votes to win Speaker, meaning he can only afford to lose the support of four Republicans. And in a dire sign for his campaign, even McCarthy's supporters are re-upping talk of a Plan B. Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate, wrote an op-ed in the Daily Caller on Monday calling McCarthy's leadership 'superb' but reasserting that he was willing to work with Democrats for an alternative should the anti-McCarthy rebellion succeed. 'Much has been made of me saying I would work with moderate Democrats to elect a more moderate speaker,' Bacon wrote. 'But my actual words were that if the five refused to coalesce around what the vast majority of the conference wants, Im willing to work across the aisle to find an agreeable Republican.' Q: Speakers votes locked in? KM: and take away all the excitement? Q: do you have the votes locked in? KM: I think we will have a good day tomorrow Q: Leader McCarthy are you prepared to make more concessions in exchange for votes? KM: *sigh* hope you all have a nice new years pic.twitter.com/k6HFLAUME7 Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) January 2, 2023 Virginia Rep. Bob Good (right) told Fox & Friends that he expects up to 15 Republicans to vote against Kevin McCarthy's bid for House Speaker on Tuesday, claiming the current GOP Leader is a part of the 'swamp cartel' In his Fox interview on Monday, Good said his constituents in Virginia's 5th congressional district 'told me not to support Kevin McCarthy' for Speaker. He also claimed that while the group of 14 lawmakers who have already publicly said they won't back McCarthy don't necessarily have an alternative in mind they just want to block him from taking over from outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 'If it's not Kevin, who would you vote for?' Good was asked on Monday. 'What we will do is block Kevin,' he replied. 'I suspect there will be 10 to 15 members who will vote against him on the first ballot tomorrow that will vote for Andy Biggs.' 'But then I think you will see on the second ballot an increasing number of members vote for a true candidate who can represent the conservative conference. Motivate the base,' Good said. He did not elaborate on who he believed would be the eventual winner. The House majority has only failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot once since the Civil War and the last time it happened was exactly 100 years ago in 1923. Support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid appears to be weakening in the GOP as 14 lawmakers have publicly said they oppose his run, a day ahead of the vote. Nine current and incoming Republicans warned in a New Year's Day letter how electing McCarthy would be a 'continuation of Republican failures' McCarthy has tried to garner some favor with those in the party against him by conceding to a demand that he lowers the threshold needed to remove a House speaker from their post. A 'motion to vacate the chair' has only ever been used twice in U.S. history. In practical terms, it's akin to a vote of 'no confidence' in which members can submit a request for the current leader to step down. The parliamentarian procedure was first invoked in 1910 against Republican Speaker Joseph Cannon and the second time was more than 100 years later in 2015 against Republican Speaker Mark Meadows who later served as former President Donald Trump's chief of staff. The five original 'Never Kevin' lawmakers who rallied against McCarthy are Representatives Good, Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Montana. The nine additional Republicans who pledged to vote against McCarthy in the Sunday letter are Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Harris of Maryland and Andrew Clyde of Georgia; along with Representative-elects Andy Ogales of Tennessee, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Eli Crane of Arizona. Perry, who is Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, posted the letter to his Twitter calling for change and a shake-up in leadership. 'Nothing changes when nothing changes, and that must start from the top,' Perry wrote. 'Time to make the change or get out of the way.' Good slammed McCarthy for allowing massive omnibus spending bills to pass the House before breaking for the holidays. McCarthy released a New Year's Eve letter entitled 'Restoring the People's House and Ending Business as Usual,' where he admitted the dysfunction of the House and pledged to make it right 'There is nothing that indicates to me that he is going to change his pattern since he has been in leadership where he is part of the swamp cartel,' the Virginia Republican said. 'He is the reason on the Republican side why we pass massive omnibus spending bills that just got rammed down our throats by Republicans in the Senate. He was part of that in leadership.' The 'swamp cartel' reference stems from Trump, who dubbed Washington, D.C. a 'swamp' in his 2016 presidential campaign and said he was going to go to the nation's capital to 'drain the swamp'. 'There is nothing about Kevin McCarthy that indicates he will bring the change that's needed to Washington or that's needed in the Congress, or he will bring the fight against Biden-Schumer agenda and represent the interest of the voters who sent us to Washington to bring us real change.' On Sunday, McCarthy held a private conference call with Republicans in an attempt to garner support for his speakership vote on Tuesday, January 3, which is when the new Congress takes office. 'For someone with a 14-year presence in senior House Republican leadership, Mr. McCarthy bears squarely the burden to correct the dysfunction he now explicitly admits across that long tenure,' the nine GOP members wrote in their letter. They added that his 'statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd.' 'At this state, it cannot be a surprise that expressions of vague hopes reflected in far too many of the crucial points still under debate are insufficient. This is especially true with respect to Mr. McCarthy's candidacy for speaker because the times call for radical departure from the status quo not a continuation of past and ongoing, Republican failures,' the letter stated. Family and friends have remembered him as a 'Top Gun' pilot with a 'big heart' Mr Jenkinson, who is originally from the UK, had welcomed a son in September He manned the Sea World copter that crashed on a sandbank in the Gold Coast Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, was one of four killed when two choppers collided Tributes have poured in for the 'Top Gun' pilot killed in the horrific Sea World chopper crash who only became a father last year - as a devastated mate reveals the final text he sent him before the tragedy. Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, originally from Birmingham in the UK, was among four people killed when the Sea World EC130 helicopter he was flying collided with another chopper mid-air before it plummeted 30 metres near the theme park, at about 2pm on Monday. British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, who is related to the couple, have been confirmed as the other victims. Sea World helicopters chief pilot Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha) The mangled wreck of the chopper is seen on the sandbank as the detached rotor is lifted in the air Her 10-year-old son is in a critical condition in hospital, while a 33-year-old woman and a nine-year-old girl related to her are also being treated for serious injuries. Mrs Tadros's son is still not aware that his mother has died as his devastated family remain by his bedside. The pilot of the second helicopter, which had five passengers on board, miraculously managed to land on a sand bar, with everyone aboard able to walk away. Queensland Police and ATSB Officers are now recovering the wreckage from the crash site. Mr Jenkinson, a father who had instructed numerous novice pilots, had welcomed his first son to the world in September last year with his wife Kosha. One of Jenkinson's closest mates, Ritchie Gregg, says he was 'a top guy, top gun and the best dad' and that his 17-month-old son Kaiden 'would probably be asking where dad is' right now. One of Jenkinson's closest mates, Ritchie Gregg, sent a text message to Ash after learning about the tragedy on social media Mr Gregg said he sent a message to Jenkinson when he heard from another of their mates via social media that there had been a crash, asking 'hope that wasn't you?' 'I heard at ten past two. So I sent the message and was waiting for an answer. 'When he and Kosha had their son (in September 2021) he was the most excited dad. (Kosha) is very silent, she's in shock Kaiden would probably be asking where dad is. 'They only got married in October,' he explained. 'Ash had the biggest heart and was the happiest guy. When he'd finished work flying he'd be straight home to see his boy. 'Family was his biggest thing,' he said. Mr Jenkinson welcomed his first child, a son, Kaiden, with his wife Kosha back in September last year Another close friend, Andy Taylor said he discovered the horrifying news with everyone else, on social media. 'I saw it come up on a post on social media,' Mr Taylor told Sunrise. 'I tried to ring Ash straight away. At first, the phone was dead and then went to the voicemail. He described Mr Jenkinson as 'a big guy with a big heart,' who helped out during the height of the NSW Northern Rivers' flood crisis last year. 'He did a lot of charity work, we did the floods down in Ballina and saved a lot of people,' Mr Taylor told Sunrise on Tuesday. The pilot transported food, water and other essential items to flood survivors who were cut off from their community for days. 'He is the best of the best. I don't know what else to say.' The main body of the destroyed helicopter is secured by workers from a Queensland towing company The crashed chopper is lifted in the air as crews work to extract it from the sandbank as the tide sets in The wreckage is carefully loaded onto the back of a truck as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed initial findings from their investigation on Tuesday A man is seen on the phone by a Sea World chopper as emergency services and officers from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigated the circumstances of the crash The man inspects the interior of the wrecked Sea World helicopter on Tuesday as crews worked on recovering the remnants Mr Jenkinson was the chief pilot at Sea World helicopters and 'loved' his job, Mr Taylor said. 'He was so good at what he did. He was on point, I don't understand what's happened,' Mr Taylor said. 'It was his life. It was everything to him. 'I don't think he had any other hobbies. That was it. That was everything for him.' 'Above all he was a family man. He loved his family, loved his baby,' Mr Taylor said. 'His family was certainly first. Helicopter second. But they were the two passions of his life.' Colleague Penny Wilson said Mr Jenkinson had 'such golden of heart, cheeky sense of humour and always such a laugh to be around'. 'An amazing pilot. Always so kind, helpful, and supportive. A true gentleman, and always willing to lend a hand,' former colleague Lucy Kuhn said. The heartbreaking accounts come as an eyewitness to the tragedy described the dramatic moment a young boy's life was possibly saved when he couldn't breathe in the immediate aftermath of the crash. Gold Coast resident Travis Slatter was near the scene when he witnessed members of the public and Sea World staff scrambling to help possible survivors, including a 'lady that put a tube in the boy's throat to get him to breathe'. Tributes have flown in for the 'top gun' helicopter pilot, with friends and family describing him as 'big guy with a big heart' who loved his job and did a lot of charity work (pictured with his wife) A colleague said Mr Jenkinson was 'such golden of heart, cheeky sense of humour and always such a laugh to be around' Mr Slatter said the terrible scene 'hit home with the young boy, after hearing him start to groan after the tube went in. 'It was a relief that there was some sign of life, I hope he pulls through, but he has a lot to deal with after what happened. He also described the heroism of the surviving pilot in the crash, who friends told Daily Mail Australia is a few years older than Mr Jenkinson. Mr Slatter credits the second pilot with having 'saved a lot of lives today' after watching his colleague Ash Jenkinson's helicopter plunge to the ground. 'To see him first hand and how cut up he was and for a second he it looked like he was going to drop out of the sky too, but managed to put it down is crazy,' Mr Slatter posted on Facebook. Mr Slatter also watched as members of the public and then Sea World staff and finally paramedics taking over, describing the heroics of 'a girl in black swimmers, three men and a legend in a party pontoon' helping the survivors. Another man was 'pouring water on all the fuel', and other 'people were trying CPR'. 'It was chaotic but everyone put it together until the experts took over and gave everyone the best chance,' Mr Slatter said. 'Everyone tried, even to hold sheets and towels over people.' Ritchie Gregg, pictured second left, with Ash Jenkinson, left and two other mates on their flood rescue trip to Ballina and Korokai in norther NSW last year Mr Jenkinson was a hero during the 2022 flood crisis on the Northern Rivers. Picture: Supplied Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators are probing the crash and have salvaged both helicopters from the sand bar. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said it appears that the main rotor of Mr Jenkinson's aircraft, which was taking off, hit the second helicopter's cockpit as it came in to land. 'Now, exactly whether that was the very first point of impact - we're yet to determine,' he told reporters on Tuesday. 'But that in itself has led to the main rotor in the gearbox separating from the main (Mr Jenkinson's) helicopter, which then had no lift and has fallen heavily to the ground.' He said the helicopter that crashed had only been in the air for 20 seconds, but fell from a significant height. Mr Mitchell said it was 'remarkable' the second pilot had managed to land in the circumstances and the situation could have been far worse otherwise. 'The presence of mind to be able to land that helicopter, particularly considering the damage that we know has occurred on that front left-hand seat of the helicopter, it does appear to have been a remarkable job to have got it down.' 'What we do need to know is what was occurring in the cockpits at that time what were the processes in place that are designed to protect helicopters in this situation,' he said. '(We will investigate) the weather at the time, to the tasking, to how long the helicopters had been operating that day, to how long the pilots had been flying, theres a lot that goes into it,' he said. 'But exactly why this occurred, what was the range of visibility from both the pilots, what was happening inside the cabins at the time, theyre the things that will help us here but its still very early stages in the investigating to start speculating.' A preliminary report is expected to be published within eight weeks. 'We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased,' a spokesperson for Sea World Helicopters said. The two helicopters seconds before impact. Picture: 9 NEWS Village Roadshow Theme Parks offered its condolences to people impacted by the crash, with dozens of guests at Sea World witnessing it. 'While Sea World Helicopters is an independent professional operator, VRTP is working with emergency services and the authorities to provide every possible assistance,' the company said in a statement. 'We are providing support to our team members who have been emotionally affected by the tragedy.' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk offered her condolences to all involved. 'My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident,' she tweeted. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia was shocked by the tragic incident on the Gold Coast. 'My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving,' he tweeted. The Gold Coast council has set up an area for people to leave flowers for victims, which was witnessed by hundreds of people. Alabama has become the latest state to allow people to carry a concealed handgun without a permit that requires a background check. The new state law took effect on New Year's Day, ending the requirement for lawful gun owners to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. A person can still choose to get a permit if they want to. The proposal had been introduced unsuccessfully a decade in Montgomery, before winning approval this year over the opposition of the Alabama Sheriffs Association. The legislation was championed by gun rights advocates, who call it 'constitutional carry,' in reference to the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. A law that took effect on Sunday makes Alabama the 26th state to allow legal gun owners to carry concealed firearms without obtaining a permit Opponents, including state sheriffs and others in law enforcement, argued the permits help combat crime and enhance public safety. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, almost immediately signed the legislation into law after it passed in March, and highlighted her support in her reelection campaign. The ad showed the governor sitting at her desk at the Alabama Capitol and pulling a small handgun out of her purse, along with a lipstick and cell phone. According to the US Concealed Carry Association, including Alabama there are now 26 US states that allow permit-less concealed carry. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, almost immediately signed the legislation into law 'It's going to be a big step to help the average law-abiding citizen to keep them from having to go through the hoops of getting a permit to carry their weapons,' Rep. Shane Stringer, the legislations sponsor, said. Stringer noted the law only impacts the permit requirement. 'It's not going change who can and cannot carry a gun. People that are prohibited now are still prohibited.' The Alabama Sheriffs Association had opposed the legislation, saying that the permitting process is an important safeguard. Sheriff's offices also make money from fees in issuing carry permits. 'Alabama sheriffs are clear on the law taking effect Jan. 1 and have adjusted accordingly,' said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, president of the Alabama Sheriffs Association. Jones and Stringer said there are still reasons a person might consider getting a permit. Jones said, 'maintaining an Alabama concealed carry permit is wise when traveling out of state; reciprocity applies - other states may require non-residents to have a permit from their state of residence.' Stringer noted that people should remember there continue to be places where weapons are banned entirely for security reasons, such as a courthouses, schools and other government buildings. Alabama lawmakers, under pressure from gun rights enthusiasts, approved the measure during the last legislative session. Republican lawmakers who previously opposed the legislation said they were more comfortable voting for it this time because the state was developing a 'prohibited persons' database to help officers flag people who are banned from possessing a handgun because of their criminal history and other reasons. A custom gun and bow shop is seen across the street from the Mercedes Drive Church of Christ church in Vance, Alabama in a file photo The database was mandated by an earlier state law creating an option to get a lifetime concealed carry permit. Stringer, a former deputy sheriff and former chief of the Satsuma Police Department, said the database was a major factor in his decision to sponsor the bill. Proponents of the bill argued that will be a better system to remove guns from people who cannot legally possess them. Opponents argued the database will only be as good as the data that is entered into it and information gaps will be inevitable. Hal Taylor, the head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, sent Ivey a memo on Sept. 30 saying the database had been developed as required by state law. 'Whether issuing a routine traffic citation or investigating criminal activity, all officers using the Law Enforcement Tactical System now can receive instant notice of a person's ineligibility to possess a firearm,' Taylor wrote in the memo. Lawmakers included language in the new law reiterating an officer's ability to temporarily take a handgun during a traffic stop or other investigation. An officer with a reasonable suspicion that a person was about to engage in criminal conduct can temporarily take a handgun and run it through databases to see if the gun was stolen. An officer could also temporarily take a weapon if it is necessary for the safety of the officer or others. The weapon must be returned unless there is an arrest, or the person is posing a safety threat. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un orders the expansion of his country's nuclear arsenal and the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile amid rising tensions with the South and the United States. During a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, Kim underscored the nation's need to secure "overwhelming military power" in order to defend its sovereignty and security. The discussions happened amid cross-border tensions following last week's intrusion by North Korean drones into South Korea's territory and the former's series of missile launches, including ICBMs. Kim Jong Un Orders Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal On the other hand, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, during phone calls with military chiefs, urged "solid mental readiness and practical training." It was an attempt to ensure that any North Korean provocations will be met with retaliation. However, Kim Jong Un accused Seoul and Washington of trying to "isolate and stifle" Pyongyang with US nuclear strike assets that were constantly deployed in the South, calling it "unprecedented" in human history. The North Korean leader also vowed to develop another ICBM system with the primary objective of being capable of a quick nuclear counter-strike. It was under a plan that sought to bolster the nation's nuclear arsenal, as per Reuters. The official KCNA news agency said that the prevailing situation called for making redoubled efforts to "overwhelmingly beef up the military muscle in response to the worrying military moves by the U.S. and other hostile forces." Kim Jong Un noted that South Korea has become the North's "undoubted enemy," adding that it was "hell-bent" on imprudent and dangerous arms buildup. The North Korean leader said that the situation highlights the importance and necessity of the mass production of tactical nuclear weapons and an exponential increase in nuclear weaponry. According to CNN, the North Korean leader's remarks came shortly after the country twice over the weekend tested what authorities claimed was a large, nuclear-capable, multiple-launch rocket system. They added that it was capable of putting all of South Korea in its range, said a report from KCNA. Read Also: Andrew Tate Arrest Videos Go Viral as Romanian Police Raid His House; Did Pizza Box Really Gave His Location Away? Rising Global Tensions Kim spoke on New Year's Eve on the last day of a six-day plenary session that reviewed the last year. He said that the South's main ally, the United States, increased pressure on the North to the "maximum" level by frequently deploying military assets to the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean leader's comments come at the end of a year that saw his regime test more missiles than at any time in the history of the country, including an ICBM that, theoretically, is capable of striking the US mainland. North Korea fired at least three short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday from a site south of Pyongyang on its 37th day of missile tests in 2022. The tests were followed by another test on Sunday. A security analyst at the California-based RAND Corporation, Soo Kim, said that Kim's identification of the South as an enemy and mention of the US's alleged hostility is a "reliable pretext for the regime to produce more missiles and weapons to solidify the leader's negotiating position and cement his country's status as a nuclear weapons power, CNBC reported. Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: China's Xi Jinping 'Eager' To End War, Will Emphasize Peace to Vladimir Putin, Claims Expert @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Birmingham-born pilot who recently became a father has been revealed as one of three Brits killed in a helicopter crash near Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast. A total of four people are known to have died when two helicopters collided mid-air in front of hundreds of horrified tourists, on Monday afternoon. The collision caused one of the aircraft to plunge to the ground, killing pilot Ash Jenkinson, who grew up in the West Midlands before moving to Australia. Two British tourists - a woman, 57, and a 65-year-old man who are believed to be a married couple - were also pronounced dead at the scene along with another woman, 36, from New South Wales. Ash Jenkinson, pictured here with his wife Kosha, was the pilot of one of the helicopters and died after it crashed Mr Jenkinson, pictured here with his family, was described by heartbroken friends as a 'top gun' Workers lift one of the damaged helicopters out of the water after the crash on Australia's Gold Coast on Monday A worker attaches a winch to the rotor blades of one of the helicopters on Tuesday morning Members of the air ambulance air lifted a child to hospital following the crash on Monday afternoon Of the three other people on board, a 10-year-old boy remains in hospital in a critical conditions while another boy, nine, and a 33-year-old woman are still being treated for serious injuries. Of the six occupants in the other helicopter, five suffered minor injuries while one left the scene unscathed. Initial investigations indicate the crash occurred around 2pm (4am GMT) when one helicopter was landing and another was taking off. The pilot of the other helicopter was able to perform a controlled landing, despite the injuries to those onboard after the cockpit was smashed in by the collision. Government investigators are now scouring through footage and the wreckage of the aircraft to determine how the pilots failed to see each other before the crash. The incident took place on Monday afternoon at near Sea World, although the helicopters are operated by a separate company to the resort. Mr Jenkinson was behind the controls of a helicopter that had picked up tourists for a pleasure ride over the picturesque coastal region. The 40-year-old had welcomed a son, Kayden, in September 2021, with his wife, Kosha. One of his friends paid tribute to the pilot, calling him a 'top guy, top gun and best dad'. Ritchie Gregg said: 'I heard [about the crash] at ten past two. So I sent the message and was waiting for an answer. 'When he and Kosha had their son (in September 2021) he was the most excited dad. (Kosha) is very silent, she's in shock Kayden would probably be asking where dad is. He added that 'family was his biggest thing' and he had just got married to Kosha in October. Mr Gregg said: 'Ash had the biggest heart and was the happiest guy. When he'd finished work flying he'd be straight home to see his boy.' The names of passengers killed in the crash have not yet been released by police, but acting inspector Mike Campbell told reporters the British tourists are 'we believe husband and wife with a next-of-kin local'. The incident happened on Australia's Gold Coast, close to the city of Brisbane, in Queensland Wreckage of two helicopters that crashed near Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast on Monday Video footage from the moments before the crash shows the two helicopters converging on each other, with horrified witnesses shouting 'no!' upon realising they will collide. One family described seeing 'the pilot and two elderly people in the front, a lady and a little boy next to her in the back, and another person next to them' get on board the aircraft before the crash. One eyewitness described seeing people desperately trying to save the life of a young boy after he was left unable to breath following the crash. Travis Slatter, a Gold Coast resident, said he saw a 'lady that put a tube in the boy's throat to get him to breathe', which sparked a response from the child. 'It was a relief that there was some sign of life, I hope he pulls through, but he has a lot to deal with after what happened,' he said. Mr Slatter added that the second pilot 'saved a lot of lives today', writing on Facebook: 'To see him first hand and how cut up he was and for a second he it looked like he was going to drop out of the sky too, but managed to put it down is crazy.' Gary Worrell, acting inspector at Queensland State Police, said: 'Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down. 'Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.' Mr Jenkinson, pictured, died after the collision between the aircraft caused the helicopter to plunge into the sandbank A police officer looks at the damaged cockpit of one of the helicopters following the fatal mid-air crash The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is now investigating the cause of the crash to determine whether a communication error, system malfunction or something else led to the collision. Chilling moment loved ones wave off Sea World joy flight before four are killed and three left fighting for life when helicopters collide next to amusement park in holiday tragedy Advertisement The Foreign Office has said that two of those who have lost their lives are British nationals and it is supporting their families. An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities.' Sea World Helicopters said: 'We and the entire flying community are devastated by what has happened and our sincere condolences go to all those involved and especially the loved ones and family of the deceased.' Village Roadshow Theme Parks, which operates Sea World, said it offered its 'deepest condolences to all those impacted' by the tragedy. 'While Sea World Helicopters is an independent professional operator, VRTP is working with emergency services and the authorities to provide every possible assistance,' it said. 'We are providing support to our team members who have been emotionally affected by the tragedy. 'As it is now a police investigation, we cannot provide any further information at this stage.' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted that country had been shocked by the 'news of the terrible and tragic' incident. He wrote: 'My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving.' Investigators stand by the wreckage of one of the helicopters after the fatal mid-air crash on Australia's Gold Coast Lifeguards and police arrive at the scene of the crash by boat on Monday afternoon An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will try to determine the cause of the fatal incident. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Angus Mitchell, Chief Commissioner of the bureau, said the rotor blade from Mr Jenkinson's helicopter hit the cockpit of the second aircraft. This led to the 'main rotor and the gearbox separating from that (ascending) helicopter which has meant tragically that it then had no lift and has fallen tragically to the ground,' he said The second helicopter coming into land has remarkably managed to land upright considering the damage that was done to the front left-hand section of that helicopter the fact that helicopter has managed to land has been quite remarkable.' He said the accident happened just a couple of hundred metres from the landing pad at Seaworld and 200 to 300 metres in the air. 'Transport safety investigators with experience in helicopter operations, maintenance and survivability engineering are deploying from the ATSB's Brisbane and Canberra offices and are expected to begin arriving at the accident site from Monday afternoon. 'During the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, ATSB investigators will examine the wreckage and map the accident site.' 'Investigators will also recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra, gather any available recorded data for analysis, and interview witnesses and other involved parties.' Sea World Helicopters had been operating at the site for about three decades and conditions appeared ideal on the day of the crash with clear skies. In 1991 seven people were killed when a helicopter from the company plunged into nearby South Stradbroke Island and burst into flames. An investigation by the Bureau of Air Safety later found that the pilot, Glen Wells, 27, had collapsed at the controls, causing the crash. Since then the fleet has been upgraded, with all helicopters fitted with Spidertracks GPS locating systems, which are designed to alert pilots to other aircraft in the vicinity. In an interview for the company in 2021, Mr Jenkinson described the system as 'easy' to use and called it 'very reliable and accurate'. Staff at the Savoy Hotel in London were used to demanding and outrageous behaviour from their well-heeled clientele, but the couple staying in suite 41 were the talk of the establishment. Mixed race couples were unusual in 1923, particularly in the sumptuous surroundings of The Savoy, so the glamorous Parisienne and her Egyptian husband would have caused a stir even without their furious rows. One lunchtime, the couple, Prince Ali Fahmy and his wife, Marguerite, were quarrelling so noisily that the leader of the Savoys orchestra intervened, whereupon Marguerite dramatically stated: My husband is going to kill me in 24 hours. In fact, it was Prince Ali Fahmy who was later found dead in a pool of blood. Threat to Royal Family: Courtesan Marguerite That night, after the couple had returned from seeing an operetta ironically, The Merry Widow they began screaming at each other again, over dinner. Marguerite picked up a wine bottle and threatened to smash it over Alis head. If you do, he snarled back, Ill do the same to you. He stormed out of the hotel, returning at 2 am, whereupon shouting was heard from their suite. The couple burst out into the corridor, along with Marguerites yapping dog, and encountered John Beattie, the night porter. Beattie went to summon the night manager, but as he rounded the corner he heard three shots ring out and ran back to find Ali slumped against the wall in a pool of blood, with a gaping hole in his skull. Marguerite was holding a handgun, which she threw to the floor, screaming, in French: What shall I do? Ive shot him! When the princess was arrested and taken to Holloway Prison, it seemed obvious that she would be convicted of murder and hanged. But incredibly, despite the damning circumstances, she was acquitted. Why? It seems that Marguerite owed her life and freedom to the intervention of the Royal household, to protect the reputation of her former lover, the future Edward VIII. The Prince of Wales in military uniform, France, World War I, As Buckingham Palace braces itself for the latest salvo from a modern problem-prince Prince Harrys tell-all memoir will hit the bookshelves on January 10 a century ago the royals had to cope with the fallout from the actions of another somewhat stroppy young prince whose love life threatened to plunge the Royal Family into scandal. In his book on the case, The Prince, The Princess And The Perfect Murder, former barrister Andrew Rose makes a convincing case that courtiers conspired with the judiciary to ensure a miscarriage of justice, in order to protect Prince Edward. This extraordinary intervention had its roots in World War I, when Edward known to friends and family as David was a staff officer in France. His fellow officers were determined that the prince, then 20, should take the opportunity of being in France to have his first sexual encounter. They duly took him to a brothel, where a prostitute called Paulette relieved him of his virginity. From that moment on, Edward became obsessed with sex. A few months later, on leave in Paris, he encountered 24-year-old Marguerite and was entranced. Marguerite's husband Prince Ali Fahmy The daughter of a cab driver and a cleaner, she had become pregnant as a teenager while working as a domestic servant. Her baby was brought up elsewhere, and Marguerite turned to prostitution in order to survive in Paris. An arresting beauty with an alluring manner, she soon graduated to a high-class brothel where she was groomed to become a successful courtesan, well-schooled in the bedroom arts. She was photographed wielding a horsewhip and was soon renowned as a dominatrix. Wealthy lovers showered her with jewellery and money, and her success enabled her to live in a grand apartment with servants. With the outbreak of war, Paris became a magnet for upper-class Englishmen on leave from the front, among them the wealthy Duke of Westminster and his aide-de-camp, Ernest Bald. Marguerite, now calling herself Maggy, entertained both gentlemen and it was the Duke who introduced her to Prince Edward when he came to Paris on leave in April 1917. For the next 18 months, Edward and Marguerite were lovers, meeting whenever he could escape to Paris, where they drank champagne and he drove her around in his Rolls-Royce. During their affair, he wrote 20 highly indiscreet letters to Marguerite Mon Bebe in which he criticised his father, George V. She sent him not only letters, but erotic literature. When Edward broke off the relationship to focus on his new English mistress, the married Freda Dudley Ward, he asked her to destroy his letters, but she did not. Instead, Marguerite began blackmailing him. Mortified, Edward told his equerry, Joey Legh: Im afraid shes the 100,000 or nothing type. This was a massive sum, equivalent to more than 9 million today. But then, suddenly, the blackmail threats stopped: Marguerite was getting married to a wealthy man. However, she was canny enough to keep the Princes letters. Marguerite soon found that married life didnt suit her. They were divorced and she returned to her life as a courtesan. In 1922, she met the young Egyptian playboy, Prince Ali Fahmy, a multi-millionaire. Though not technically a prince, he was fabulously wealthy and, besotted, showered her with diamonds. They married in Cairo early in 1923, after Marguerite had converted to Islam. But the marriage quickly deteriorated, and by the time they arrived in London that July for the summer season, Marguerite was frequently seen with bruises and Ali with a scratched face. At The Savoy, she summoned a doctor who diagnosed her with haemorrhoids, a condition brought on, she claimed, by her husbands insistence on unnatural intercourse. An operation to remove them was arranged for July 11, but in the early hours of that day the shooting occurred. Marguerite was arrested although not before she had changed out of her bloodstained Chanel gown. Ali was taken to hospital but died hours later. When news of Marguerites arrest became public, the Royal household panicked. If her sordid past was used by the prosecution to paint her as a scheming, scarlet woman, capable of murder, the Prince of Waless reputation would be dragged through the mud. Revelations that he had swilled champagne with a Parisian prostitute while the troops suffered in the trenches would have been extremely damaging. Ernest Bald, her former lover, was dispatched to Holloway Prison, where, it is thought, he struck a deal with her. Author Andrew Rose believes that Marguerite agreed to surrender the Princes letters, in return for a guarantee that there would be no mention of that rackety past. Marguerite duly arranged for the compromising letters to be despatched to London, where Edward himself vouched for their authenticity. He was then sent on a visit to Canada for the duration of the trial. Although there are no official documents to confirm this theory embarrassing Royal secrets are frequently weeded out of the archives there is a revealing letter from Lord Curzon, the Foreign Secretary. On September 9, the eve of Marguerites trial at the Old Bailey, he wrote to his wife, Grace: My Darling Girl, In London the other day I heard a piece of news which may amuse you. The French girl who shot her so-called Egyptian prince and is going to be tried for murder, is the fancy woman who was the Princes keep in Paris during the war and they were terribly afraid that he might be dragged in. It is fortunate that he is off to Canada and his name is to be kept out. The trial was a sensation. Weeping prettily and resorting to smelling salts, Marguerite claimed that she slept with a loaded Browning pistol under her pillow in case of jewel thieves, and that she had shot Ali in terror for her life when he turned on her after she demanded a divorce. Yet, in truth, she had shot him three times in the back as he crouched over the dog. Marguerites barrister painted her as a poor, wretched woman, the victim of a violent Oriental husband who was not only bisexual (her lawyer slyly implied a sexual relationship between Ali and his male secretary) but forced her into unnatural sex practices. No mention was made of Marguerites own volatile behaviour, except to concede that she was not of very strict morality. Playing on the jurys racial prejudices, he urged them to Open the gate and let this Western woman go back into the light of Gods great Western sun. Meanwhile, the judge blatantly influenced the jury by calling Alis sexual behaviour shocking, sickening and disgusting a cruel and abominable act. The jury acquitted Marguerite and she returned to Paris, where she tried to lay claim to Alis fortune. His family, distraught at Alis violent death, managed to prevent this, so Marguerite simply resumed her life as a courtesan. As for Edward, he continued to pursue unsuitable women. The Establishment cover-up to save his reputation was ultimately to no avail, for 13 years later he was to give up his crown for the sake of another manipulative, dominating woman: Wallis Simpson. Marvel actor Jeremy Renner is in intensive care and will undergo a second surgery as doctors tackle his 'extensive injuries' following an accident involving a snow plow. The star suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries after the snowcat he was using to plow his driveway ran him over. Renner, 51, underwent his first surgery earlier on Monday today as part of an extensive recovery process but it has now been revealed that the superhero star will require further operations on what will be a long road to recovery. A statement from his family stated how they were grateful to the 'incredible doctors and nurses looking after him. 'They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans,' the statement added. The Hawkeye actor was airlifted to hospital on Sunday morning following the accident. Renner, a two-time Oscar nominee, was alone and trying to clear a path out of his Lake Tahoe home with his PistenBully, a type of snow groomer made by the German manufacturer Kassbohrer. The vehicle's safety features failed and caused it to roll over Renner's leg, around a quarter mile from the property TMZ reported. Marvel actor Jeremy Renner, 51, is reportedly conscious, stable, and able to speak The air ambulance that took Renner to the hospital on Sunday morning is shown on the highway next to his house Renner will be undergoing surgery today as part of what will be an extensive recovery process A neighbor who also happened to be a doctor put a tourniquet on his injured leg to stem the bleeding, but Renner suffered significant blood loss by the time he was airlifted from the snowy scene scene at 9.50am. The 51-year-old remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital. TMZ cites sources close to the star who say he suffered injuries on other parts of his body and not just the leg. It's unclear how long he's owned the PistenBully groomer, or whether he bought it second-hand. Jeremy Renner in the snow cat machine that is believed to have been involved in the accident on Sunday in a 2019 video Renner plowing his Lake Tahoe driveway in the winter of 2019. He is in the hospital today in a stable but critical condition The type of PistenBully Renner owns is no longer available for sale on the company's website but similar models are described on second-hand sale sites as 'vintage'. The actor's representatives confirmed yesterday that his family was with him in the hospital. 'We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather related accident while plowing snow earlier today. 'His family is with him and he is receiving excellent care.' Renner's long driveway in Lake Tahoe, which regularly becomes blocked by snow Renner's sprawling home in Lake Tahoe is pictured during the summer. In the winter months, it is more difficult to access The Washoe County Sheriff's Office explained what happened in a statement: 'At approximately 9:00am on January 1, 2023, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded to a traumatic injury in the area of Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada. 'Upon arrival, Deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Mr. Jeremy Renner via care flight to a local area hospital. 'Mr. Renner was the only involved party in the incident. 'The Washoe County Sheriff's Office Major Accident Investigation Team is currently looking into the circumstances of the incident.' Renner shares one daughter with his ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco. It is in a scene in episode two where Eloise and Penelope discuss pregnancy It was used in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton as the street dates back to 1730 The properties on it currently achieve a rental income of 609,039 per year Beauford Square in Bath is now on the market for the first time in 300 years An entire Georgian square that featured as a location in the hit Netflix drama series Bridgerton has gone on the market for a whopping 18.5million. Beauford Square in Bath boasts 13 houses, four apartments and two commercial units, which bring in an impressive rental income. The entire street of cottages, which date back to 1730, were developed for long-running charity St John's Foundation and was used as the backdrop for Netflix's raunchy Regency series. The square was used for a number of street scenes in the first series of Bridgerton, including a scene in episode two where Eloise and Penelope discuss pregnancy and another where a carriage passes through following a wedding. Beauford Square in Bath boasts 13 houses, four apartments and two commercial units Beauford Square and 11A Princes Street form a square around a communal lawn, enclosed by iconic railings dating back to 1805 and shaped to commemorate pikes used in the Battle of Trafalgar The historic 36.7million villa used as the home of the aristocratic Bridgerton family is also available to rent. Recently, sources said that Bridgerton bosses axed a 'very dark' storyline in season three after 'concerns' were raised over a 'sex plotline'. One of the houses also became affectionately known as 'The Christmas Card House' after featuring on a Christmas card produced for the Bath Preservation Trust in 1965. St John's Foundation is one of the largest landowners in Bath, but the charity has now decided to sell to rebalance assets and decrease the property it owns in favour of financial investments. That means Beauford Square is on the market for the first time in almost 300 years. Agents Carter Jonas say it is 'an exciting and rare investment opportunity'. Also included in the sale are Royston House, a building of 13 period apartments near Bath Abbey, and Lark Place, a row of nine Georgian cottages next to Royal Victoria Park, making a total of 41 properties. The Square was used in a scene in episode two in the first season where Eloise (right) and Penelope (left) discuss pregnancy It was also used in a scene which saw a carriage pass through following a wedding The historic Bath properties currently achieve a rental income of 609,039 per year It is the first time in almost 300 years that the Georgian square has gone on the market The entire street of cottages, which date back to 1730, was used as the backdrop for Netflix's raunchy Regency series The properties currently achieve a rental income of 609,039 per year, which could increase to 724,920 a year when contracts come up for renewal. St John's Foundation was founded in 1174, serving the Bath community for over 800 years. The charity, which focuses on supporting children, older adults and people in crisis, will reinvest money from the sale of the buildings to help change the lives of the people they support. Beauford Square and 11A Princes Street form a square around a communal lawn, enclosed by iconic railings dating back to 1805 and shaped to commemorate pikes used in the Battle of Trafalgar. The buildings were designed by architect John Strachan and are a fine example of Georgian architecture, with the historic Theatre Royal frontage shaping the south side. All the properties are within close proximity to the centre of Bath, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. David Hobdey, Chief Executive Officer at St John's Foundation, said: 'These buildings have been in our possession for many years - Beauford Square in particular has been owned and tenanted by the Foundation since its construction in 1730. 'The sale of these buildings will enable us to inject the finances back into the Foundation to help those in need and we are delighted to be working with Carter Jonas to find the new proud investor for these properties.' Lee Richards, head of BTR and PRS at Carter Jonas, said: 'This is a truly rare opportunity to purchase a selection of historic buildings which present excellent investment potential. 'The buildings are near to 100% occupied and are highly desirable due to their picturesque facades and fantastic location.' It's not often that stargazers get the opportunity to spot a comet with the naked eye. But at the end of this month or possibly the start of February a newly-discovered space rock will whizz by our planet and light up the night sky. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered in March last year while inside Jupiter's orbit, and will make its closest approach to the sun on January 12 and Earth on February 2. Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this one continues its current trend in brightness it should be easy to spot with binoculars or a telescope. Look up this month! C/2022 E3 (ZTF), which was discovered in March last year while inside Jupiter's orbit, will make its closest approach to the sun on January 12 and Earth on February 2 KEY FACTS: COMET C/2022 E3 Last visible from Earth: The Ice Age Closest approach to the sun: January 12 Closest approach to Earth: February 2 Next visible: 50,000 years time Distance at closest approach: 26.4 million miles (42.5 million kilometres) from Earth Discovered: March 2022 Spotted by: The Zwicky Transient Facility in California Will it be visible to the naked eye? Possibly Where to look: In the morning sky, to the northeast Advertisement Better still, it may even be visible to the naked eye if skies are dark towards the end of the month. If that is the case it will be the first comet that can be seen with the unaided eye since NEOWISE raced past Earth in 2020, although it won't be anywhere near as spectacular. NEOWISE left a long, misty tail, while E3 is likely to appear as a grey streak or smudge in the night sky. However, neither match the brightness of Hale-Bopp, which was widely seen in 1997. Astronomers don't expect Comet C/2022 E3 to visit Earth again for at least another 50,000 years, having last been visible during the Ice Age. In terms of passing our planet, it won't be in any way close. In fact, the nearest it will come to Earth is 26.4 million miles (42.5 million kilometres) on February 2. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will find the comet in the morning sky, as it moves swiftly from the northeast to northwest and passes between the Little and Big Dippers during January. 'This comet isn't expected to be quite the spectacle that Comet NEOWISE was back in 2020,' Preston Dyches from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a video shared by the US space agency. 'But it's still an awesome opportunity to make a personal connection with an icy visitor from the distant outer solar system.' Stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere will have to wait a little longer to catch a glimpse, however, as Comet C/2022 E3 won't be visible for them until early February. In March 2022, astronomers discovered the new space rock using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility in California. Since then, the new long-period comet has brightened substantially and is now sweeping across the northern constellation Corona Borealis in predawn skies. At the end of last year, scientists snapped the first detailed photo revealing the new Comet C/2022 E3's brighter greenish coma and a yellowy dust tail. Comets are made of ice, gas and rock often described as giant space icebergs that tend to originate in the outer solar system and move in on a long orbit. Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this one continues its current trend in brightness it should be easy to spot with binoculars or a telescope Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will find the comet in the morning sky, as it moves swiftly from the northeast to northwest and passes between the Little and Big Dippers during January In March 2022, astronomers discovered the new space rock using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility in California. It is pictured here in the centre of this image The other major type of space rock, called asteroids, tend to be made of metal or rock and can come from anywhere in the solar system including a large grouping of asteroids situated between Mars and Jupiter. Comet Neowise was first spotted by and named after NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) space telescope in March 2020. The icy body then became visible from the Earth's surface from the northern hemisphere for a short while in the summer of that year as its proximity to the sun caused it to melt, unleashing tails of dust and gas behind it. During its closest approach on July 23, 2020, it was still 64 million miles from the planet. It then headed back out to space at around 144,000 miles per hour and will not to return for some 7,000 years. The comet reaches the sun this month, before looping around and making its closest approach to Earth The comet NEOWISE is pictured over Lebanon in an image shared by NASA back in 2020 If you enjoyed this article... Water worlds and a gas giant 'in the womb' are among the weird and wonderful new exoplanets discovered in 2022 Comet ATLAS may be a remnant of a mysterious fireball that swept within 23 million miles of the sun 5,000 years ago, study finds NASA is asking for help to save Hubble by pushing it into a higher orbit with a private spacecraft From paid verification to the reinstatement of controversial banned accounts, Elon Musk has made several radical changes to Twitter since acquiring the platform back in October. Now, the self-proclaimed 'Chief Twit' has announced that Twitter's navigation system will also be changing this month. The new system will allow users to swipe to switch between tweets, topics, and trends. Musk confirmed the change on Twitter over the weekend, writing: 'New Twitter navigation coming in Jan that allows swiping to side to switch between recommended & followed tweets, trends, topics, etc.' Musk confirmed the change on Twitter over the weekend, writing: 'New Twitter navigation coming in Jan that allows swiping to side to switch between recommended & followed tweets, trends, topics, etc' Twitter profile options Blue tick - Account is paying for Twitter Blue, or had the checkmark prior to Musk's takeover. Not necessarily been verified by Twitter. Gold tick + square profile picture - Verified business account that subscribes to 'Twitter Blue for Business'. Grey tick - Verified account which represents a government institution or official. 'Official' label - Applied to the verified accounts of commercial companies, who do not subscribe to 'Twitter Blue for Business'. 'State-affiliated media' or 'government organisation' label - Applied to verified accounts of organisations controlled by individuals or media entities affiliated with a country's government or state. 'Automated by...' label - Account posts content not produced by a human, and names the person responsible for it. Professional category labels - Descriptive labels chosen by the account holder, who has signed up for a 'Professional Account'. This is a free upgrade users can apply for commercial accounts providing they fit a set of criteria. Advertisement As it stands, Twitter users are able to tap the star icon in the top right corner of the screen to switch between a chronological timeline and the Home timeline, which displays recommended tweets. However, last month Musk hinted that a new navigation system was in the works. On December 20, he tweeted: 'Main timeline should allow for an easy sideways swipe between top, latest, trending and topics that you follow. 'Twitter search nav already sorta does this after you search.' Musk's latest tweet suggests this new functionality could be imminent, although he is yet to confirm a release date. In response to the news, some users have questioned whether the new navigation is the right thing to do. One user replied: 'The chronological order is always a must tho.' However, Musk defended the decision, replying: 'It's good to switch back & forth. 'As we improve Twitter AI, recommended tweets, lists & topics will become awesome.' The news comes shortly after some Twitter accounts had their profile pictures changed from a circle to a square shape with rounded corners. These are being added to verified business accounts on the platform as another way to differentiate them along with the new system of coloured checkmarks. The square profile pictures appear within the Twitter feed as well as on the account's own page, alongside a gold tick to ensure any user of its legitimacy. Accounts with blue ticks still have a circular profile picture. From paid verification to the reinstatement of controversial banned accounts, Elon Musk has made several radical changes to Twitter since acquiring the platform back in October But these aren't the only two profile picture shape options, as Twitter Blue subscribers who own an NFT can display it as a hexagonal profile picture. The Twitter Help Centre states that any account with a gold tick and square profile picture 'is an official business account through Twitter Blue for Business'. This is a new upgrade option currently being rolled out to certain verified accounts, but it is unclear whether they actively signed up to it or not. It is also unclear how one applies for this service or how much it costs, but a Twitter blog does state that it will 'share any new criteria, pricing or process as we update them'. If you enjoyed this article: Experts predict users will get sick of BeReal, and Twitter will crumble under Elon Musk's reign - but say TikTok will only continue to grow Twitter users are baffled by Elon Musk's new labelling system with options for round or square profile pictures New TikTok feature allows users to see why specific videos are recommended to them in their 'For You' page Advertisement It is a striking image of our planet that captures everything from the bright blue hue of the Caribbean Sea to the dense smog above northern India. But apart from providing a new global perspective of Earth from space, the picture is just the beginning of a new science mission that will monitor ocean ecology and marine health, as well as being able to track wildfires, droughts and floods. That's because it was taken by a recently launched NASA satellite, NOAA-21, which experts hope will provide vital information about our planet's oceans, atmosphere and land. The Earth-observing spacecraft has an instrument known as the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which began collecting data at the beginning of December and produced a mosaic of frames over the period of 24 hours. Stunning: Apart from providing a new global perspective of Earth from space, this picture is just the beginning of a new science mission that will monitor ocean ecology and marine health, as well as tracking wildfires, droughts and floods It captures everything from the bright blue Caribbean Sea (pictured) to the snow-capped Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau WHAT IS NOAA-21? NOAA-21 blasted into orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 10. It has an instrument known as the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which will provide vital information about our planet's oceans, atmosphere and land. VIIRS measures sea surface temperature, a metric that's important for monitoring hurricane formation, while monitoring the colour of the ocean helps to keep tabs on phytoplankton activity a key indicator of ocean ecology and marine health. NOAA-21 is the second of NOAA's new generation of polar-orbiting satellites. The first, NOAA-20, was launched in 2017, a third will follow in 2027 and a fourth in 2032. Another research satellite known as the Suomi-NPP, which blasted into space in 2011, served as the blueprint for the JPSS series. Advertisement It snapped all manner of features, including the snow-capped Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau, to the haze and smog over northern India caused by agricultural burning. VIIRS measures sea surface temperature, a metric that's important for monitoring hurricane formation, while monitoring the colour of the ocean helps to keep tabs on phytoplankton activity a key indicator of ocean ecology and marine health. 'The turquoise colour that's visible around Cuba and the Bahamas in the bottom-left image above comes from sediment in the shallow waters around the continental shelf,' said Dr Satya Kalluri, a program scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Over land, VIIRS can detect and measure wildfires, droughts and floods, and its data can be used to track the thickness and movement of wildfire smoke. The instrument also provides analysis of snow and ice cover, clouds, fog, aerosols and dust, and the health of the world's crops. It collects images in both the visible and infrared light spectra, allowing scientists to see details of Earth's surface. One of its most important uses is producing imagery over Alaska, Dr Kalluri added, because satellites like NOAA-21 orbit the Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole, so fly directly over the Arctic several times a day. It also has what is known as a Day-Night Band, which captures images of lights at night, including city lights, lightning, auroras and lights from ships and fires. 'VIIRS serves so many disciplines, it's an absolutely critical set of measurements,' said Dr James Gleason, NASA project scientist for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Flight Project. 'VIIRS provides many different data products that are used by scientists in unrelated fields, from agricultural economists trying to do crop forecasts, to air quality scientists forecasting where wildfire smoke will be, to disaster support teams who count night lights to understand the impact of a disaster.' NOAA-21 is the second operational satellite in the JPSS series, having blasted into orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 10. The previous one known as NOAA-20 launched in November 2017. Blanketed: It also snapped the haze and smog over northern India (pictured), which experts say was caused by agricultural burning NOAA-21 (pictured in an artist's impression) is the second operational satellite in the JPSS series, having blasted into orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 10 Both craft observe the entirety of Earth's surface twice per day while cruising 512 miles (824 kilometres) above our planet at 17,000 mph (27,360 kph). A third JPSS satellite is due to launch in 2027, and a fourth in 2032. Another research satellite known as the Suomi-NPP, which blasted into space in 2011, served as the blueprint for the JPSS series. 'We launch multiple weather satellites to make doubly and now triply sure we always have one going. Space is a dangerous environment,' Dr Gleason said. 'Stuff happens and you can lose an instrument or a satellite, but we cannot lose the data. It's too important, to too many people.' NOAA-21 will be the 21st polar-orbiting satellite operated by NOAA and is due to have a mission life of about seven years. If you enjoyed this article... How about checking out some of the weird and wonderful new exoplanets discovered in 2022, including water worlds and a gas giant 'in the womb' Or do you speak extraterrestrial? Scientists say Earth needs to prepare for an alien encounter now before it's too late Meanwhile, a study has found that comet ATLAS may be a remnant of a mysterious fireball that swept within 23 million miles of the sun 5,000 years ago A biblical site where Jesus is said to have healed a blind man will soon be opened to the public for the first time in 2,000 years. The Pool of Siloam, located in the southern part of the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, is cherished by Christians and Jews. It is currently being excavated by archaeologists and will either be opened to the public piece by piece or once the entire site is unearthed. This is expected to take several years. The Pool of Siloam, where Jesus is said to have healed a blind man, will soon be opened to the public for the first time in 2,000 years. This is a still image from an animation recreating the site The pool, which is located in the southern part of the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, is cherished by Christians and Jews What is the Pool of Siloam? The Pool of Siloam, located in the southern part of the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, is cherished by Christians and Jews. It was built around 2,700 years ago as part of Jerusalem's water system in the eighth century B.C. The site served as a reservoir for the Gihon Spring from which water was diverted and stored in underground tunnels. According to the bible, the Pool of Siloam was the location where Jesus performed the miracle of healing a man born blind. Advertisement It will allow visitors to see the site and the progress being made in exposing it. Members of the public have already been able to access a small section of the pool which has been fully excavated, but it will be a little while longer before people can truly 'walk in the footsteps of the Bible'. Plans to open up the Pool of Siloam were announced just before the new year by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel National Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation. The site was built around 2,700 years ago as part of Jerusalem's water system in the eighth century B.C. It served as a reservoir for the Gihon Spring from which water was diverted and stored in underground tunnels. 'The Pool of Siloam in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem is a site of historic, national and international significance,' said Jerusalem's mayor Moshe Lion. 'After many years of anticipation, we will soon merit being able to uncover this important site and make it accessible to the millions of visitors visiting Jerusalem each year.' Construction of the pool began during the reign of King Hezekia as cited in the Bible in the Book of Kings II, 20:20, according to the two Israeli agencies and the City of David Foundation. 'The Pool of Siloam's excavation is highly significant to Christians around the world,' American Pastor John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, told Fox News Digital. 'It was at this site that Jesus healed the blind man (John:9), and it is at this site that, 2,000 years ago, Jewish pilgrims cleansed themselves prior to entering the Second Temple.' He added that the Pool of Siloam and the Pilgrimage Road, both located within the City of David, were 'among the most inspiring archeological affirmations of the Bible'. Ze'ev Orenstein, the director of international affairs for the City of David Foundation in Jerusalem, said the site was significant to 'billions around the world' and would be 'made fully accessible for the first time in 2,000 years'. He added that the millions of people visiting the City of David every year would 'literally be able to walk in the footsteps of the Bible, connecting with the roots of their heritage and identity'. The site was built around 2,700 years ago as part of Jerusalem's water system in the eighth century B.C. It is pictured in this artist's impression According to the bible, the Pool of Siloam was the location where Jesus performed the miracle of healing a man born blind Three years ago Israel unveiled the 2,000-year-old Pilgrimage Road after an 80million project to excavate it from beneath a Palestinian neighbourhood. It was discovered by accident in 2004 by workmen mending a broken pipe in a potato field. The 350-yard ancient road served as the main thoroughfare for visitors to the ancient Jewish temple, while Jesus is also said to have used it to reach the Temple in Jerusalem. It led to the temple from the Pool of Siloam, where pilgrims would cleanse themselves before visiting it. According to the bible, it was also the location where Jesus performed the miracle of healing a man born blind. The site in Jerusalem is currently being excavated by archaeologists and will either be opened to the public piece by piece or once the entire site is unearthed If you enjoyed this article, you might like... Snakes have a clitoris too: Scientists discover the erogenous zone in nine species for the first time It's a wasp-eat-wasp world! Cannibal wasp babies devour their SIBLINGS when food runs low, study reveals Think twice before killing that fly! Insects DO feel pain and should be included in animal welfare protections, scientists claim as insect farming ramps up Cristiano Ronaldo could make his Al Nassr debut this week following his record-breaking 175m-a-year move to the club, with the forward reportedly jetting to Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of his medical. Rudi Garcia's face off against Al Ta'ee at home in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday and will be keen for their new Portuguese superstar to build up some crucial minutes ahead of a top-of-the-table clash against Al Shabab next Saturday. Despite a fast turnaround, the manager may have his wish - as Ronaldo is reportedly set to undergo his medical at the club on Tuesday just a day after flying to Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo could make his debut for new club Al Nassr against Al Ta'ee on Thursday According to Marca, Ronaldo will land in Riyadh on Monday evening before being officially unveiled as an Al Nassr player on the following day, provided he passes all medical tests. Al Nassr's 30,000-seater stadium Mrsool Park is primed and ready to unveil the club's new signing to a capacity crowd of excited fans on Tuesday. According to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Al Nassr are ready to 'throw a party' at the same level of Ronaldo's Real Madrid unveiling in 2009. It is understood the veteran will stay in a luxury hotel in the capital while he looks to find a fixed residence in Riyadh. Al Nassr's excited fans queue at the club store to pick up the 37-year-old's famous No 7 shirt Supporters have been posing with the shirt which Ronaldo will wear when he plays for the club The 37-year-old signed for the Saudi giants just over a month after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United, which came in the wake of his explosive interview with Piers Morgan criticising the club and manager Erik ten Hag. Although no date has yet been agreed regarding Ronaldo's debut for the club, the Portuguese star is set to be available for Al Nassr's Saudi Pro League clash against Al Ta'ee on Thursday. As Al Nassr must wait two weeks until they next host a match, the Saudi club will no doubt want Ronaldo to feature on Thursday before having to wait a fortnight to show off the new superstar to their fans. Should Ronaldo miss out versus Al Ta'ee, he will likely make his home debut against Ettifaq on January 21. The unsettled Portuguese international left Manchester United acrimoniously in November It is only a matter of time until the five-time Ballon d'Or winner plays his first match outside of a European league, having starred for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus previously during his illustrious career. Al Nassr's excited fans chanted Ronaldo's name and performed his trademark 'Siiiu' celebration in the stands on New Year's Eve, as they watched their side win 1-0 against Al Khaleej. The supporters appropriately waited until the seventh minute of the match to chant the 37-year-old's name, which represents the kit number Ronaldo will continue to wear in Saudi Arabia. The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson were known to visit post-abdication Victoria Bischoff and her husband find that it offers a sense of 'fairytale love' Sandals Royal Bahamian, set in Nassau, has been refurbished and expanded As my new husband and I slow dance under a Caribbean night sky, I cant help but smother a giggle. There must be at least a dozen other couples dreamily swaying as Bahamian superstar Patrice Murrell belts out Elvis classic Cant Help Falling In Love. Its like a scene from a cheesy romantic comedy. But fairytale love is what the Sandals Royal Bahamian hotel is all about and there is no escaping it. Located on Cable Beach in the capital Nassau, this all-inclusive resort is surrounded by turquoise water, palm trees and white, sandy beaches. Of course, it is. Most guests are either on honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or enjoying a last-huzzah babymoon. Even if you arent married when you arrive, there is a wedding lounge here to help you tie the knot. Built for romance: Victoria Bischoff and her new husband unwind during a stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian hotel, located on Cable Beach in the Bahamas As we sun ourselves by one of the hotels two pools, brides-to-be parade past to rapturous applause. In the evening, rows of tables for two are set up so couples can enjoy a candle-lit dinner. The spa specialises in couples massages and theres even a staff photographer for photo shoots. The hotels marketing tagline is Where love comes easy. Fairytale love is what the Sandals Royal Bahamian hotel is all about, Victoria reveals 'As we sun ourselves by one of the hotels two pools, brides-to-be parade past to rapturous applause,' writes Victoria Victoria finds that most guests at the resort are either on honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or enjoying a last-huzzah babymoon And it is proud that the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson were regular visitors after the abdication. A regal love story, reads a plaque. This is a story about a King who listened to his heart and gave up his throne for the greatest reason of them all. Love. The piano bar which hosts singalongs and serves lethal cocktails is even named the Balmoral Club. Return airport transfers are provided for all guests, with those staying in selected Butler Elite suites picked up by chauffeur Ricky Ricardo - in a Rolls-Royce. And if you opt for the butler service, you are given a mobile phone to call for assistance at any time. The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, pictured above in Nassau in the 1940s, were regular visitors after the abdication The hotel has been refurbished and expanded but it retains a boutique feel The hotels marketing tagline is where love comes easy A friendly team Andrew, Chanelle and Nichola attended to our every whim. We felt almost embarrassed at first by their offers to help us unpack, reserve sun loungers and walk us to dinner. But after ten days we lost the ability to do anything for ourselves. They even sneaked into our room one evening to scatter around heart balloons and rose petals. The hotel has been refurbished and expanded but it retains a boutique feel though there are 13 restaurants. Our only gripe was that the music could be loud. But a boat service takes guests to the hotels peaceful private island which has a pool and restaurant. An absolute must is the Fish Fry on Arawak Cay. Here, street food vendors and beach-shack barbecues line the beach. Enticed by live reggae music, we chose Frankie Gone Bananas where we gorged on conch and snapper. A boat service takes guests to the hotels peaceful private island (above) Go on a day trip to check out the famous swimming pigs of the Exuma Islands Guests can go swimming with nurse sharks at nearby Compass Cay Marina Its also worth exploring beyond Nassau if only to see the famous swimming pigs (yes, pigs). Pig Beach on the Exuma Islands is reached by powerboat. You can cuddle the cute piglets but beware adult hogs can bite. There is also a pit-stop at Compass Cay Marina to swim with nurse sharks. Sandals is a winning formula and now I understand why. Republican Adam Kinzinger of Illinois expressed his concerns and fears if former United States President Donald Trump escapes charges related to his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot. The GOP member's remarks were made during an interview where he reflected on his work with the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the events of the unprecedented Capitol siege and his departure from Congress. Adam Kinzinger's Fear The lawmaker said that he was worried that failure to hold Trump accountable for his work related to the siege would set a dangerous bar for future leaders. Kinzinger said, "If he is not guilty of a crime, then I frankly fear for the future of this country, because now every future president can say, 'Hey, here's the bar.' And the bar is do everything you can to stay in power." The Illinois Republican said that he is not a lawyer or a Justice Department official and was only speaking his personal opinion on the matter. However, he added that it was obvious that the former president's actions were problematic from a presidential perspective and from an oath perspective, as per Yahoo News. Kinzinger added that if a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable for his actions, that means there is no limit to what a president can or cannot do. His remarks come after the Jan. 6 committee on Dec. 22 released its final report on Trump's attempts to maintain his presidency after losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. The panel also recently released transcripts of interviews that it conducted with people who were close to the former president, including his son, Donald Trump Jr., his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle, and his former adviser Stephen Miller. According to CNN, Kinzinger is one of only two Republicans who served on the House Select Committee, alongside Liz Cheney of Wyoming. The panel last month laid out a case for the Justice Department and the public that there was evidence to pursue criminal charges against the former president on multiple criminal statutes. Read Also: Donald Trump Fires Back After January 6 Committee Withdraws Subpoena Donald Trump and the Capitol Riot The panel referred Trump to the DOJ on at least four criminal charges: obstructing an official proceeding, defrauding the United States, making false statements, and assisting or aiding an insurrection. Furthermore, the committee said that it had evidence of possible charges of conspiring to injure or impede an officer and seditious conspiracy. However, the committee's referral is largely symbolic as it does not mandate the Justice Department to file charges against Trump. However, Jack Smith, who was appointed to investigate the former president, requested evidence that the panel had collected. On Sunday, Kinzinger also blamed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for what the Illinois Republican called the "crazy elements" in Congress and for the reason Trump was still a "factor" in American politics. Kinzinger noted that if he was able to have a one-on-one conversation with the minority leader, he would tell him how disappointed he was over the latter's leadership. He added that McCarthy had the opportunity to tell the "truth" as a leader in Congress but instead went to Mar-a-Lago weeks after the Capitol riot and "resurrected" Trump's relevance in politics, The Hill reported. Related Article: Donald Trump Tax Returns Released by US House Committee After Years of Legal Battle @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She is one of the biggest names on the Australian rap scene. And on Friday, Tkay Maidza was clearly in her element as she took over the stage at the Wildlands Festival 2022 in Perth. The 26-year-old left little to the imagination in a tiny mini skirt and crop top as she entertained the crowd. Australian rapper Tkay Maidza (pictured) left little to the imagination in a tiny skirt as she joined Diplo, Yung Lean and Dom Dolla on stage at Wildlands Festival 2022 She completed her look with a pair of long black boots and left her long hair out as she performed her popular hits She completed her look with a pair of long black boots and left her long hair out as she performed her popular hits. Tkay was also joined by Diplo, Yung Lean and Dom Dolla at the festival. American DJ Diplo made a statement in dark sunglasses and a T-shirt as he played an entertaining set on stage. American DJ Diplo (pictured) made a statement in dark sunglasses and a T-shirt as he played an entertaining set on stage Diplo - real name Thomas Wesley Pentz - held the microphone as he played for the packed-out crowd Diplo - real name Thomas Wesley Pentz - held the microphone as he played for the packed-out crowd. Meanwhile, Swedish rapper Yung rocked a casual look as he took to the stage at the festival. The 26-year-old wore a white T-shirt, grey jumper, jeans and sunglasses for his music set. Meanwhile, Swedish rapper Yung rocked a casual look as he took to the stage at the festival The 26-year-old wore a white T-shirt, grey jumper, jeans and sunglasses for his music set Music producer Dom Dolla also made an appearance at the Wildlands Festival. The 31-year-old wore a black T-shirt and cap as he entertained crowds at the music event. Dom waved his hands up in the air as he danced along to the music on stage. Music producer Dom Dolla (pictured) also made an appearance at the Wildlands Festival Naomi Watts flaunted her fit figure as she hit the beach in St Barts with her partner Billy Crudup and friends on Saturday. The Australian actress, 54, looked to be in the best shape of her life as she stripped to an orange triangle bikini and black bottoms. The Mulholland Drive star finished her look with a pair of stylish RayBan wayfarers, several bracelets, a necklace, rings and stud earrings. Naomi Watts, 54, (pictured) flaunted her fit figure as she hit the beach in St Barts with her partner Billy Crudup and friends on Saturday Naomi and fellow actor Billy, 54, spent plenty of time packing on the PDA in between swims, playfully cuddling on the sand. The lovebirds were joined by Naomi's child Kai, 12, as well as their friend, Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia, 53, his wife Ursula Brooks, 48, and daughter Tilly, 24. Naomi and Billy have been holidaying in St Barts where they were seen arriving at the UNICEF Winter Gala on Thursday. Naomi and fellow actor Billy, 54, (left) spent plenty of time packing on the PDA in between swims, playfully cuddling on the sand Naomi looked to be in the best shape of her life as she stripped to an orange triangle bikini and black bottoms The annual philanthropic extravaganza is held to raise funds in support of UNICEF's projects all over the world, Naomi has been dating Billy since 2017, when they met on the set of the film Gypsy, following her split from Liev Schreiber the year prior. They regularly support each other at each other's events, most recently at the launch party for her new brand Stripes and ELLE's 29th Annual Women in Hollywood celebration, both in October. The Mulholland Drive star finished her look with a pair of stylish RayBan wayfarers, several bracelets, a necklace, rings and stud earrings Naomi beamed and threw her hands in the air as she strode towards the shore The lovebirds were joined by Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia, 53, (far right) his wife Ursula Brooks, 48, (centre) and daughter Tilly, 24, (far right, behind Jonathan) Naomi and Liev share two children, Sasha, 13, and Kai, 12. Billy shares eighteen-year-old son William Atticus Parker with with actress Mary-Louise Parker. Liev, 55, has meanwhile been dating 30-year-old model Taylor Neisen since his split from Naomi. The couple have been holidaying in St Barts where they were seen arriving at the UNICEF Winter Gala on Thursday Naomi has been dating Billy since 2017, when they met on the set of the film Gypsy, following her split from Liev Schreiber the year prior Brody Jenner and girlfriend Tia Blanco revealed they are expecting a child together Sunday. The reality star, 39, and professional surfer, 25 - who have been linked since last year - made the revelation in a joint Instagram post Sunday to coincide with the beginning of the new year. They said in a joint statement: 'To start off this new year, wed like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends, family and followers health, happiness & an abundance of love.' The latest: Brody Jenner, 39, and girlfriend Tia Blanco, 25, revealed they are expecting a child together Sunday. They were pictured ringing in the new year They continued: 'We truly appreciate & love you all. We are excited to share with you the blessing of a new life in the new yearOur little angel is on their way. Happy new year!' Jenner showed Blanco, a native of Puerto Rico who was seen on ABC's The Ultimate Surfer, getting a sonogram, as The Hills: New Beginnings personality said, 'Honey, look at that little heart - what?!?' The couple was initially linked last April, and confirmed their romance in May on Instagram. Jenner was previously wed to Kaitlynn Carter, 34, from 2018-2019, and she has since welcomed son Rowan, one, with her boyfriend Kristopher Brock; the two revealed they were expecting their second child last fall. Jenner showed Blanco getting a sonogram, as The Hills: New Beginnings personality said, 'Honey, look at that little heart - what?!?' The pair said on Instagram, 'We are excited to share with you the blessing of a new life in the new yearOur little angel is on their way. Happy new year!' They made the revelation in a joint Instagram post Sunday to coincide with the beginning of the new year Jenner, who is the younger son of Caitlyn Jenner, 73, and Linda Thompson, 72, received a slew of kind responses to the news, from famous friends including Avril Lavigne, Josie Canseco, Mario Lopez and Heidi Montag, the latter of whom said, 'Couldnt be happier for you both!!!!! Congratulations!!!!' Brody's mother Thompson wrote, 'So happy that you are sharing this news so I can tell everybody I meet on the street now.' She continued, 'Lol I have been keeping this secret, but its been so hard! We are so happy! Love you both so much Love all three of you so much!' Thompson and Jenner's elder son Brandon Jenner is father to three children: daughter Eva, eight, with ex-wife Leah James, and twin boys Sam and Bo, two, with girlfriend Cayley Stoker. Brody's child will be Caitlyn's 21st grandchild between her children and stepchildren. Blanco is a native of Puerto Rico who was seen on ABC's The Ultimate Surfer Jennifer Aniston posted an uplifting highlight reel of 2022 for New Years Day and featured her close friend Adam Sandler multiple times. The Friends icon, 53 who hosted a secret A-list holiday party in December treated her 41.1 Instagram million followers to a montage of her favorite moments from 2022 and working with Sandler, 56, was a big one. 'Thanks 2022,' Jennifer captioned her post. '2023....ready, set, let's go. Happy New Year everyone.' A-list uplift: Jennifer Aniston, 53, posted an uplifting highlight reel of 2022 for New Years Day Aniston set her highlight reel to the positive vibes of You Get What You Give by the New Radicals, letting the hit song propel her collection of candid pictures and snippets. Sandler makes his first appearance right out of the gate as Jennifer panned the camera over a film set and caught the comedy legend beaming at her. After starring in the hit romantic comedy Just Go With It in 2011, the famous friends reunited for the Netflix whodunnit Murder Mystery in 2019. That film has led to a sequel, Murder Mystery 2, which Aniston and Sandler filmed this past year in Hawaii. 'Back to work with my buddy,' wrote Sandler, captioning a cute picture of the pair on Instagram back in February. Famous friends: The Friends icon treated her 41.1 Instagram million followers to a montage of her favorite moments from 2022 and working with her close friend Adam Sandler, 56, was a big one Work buddies: Sandler makes an appearance right out of the gate as Jennifer panned the camera over a film set and caught the comedy legend beaming at her. The pair had a blast filming Murder Mystery 2 this past year in Hawaii and France The Uncut Gems star later made another appearance in Aniston's real when she included a snippet of them filming Murder Mystery 2 in Paris. But working with Sandler was hardly Jennifer's only highlight of 2022. The romcom queen gave her massive fanbase numerous glimpses into her elusive private life, showing fun video clips and silly pictures. Aniston repeatedly showed off her two adorable rescue dogs a Schnauzer mix named Clyde and a white shepherd mix named Lord Chesterfield. The Picture Perfect star also shared a selection of moments with her close-knit group of friends, filling her montage with numerous hugs and a human pyramid. Candid moments: The romcom queen gave her massive fanbase numerous glimpses into her elusive private life, showing fun video clips and silly pictures Bubbles and hugs: The Picture Perfect star shared a selection of moments with her close-knit group of girlfriends, filling her montage with numerous hugs and cocktails New addition: Aniston repeatedly showed off her adorable new rescue dog a white shepherd mix named Lord Chesterfield Dog lover: The Marley & Me star proved herself to be one of Hollywood's top dog lovers Too cute: Jennifer also showed off her other adorable rescue dog a Schnauzer mix named Clyde And Aniston also used the opportunity to promote her many business ventures. In addition to being at the top of her game as an actress, The Morning Show star is the creative director of Vital Proteins and flaunted her sensational figure in a yoga outfit as she munched on one of the brand's new protein bars. Jennifer also documented her racy cover shoot for Allure, including a snippet of her looking at scantily-clad stills. Beach days, drinking cocktails and cooking with friends rounded out the reel, which proved to be a big hit on social media. The star received thousands of love-filled well-wishes in her comments section, proving that Jennifer will remain a Hollywood fan favorite in 2023. Healthy and wealthy: In addition to being at the top of her game as an actress, The Morning Show star is the creative director of Vital Proteins and flaunted her sensational figure in a yoga outfit as she munched on one of the brand's new protein bars One racy year: Jennifer also documented her racy cover shoot for Allure, including a snippet of her looking at scantily-clad stills Lisa Hochstein celebrated New Year's Eve on a glamorous date night with her hunky rumored boyfriend in Miami. The reality star, 40, showed off her curves in a figure hugging sleeveless black sequined body suit. The Canadian beauty styled her long, blonde hair in loose waves and woe high heel platform sandals. Glamorous: Lisa Hochstein celebrated New Year's Eve on a glamorous date night with her rumored boyfriend, Jody Glidden, in Miami A leather corset belt highlighted her tiny waist. The Real Housewives of Miami star looked happy as she stepped out with boyfriend Jody Glidden. The Introhive founder, 37, stepped out in black pants, a white shirt and maroon velvet jacket with burgundy toned shoes as the couple welcomed in the new year , at the Versace Mansion in Miami Beach. Curves: The reality star, 40, showed off her curves in a figure hugging sleeveless black sequined body suit. The Canadian beauty styled her long, blonde hair in loose waves and woe high heel platform sandals The property was originally built as a hotel, but the late designer turned into into a private residence when he bought it and the adjoining property in the early 1990s. It was eventually turned back into a hotel several years ago. One night at the luxury resort can cost as much as $1,400 for a single suite. The Med-Spa owner, who is going through an acrimonious divorce from estranged husband, Lenny Hochstein,56, posted a photo of herself in front of the hotel pool, writing 'Happy New Years to everyone except....' Happy?: The Real Housewives of Miami star looked happy as she stepped out with her new guy. The reality star has been going through an acrimonious divorce with her husband, plastic surgeon Lenny Hochstein In November, Lisa filed court papers for 'urgent' temporary support, claiming the plastic surgeon has cut her off financially, leaving her unable to buy diapers and food for her children, Ella, three, and Logan, seven, after her credit card was cancelled. In a past filing, Lenny's attorneys alleged the influencer made $30 thousand per RHOM episode. Lisa has remained in the luxurious Star Island home with the kids. Divorce: Lisa is in the middle of an acrimonious divorce from her husband, plastic surgeon Lenny Hochstein seen here in happier days (Pictured in Miami in May 2017) Lenny's attorneys have argued the couple's prenup requires Lisa to move out of the family home within 30 days of either party filing for divorce or finalization of a divorce, whichever happened first. Lisa says several of her castmates who have been through their own divorces have reached out for support, including her best friend, Larsa Pippen, as well as Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patten. Lenny has moved on as well. He is currently dating 27-year-old model Katharina Mazepa. . Three-time Grammy winner Sean 'LOVE' Combs aka Diddy went Instagram official with City Girls trap rapper Yung Miami after ringing in 2023 together aboard his superyacht cruising the Caribbean isle of Saint Barthelemy. The 28-year-old Miami native captioned her PDA-filled slideshow: 'Another 365 days around the world with you! Happy New Year!' While the Harlem-born 53-year-old simply captioned his own PDA-filled slideshow: 'Happy New Year! Love.' Number #1: Three-time Grammy winner Sean 'LOVE' Combs aka Diddy went Instagram official with City Girls trap rapper Yung Miami after ringing in 2023 together aboard his superyacht cruising the Caribbean isle of Saint Barthelemy Yung Miami (born Caresha Romeka Brownlee) posted a second slideshow captioned: 'I [don't care] if we [are] on the run baby [as] long as I'm next to you.' Diddy and his Gotta Move On video vixen might have a 25-year age gap, but their open relationship has been going strong since 2021. And while Media Take Out reported the Sex in the Porsche rapper pays Yung Miami a $200K/month allowance, he does not consider her his 'side chick' as she is 'very important and special to me.' The hip-hop couple originally confirmed they were an item during the June 9th episode of her podcast Caresha Please. The 28-year-old Miami native captioned her PDA-filled slideshow: 'Another 365 days around the world with you! Happy New Year!' While the Harlem-born 53-year-old simply captioned his own PDA-filled slideshow: 'Happy New Year! Love' Yung Miami (born Caresha Romeka Brownlee) posted a second slideshow captioned: 'I [don't care] if we [are] on the run baby [as] long as I'm next to you' May-December duo: Diddy and his Gotta Move On video vixen might have a 25-year age gap, but their open relationship has been going strong since 2021 Diddy and Yung Miami have certainly been having fun on the 278ft luxurious vessel Victorious - built by Akyacht in 2021 - which offers accommodations for up to 24 guests across 12 staterooms, and is on sale for $116.8M through Fraser Yachts. It features amenities like a helipad, elevator, pool, jacuzzi, gym, massage room, hair salon, a baby grand piano, a marble fireplace, formal dining room, and wine cellar. The billionaire rap mogul invited a slew of rappers to attend his NYE boat bash - including Fabolous, Meek Mill, French Montana, Quavo Huncho, Lil Baby, Central Cee. Diddy also made sure to invite all seven of his children from three women - son Justin Combs, 29; son Christian Combs, 24; daughter Chance Combs, 16; daughter Love Combs, 2 months; adopted son Quincy Brown, 31; and twin daughters Jessie and D'Lila Combs, 16. 'She is very important and special to me': And while Media Take Out reported the Sex in the Porsche rapper pays Yung Miami a $200K/month allowance, he does not consider her his 'side chick' Bent over: The hip-hop couple originally confirmed they were an item during the June 9th episode of her podcast Caresha Please Rich: Diddy and Yung Miami have certainly been having fun on the 278ft luxurious vessel Victorious - built by Akyacht in 2021 - which offers accommodations for up to 24 guests across 12 staterooms, and is on sale for $116.8M through Fraser Yachts Fireworks display: It features amenities like a helipad, elevator, pool, jacuzzi, gym, massage room, hair salon, a baby grand piano, a marble fireplace, formal dining room, and wine cellar 'Happy New Year from my family to yours!' the Emmy-nominated producer - who boasts 44.3M social media followers - gushed. 'Wishing you nothing but prosperity and abundance this year! Love, love, love!' At one point, Diddy and his mother Janice Combs danced to Maze's 1981 slow jam Before I Let Go (featuring Frankie Beverly) during the festive family celebration. Meanwhile, the Good Love rapper has two children - nine-year-old son Jai Malik Wiggins Jr. with babydaddy Jai Wiggins (who was fatally shot in 2020) and three-year-old daughter Summer Miami Luellen with Grammy-nominated producer Southside. Spraying champagne: The billionaire rap mogul invited a slew of rappers to attend his NYE boat bash - including Fabolous (2-L), Meek Mill, French Montana, Quavo Huncho, Lil Baby, Central Cee 'Happy New Year from my family to yours!' Diddy also made sure to invite all seven of his children from three women - (from L-R) son Justin Combs, 29; son Christian Combs, 24; daughter Chance Combs, 16; daughter Love Combs, 2 months; adopted son Quincy Brown, 31; and twin daughters Jessie and D'Lila Combs, 16 'Mama Combs!' The Emmy-nominated producer and his mother Janice Combs danced to Maze's 1981 slow jam Before I Let Go during the festive family celebration Christmas family portrait: The Good Love rapper has two children - nine-year-old son Jai Malik Wiggins Jr. (R) with babydaddy Jai Wiggins (who was fatally shot in 2020) and three-year-old daughter Summer Miami Luellen (L) with Grammy-nominated producer Southside In 2018, Yung Miami doubled down on homophobic tweets that she would 'beat' her son Jai if she 'saw anything gay' about him while appearing on Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club. The Rap S*** producer will next portray Deanna Washington in the second season of 50 Cent and Randy Huggins' crime drama BMF, which premieres January 6 on Starz. The Crew League producer is working on a new reality show about his life and family after famously creating VH1's I Want To Work For Diddy in 2008 and ABC's Making The Band in 2000. Black Mafia Family: Yung Miami will next portray Deanna Washington in the second season of 50 Cent and Randy Huggins' crime drama BMF, which premieres January 6 on Starz Gemma Collins broke down in tears after feeling 'overcome with emotion' when visiting Bethlehem on New Year's Day. The former TOWIE star, 41, described seeing the birthplace of Jesus as 'the most breathtaking and unreal experience' of her life while sharing an Instagram image as she wept at the UNESCO World Heritage site. The TV personality admitted she had 'tears rolling down my face' as she visited the the Church of the Nativity in Jerusalem with her fiance Rami Hawash, 48, and her step-son Tristan, five. 'The most breathtaking and unreal experience of my life': Gemma Collins broke down in tears after feeling 'overcome with emotion' when visiting Bethlehem on New Year's Day Speaking in a video of her experience, Gemma said: 'I am in the church in Bethlehem and I have got tears rolling down my face. 'This is the most breathtaking, unreal experience of my life. The feeling here is - you cannot describe it. 'It is just overwhelming, I hope everyone gets to experience this once in their life. Your hairs stand on their end, it's just, I feel breathless, it is just so beautiful.' Gemma admitted she was 'blown away' by the experience, after visiting the site with her fiance during a new year's holiday to Israel to see Rami's family who live there. Special moment: The former TOWIE star, 41, described seeing the birthplace of Jesus as 'the most breathtaking and unreal experience' of her life while sharing an Instagram image Emotional moment: Speaking in a video of her experience, Gemma said: 'I am in the church in Bethlehem and I have got tears rolling down my face She wrote alongside an Instagram photo: 'BETHLEHEM I cant believe Ive been so unbelievably lucky to have been where baby Jesus was born and touch the spot. 'I am totally blown away and looking forward to my spiritual journeys in 2023. 'The feeling of this was like nothing Ive ever felt before I cant even describe what I felt in that moment I was totally blown away'. Gemma spent last year's New Year's Eve there as well, and said at the time: 'He wants to take me to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He's from Israel, and I've always wanted to go. Holy land: The TV personality admitted she had 'tears rolling down my face' as she visited the historical site with her fiance Rami Hawash, 48, (pictured) and her step-son Tristan, five Grateful: Alongside the snap, Gemma gushed: 'BETHLEHEM I cant believe Ive been so unbelievably lucky to have been where baby Jesus was born and touch the spot' 'Madonna's been there, so many people have been there. I've got lots of Jewish friends as well and everyone always tells me how amazing it is. 'It's going to be really nice. Now I'm getting older, I like to be a bit of a tourist. I would love to see Bethlehem. I'm really excited, so that's my Christmas present.' It comes after Gemma enjoyed a very lavish Christmas Day complete with a meal prepared by a personal chef on Instagram after she said she didn't want presents this year. The former TOWIE star revealed she'd rather the money go to those who are struggling instead of her receiving gifts amid the cost of living crisis. 'Thank you for the best dinner': It comes after Gemma enjoyed a very lavish Christmas Day complete with a meal prepared by a personal chef on Instagram The beauty dressed to impress for the festive day in a stunning gold wrap dress as she posed with Rami and chef Vlad Djukanov. The star gushed that she had the 'best dinner' prepared by Vlad as she shared a number of snaps of their food. Although Gemma insisted she wouldn't be buying gifts this year because the money could be better spent, she didn't miss out herself after receiving gifts from Valentino. The Diva Forever star was personally sent a dazzling pink handbag by the brand, which signed the card: 'From your friends at Valentino'. Feeling festive: The beauty dressed to impress for the festive day in a stunning gold wrap dress as she posed with her fiance Rami Hawash In another snap Gemma looked the picture of happiness alongside her husband-to-be - who was dressed as Santa - in front of the tree, while his son Tristan was also seen in the shot. In her festive snap, Gemma was as glam as ever in the sparkling mini dress, with the TV star adding a bold red lip while her blonde locks were styled in voluminous waves. Her living room was certainly festive ready, with a stunning spruce, snacks on the able and presents under the tree - though it's doubtful any would be hers if her recent comments to go by. Amid her recent claims she's cutting back on the festivities this year, Gemma told how she doesn't want any gifts this year as she's 'doing her bit' amid the difficult current climate. No need: It comes after Gemma insisted that she does not 'need or want' any gift and has asked her close ones 'not to buy me a thing' She told The Sun: 'When I am watching the news and seeing people losing their houses, this is serious. I am really trying to do my bit this year. I think that is why Christmas is going to be so special because we are all up against it and f**k presents, no offence. 'You could give me a diamond encrusted Rolex, it wouldnt mean anything to me, I would rather you took that money and go and put some old girls heating on or plant trees and give back to the planet. 'I want nothing, my cup is full, there is nothing I need, there is nothing I want, I feel totally fulfilled in life.' Gemma went on to say that if she did want anything, it would be her own greenhouse so that she could grow her own produce. The TV personality added that her attitude has changed since moving to the countryside, noting that while previously she would have coveted diamonds, they now mean 'jack s**t' to her. Instead, Gemma will spend 'a really family Christmas' with her loved ones, where she'll reflect on how 'lucky' they all are. Congratulations are in order for Logic and his wife Brittney Noell. The rapper took to his Instagram page on New Year's Day 2023 to announce that they are expecting their second child together. 'Happy New Baby!' Logic (born Robert Bryson Hall II), 32, captioned a video of his wife watching her ultrasound being performed. The expectant mother, who's also celebrating her 26th birthday on New Year's Day, also posted her own announcement, writing, 'Baby Hall #2 coming 2023,' alongside the same ultrasound video. Scroll down to video Big news: Rapper Logic took to Instagram on New Year's Day to announce that he and his wife Brittney Noell are expecting their second child together, alongside a video of their ultrasound The video begins with a shot that pushes in closer to the screen at the doctor's office, offering a closer look at the fetus. After about 10 seconds, the camera shifts from the ultrasound screen to Noell, who's laying on her back with a protective mask on her face, watching intently as the fetus moves around. The camera then shifts back to the video screen for one more look at the ultrasound. Ultrasound: Their Instagram posts begin with a wide shot of the screen at the doctor's office Miracle of life: The camera then pushes in closer to get a closer look at the fetus 'Happy New Baby!' Logic captioned the video. which shows him recording the ultrasound as his wife watches the fetus move around on the screen After about 10 seconds, the camera shifts from the ultrasound screen to Noell, who's laying on her back with a protective mask on her face, watching intently at the ultrasound 'Baby Hall #2 coming 2023': The expectant mother also announce her pregnancy on her Instagram page, brittneynoellblog Seemingly with a flare for the dramatics when it comes to breaking their baby news, the Therapy Music star gave his fans the scope about their first child by making the announcement at the end of his new music video for No Pressure back in August 2019. 'I'm having a little baby. Surprise, it's a little baby boy, F**k TMZ, they can't get the scope on that s**t,' he said with a big smile on his face as the music was winding down. In the tune, the Maryland native raps about his childhood, homies, haters and his scathing view of the music industry. And then came the bombshell that he and his fiancee Brittney Noell were going to have a baby boy. The TMZ diss was in reference to a 2018 report by the celebrity news publication that the rapper (real name Sir Robert Bryson Hall II) had split with his then wife Jessica Andrea before he could confirm the news himself, according to Us Weekly. The camera then shifts back to the video screen for one more look at the ultrasound Family matters: Their pregnancy news comes nearly a year-and-a-half after the birth of their son Bobby The couple's son Bobby would eventually make his arrival on to Planet Earth in July 2020, which was announced in an Instagram post. 'Privacy with family is something that is very important to [me]. However my fans have been my family since this all started so I wanted to share with you a glimpse into the life I am now diving into head first,' Logic wrote at the time. 'I would like you to meet LB as we call him, Little Bobby.' He would go on to confirm his marriage to Noell in the heartfelt post at the time, writing, 'And my beautiful wife Brittney who is an incredible mother. These two make me the happiest man in the world and it's a happiness nothing else has ever been able to fulfill.' Gift of life: The couple welcomed their first child, a son they named Bobby, in July 2020 Seeing double: The rapper is pictured with Little Bobby in a recent Instagram photo In another big announcement, which came on New Year's Eve, the couple revealed they are starting up their own clothing line for kids. 'I'm so excited to announce that I've partnered with my husband @logic and my awesome partners and friends @laurenbreiding, and @daniee.latham on our very own kids clothing line called Sweet Cream,' she began in the Instagram post. 'We've been working on this for over a year now, and cant wait to share it will you all in 2023. We have poured our heart and soul into making this the safest, coolest, most comfortable clothing for your kiddos. Please follow @sweetcreambaby for more information coming soon, and sign up on sweetcreambaby.com to stay in the scoop!! Love, the Sweet Cream Team Content by : @ouradhere & @bolatham.' Logic and Noell have been married since September 2019. She's played Ken Barlows grand-daughter Amy since she was eight years old. And now Elle Mulvaney has spilled the secrets behind the young cast of Coronation Street's wild nights out. The 20-year-old actress has revealed that the younger generation of the soap have become fast friends and enjoy going out together. Lifting the lid: Elle Mulvaney has spilled the secrets behind the young cast of Coronation Street's wild nights out Speaking to The Sun, she explained: 'We did all just find that instantly we became this tight-knit group of friends. We all socialise together. Weve shown newcomer James Craven (who plays Aaron Sandford) the best places to go out in Manchester. Weve taken him to all the clubs!' Elle also revealed the cast have their own saying for getting drunk, calling it 'getting Barlowed' after the cobbles' famous family. Elles character has just moved into a shared flat with boyfriend Jacob Hay and their best mates Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) and Aaron with the group getting bigger storylines now they're older. Having a blast: The 20-year-old actress has revealed that the younger generation of the soap have become fast friends and enjoy going out together (pictured with co-star Harriet Bibby) She described: 'We were all saying, its like were in Friends! We call it our little Friends spin-off. I think its so cool Ive been here for so long. Even when people dont watch it, if I say Im Kens grand-daughter, they always know who he is. The Barlows are Coronation Street.' When asked who the wildest on a night out is, she explained that it was Jack James Ryan, 26, who plays Jacob Hay. Elle said: 'Hes so great. I dont know how he does it. He can literally stay up until 8am. Hes just superhuman.' Wildest: When asked who the wildest on a night out is, she explained that it was Jack James Ryan, 26, who plays Jacob Hay (pictured on Corrie) Her revelations comes after Jack said that this year has given him the 'biggest lows' as he detailed his mental health struggles in a social media post. The actor, who has been open about his testicular cancer battled when he was 19, praised his 'incredible' family and friends for 'getting him through in the emotional post. Jack took to his Instagram Stories to reflect on the highs and lows of the past 12 months. Candid: It comes after Jack revealed that this year has given him the 'biggest lows' as he detailed his mental health struggles in a social media post Jack first listed his 2022 highlights, which included the formation of 'Jamy' - Jacob and Amy on Coronation Street. He also gushed of his permanent return to the cobbles, writing: 'I'm continually overwhelmed by the love and support you guys have shown for the character and for me. 'It's been mega to see people get behind Jacob's journey,' The testicular cancer survivor admitted sharing his journey on Lorraine was 'was one of the proudest moments' of his life, and reflected on becoming a Teenage Cancer Trust ambassador. Highlights: The actor - who plays Jacob in Corrie - took to his Instagram Stories to reflect on the highs and lows of the past 12 months Big high: Jack James first listed his 2022 highlights, which included the formation of 'Jamy' - Jacob and Amy on Coronation Street Jack then admitted that the last 12 months have dealt him his 'biggest lows'. He wrote: 'Evidently this year has had some amazing highs but I think it's also important to share this year has without given me my biggest lows. 'If I didn't have the most incredible family and friends I simply don't know how I would've got through this year.' Proud: The testicular cancer survivor admitted sharing his journey on Lorraine was 'was one of the proudest moments' of his life, and reflected on becoming a Teenage Cancer Trust ambassasor 'I know a lot of people have struggled mentally this year and I just want to say you're not alone.' Signing off on a positive note, Jack teased some exciting news for the year ahead. He wrote: 'I've ended the year with some really exciting news and I can't wait to share with you in the new year so stay tuned for that. Thanks for the love and the laughs and here's to 2023.' Sofia Vergara, 50, looked lovely in a blue and white Dolce and Gabbana one-piece swimsuit on Sunday, New Year's Day. The Colombian actress showed off her flawless figure in a few snaps shared to her Instagram Story inscribed, 'All Dolce to Start the year!' The America's Got Talent judge wore her brunette locks in soft, voluminous waves that tumbled down her back as she rested one hand on the counter. New Year's look: Sofia Vergara , 50, sizzled in a blue and white Dolce and Gabbana one-piece swimsuit on New Year's Day The actress accentuated her natural beauty with a touch of matte pink lipstick and black eyeliner. In another shot, the beauty posed in the same swimsuit outside with dark glasses. Vergara has been enjoying a tropical vacation this week to celebrate her husband Joe Manganiello's 46th birthday. The Modern Family vet has been flaunting her fit physique in various skimpy swimsuits that flatter her incredible pinup curves. Still a beauty: Sofia's chocolate locks were worn down in soft waves and she flaunted her toned legs outside with a pair of dark glasses Natural beauty: The Colombian actress looked playful and elegant as she continues her tropical vacation this week to celebrate her husband Joe Manganiello's 46th birthday On Friday the bombshell looked fit in a white one-piece as she stood in a lush outdoor setting. Earlier this week, the Fading Gigolo star posed in a black two-piece that put her ample cleavage and taut tummy front and center. The LA resident also posted a shirtless photo of her handsome husband. White hot: Vergara turned up the heat again during her tropical vacation this week in a flattering white one-piece Sizzling! Earlier this week the brunette bombshell from Colombia posted sizzling images where she looked trim in a black string bikini On Tuesday, Sofia wished her husband Joe an early happy birthday. She posted a selfie on her Instagram Stories that showed Joe in the background. 'Its almost ur bday @joemanganiello,' Sofia wrote as a caption for her roughly 27.5 million followers. Last month Vergara shared several photos from her nuptials to Joe on their seventh wedding anniversary. One romantic photo showed her and the Magic Mike actor dancing together at the ceremony. Tiny pup: Sofia's tiny dog sat on her lap as she donned a tiny floral romper Birthday boy: The Colombian star also posted a shirtless photo of her handsome husband Joe The America's Got Talent judge and Joe have been married since November 2015. Vergara and Manganiello met in 2014 at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. They got engaged on Christmas Eve 2014 after six months of dating. The couple don't have any children together, but Vergara has son Manolo, 31, with ex-husband Joe Gonzalez. The house: Vergara also shared a shot of a back porch of the house she and Joe stayed out Social media users are spreading a picture that allegedly depicts US President Joe Biden touching a child below the waist in an improper way. However, the image has been digitally manipulated; the original depicts a little child reaching out a T-shirt to the US president, who responds by pointing. Stew Peters, a far-right radio personality who has previously circulated false material about COVID-19, asked in postings on December 30, 2022, "Is this a photo of Biden fondling a small child's genitalia?" and shared the image to Twitter, Telegram, and Truth Social. Manipulated Photos of Joe Biden Spread Online The same image circulated on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, utilizing altered photographs as part of a false narrative that suggested inappropriate behavior by Joe Biden and was supported by the QAnon conspiracy theory and, in some cases, former president Donald Trump. WTF IS @JoeBiden doing with this child? Sick pedo bastard! pic.twitter.com/WQvvh8yBZB GINTruth (@GINTruthNews) December 30, 2022 But Biden's hands are now in a different position due to picture editing. The version that is going around online, according to a White House spokesman, "is not true." Unedited versions of the photos are visible in news stories using reverse image searches. Biden is seen pointing to a child's T-shirt in the original photo, which was shot by the Associated Press on October 15, 2021, while he visited the Capitol Child Development Center in Hartford, Connecticut. The incident was captured on camera by AFP, and a related video from C-SPAN shows that Biden did not inadvertently touch the youngster as some social media posts suggest. The first version of the edited image that AFP discovered was from a Twitter user, who later said in a follow-up post: "I apologise for the manipulated photo I posted. It's right here, folks." The poster informed AFP through direct message on Twitter that the image was "satire" and a "meme" based on allegations that Biden had sexually handled youngsters in the past. Inaccurate claims that Biden molested former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, kissed a toddler, and groped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have all been refuted by AFP in the past. Meanwhile, the president's meeting with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, garnered as much criticism from certain Republican wing members as it did support from Democrats and moderate Republicans. But the visit also provided plenty of fuel for rumors. Biden is known for being "hands-on," whether it is with handshakes, cheek kisses, or embraces that go a bit too long. Recently, a photograph that went viral on social media seemed to elevate the idea of lending a hand to Ukraine to a whole new level. In a photo that was reportedly shot this week at the White House, Biden may be seen cupping, if not outright grasping, his Ukrainian counterpart's bottom in front of the press during his historic visit to Washington on Wednesday. Right-wing media figures instantly seized on the photograph and used it to make fun of Zelensky and Biden as they work to persuade Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars in extra aid. But did Biden actually touch Zelensky's behind at a highly visible White House event? It is true that Zelensky was in the nation's capital on Wednesday, and the two leaders did spend a lot of time together. Almost all of their public interactions were recorded on film and video from various perspectives. Yes, the two engaged in a tight embrace in front of the media, with Biden's hand behind Zelensky's back and largely hidden from the reporters' line of sight in the pool. But they are the only details in this tale, which is really just the result of some cunning Photoshop work, as per Newsweek. The image's origin was quickly identified after a quick search of official White House social media accounts and reverse image searching: a rear-facing photo shared by first lady Jill Biden of her and her husband standing on either side of Zelensky with their hands clearly in the middle of the president's back. There are other hints that support the impression that the image has been altered when comparing the two photographs side by side. In addition, Zelensky's sweater had obvious wrinkles in the original shot that were intentionally smoothed out and removed in the modified version, where Biden's hand placement was altered. Read Also: TJ Holmes Files for Divorce from Wife Amid Affair Rumors with Co-Host Amy Robach Biden Visits Kentucky With McConnell President Joe Biden and top administration officials will tour the nation to discuss how the economy is benefited by his cooperation with Democrats and Republicans as we begin a new year of split government. Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will appear together for the first time on Wednesday in Kentucky, the home state of McConnell, to highlight the almost $1 trillion in infrastructure investment that was passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis in 2021. When the Democratic president travels to the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati region, he will be accompanied by a bipartisan group of political figures, including Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Two days before to Republicans retaking control of the House from Democrats on Tuesday as a result of GOP victories in the November elections, Biden's bipartisanship blitz was launched. Per Baltimore Sun, the change disrupts Democrats' unified political control of Congress and makes Biden's next legislative agenda more challenging. In the Senate, Democrats will continue to be in command. Related Article: Source: Vladimir Putin Health Worsen as Parkinson's Disease Advances Prompting Russian President To Cancel Significant Events @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Lisa Armstrong cosied up to boyfriend James Green for a sweet selfie on Instagram on Monday. The makeup artist, 46, was all smiles as she rang in the New Year with her beau while cutting a stylish figure in a black spotted shirt. Lisa, who split from TV presenter Ant McPartlin, 47, in 2018 following a 12-year marriage, slicked her short blonde tresses back out of her face. Loved-up: Lisa Armstrong cosied up to boyfriend James Green for a sweet selfie on Instagram on Monday as they rang in the New Year together She applied a radiant palette of makeup to showcase her beauty while accessorising with a large gold pendant necklace. Meanwhile James kept casual in a white round neck T-shirt which he added a brown open shirt over the top. penned to the post: 'Happy New Year from mine to yours!!! May all your dream and wishes for 2023 come true Sending health, love and happiness to all' All smiles: The makeup artist, 46, shared another selfie of the pair but this time as they relaxed at home donning reading glasses She also took to her Instagram Story to share another selfie of the pair but this time as they relaxed at home. The beauty twinned with James both donning reading glasses as she made the most of the festive season wearing a read Christmas jumper. Lisa went makeup free for the snap and slicked her short locks up in a high ponytail. She is believed to have started dating James in 2020 and went public with their relationship in August of last year, shortly after he separated from his wife Kirsty. Interesting: It comes after Ant McPartlin's ex-wife hinted at getting over a tough time as she shared a cryptic quote to her Instagram ahead of the New Year Cryptic: She referenced 'tears she cried in 2022' in the post - as he followers and friends rushed to support her in the comments It comes after Lisa hinted at getting over a tough time as she shared a cryptic quote to her Instagram ahead of the New Year. She referenced 'tears she cried in 2022' in the post - as her followers and friends rushed to support her in the comments. Lisa split from TV presenter Ant in 2018 following a 12-year marriage, and he is now remarried to Anne-Marie Corbett, while she found love with boyfriend James Green. It was a quote that read: 'Babe, may the tears you cried in 2022 water the seeds you're planting in 2023.' She was flooded with support in the comments as one wrote: 'A very happy new year Lisa - You deserve all good things. x' Strictly star Fleur East and dance pros Jowita Przysta and Nancy Xu all commented with love hearts underneath too. Ant was reported to have handed over 31 million to Lisa, including their 5million home in West London, after an 'eight-hour negotiation'. Former partner: Lisa split from TV presenter Ant , 47, in 2018 following a 12-year marriage (pictured in 2015) She and ex-husband Ant confirmed their split following his stint in rehab in 2017 where he sought help for alcohol and painkiller addiction. Following rehab, Ant took a year out from TV and he and Lisa parted ways, with their divorce being finalised in April 2020. Earlier this year, Lisa revealed she and beau James, her first serious relationship since splitting from Ant, had got matching tattoos, showing off their identical inkings in an Instagram post. In January Lisa and James marked their second Christmas together as a couple. Drake on Sunday took to Instagram with a series of Instagram Stories posts, including one in which he was posed with Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. in a post tagged in St. Barts. The Toronto native, 36 - who was previously seen in the luxe locale with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire - smiled as he posed with the Boyz n the Hood star, 55, on an apparent luxury yacht off the coast of the Caribbean island, a popular end-of-year destination for the wealthy. Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, captioned the shot, 'Cuba Gooding Jr and Dominican Badness Sr,' while the actor posted the same shot with the same caption, 'Boyz n da boat!' The latest: Drake, 36, on Sunday took to Instagram with a series of Instagram Stories post, including one in which he was posed with Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., 55, in a post tagged in St. Barts In the image, the God's Plan performer wore a black button-up shirt with a necklace with multiple diamonds, while the actor was clad in a white top with a black vest. Drake was also seen in a full-body selfie in which he donned a black button-up top with black pants and dress shoes. He also shared a series of shots including a throwback picture in which he sat atop a Rolls Royce, writing, 'I feel like this again.' Drake also tagged Migos rapper Quavo into a post while looked to be the back of the musical artist's head, with the caption, 'Quavo you was on one last night.' Drake was also seen in a full-body selfie in which he donned a black button-up top with black pants and dress shoes Drake also tagged Migos rapper Quavo into a post while looked to be the back of the musical artist's head, with the caption, 'Quavo you was on one last night' He also shared a series of shots including a throwback picture in which he sat atop a Rolls Royce, writing, 'I feel like this again' Drake shared a post of Chrome Hearts founder Laurie Lynn Stark, who he called 'my family' Drake also shared a memorial to late rapper Gangsta Boo, who was found dead at 43 Sunday Drake also shared a post of Chrome Hearts founder Laurie Lynn Stark, who he called 'my family'; and posted a memorial to late rapper Gangsta Boo, who was found dead at 43 Sunday. The rap superstar and Lenny Kravitz were among the slated performers at a UNICEF charity gala held on the luxe island at the Emeraude Hotel Thursday. Among the celebs who were expected to attend the exclusive bash included Diddy, Mary J. Blige and Mike Tyson, Hip Hop DX reported last week. Gooding, Tyson and DiCaprio were among those who were at last year's event. Jodi Gordon dressed to impress as she celebrated New Year's Eve in Sydney's Rose Bay on Saturday. The 37-year-old model and actress showed off her trim pins in a white mini dress as she arrived to upmarket Catalina restaurant. The former Home and Away star flaunted her incredible figure in the backless frock, which also featured sleeves. Jodi Gordon showed off her trim pins in a white mini dress as she celebrated New Year's Eve with her friends at Sydney's Catalina restaurant on Saturday Jodi accessorised her stylish dress with a pair of strappy nude heels, a small bag and statement earrings. The actress tied her brunette locks into a low ponytail and opted for a natural palette of makeup. The sighting comes after Jodi revealed she wants to continue her healthy approach to life in 2023. The former Home and Away star flaunted her incredible figure in the backless frock, which also featured sleeves The actress recently completed a 30-day recovery program for alcohol addiction at a Sydney clinic. 'I am really grateful for this year,' the mother of one told The Advertiser on Saturday. 'It taught so many lessons that have been so welcomed.' Jodi accessorised her stylish dress with a pair of strappy nude heels, a small bag and statement earrings 'I am very much looking forward to 2023 and I mean that in a most optimistic way,' Jodi continued. 'It's all about 2023, I am really excited and geared up for it.' The former model and ex-Home and Away star said the past year has been 'all about physical and mental health' and now she wants to, 'try different things constantly.' 'Whether that is through exercise or whatever [it is] a ''how far is a piece of string'' sort of thing.' Jeremy Renner is in critical but stable condition in the hospital after becoming injured while plowing snow outside his Lake Tahoe home. The 51-year-old Marvel star was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after police were called to his rural mansion Lake Tahoe. The circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear but police described it as a 'weather-related' incident involving a snow plow. A winter storm in the area left 35,000 people without power amid heavy snow fall and winds. Renner was alone at the time. Jeremy Renner, pictured in Lake Tahoe last year, is in critical but stable condition after an accident involving a snow plow The actor, 51, a two-time Academy Award nominee, was airlifted to the hospital on Sunday Renner is pictured at his home in 2017. He has told in the past of having to clear away the snow to gain access to the property 'We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather related accident while plowing snow earlier today. 'His family is with him and he is receiving excellent care,' a spokesman said in a statement. Washoe County Sheriffs Office public information officer Kristin Vietti added: 'Upon arrival, deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Jeremy Renner via care flight to a local area hospital. Renner tweeted about the huge amount of snow at his US ranch in December, writing: 'Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke.' His home is in a secluded mountainous area and he has shared numerous social media posts showing snow encasing his cars and even reaching his first floor windows. Fans have said they are praying for the two-time Academy Award nominee, best known for playing Avenger Hawkeye in the Marvel universe, Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy and William Brandt in the Mission Impossible movies. Renner's palatial Lake Tahoe home, pictured in the summer, is hard to reach during peak winter conditions The property is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains and is almost entirely isolated Renner is in 'critical but stable condition' due to injuries suffered after a 'weather related accident while plowing snow'. He is pictured here in such a machine last December A January 2017 clip sees Renner personally clearing away one of the paths close to his home. It is thought this is where he was hurt The actor has owned a home in above Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe in Washoe County for several years. It came as dozens of people were killed across the US amid blizzard conditions. The Arctic blast stirred up heavy winds and snow, trapping some residents inside their houses with snowdrifts and knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. The scope of the storm has been nearly unprecedented, stretching from the Great Lakes near Canada down to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico. Last month the area in the Sierra Mountains suffered a massive snowfall which saw Renner tweet this photo of his car that was completely buried by the snow It's not uncommon for massive amounts of snow to fall at Renner's ranch so he needs to be fully equipped to deal with the wintry weather conditions. Above, a past snowfall at the home Renner appears to have all manner of snow clearing machines in order to clear away snow In a video posted to his Instagram account last December, the actor could be seen enjoying driving his industrial-sized snow thrower. 'I have so much respect for Mother Earth, and Mother Nature I expect to lose the fight but I'll always give it my best shot,' he wrote. Several other pictures and videos posted to social media show him enjoying driving heavy machinery with everything from plows on caterpillar tracks to massive snow plows and other winter weather buggies. In the past Renner has also openly told of how he often spends time working with local fire departments, helping their teams, and has even bought a spare fire engine. 'I work with the fire departments up there and they are pretty awesome. They are teaching me and helping me, and I still have to get some more hours in with them.' Fans took to Twitter to wish for Renner a speedy recovery. 'I hope he pulls through. That's horrifying,' one person tweeted. 'Praying for Jeremy Renner,' said another. 'Sending up prayers for his swift recovery' wrote another well-wisher. The Avengers actor spends time at the ranch with his nine-year-old daughter Ava, who he shares with his ex-wife Sonni Pacheco. Renner and Pacheco wed in 2014 and split later that year, with their divorce finalized the following year. Their split made headlines after Pacheco leveled a number of claims at the Hawkeye actor amid their custody battle for Ava. Pacheco in 2019 said in court docs filed in Los Angeles that Renner had threatened he would fatally shoot her and himself, TMZ reported. She claimed that the actor had been verbally abusive to her and had issues with drug abuse, which Renner denied. Renner has been in a long-running custody battle with his ex-wife Sonni Pacheco over their daughter Ava. The exes are pictured together with their daughter in 2016 A rep for the Mayor of Kingstown actor told US Weekly in October of 2019, 'The well-being of his daughter Ava has always been and continues to be the primary focus for Jeremy. This is a matter for the court to decide. 'Its important to note the dramatizations made in Sonnis declaration are a one-sided account made with a specific goal in mind.' The couple's public clash made headlines last year at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, when Renner submitted court docs in an effort to have his child support payments lowered, citing a lack of work as the studios had shut down at the time. She subsequently told Page Six in a statement, 'It is very disheartening that in a time of global crisis there is yet another attempt to reduce funds I rely on to provide for our child.' A powerful storm has brought heavy rain and snowfall to much of California, causing traffic jams and closing major roads as the state prepared to usher in a new year. In the high Sierra Nevada, where Renner's home is located, about 2ft of snow fell on New Year's Day - but as much as 5ft was predicted. The Sacramento agency released a map of 24-hour precipitation showing a wide range of totals in the region, from less than an inch in some areas to more than 5in in the Sierra foothills. The US National Weather Service in Sacramento had warned about hazardous driving conditions and posted photos on Twitter showing traffic on snow-covered mountain passes, where vehicles are required to have chains or four-wheel drive. Renner also appeared to love his toys when it comes to getting out and about in wintry weather Another view of the driveway up to Jeremy Renner's home as seen on his Instagram page Jeremy Renner is in 'critical but stable condition' due to injuries suffered after a 'weather related accident while plowing snow' A so-called atmospheric river storm was pulling in a long and wide plume of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Near Lake Tahoe, dozens of drivers were rescued on New Year's Eve along Interstate 80 after cars spun out in the snow during the blizzard, the California Department of Transportation said. The key route to the mountains from the San Francisco Bay Area reopened early Sunday to passenger vehicles with chains. 'The roads are extremely slick so lets all work together and slow down so we can keep I-80 open,' the California Highway Patrol said on Twitter. Several other highways, including State Route 50, also reopened. More than 4ft of snow had accumulated in the high Sierra Nevada, and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area said heavy, wet snow would cause major delays in chairlift openings. On Saturday, the resort reported numerous lift closings, citing high winds, low visibility and ice. Flooding and rock slides also closed portions of roads across Northern California. It was the first of several storms expected to roll across California over the next week. Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said the current system is expected to be warmer and wetter, while next week's storms will be colder. Renner is a two-time Oscar nominee, scoring back-to-back nods for The Hurt Locker and The Town. John Travolta and his daughter Ella Bleu rang in the New Year by sharing a message together on Instagram. On Sunday, the superstar actor, 68, shared the short video with his 4.7M followers and captioned the post, 'Happy new year everyone!' In the short clip, the Grease icon and his daughter sat across from each other at a white table and spoke in tandem, saying, 'We love you, and Happy New Year.' Rining in 2023: John Travolta and his daughter Ella Bleu shared a New Year's message together on Instagram saying, 'We love you, and Happy New Year everyone!' The 22-year-old daughter of Travolta and Kelly Preston made her acting debut in 2009's Old Dogs, which starred both her mother and father. The performer went on to appear in 2019's The Poison Rose, which saw her father costarring alongside Morgan Freeman. In addition to Ella, Travolta also has a 12-year-old son named Benjamin, and his late son Jett, died at 16 of a seizure in 2009. Happy family: Travolta is a parent to daughter Ella Bleu and son Benjamin, 11 (pictured) Leading lady: Last year, it was announced that the actress would be making further strides in her acting career by starring in the upcoming film Get Lost 2022 was a hard year for John as two of his dear friends and costars passed away. Kristie Alley died last month on December 5th at the age of 71, and his Grease costar Olivia Newton-John died in August at the age of 73. Travolta posted a memorial to Kirstie in the wake of her passing and wrote, 'Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had. I love you Kirstie,' said Travolta, 'I know we will see each other again.' The latest: Kirstie Alley's friend and confidante Travolta, took to Instagram on Dec. 5 to pay memorial to the actress in the wake of her passing at 71. Pictured together at an LA screening of his film The Fanatic in LA Travolta said of Alley, 'Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had. I love you Kirstie' Alley and Travolta played the respective roles of James and Mollie in 1989's Look Who's Talking and its two sequels Alley described Travolta as 'the greatest love of my life' during an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 2013. Travolta and Alley had appeared opposite one another in the Look Who's Talking films - 1989's Look Who's Talking, 1990's Look Who's Talking Too, and 1993's Look Who's Talking Now - in which they played James and Mollie, respectively. In August of 2019, Travolta called Alley his 'best girlfriend' and 'soulmate' while speaking to US. Travolta was pictured with Alley and Kelly Preston at the LA premiere of Old Dogs in 2007 Alley's death marks another tragedy for Travolta, who lost his friend and Grease costar Olivia Newton John earlier this summer following her death at 73 following a cancer battle. They were snapped in 2018 in LA Alley's death marks the latest personal tragedy for Travolta, who lost his wife Kelly Preston, two years ago at 57 from cancer in July of 2020 at the family's home in Clearwater, Florida. In November, Travolta was reunited on-screen with his former co-star Bruce Willis in the action-packed film Paradise City. The film is one of the last that 67-year-old Willis completed before his family announced in March that he was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. New movie: Bruce Willis, 67, was reunited with his former costar Travolta, 68, in the action-packed film Paradise City. The film was completed before he announced his retirement in March due to an aphasia diagnosis The movie also marks the first major collaboration between Willis and Travolta since they starred in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 crime classic Pulp Fiction. Willis stars in the film as an aging bounty hunter taking on one of his most dangerous missions yet in Hawaii. After he is shot and presumed dead, his son Ryan (Blake Jenner) teams up with his father's former partner (Stephen Dorff) to hunt down his killers, all while dealing with a sadistic crime lord (Travolta). Kylie Jenner spent the first day of 2023 snow tubing with her daughter Stormi Webster in the gorgeous woods of Aspen, Colorado. The beauty mogul, 25 who celebrated New Years Eve with her A-list group of friends posted a TikTok of her shooting down a bunny hill with four-year-old Stormi in her lap. Jenner also admired the pristine nature of the woods around her luxury cabin and frolicked with Stormi in the snow. Tubing into 2023: Kylie Jenner, 25, spent the first day of 2023 snow tubing with her four-year-old daughter Stormi Webster in the gorgeous woods of Aspen, Colorado 'We're on a serious adventure right now,' Kylie says to a friend as she records her incredible surroundings. 'So beautiful.' The only sound that could be heard was the babbling brook as The Kardashians star filmed the serene nature outside her lavish cabin. Snow dusted every tree and covered the ground in a thick blanket of white while Jenner soaked it all in for a few seconds. The next scene of Kylie's TikTok showed her taking Stormi's hand and showing her the falling snow, capturing a majestic mother-daughter moment. 'It's snow,' chirped Kylie with awe, gesturing to speckled air around them. 'You see it?' Hold on! The beauty mogul posted a TikTok of her shooting down a bunny hill with four-year-old Stormi in her lap Fun with mom: Stormi was undoubtedly having a blast with her billionaire mom Daredevils: 'Oh my god!' exclaimed The Kardashians star as she and Stormi hit the side of the snow bank, spinning them round as they slid to a stop Kylie's TikTok ended with her hunkered down in a blue inflatable tube, holding Stormi in her lap as they rocketed down a cute little hill. 'Oh my god!' exclaimed Kylie as she and Stormi hit the side of the snow bank, spinning them round as they slid to a stop. 'We did fine!' declared Kylie, beaming at her daughter. 'We did fine!' Stormi was undoubtedly having a blast with her billionaire mom. The adorable pair were bundled up in matching black puffers, beanies and snow pants. Too cute: The adorable pair were bundled up in matching black puffers, beanies and snow pants Kylie and her daughter's fun-filled first snow day of 2023 comes after the pair rang in 2023 with family and friends in downtown Aspen. They were joined Stormi's supermodel aunt Kendall Jenner, Kylies best friend Anastasia Karanikolaou, and close pals Justin and Hailey Bieber. Kylie hit the slopes over the weekend with Kendall and Justin while Stormi enjoyed some playtime in the luxurious powder of Aspen. Their Colorado getaway caps off a lavish holiday season that included an over-the-top Halloween, a royal Thanksgiving dinner, and an extravagant Christmas Eve bash. Kylie's partner Travis Scott, 31, did not attend the Aspen sojourn. Perhaps keeping it a mother-daughter trip, it appeared that Kylie also left her and Scott's 11-month-old son Wolf back at home. Stunning: Jenner also admired the pristine nature of the woods around her luxury cabin. 'We're on a serious adventure right now,' Kylie says to a friend as she records her incredible surroundings. 'So beautiful' Megan Marx has shared a sobering throwback photo of herself taken in April when she suffered from stress to highlight her personal progress since then. The Bachelor star, 33, shared the alarming picture to her Instagram Stories on Monday which showed her wearing an exercise bra and brown dress. The Western Australian-born beauty looks glum in the snap which was taken during a difficult period in her life. Megan Marx (pictured) has shared a photo of herself taken in April when she suffered from stress, to highlight her personal progress since then Fortunately, Megan worked hard to overcome her personal challenges and is set to start the New Year with a positive mindset. The brunette beauty captioned the post with some reflective words: 'April 2022, violently stressed (makes me sad looking at this pic). 'Counting my blessings starting 2023 happy and healthy,' she added. The Bachelor star shared the alarming snap to her Instagram Stories on Monday which showed a downbeat Megan wearing an exercise bra and brown dress It comes after Megan was rushed to hospital in Queensland in 2021 after experiencing severe abdominal pain. She required immediate medical attention after getting off a flight from Western Australia. 'Flew from WA back to Queensland yesterday after six weeks away for this egg donation. Ended up going straight to hospital from the plane,' she explained in a lengthy Instagram post. The Western Australian-born beauty looks glum in the snap which was taken during a difficult period in her life She said her symptoms included: 'Severe abdominal swelling and pain, pain on pressure, plus a few other milder symptoms (nausea, dizziness, leg pain, shortness of breath). Unsure if being in the air made it worse.' Megan was diagnosed with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). 'OHSS is no joke, I can't imagine how people with severe symptoms deal with this, because it's just been a week of hell,' she said. However, Megan reassured her fans she would pull through: 'I'll be fine. Basically the amount of fluid leaking into my body is causing all these issues.' If you need support for body image issues, you can contact The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 334 673. Oprah Winfrey and her bestie Gayle King joined up with a group of friends for an end-of-year gratitude hike, as a way to bid farewell to 2022 and hello to the year ahead. The television icon documented the 10-mile trek in a series of four videos posted on her Instagram page, which were full of fun and light moments where the two longtime friends joked with each other and their fellow hikers. Off the top of the first video, Winfrey stood with the group, who were all decked out in their hiking gear, as they prepared to take on the hills and mountains with a spiritual mantra in mind. Spiritual hike: Oprah Winfrey and BFF Gayle King headed out on what they called a 'gratitude hike' to show appreciation for 'the year you've had' and 'for the blessings you've received' Smells like victory: The television icon raised her hands high into the air on more than one occasion to signify her triumphant spirit during the hike 'So here's the deal,' The OWN founder began dressed in a pink sweatsuit and hat. 'We're doing an end-of-year hike. This isn't just hiking up a mountain, this is a gratitude hike. 'So, the whole intention of this hike is to show gratitude for the life you live, for the year you've had, for the blessings you've received, so it's a gratitude and praise hike.' 'I'll be doing this in the name of Barbara Walters, who has been a great mentor and friend to me' she added. The group then all shared their 'mantras' for going up the hill, with Winfreys being, In God I move and have my being.' Taking the lead: 'So here's the deal,' The OWN founder began dressed in a pink sweatsuit. 'We're doing an end-of-year hike. This isn't just hiking up a mountain, this is a gratitude hike Hike dedication: 'I'll be doing this in the name of Barbara Walters, who has been a great mentor and friend to me' she added The group then all shared their 'mantras' for going up the hill, with Winfreys being, In God I move and have my being' Winfrey shared to her 21.8 million fans and followers that the hike would be 'uphill for 5 miles straight. 10.2 miles round trip.' Impressive: Winfrey powered through the gorgeous countryside hour after hour Writing in the caption, Winfrey shared to her 21.8 million fans and followers that the hike would be 'uphill for 5 miles straight. 10.2 miles round trip.' For the second video, Winfrey had obviously put in a significant time hiking, considering her heavy breathing and sweat on her face, when she stopped to give an update. 'Here's the big deal. A year ago I had knee surgery. So November of last year, I couldn't walk period. So I am an [advertisement] for new knees,' she boasted. After sharing about her health struggles with her knees and recovery, the television icon proceeded to turn around and continue on hiking up a steep green mountain. Update: For the second video, Winfrey had obviously put in a significant time hiking, considering her heavy breathing and sweat on her face, when she stopped to give an update Progress: 'Here's the big deal. A year ago I had knee surgery. So November of last year, I couldn't walk period. So I am an [advertisement] for new knees,' she boasted Pushing ahead: The Mississippi native only paused for a couple of minutes before turning around and head back out on the hike The longtime talk show host and her group tackled plenty of steep hills with the assistance of ski poles, which helped with her recovering knees The third video was shot when the group made it to the top and celebrated with a bread and cheese picnic. While laying on the green lush grass, Winfrey and King showed off their incredible chemistry, which oftentimes includes lots of comedy and laughter. 'This is confirmation: I love bread,' Winfrey declared, while seemingly still catching her breath, as she opened up a white covering to reveal a gorgeous loaf of bread. King then chimed in about how she was 'poo-pooing bread but now it sounds like a good idea.' In the caption, Winfrey offered a bit of words of wisdom: 'As you walk into this new year, take this as a reminder to put one foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. And whether youre hiking an actual mountain or just tackling a problem, remember to look at how far youve come and not how far you have left to go. Happy 2023' Top of the mountain: After reaching to the top of the mountain, the group stopped to celebrate and eat a snack, which Oprah indulged herself with a bread and cheese picnic Tasty: 'This is confirmation: I love bread,' Winfrey declared, while seemingly still catching her breath, as she opened up a white covering to reveal a gorgeous loaf of bread. Jokester: King joked about how she was 'poo-pooing bread but now it sounds like a good idea' 'Words of wisdom: As you walk into this new year, take this as a reminder to put one foot in front of the other... And whether youre hiking an actual mountain or just tackling a problem, remember to look at how far youve come and not how far you have left to go,' Winfrey shared in the caption The fourth and final video showcased the group as they finished the Gratitude Hike. The clip focused largely on King, who sounded winded in the final homestretch. And like many of the other moments, the two BFFs still found the time to joke about how they took longer than expected to do the trek. 'How did @gayleking do during our 5-hour hike? (7 hours for Gayle, actually.) Here you goshe says her toes hurt today,' the former host of The Oprah Winfrey Show shared in the caption of the last post. The two ladies' friendship dates back more than 46 years when they met in the early 20s while working at WJZ-TV in Baltimore in 1976 Winfrey as a news anchor and King as a production assistant and writer, according to Yahoo. Over the hills and through the fields: King show solid stamina while out on the trails through the gorgeous green hillsides The last stretch: The final video showcased the group as they finished the gratitude hike Finish line: Winfrey joked about how King took 7 hours to do a 5 hour hike, and that she got turf toe afterwards The clip focused largely on King, who sounded winded in the final homestretch Hilarious: Despite being exhausted, the former host of The Oprah Winfrey Show still found it in herself to joke about how she and King took a lot long then expected to finish Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani took their sons Wyatt and Sebastian out in New York City on Sunday afternoon just hours after hosting CNN's New Year's Eve festivities. The 55-year-old broadcaster wore a big black jacket with a pair of matching pants and casual sneakers. He pulled a black cap with the Caterpillar construction logo in the center of the hat. Out with the kids: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani took their sons Wyatt and Sebastian out in New York City on Sunday afternoon Maisani, 49, wore a brown jacket and a pair of blue jeans. He walked in beat up white sneakers. His gray hair was cut short on the sides though he left some length on top of her head. The France native held his two-year-old son Wyatt who wore a bright red and blue jacket. Bundled up: The 55-year-old broadcaster wore a big black jacket with a pair of matching pants and casual sneakers CAT cap: He pulled a black cap with the Caterpillar construction logo in the center of the hat Casual outfit: Maisani, 49, wore a brown jacket and a pair of blue jeans. He walked in beat up white sneakers Green and gray striped socks stopped in the middle of his shins. An orange beanie was pulled down tightly on his head. Cooper pushed their newborn son Sebastian in a big gray stroller as they made their way down the street. Maisani and Cooper first started dating back in 2015, but they finished broke up a few years later in 2018. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, the pair still co-parent the two children together. Holding his son: The France native held his two-year-old son Wyatt who wore a bright red and blue jacket Pushing their son: Cooper pushed their newborn son Sebastian in a big gray stroller as they made their way down the street Working together: He co-hosted the broadcast with Bravo personality Andy Cohen. The duo were not allowed to drink alcohol on the program, a big change from previous years that didn't go unnoticed by fans Cooper stepped out on Sunday after co-hosting CNN's New Year's Eve Coverage in Times Square. He co-hosted the broadcast with Bravo personality Andy Cohen. The duo were not allowed to drink alcohol on the program, a big change from previous years that didn't go unnoticed by fans. Cohen and Cooper addressed the change at the beginning of the broadcast with Cooper asking Cohen if he'd be alright without a drink. 'Do I have a pocket of edibles? I dont know,' Cohen joked. 'This is a long night. This is a telethon with no disease.' Andy got a lot of attention last year when he went on an alcohol-fueled tirade that touched on public figures ranging from Bill de Blasio to Ryan Seacrest. Tammy Hembrow has shared an adorable video of her eight-month-old daughter Posy giggling. In the footage shared to Instagram Stories, Tammy is every inch the doting mother as she plays with her bub and makes the youngster laugh. The tot is seen giggling enthusiastically as Tammy makes soft cooing noises and gently rocks her back and forth. Tammy Hembrow was every inch the doting mother on Sunday when she shared an adorable video of her daughter Posy giggling. Both pictured Tammy captioned the video with some sweet words: 'Best sound ever'. It comes after Tammy confirmed her split with ex fiance Matt Poole just seven months after the birth of their daughter Posy. The blonde bombshell let the news slip during a recent photoshoot in Sydney. The tot is seen giggling enthusiastically as Tammy makes soft cooing noises and gently rocks her back and forth She confessed it was 'tough work being a single mother of three,' according to one of the makeup artists on set. The source told Daily Mail Australia: 'Tammy said she and Matt split a little while ago and that he was now doing his own thing - which is why she brought her baby Posy to set'. Last month, Tammy shared a number of family photos posing with a supermarket Santa - and Matt was notably missing. Tammy and the kids including Wolf, Saskia, and Posy beamed as they sat with Father Christmas at Pacific Fair. The fitness influencer posted the sweet footage to Instagram Stories Tammy made no mention of Matt in the caption of the photos, instead writing: 'Wormie girls first time with Santa.' The pair began dating in 2020 and became engaged in November 2021. Just two weeks after revealing they were engaged, they announced they were also expecting their first child together. Tammy also shares son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, with her former fiance Reece Hawkins. Tammy shares Posy with her ex fiance Matt Poole (pictured) A NASA official is concerned about China's plans to land on the moon. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reveals in a recent interview that he and others inside the scientific agency are growing increasingly concerned about the nation's plans for when it reaches the moon. China might aim to dominate the market on resource-rich places on the moon's surface and prevent access to the moon for the United States and other countries, according to Nelson. China's Moon Ambitions Less than one month has passed since three Chinese astronauts returned after a six-month mission in which they helped construct and launch a new space station. In an interview with Politico, Nelson stated that he and others are apprehensive that the Communist nation may attempt to claim land upon their arrival on the moon. The NASA administrator expressed concern that China may use a similar approach to claiming territory and water in the South China Sea. China has asserted sovereignty over the disputed Spratly Islands and utilized them to install weapons and other buildings perhaps large enough to house ballistic missile launchers. NASA and China's space program have spent the past several months working towards the objective of reaching the moon within the next few years. An Orion capsule orbited the moon during the 26-day Artemis I mission from November to December, bringing NASA one step closer to its goal of establishing a human presence on the moon. According to estimates, NASA might achieve mission success as early as 2025. The approval of a budget by Congress that does not provide the full cash requested by the EPA might exacerbate Nelson's worries. Per Daily Mail, Nelson stated that the agency will nonetheless support all of its most vital assets, including the future Artemis II and Artemis III moon missions, despite not getting the entire budget. Read Also: Source: Vladimir Putin Health Worsen as Parkinson's Disease Advances Prompting Russian President To Cancel Significant Events NASA's Lunar Mission Nelson went on to mention China's aggressiveness in the South China Sea, where the Chinese government has repeatedly asserted sovereignty over other nations' territory. Earlier this year, China's expanding space program successfully established a new space station. Meanwhile, NASA has been developing its Artemis series of lunar missions. Artemis I was launched in November on a 26-day mission to photograph the lunar surface, and the Artemis II and III missions are a step toward establishing a more permanent presence on the moon. NASA has also concentrated on Mars, sending many robotic rovers to the planet to collect information on its soil, atmosphere, and prospective landing zones for a human mission. In December, Artemis I returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, Fox News reported. China's investment in spaceflight and other rocket technologies coincides with an ongoing arms competition with the United States and Russia, since all three nations are developing hypersonic weapons. Related Article: US Air Force Plane Forced To Do 'Evasive Maneuvers' To Avoid Collision with Chinese Fighter Pilot [VIDEO] @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jamie Dutton shockingly announced he was moving to impeach his own father Governor John Dutton on Sunday nights midseason finale of Yellowstone on the Paramount Network as part of his plan to take over as Governor of Montana himself. 'I have called this emergency meeting of the Assembly to address an egregious act of dereliction,' Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley), as attorney general of the state, said. 'In canceling funding for the Paradise Valley regional airport and surrounding residential, commercial and mixed communities, Governor Dutton has violated state law and his sworn oath of office to act in the best interests of the state.' Jamies call for impeachment tribunal was swiftly voted on by the legislature after he explained that his father had robbed the state of billions of dollars of revenue and threatened the state with litigation and that those actions will have devastating consequences to our constituents. Taking charge: Jamie Dutton shockingly announced he was moving to impeach his own father Governor John Dutton on Sunday nights midseason finale of Yellowstone on the Paramount Network as part of his plan to take over as Governor of Montana himself At the same time, John (Kevin Costner) was appearing at a press conference alongside Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the Native American leader, and US Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz-Grillo) to oppose an oil pipeline going through the Ranch and reservation land. 'Running the pipeline beneath the drinking water of an already strained and impoverished community may be progress for the owners of the pipeline, or owners of whatever runs through the pipeline or for those receiving it but it could lead to disastrous effects to the land and the people this pipeline runs beneath,' John said. John said as governor of Montana he would use his full power to prevent the pipeline from happening. Suddenly, the news of Jamie calling for impeachment broke and reporters started scrambling to get Johns reaction. Lynelle advised him to not answer any questions but to leave. Meanwhile: At the same time, John (Kevin Costner) was appearing at a press conference alongside Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), the Native American leader, and US Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz-Grillo) to oppose an oil pipeline going through the Ranch and reservation land Interrupted: Suddenly, the news of Jamie calling for impeachment broke and reporters started scrambling to get Johns reaction 'This moment isnt about me and I wont let it be,' John said to the reporters. 'The issues facing this reservation are real. Far more real than any theater being played out in Helena right now.' John got into his car and left. When Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) learned what Jamie did she was livid and came after him. Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo) showed Beth the videos of Jamie calling for the impeachment tribunal. 'That motherf***er,' Beth said. Bad news: When Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) learned what Jamie did she was livid and came after him. Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo) showed Beth the videos of Jamie calling for the impeachment tribunal Outraged: 'That motherf***er,' Beth said, before driving straight to Jamie's house Beth drove straight to Jamies house. He was in bed with Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). 'Hes going to fight,' Jamie said. 'I dont doubt it,' Sarah said. Beth started ringing his doorbell. Bump in the night: Beth started ringing his doorbell. 'Just ignore you, she will go away,' Sarah said. 'You dont know my sister,' Jamie said. 'Just ignore you, she will go away,' Sarah said. 'You dont know my sister,' Jamie said. Beth used rock to break a window to open his door. 'Get the f*** out of my house,' Jamie said, grabbing her. 'F*** you Jamie,' Beth said. Beth smashed him in the head with the rock knocking him to the ground. Ouch! Beth smashed him in the head with the rock knocking him to the ground 'Tomorrow you will call a press conference and you will resign from office,' Beth said. 'Do you f***ing understand me, Jamie? You will resign or Im printing photos for the sheriff.' 'No, you are not,' Jamie said. 'How many bodies has your father put in the same spot?' Jamie said. 'Turn me in and you turn him in. Have you thought this through?' Jamie laughed when he realized Beth hadnt put it together. Doesn't work: 'Tomorrow you will call a press conference and you will resign from office,' Beth said. 'Do you f***ing understand me, Jamie? You will resign or Im printing photos for the sheriff.' 'No, you are not,' Jamie said Clueless: 'How many bodies has your father put in the same spot?' Jamie said. 'Turn me in and you turn him in. Have you thought this through?' Jamie laughed when he realized Beth hadnt put it together 'There is a century's worth of our family secrets down at the bottom of that canyon,' Jamie said. 'You want to see how fast they take the ranch from us then?' 'Bullsh**,' Beth said. 'Ask your husband,' Jamie said. 'Where the train station is, and how many times hes been there.' Jamie said Beth knew that the only way to save the ranch for future generations was through monetization. Useless: 'There is a century's worth of our family secrets down at the bottom of that canyon,' Jamie said. 'You want to see how fast they take the ranch from us then?' 'Hows the cattle ranch treating you, Beth?' Jamie. 'You see any long term plays there? You know all of this!' Jamie said what he was doing was guaranteeing the ranch was passed down to Tate, to his son and to their children some day. 'The greatest threat to that ranch is our father and you know that too,' Jamie said. 'So I will remove the threat.' Sarah came down wrapped in a sheet. Comfort: Sarah came down wrapped in a sheet and treated Jamie's injury 'Bet youre one expensive hooker,' Beth said. 'Enjoying your marionette?' 'Every inch of him,' Sarah said. 'So its war,' Beth said. 'Wars over, Beth,' Jamie said. 'No, Jamie, war is just beginning,' Beth said. Beth drove back to the ranch. John was sitting with Lynelle, Clara Brewer (Lilli Kay) watching a news report that said it was believed the protected wolves pack had been killed on the Governors ranch. Questions: Beth drove back to the ranch. She asked her father what the 'train station' was 'They never reached out for comment,' Clara said. 'Its a hit piece, Clara,' Lynelle said. 'They smell blood in the water.' Beth walked in demanding to know exactly what the 'train station' was. 'Its a trash can for everyone whos attacked us,' John said. 'It lies in a jurisdictional dead zone in a county with a population of exactly zero Why are you so surprised? Where did you think the men who attacked you in your office and attacked our ranch went?' John said they needed a way to defend themselves. Turned a blind eye: 'Its a trash can for everyone whos attacked us,' John said. 'It lies in a jurisdictional dead zone in a county with a population of exactly zero Why are you so surprised? Where did you think the men who attacked you in your office and attacked our ranch went?' 'Jamie knows about it,' Beth said. John said he already knew that. 'He will use everything he knows to destroy you,' Beth said. Beth took a seat next to him. 'If there is a place our enemies go and no one ever knows they went, and they will never come back then I think thats the place for Jamie,' Beth said. 'What do you think daddy?' Going on offense: Sarah told Jamie there were professional companies and could kill someone and make it look like a heart attack or a car accident Back at Jamies house, Sarah helped Jamie dress his wound. 'What do you think she will do next?' Sarah asked. 'I think she will try to have me killed,' Jamie said. Sarah told him to assign himself security. 'Thats playing defense,' Jamie said. 'What if I want to play offense?' Sarah told him there were professional companies and would make it look like a heart attack or a car accident. 'Perhaps I could meet with them, and see how they would handle this,' Jamie said. Sarah said it would be better if she met with them for him. Running interference: 'Perhaps I could meet with them, and see how they would handle this,' Jamie said. Sarah said it would be better if she met with them for him The episode titled A Knife and No Coin opened with a flashback of John helping Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) cover up the fact that he killed a ranch hand on his property when he was younger. John demanded what the man said about his daughter Beth that made him so angry that he killed him and why it bothered him. 'Is something going on between you and my daughter?' John asked. Rip didnt answer. John said in the future the only time he will fight would be to protect somebody on the ranch or the ranch itself. Later over a fire, John explained to Rip that he was committing himself to the ranch for the rest of his life. He put an iron brand with the letter Y' in the fire. Bad deeds: The episode titled A Knife and No Coin opened with a flashback of John helping Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) cover up the fact that he killed a ranch hand on his property when he was younger Committed: 'You will have a home till the day you die or this ranch is no more,' John said. 'Now that is something worth fighting for.' 'You will have a home till the day you die or this ranch is no more,' John said. 'Now that is something worth fighting for.' When he got back to the lodge, he showed the other ranch hands that a 'Y' had been branded on his chest. John earlier in the show told Monica Long (Kelsey Asbille) that there was a house for her and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) on the ranch. Making an offer: John earlier in the show told Monica Long (Kelsey Asbille) that there was a house for her and Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) on the ranch John said he needed everyones help. 'We can help,' Monica said. 'Thats all you ever had to do, you know, just ask.' 'Well, now I know,' John said. Kayce rode up and John got emotional and hugged him. 'You're stronger than I was, I guess thats how its supposed to be,'John said. 'I love you son.' Watch the latest episodes of Yellowstone available on Stan in Australia. Robbie Williams has revealed that his eldest daughter Teddy has dyslexia, just like him. The Angels hitmaker announced in 2020 that he suffered from the condition and has now confirmed that his 10-year-old daughter has also been diagnosed. In an interview with Galore magazine, the 48-year-old, said: 'My older daughter suffers from dyslexia, just like me.' 'If you suffer from it, you're not automatically stupid': Robbie Williams has revealed that his eldest daughter Teddy has dyslexia, just like him The learning difficulty, which causes sufferers to frequently spell and read words wrong, is known to run in families. He continued: 'When I was growing up in Stoke-on-Trent in the Eighties, however, dyslexia was still a completely unknown diagnosis. 'I have to explain to her what dyslexia is, what it means for people, how to deal with it. And that if you suffer from it, you're not automatically stupid.' Robbie, who also has Charlie, eight, Coco, four, and two-year-old Beau with wife Ayda Field, said that Teddy had been struggling after being abandoned by a friend following her diagnosis with the learning condition. Tough: Robbie said that Teddy had been struggling after being abandoned by a friend following her diagnosis with the learning condition The couple are known for keeping their family life relatively private and away from the spotlight. Robbie said: 'The other thing, one of her friends decided overnight that she didn't want anything to do with her any more. Teddy was devastated, completely desperate. 'I tried to make it clear to her that sometimes you just have to let other people go, that you should let them go - but without sacrificing your own self-esteem in the process. 'This girl did not serve her love and friendship. Again, as I said, I speak from experience.' Robbie previously explained that he was 'numerically dyslexic' as he finds it hard to add and subtract numbers together and struggles to remember key dates such as family birthdays. He said: 'I'm numerically dyslexic. I can't add or subtract. 'I always get in trouble because I don't know my kids' birth dates and I don't know our anniversary and I don't know my wife's birthday ... I can't even remember our house in Los Angeles. It has four digits for the start of the address and I can't ever remember what those digits are.' Family: Robbie shares children Charlie, eight, Coco, four, and two-year-old Beau with wife Ayda Field Robbie claimed he's going to increase his tattoo collection by getting important dates inked on him as a reminder. Speaking on the Three Little Words podcast, he compared his life to 2000 movie thriller Memento, about a man who loses his memory every 15 minutes. He said: 'I'm going to get them all tattooed, all of those dates, so I know them and have them. 'Cause every day is like Memento to me.' Sam Wood and his wife Snezana have entered their fifth year of marriage. And the pair, who met on The Bachelor, have proven that the years have only made their love grow fonder. The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other during a trip to a Melbourne beach as they welcomed 2023 on Monday. Sam Wood and his wife Snezana have entered their fifth year of marriage. Pictured together Sam, 42, and Snezana, also 42, cuddled up in the surf and giggled as they packed on the PDA. Snezana looked sensational in a mismatched bikini with an animal print top and black bottoms. She had had brunette locks pulled back in a loose bun and appeared to skip makeup for the occasion. The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other during a trip to a Melbourne beach as they welcomed 2023 on Monday The pair, who met on The Bachelor, have proven that the years have only made their love grow stronger Sam, 42, and Snezana, also 42, cuddled up in the surf and giggled as they packed on the PDA Flashing her megawatt smile, Snezana looked like she was having an absolute ball as she darted in and out of the surf. Personal trainer Sam meanwhile showed off his fit form as he jogged along the beach in a pair of floral boardshorts. The couple had their children with them, with Snezana carrying her four-year-old daughter Willow into the water. Snezana looked sensational in a mismatched bikini with an animal print top and black bottoms She had had brunette locks pulled back in a loose bun and appeared to skip makeup for the occasion Flashing her megawatt smile, Snezana looked like she was having an absolute ball The Woods welcomed their third child together, and Snezana's fourth overall, a girl named Harper, back in May. Sadly, the couple faced heartbreak when their newborn was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Snezana was also hospitalised with sepsis shortly after the delivery. Personal trainer Sam meanwhile showed off his fit form He was enjoying the beach in a pair of floral boardshorts The couple had their children with them for the outing Snezana was carrying her four-year-old daughter Willow into the water After 24 days in the hospital, Harper was able to go home. 'Of course in true Snez fashion her only thoughts were for her little baby and it was breaking her heart that she couldn't hold her,' Sam said at the time. 'Snezana Wood, you really are the strongest and most beautiful person I know and like you, thank god the force is strong in little Harper.' The Woods welcomed their third child together, and Snezana's fourth overall, a girl named Harper, back in May Sadly, the couple faced heartbreak when their newborn was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Snezana was also hospitalised with sepsis shortly after the delivery After 24 days in the hospital, Harper was able to go home Snezana and Sam have been together since meeting on The Bachelor in 2015. They tied the knot in Byron Bay, NSW, in 2018 and share daughters Willow, five, Charlie, three, and seven-month-old Harper. Sam is also stepfather to Snezana's 17-year-old daughter Eve. Love Island star Andrea 'AJ' Bunker took to social media on Monday to reveal she was forced to go into urgent care in hospital after falling seriously ill on holiday. The TV star, 30, spoke about her recent social media absence with a bikini-clad post taken on her holiday in Sri Lanka. She wrote: 'Sorry for being so quiet. I became really ill when I got back from Sri Lanka, to the point where I had to go to urgent care. Love Island star Andrea 'AJ' Bunker revealed her secret hospital dash after falling seriously ill following a holiday to Sri Lanka on social media 'Since then Ive been focusing on getting 100% better, while catching up with my family/friends. Im finally feeling better and will be back to posting.' Andrea appeared on the seventh season of Love Island and had been posting from her recent trip before she took some time away from Instagram. She wrote on the last day of her trip: 'Swung into my 30s in style. Shaking her coconuts: She shared this picture and wrote: 'Cant believe its my last day in Sri Lanka and nearly the end of my 20s birthday trip with @charroserobyn. its been amazing Sri Lanka' 'Cant believe its my last day in Sri Lanka and nearly the end of my 20s birthday trip with @charroserobyn. its been amazing Sri Lanka.' It's been quite the time for AJ. She got her cheek filler dissolved back in September after Dr Ahmed El Muntasar told her the filler she had done prior to going on the ITV2 show was injected incorrectly. She told The Sun: 'It's so refreshing having someone being honest with you and not just taking your money, but actually saying 'no this doesn't look good, this isn't a good area to get it' or 'you don't even need it at all'. AJ famously got rejected by her fellow Islander Hugo Hammond, when she appeared on Love Island. Since being on the show, she found love with a man who ended up being a gay porn star. She told The Sun at the time: 'It was extreme porn. It was all with men and I could see as clear as day that it was him. 'I was absolutely mortified and I didnt think it could get any worse and then I discovered that. Hed even asked one of my gay friends to send him photos.' Making new friends: AJ pictured at a turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka Happy Valley fans lauded the 'sensational' BBC crime drama as it returned for its third and final series on New Year's Day, after a seven year break. The multi-BAFTA-winning third and final season, which saw actress Sarah Lancashire reprise her role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood, premiered on Sunday night. After the first episode aired, viewers and critics alike heaped praise upon 'goddess' Sarah, as well as her co-star James Norton and writer Sally Wainwright. 'Sarah Lancashire is a GODDESS!' Happy Valley fans lauded the 'sensational' BBC crime drama as it returned for its third and final series on New Year's Day, after a seven year break The Guardian's five-star review said: 'From its impeccable acting talent to a writer who captures the female experience like no one else, this drama's final series is as excellent as ever.' In The Telegraph's five-star review, critic Anita Singh said: 'TV drama doesn't get much better than this.' Despite four stars in The Independent, it was dubbed 'one of British television's greatest sagas' while the Daily Mail's Christopher Stevens commended James' 'superbly menacing' performance as villain Tommy Lee Royce. Among the 4.92 million viewers watching, one fan wrote on Twitter: 'Happy Valley is just brilliant TV isn't it. The writing, the casting, the acting, it's just phenomenal. TV Drama at its best.' Talented: After the first episode aired, viewers and critics alike heaped praise upon 'goddess' Sarah, as well as her co-star James Norton (pictured) and writer Sally Wainwright Critics' reviews of Happy Valley's series three premiere The Guardian's five-star review said: 'From its impeccable acting talent to a writer who captures the female experience like no one else, this drama's final series is as excellent as ever' In The Telegraph's five-star review, critic Anita Singh said: 'TV drama doesn't get much better than this' Despite four stars in The Independent, it was dubbed 'one of British television's greatest sagas' The Daily Mail's Christopher Stevens commended James' 'superbly menacing' performance as villain Tommy Lee Royce Advertisement Another added: 'Happy Valley. Do I need to say anything about it other than absolutely blooming fantastic, Can't wait for next week!! Stunning scenery, fabulous writing and the best actors, what more could you want?!' A third penned: 'Everyone involved with #HappyValley ...you dropped these. I mean what a way to kick off 2023. Sensational. Sally Wainwright is just phenomenal. The performances are outstanding. Excited for the rest of the series.' Chiming in, a fourth said: 'There are no words to describe just how good the first episode of #HappyValley is and just how brilliant #SarahLancashire is in it: Both have set the bar for best drama and best actor of 2023 to an almost unassailable level.' A fifth and sixth said: 'Happy Valley never fails to deliver just superb Sarah Lancashire is sublime great writing and cast,' and, '#HappyValley WOW just WOW. Sundays are sorted for the next few weeks. Brilliant way to start 2023!' A seventh wrote: 'Man I need the rest of happy valley now.' Another typed: 'WOW! That's the best thing that's been on TV over the Christmas period by a country mile! Absolutely brilliant! Outstanding! Brilliantly written and acted!! I don't want it to end ever!! #HappyValley.' Concluding, another fan said: 'Sarah Lancashire is a goddess. Sally Wainwright is a genius. Happy Valley is the best. #HappyValley.' Impressed: One fan wrote: 'Happy Valley is just brilliant TV isn't it. The writing, the casting, the acting, it's just phenomenal. TV Drama at its best' A host of familiar faces joined the final series, including Game of Thrones star Mark Stanley and former Coronation Street actress Mollie Winnard, who play a married couple. The pair lead a subplot about domestic violence as Stanley plays controlling PE teacher Rob Hepworth, who padlocks the fridge and beats his wife Joanna, who is addicted to diazepam. The first episode of the series saw Sarah's character discover the remains of a gangland murder victim in a drained reservoir, sparking a chain of events leading back to her former nemesis and the father of her grandson Ryan, played by Rhys Connah. Sarah Lancashire graced our television screens last night as matriarch Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the opening episode of the third and final series of Happy Valley. The much-anticipated return of Sally Wainwright's gripping police drama opened to five-star reviews as viewers rejoiced that 'Sarah Lancashire is back on our screens'. Set in West Yorkshire's Calder Valley, her character plays a no-nonsense police officer fighting crime in her community, while also battling her own personal demons. The multi-award winning show has gained Lancashire legions of adoring fans, with some likening her to Britian's Meryl Streep, with others have hailed Catherine Cawood as 'the greatest female character to have graced television'. Sarah Lancashire graced our television screens last night as matriarch Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the third and final series of Happy Valley Lancashire rose to fame as a national treasure on soap Coronation Street, where she played ditzy barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme from 1991 to 1996 Lancashire rose to fame as a national treasure on the soap Coronation Street, where she played ditzy barmaid Raquel Watts (nee Wolstenhulme) from 1991 to 1996. She has gone on to appear in Where the Heart Is, Last Tango in Halifax, Kiri, The Accident and most recently as TV chef Julia Child in the HBO series Julia - also winning her fans across the pond. But the Oldham-born actor, 58, came from humble beginnings, and before her 'big break' in acting starred in local theatre productions and worked as a drama teacher to stay afloat financially before jobs. Born in 1964, her father Geoffrey was a TV scriptwriter and her mother Hilda worked as his personal assistant. Sarah Lancashire starring alongside Billy Connolly in Gentleman's Relish Sarah Lancashire starring as TV chef and author Julia Child in the HBO series Julia As a teenager, Lancashire had little interest in acting and originally set out to work behind the scenes in television. At the age of 18, she won a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where her passion for acting was ignited. She graduated in 1986 and - after being rejected from several repertory theatres - she was given her first role by Howard Lloyd-Lewis, director of the Manchester Library Theatre Company. She starred in two plays - Pacific Overtures and the Beauty Game - describing this period as 'the start of my career as an actor'. Sarah Lancashire played Polly Bevan in Channel 4's four-part series The Accident Despite aspirations to hit the big time, during her early career she found large gaps between theatre appearances and worked as a drama teacher to stay afloat financially. But things were about to change. In 1990 Lancashire got her 'big break' playing the role of Linda in a production of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at the Albery Theatre in London's West End. Two weeks after finishing her run in Blood Brothers, Lancashire auditioned to play Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street, where she would star as colleague of supermarket employee Curly Watts, played by Kevin Kennedy. Sarah Lancashire as Raquel Wolstenhulme in Corrie, with her Curly Watts (played by Kevin Kennedy) Sarah Lancashire played social worker Miriam in Channel 4's Kiri After a modelling stint, her character went onto to become the much-loved ditzy barmaid of the Rover's Return - and would go on to have a failed romance with Weatherfield's resident lothario Des Barnes. She went onto marry Curly becoming Raquel Watts but walked out on him in 1996 to pursue an aromatherapy job in Kuala Lumpur. Following her exit from Corrie, Lancashire joined the cast of ITV's Where The Heart where she played the role of district nurse Ruth Goddard. Much to the viewers' delight, she returned to Weatherfield as Raquel one last time in 2000 during a New Year's special to demand a divorce from Curly so she could marry her French lover. Lancashire as Raquel with Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy) in Coronation Street in 1994 Happy Valley won a Bafta for best drama and Lancashire for best actress in 2017 That same year, she became the first actress to signed a 1.3 million 'golden handcuffs' deal with ITV, meaning that for two years she could could only star in ITV productions. At that point, the deal made Lancashire the highest paid actress in British television. In the years following her ITV deal, she starred in numerous plays and films, including The Bill, Wuthering Heights, Doctor Who, Gentlemen's Relish, Skins and Dad's Army. When Happy Valley first hit screens in 2014, the show was an instant success, gripping more than eight million viewers and winning Baftas for Best Drama and Best Writing. Raising her grandson Ryan after the suicide of her daughter Becky, Sergeant Catherine Cawood must keep him safe from his biological father, local villain Tommy Lee Royce, played by McMafia star James Norton. The second series also saw Lancashire win a Bafta for best actress, and in the same year she was awarded an OBE for her services to drama. Nearly seven years after the previous series of Happy Valley ended, the grandmother played by Sarah Lancashire is still holding back the tide of drugs and violence in her West Yorkshire town. No doubt tipped for more awards when the six-part series comes to an end, her portrayal of Catherine Cawood has also earned her a loyal fanbase across the pond after the show streamed on Netflix in the US. Lancashire rose to fame as a national treasure on soap Coronation Street, where she played ditzy barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme from 1991 to 1996 James Norton (pictured) plays local villain Tommy Lee Royce in the hit BBC show alongshire Sarah Lancashire Three series of Happy Valley were always planned with one and two aired just two years apart from each other. Wainwright and Lancashire always planned for a gap between the final series - to allow time for the characters to grow - but much to viewers' frustration the Covid-19 pandemic added another year onto the wait. The opening of Happy Valley's final series aired on New Year's Day was praised for recapturing the magic of the 'revolutionary' programme as it garnered five-star reviews across the board. Model and actress Cara Delevingne shared a series of photos on Instagram on Monday as she reflected on her past year. The 30-year-old shared her love of cannabis and boobs in the gallery and also posed in an incredible string dress for one very sexy snap. Flashing her underwear in the daring ensemble, her long hair extensions covered her modesty for her selfie in the mirror. It's a string thing: Cara Delevingne posed in a sexy string dress before sharing her love of cannabis, boobs and first-class travel on Instagram on Sunday as she reflected on her year Breast is best: A second picture showed her sitting in first class on a plane while wearing a Notorious B.I.G T-shirt and a Covid mask A second picture showed her sitting in first class on a plane while wearing a Notorious B.I.G T-shirt and a Covid mask. She had a neck pillow which had two novelty plush breasts at either side as she gave a thumbs up to the camera. A third image was simply her foot placed alongside her dog - as she wore a sock which had a cannabis leaf motif emblazoned all along it. She modelled an LED face mask during a moment of well-being as well as a snap of herself doing some voiceover work in a studio. Leaf it out: A third image was simply her foot placed alongside her dog - as she wore a sock which had a cannabis leaf motif emblazoned all along it Living it up: She modelled an LED face mask during a moment of well-being Perhaps noting that she has had some controversial moments this year, she shared a picture of a van which had the words: 'Living life on the veg' written on the back. Cara appears to be back on track after she was seen looking worse for wear a couple of times back in September. At one point, the British-born beauty was seen with a long round object resembling a pipe in her mouth, rubbing her face and blowing her nose multiple times. Working hard: She also shared a snap of herself doing some voiceover work in a studio However, she appears to be back to her happy and healthy best. Last month. she claimed men do not have the 'right tools' to sexually please a woman. She made the bold statement in her new six-part BBC Three docuseries, Planet Sex, where she talks to scientists and activists about sexuality and meets LGBTQ+ people from all over the world. She explores 'the orgasm gap' in the first episode, following reports that 95 percent of heterosexual men orgasm during sex while just 65 percent of straight women do. The Vogue cover star said: 'I do feel that generally men are not equipped with the right tools to be able to handle women, especially sexually. Elsewhere, Cara admitted that she still struggles to be 'open' about her sexuality as she spoke candidly in the documentary. The actress, who identifies as queer and gender fluid, said she was on a 'very personal journey' into her sexuality with the programme. Netflix has released a first-look photo Arsema Thomas as a Young Lady Agatha Danbury in the hotly-anticipated Bridgerton prequel series. The actress looked regal in an opulent ivory gown adorned with shimmering jewels, along with a sparkling silver necklace and a coordinating tiara. Reprising their roles will be Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury later in life. Stunning: Netflix has released a first-look photo Arsema Thomas as a Young Lady Agatha Danbury in the highly-awaited Bridgerton prequel series Last September, another first-look image was revealed of Queen Charlotte ahead of the much-anticipated spin-off. It was announced last year that a spin-off series charting the younger years of the flamboyant and gossip-hungry monarch would be in the works, with the show written and produced by Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes. Netflix released the photo of India Amarteifio as the fan favourite character from the period drama. Regal: Reprising their roles will be Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) and Adjoa Andoh (pictured) as Lady Danbury later in life The actress, 21, embodied the character as she dripped in jewels and wore elegant white dress with a fitted corset and a shimmering satin hooded cloak. She completed her regal attire with a pair of satin cream gloves and fixed an extravagant crown in her dark tresses. Charlotte gave a solemn glance at the camera as she posed in a palace, with floral arrangements and sculptures seen in the backdrop. As well as giving a first glimpse at the character, Netflix also revealed that the official title for the prequel spin-off show will be Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. A description of the series read: 'Centered on Queen Charlotte's rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen's marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.' The news came ahead of Saturday's Netflix fan event Tudum, where the series will be featured and more surprise announcements will be unveiled. Ruth Gemmell will also reprise her role as Lady Violet Bridgerton while Michelle Fairley will join the cast as Princess Augusta. Exciting: Last September, another first-look image was revealed of Queen Charlotte ahead of the much-anticipated spin-off Elsewhere, Corey Mylchreest will play Young King George and Arsema Thomas will make her television debut as Young Agatha Danbury. Set in the mid 18th Century, the prequel examines the young life of Charlotte, the daughter of German royalty who wed British Monarch George III, played in the Netflix drama by Corey Mylchreest, in 1761, when she was 17. The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children. Miss Amarteifio, 21, who played DCI Roz Huntley's daughter Sophie in the fourth season of BBC drama Line Of Duty, has also starred in Dr Who and ITV's Unforgotten. Fan favourites: Ruth Gemmell will also reprise her role as Lady Violet Bridgerton (centre) It will also include the origins of other characters featured in Bridgerton, namely Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury. Following rumbles that the second series of Bridgerton didn't live up to the raunchy heights of the first, it looks as if the producers have taken note, with the spin-off prequel to the Netflix drama, Queen Charlotte, being spiced up to keep viewing figures high. For one scene, a source says, a wall was reinforced. In another scene viewers will see banging headboards. According to a source, there were fears that one energetic love-making scene featuring the young monarch, played by India Ria Amarteifio, might be so energetic that it could literally bring the house down. 'There is a young cast for the prequel and the sex scenes feature them,' said the insider. 'It is definitely going to satisfy those Bridgerton fans who are complaining that there are no sex scenes in the second series. 'In one storyline there will be a headboard banging hard against a wall. It will be more racy than anything from the first series.' Keeley Hawes is seen beaming at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps from their new ITV drama Stonehouse. The actress, 46, shared a moment with her real-life spouse, 48, before having a giggle with their co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show which is set to hit screens on Monday. It is a pivotal scene from ITVs flagship new drama, about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilsons Labour Government, who attempted to fake his death after acting as a spy for the Czech Secret Service. Real life husband: Keeley Hawes is seen beaming at her husband Matthew Macfayden in exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps from their new ITV drama Stonehouse Starring Succession star Matthew, 48, and his Bodyguard actress wife Keeley, as John Stonehouse and his spouse Barbara, it dramatises the moment in 1974 when the MP for Walsall North was arrested in Australia. In exclusive photographs McFayden and Keeley, who also played husband and wife in the 2007 black comedy Death at a Funeral, are having a picnic with Stonehouses mistress Sheila Buckley, played by Emer. Filmed in Malaga, Spain, during the winter months, the trio are wrapped up against the cold when they are not shooting. The tension between wife and mistress is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls. Close: The actress, 46, shared a moment with her real-life spouse, 48, before having a giggle with their co-star Emer Heatley on the set of the three-part show which is set to hit screens on Monday But despite the tense scenes, the trio looked in great spirits as they chatted and smiled in between takes. The scene ends with Stonehouse storming to the edge of a cliff saying: Leave me alone Barbara. Stay back. Im warning you Barbara if you dont leave me alone, Ill What? replied Barbara, laughing. What will you do? Tell me You do love your melodramatic gestures, dont you John? On-screen: The John Stonehouse affair is being recreated by ITV with Matthew (centre), playing the disgraced Labour politician (Matthew's real-life wife Keeley plays the MP's wife Barbara (right) while Emer Heatley plays his secretary Sheila (left)) Drama: It is a pivotal scene from ITVs flagship new drama, about a high-flying minister in Harold Wilsons Labour Government, who attempted to fake his death after acting as a spy for the Czech Secret Service The three-part series opens with McFayden striding out of his hotel in Florida in a pale blue suit before he swims out to sea. The image was also filmed in Malaga. In another behind-the-scenes image, Stonehouse is being asked by Wilson, played by Kevin McNally, if he would represent the Government on election night, waving the flag for the Labour party. John Stonehouse had abandoned Barbara, and their three young children, Jane, Julia, and Matthew, vanishing from Miami Beach, after swimming out to sea, leaving a pile of neatly folded clothes, and hopping on a plane to Australia, to start a new life. Scenes: In exclusive photographs McFayden and Keeley are having a picnic with Stonehouses mistress Sheila Buckley, played by Emer In character: Keeley looked great in her retro costume as she filmed alongside her husband and co-star Awkward: The tension between wife and mistress is palpable as they argue over sandwiches and sausage rolls But he was arrested by police in Melbourne - after being mistaken for Lord Lucan - and was deported back to Britain to face trial for 15 charges of forgery, theft, and fraud. He was convicted in 1976 and sentenced to seven years in prison. Actor Matthew and his wife Keeley have been married for 18 years and Keeley said they had to cast aside the familiarities of their real-life happy marriage to play the parts. The actress insists their union is the complete opposite to that of politician John and Barbara. In between takes: Filmed in Malaga, Spain, during the winter months, the trio are wrapped up against the cold when they are not shooting Good mood: But despite the tense scenes, the trio looked in great spirits as they chatted and smiled in between takes Dramatization: The three-part series opens with McFayden striding out of his hotel in Florida in a pale blue suit before he swims out to sea. The image was also filmed in Malaga She told the Mirror: 'We have worked together before, but not for several years. And so when this came up, it seemed like the perfect project on so many levels really, mostly because the Stonehouses are so different to Matthew and I and to our relationship. 'So its nice to see us, I think, and interesting for people who may know that we are married to see us as the "other" couple.' She told Matthew: 'It was really wonderful. It was very jolly, wasnt it?' He responded: 'Yeah, it was very difficult working with Keeley. Telling the tale: Stonehouse tells how the former cabinet minister in the Wilson government faked his death in 1974 and ran off with his secretary Sheila Buckley (John Stonehouse pictured in 1981) 'Shes... it was hard. It was hard. No, thats a silly answer. It was joyful working with Keeley. It was nice, wasnt it?' Matthew and Keeley met on the set of drama Spooks in 2001 and later starred in 2007 comedy Death at a Funeral together. They share children Maggie, 18, and Ralph, 16, together. Stonehouse begins on ITV at 9pm on Monday January 2 and will be aired over the following two nights. Sir Ian McKellen has struck up a warm off-stage relationship with the actor playing his son in panto. The star saw in the New Year with Oscar Conlon-Morrey, who is 54 years his junior. The younger actor is appearing alongside the six-time Olivier Award-winner in the much-lauded Mother Goose, running in London. Sir Ian, 83, is Mother Goose and Conlon-Morrey, 29, plays his son Jack. Sir Ian McKellen (right) has struck up a warm off-stage relationship with the actor playing his son in panto. The star saw in the New Year with Oscar Conlon-Morrey (left). The pair are pictured together during their New Year celebrations Oscar Conlon-Morrey (left) is appearing alongside six-time Olivier Award-winner Sir Ian McKellen (right) in the much-lauded Mother Goose, running in London. The actors are pictured during the show Conlon-Morrey announced to his 15,500 followers on Twitter yesterday: Happy New Year! I saw in 2023 at the house of the new love of my life. He finished the message with a heart emoji. The post was accompanied by a picture of the two men smiling broadly at the camera and with their arms around each others shoulders. It is not clear whether the relationship is platonic or romantic. Friends of Conlon-Morrey have been offering their congratulations. Earlier this month, he complained about being single on Twitter, writing: I need a boyfriend, purely so he can cuddle me and bring me Baileys whilst I sob uncontrollably at Call The Midwife. He said in another post: A friend just said that if I want to meet someone I need to go clubbing! I fear this wont bode well, if in year[s] to come the man I meet wants to get wrecked on a Saturday night and dance to pop music and all I want is to sit on the sofa watching the Cash in the Attic omnibus. Conlon-Morrey (pictured with Sir Ian on his right) announced to his 15,500 followers on Twitter yesterday that the pair rang in the new year together Sir Ian, 83, (left) is Mother Goose in the West End show and Conlon-Morrey, 29, (centre) plays his son Jack. John Bishop (right) plays Mother Goose's husband and Jack's father It is not clear whether Conlon-Morrey and Sir Ian's relationship is platonic or romantic. The pair are pictured together Sir Ian came out as gay in 1988 and is a distinguished advocate and campaigner for LGBTQ rights. His first partner was history teacher Brian Taylor, who he was with from 1964 to 1972. In 1978 he started dating Sean Mathias, an actor and director, and they were in a relationship until 1988. He was in Laurence Oliviers company at the Old Vic but is perhaps now best known for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, for which he was Oscar-nominated. He is also well known for his role as Magneto in the X-Men films. Sir Ian is a renowned Shakespearean actor and played Hamlet in an age-blind production of the play last year. Sir Ian McKellen's turn as Mother Goose has won acclaim amongst critics who say he is 'fantastic' in the role. Pictured: Sir Ian as Mother Goose at the Theatre Royal Brighton His turn as Mother Goose has also won acclaim. One critic wrote: Ian McKellen... darts about in gorgeous frocks in a way that suggests hes waited a lifetime for this role. He probably has: despite being a giant of the stage, playing Lear and Hamlet in the past few years, McKellen has done relatively few pantomimes, and none for over 15 years. Its joyous seeing him have so much fun; his energy seems derived from the audience, working like some kind of endothermic reaction. Another noted: The old ham is fantastic. Hair full of rollers, a voice of rattling thunder, chunky pearls, and a bosom that could interfere with tides. The panto is at the Duke of Yorks theatre in Londons West End until the end of January and will then go on tour across the UK. Representatives for Sir Ian and Conlon-Morrey were approached for comment. A few weeks after the four murders, the father of the University of Idaho murder suspect went from Pennsylvania to Washington to accompany his son on a cross-country road trip. Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old PhD student at Washington State University in Pullman, did not undertake the 2,000-mile trek back to his family home alone, according to his public defender. Bryan Kohberger Was Accompanied by His Father Kohberger was sighted with his father in the white Hyundai Elantra that police were searching for, including on December 16 at a vehicle repair shop in Pennsylvania. Friday marked the end of a month-long manhunt for the murderer responsible for the horrible killings of Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21. On the night of the killings, surveillance film captured a white Hyundai Elantra parked near the residence at 3 a.m., when the murders happened. The police assume it was Kohberger's. The automobile was recovered at the Ph.D. student's parents' house in Pennsylvania, where he had driven it back to Pennsylvania. According to Daily Mail, unidentified personnel at the auto repair business verified that Kohberger and his father brought their vehicle in for servicing following the trip, A source said Koherberger's father was bragging about travelling out to the west coast to join his son on his holiday vacation home, and he recalled the 28-year-old as being reticent. It is unknown if Koherberger's father was aware of the killings. The automobile was eventually retrieved by police at Kohberger's parents' residence, where he was detained. According to a recent report, the criminology student suspected of killing four University of Idaho students followed his alleged victims before to the November murders and wore gloves at a grocery weeks afterwards. Per NY Post, a source connected to one of the case's detectives stated that Bryan Kohberger was frequently in the same vicinity as the three sorority sisters and one of their boyfriends before he reportedly slashed them to death while they slept at an off-campus residence. Even when he escaped to his home state of Pennsylvania in recent days, Kohberger reportedly took care not to leave fingerprints behind, according to a person who spoke to a media outlet anonymously on Sunday. After a night out on November 13 in the college town of Moscow, Idaho, roommates Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were found dead in the women's apartment in the early morning hours. Read Also: [Viral Photo] Did Joe Biden Really Touch a Child Inappropriately During Recent Trip? Bryan Kohberger Researched About Crimes Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson stated that Kohberger was arrested on four charges of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary for entering the residence with the intent to commit murder. Police had been searching for a Hyundai Elantra in connection with the crime, claiming in early December that they were looking through 22,000 Elantra registrations to find a match, as per USA Today. Authorities stated that their investigation is ongoing and requested anybody who knows Kohberger or other members of the public with information that might assist "paint a picture" of what occurred to contact a tip line at 208-883-7180 or tip@ci.moscow.id.us. Kohberger attended a 2019 psychology conference as a DeSales student, according to a schedule released online by Muhlenberg College, located in Allentown. Seven months ago, a Reddit user called Bryan Kohberger, who identified himself as a student investigator, posted on the Prison and ExCons subreddits, encouraging individuals to engage in a study to determine "how emotions and psychological factors impact criminal decision-making." The post said that the DeSales University Institutional Review Board had authorized the study, which intended to investigate the circumstances behind the user's most recent criminal act. Friday, Reddit deleted the post. Friday, the survey indicating that Kohberger was cooperating with two DeSales professors was deleted from the university's website. Local news indicates that Kohberger formerly worked for the Pleasant Valley School District. Related Article: Idaho College Murders Update: Suspect in Horrifying Killing of Students Reveals Extradition Plan; 'Creepy' Comments Surface @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She is preparing to welcome her second child into the world in just six weeks' time. And Ali Bastian displayed her baby bump in a black bra as she posed for a sweet snap to celebrate week 34 of her pregnancy via her Instagram page on New Year's Eve. The former Hollyoaks actress, 40, cradled her tummy as she told her followers she had entered 'hibernation mode' as she prepares to meet her baby girl in the next few weeks. Not long now: Ali Bastian displayed her baby bump in a black bra as she posed for a sweet snap to celebrate week 34 of her pregnancy via her Instagram page on New Year's Eve 'Cannot wait to meet you': The former Hollyoaks actress, 40, cradled her tummy as she told her followers she had entered 'hibernation mode' as she prepares to meet her baby girl Writing alongside the black and white image, Ali said: 'Happy NY. Hope you all have a lovely evening whatever you are planning. 'We are very much in hibernation mode and fairly sure I won't be awake at midnight In my 34th week now eek!! It's flying. 'Cannot wait to meet you baby girl (but WILL wait another few weeks, so you can please stay just where you are for now!). 'Still feel like I have so much preparation to do and all I want to do is sleep and eat. Wish you all the love, luck and happiness in the world for '23.' Doting mother: The soap star gave birth to her first child, daughter Isla (pictured last week), in March 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown The soap star gave birth to her first child, daughter Isla, in March 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown, after tying the knot with her partner, West End actor David O'Mahony, in 2019. The couple married in an intimate ceremony at the Old Marylebone Town Hall in London, before Ali opted to jump back into work following their honeymoon in the Maldives. Last month, Ali revealed her second pregnancy was 'flying by' because she had been kept busy by her 'wild' toddler Isla. The actress detailed her battle with sleep deprivation while admitting her worries as the two-year-old gears up to start pre-school. Happy family: Ali married her partner, West End actor David O'Mahony (pictured), in 2019 Ali told MailOnline in an exclusive interview: 'I feel OK actually. I'd say it goes a lot faster the second time around because you're so in the thick of it. Isla's two-and-a-half so I'm running around after a wild toddler. 'And now heavily pregnant with number two so there are a lot of distractions. Yeah, it's just flying by. I think it's not gonna be too long before she's with us. It's exciting. 'Well, they say every pregnancy is different, but this has actually really been very similar, so far, to my pregnancy with Isla. 'All of my pregnancy symptoms and things have felt really familiar. I do get some peculiar symptoms and when they come on, I'm like "Ohh, OK, I know this now and I know it'll pass".' Ali explained she's constantly reminding herself her experience will be 'different this time because we're not in the middle of a global pandemic'. Bumping along: Last month, Ali revealed her second pregnancy was 'flying by' because she had been kept busy by her 'wild' toddler Isla She said: 'It will probably have its own challenges as well with parenthood and sleepless nights and I'd say I definitely struggle with the sleep deprivation and that certainly contributed to not feeling great at times. Ali announced her second pregnancy in an OK! magazine shoot alongside her husband and daughter in September 2022. In an interview with the publication, Ali revealed how she told Isla the exciting news: 'Isla came into our room one morning and we were having snuggles. I said to David over her head, "I think we should tell her now" and he agreed. 'I said, "Have you noticed that mummy's tummy has been getting bigger?" and she said "Yes!" I said, ''I've got a baby in my tummy.'' And then there was this big smile across her face. 'I wish we had captured that, it was magical, I'll never forget it. She understood. I said, "You are going to be a big sister" and her face lit up.' The disgraced star is currently serving a two year probation for child endangerment Drake and Janet wed in 2018 after dating for five years Janet 'had enough' and has since moved back to Florida with their son The 36-year-old troubled star was seen inhaling balloons with their son in the car on two different occasions in December 2022 Former child star Drake Bell and his wife Janet Von Schmeling 'separated and are headed to divorce, according to Page Six. The Nickelodeon star, 36, reportedly began treatment, weeks after he was seen inhaling balloons with their son in the car. Janet, also an actress, 'had enough' per the outlet's sources, and has moved back to Florida with their son. The reported separation and treatment comes while the actor is currently serving a two-year probation for child endangerment. Dailymail.com has reached out to his rep for comment. The latest: Former child star Drake Bell and his wife Janet Von Schmeling separated and headed to divorce, according to Page Six; seen September 28, 2019 in Beverly Hills Insiders for Page Six revealed he entered treatment, over two weeks after he appeared to be sucking on a balloon in the front seat of his parked car in LA - with their son in the backseat. Drake, who is known for his roles on Drake & Josh and appearances on The Amanda Show, was reportedly inflating and deflating a balloon inside his car for more than thirty minutes outside his home. It is unclear what, if any substance was inside the balloon. He took out his sleeping son from the car seat in the back and took him inside the house. News: The Nickelodeon star, 36, reportedly entered treatment, weeks after he was seen inhaling balloons with their son in the car; seen June 27, 2017 in LA Drake was seen the following day heading to a local vape shop; he left the shop with a bag of items and was seen parked under a tree for 15 minutes in his car sucking on a balloon for nearly 15 minutes. He then went to a local Del Taco and then headed home. 'They had some incredible beautiful times before. He needs to focus on being healthy and they'll be great co-parents in the future,' the insider said. 'It's a bad moment in time for Drake. But he is a great dad when he is healthy and sober,' the source added. Page Six reported that Janet, 28, moved back to Florida with their son, closing in on a home there. She reportedly is getting support from her family. Drake and Janet first start dating in 2013 and they got married five years later in 2018. Drake is currently servicing a two year probation for child endangerment for endangering a girl's welfare when she was just 15. December: Insiders for Page Six revealed he entered treatment, two weeks after he appeared to be sucking on a balloon in the front seat of his parked car in LA - with their son in the backseat; seen December 7, 2022 Troubled: Drake was seen the following day heading to a local vape shop; he left the shop with a bag of items and was seen parked under a tree for 15 minutes in his car sucking on a balloon for nearly 15 minutes Bell was sentenced in July 2021 to two years probation and 200 hours of community after pleading guilty to child endangerment charges. Authorities have said a 15-year-old girl attended one of Bell's concert in Cleveland in 2017 and contacted Toronto police in October 2018 about being sexually assaulted. Toronto authorities then forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation. They found that Bell and the girl had 'developed a relationship' online prior to the concert, during which Bell sent the girl 'inappropriate social media messages.' He was later charged with attempted endangering a child because he 'violated his duty of care' and created a risk of harm for the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair explained at the time. During his virtual sentencing last year, the victim read her impact statement and claimed she performed oral sex on the star when she was 15-years-old. 'These are crimes that are unforgivable and inexcusable,' she said. 'They cannot be taken back. He was calculating, he preyed on me and sexually abused me. He is a monster and a danger to children. 'I'm kindly asking you to send a powerful message that these crimes are never okay, no matter who a person is,' the victim continued. She went on: 'And he can give me that look all he wants but he knows exactly what I'm talking about.' 'He is the epitome of evil,' she said. 'I deserve better than to be used for his sick desires, and for my suffering to be used for his amusement. Jared Drake Bell is a pedophile and that is his legacy.' He seemed visibly shocked at the accusation and in response, the victim addressed him directly saying: 'Don't look at me like that!' Mug shot: He was later charged with attempted endangering a child because he 'violated his duty of care' and created a risk of harm for the victim, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Tyler Sinclair explained at the time; seen in his 2021 mug shot Bell then addressed the court himself, saying: 'I just want to say today I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong.' 'I have taken this matter very, very seriously,' he added. 'I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions.' The Nickelodeon star had pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles just one month before. And during his sentencing, his attorney made sure to note that he had not been charged with the more serious crimes of sexual assault and pedophilia that the victim alleged in her impact statement. Months later, Bell tried to downplay his conviction in a groveling Instagram video. 'Most of the news you've heard recently is entirely false and wrong,' he said. 'I feel that you deserve, and I owe you, an explanation, he continued. 'I didn't change my name.' 'I know that this has moved very quickly for you, but for me, it's been a three-year, thorough investigation into every false claim that has been made.' 'And, it's not me telling you that the claims are false, but the state of Ohio has proven the claims to be false. 'If these claims were remotely true, my situation would be very different. I would not be here at home with my wife and my son.' He went on to say, 'But that being said, I am not perfect, and I make mistakes.' 'I responded to a fan, whose age I didn't know, yet when I became aware of their age, all conversation and communication stopped.' 'This individual continued to come to shows and pay for meet and greets, all while I was unaware that this was the same person I was communicating with online, and that's what I plead guilty to. 'It was reckless and irresponsible text messages. I want to make clear there were no sexual images, nothing physical between me and this individual.' He added, 'I was not charged with anything physical. I was not charged with disseminating her images or anything like that. This was strictly over text messages. 'And when I was presented with a plea deal, because of the messages, I felt that this was the best way to get this over quickly, and for everyone involved to be able to move on. And for me to get back to doing what I love, and that is making music for you.' 'I want to thank you, for um, to everyone who saw through the lies and did the research and looked at my case and saw it for what it was instead of all this media confusion.' He concluded, 'Don't believe the media right off the bat. It's a lot of clickbait. Do your own research and come to your own conclusions. I just want to say thank you to everyone for sticking by me. I love you and I'll see you soon.' The former child star has run into trouble with the law before, after being sentenced to four days jail time in 2015 for driving while intoxicated, which was his second DUI conviction in a six-year time period. Diane Kruger looked sensational on Monday as she flaunted her incredible figure in a red swimsuit in a throwback snap shared to Instagram. The actress, 46, oozed confidence as she struck a pose on a yacht while sailing at sea during a sun-soaked trip to the South of France while filming psychological thriller Visions. Diane showcased her toned pins in the bold swimwear as she leaned up against a sail, with the clear blue sky and sea seen behind her. Stunner: Diane Kruger looked sensational on Monday as she flaunted her incredible figure in a red swimsuit in a throwback snap shared to Instagram The Troy star appeared to go make-up free for the boat trip, while her blonde locks billowed around her in the wind. Captioning her post, she penned: 'Filming Visions in the south of France June 22.' It comes after Diane candidly admitted that she didn't want children for a 'long time' and then thought it was too late. Post: Captioning her post, she penned: 'Filming Visions in the south of France June 22' She now shares her daughter Nova Tennessee, four, with her longtime partner Norman Reedus but said she didn't want children until later in life. Diane explained that having a child wasn't her priority when she was younger and she then gave up hope' in her late 30s because she wasn't in a place where it was 'possible'. Appearing as Tatler's January cover star, she explained: 'I didn't want children for a long time. I really liked my life the way it was. 'In my late thirties, I was starting to think about it but I wasn't in a place in my relationship at the time or whatever where that was going to be a possibility and so I had kind of given up hope and I thought it was just too late.' Family: Diane (pictured with her daughter Nova, four) recently admitted she didn't want children for a 'long time' and then thought it was too late 'The arrival of Nova has changed my life our lives in the best possible way, it's just amazing that you thought you were one thing but you're meant to do something completely different,' she added. In July, Diane also marked her six-year anniversary with her partner - The Walking Dead star Norman, 53. The smitten couple first met when they co-starred in the 2015 movie Sky and began dating in 2016. They then welcomed their first child, Nova, together in 2018 and then announced their engagement in 2021. Norman also shares a son Mingus Lucien, 22, with his ex-girlfriend Helena Christenson, 53. It was revealed last month that Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon are 'officially dating.' And the 59-year-old movie star and his 29-year-ld girlfriend rang in the New Year at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Brad 'is not seeing anyone else right now' and is 'very happy' with Ines, People's source revealed. New Year, same love: It was revealed last month that Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon are 'officially dating.' And the 59-year-old movie star and his 29-year-ld girlfriend rang in the New Year at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Dailymail.com has reached out to his reps for comment. The lovebirds arrived in Cabo on Saturday to ring in the New Year. 'They are dating and having fun,' a source told People. 'They have a good thing going on. There is no stress,' the insider said, adding: 'Brad is enjoying it.' The father of six 'is not seeing anyone else right now' and is 'very happy,' the source noted. Love: Brad 'is not seeing anyone else right now' and is 'very happy' with Ines, People 's source revealed; seen December 15, 2022 in LA 'He is spending more time with Ines,' they added. In December, Brad and Ines, who is Paul Wesley's ex wife, were seen laughing and embracing at his 59th birthday party in Hollywood. Brad and Ines are officially dating now, they really enjoy each others company and are having a great time in the early stages of an early relationship, but are still getting to know each other,' a source told Us Weekly last month. Ines, who was seen getting up close with Brad at a Bono concert in November in exclusive DailyMail.com photos, wore her tresses in soft waves and sported shimmering jewelry as she embraced Brad before the pair laughed out loud. Days before the pair were seen packing on the PDA at the LA afterparty for his new film Babylon. His lady: Brad 'is not seeing anyone else right now' and is 'very happy' with Ines, People 's source revealed The pair mingled with guests, 'occasionally' with their arms around one another, reports People. The pair are said to have been dating 'for a few months' with source telling the publication: 'Brad is really into Ines. They met through a mutual friend. She is very nice. 'Ines is cute, fun and energetic. She has a great personality. Brad enjoys spending time with her. Brad and Ines were seen arriving at a Bono concert in LA on November 13 and appeared smitten. Brad could be seen holding her arms and pulling her close as the two chatted outside the Orpheum Theatre with A-list pals, Cindy Crawford, husband Rande Gerber, Sean Penn and Vivi Nevo. Report: 'Ines is cute, fun and energetic. She has a great personality. Brad enjoys spending time with her Bachelor Brad, dressed casually in jeans, a gray cardigan and tan hat, has been romantically linked to several women since his tumultuous divorce from Angelina Jolie, but is not usually given to public displays of affection. Not only do Brad and Ines appear to be an item, but sources tell DailyMail.com that she is a member of his team. Bachelor Brad has been romantically linked to several women since his tumultuous divorce from Angelina Jolie. But is not usually given to public displays of affection. Paul Wesley and Ines were married in a quiet ceremony in 2019. A rep for the couple confirmed in September they separated and have been living apart for several months. 'The decision to separate is mutual and occurred five months ago. They request privacy at this time,' the rep said. Ines is from New Jersey and graduated from the University of Geneva in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. According to her LinkedIn, since 2020 she has been the head of wholesale at Anita Ko Jewelry, which has celebrity customers including Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber. Former: Paul Wesley and Ines were married in a quiet ceremony in 2019; they have since split Meanwhile Brad's split with Angelina Jolie has been acrimonious, as the pair have been battling over custody of their six kids and business ventures. In September, rumors swirled about a romantic link between Brad and model Emily Ratajkowski. 'They are spending a lot of time together,' the insider told the People at the time. 'Friends aren't sure if it's serious. They don't appear to be 'dating' formally.' The Bullet Train actor has also been linked to MIT professor, Neri Oxman as well as German model Nicole Potualski in 2020. Oxman denied dating the actor. Pitt was spotted with Potualski at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival party for Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. But two months later reports claimed the two had only seen each other a few times and it was casual. The new development in Brad's love life means fans' dreams of him and Jennifer Aniston rekindling are crushed. Brad and Angelina Jolie met in 2005 on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith, playing a bored married couple. Bachelor: Meanwhile Brad's split with Angelina Jolie has been acrimonious, as the pair have been battling over custody of their six kids and business ventures; seen December 15, 2022 But they discover they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill one another. At the time he was married to Aniston. Brad and Angie married at Chateau Miraval in 2014 and parented six kids three biological and three adopted who are now aged between 14 and 21. Brad and Angie were ruled legally single in 2019 but are still sorting out their labyrinthine financial affairs and custody arrangements to this day. They have been locked in a legal battle of the Chateau Miraval, a 35-room estate and celebrated vineyard in the south of France that Pitt and Jolie bought for $60 million in 2011. Kourtney Kardashian shared a flashback photo on Monday where she was modeling magenta hair and a sheer black bra as she stood in front of her Christmas tree. The post went with the 43-year-old bombshell's look back at her 2022 Christmas festivities. 'Bye-bye Christmas,' the wife of Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker wrote in her caption on social media. Scary sexy: Kourtney Kardashian looked super hot while wearing a sheer black bra and gothic makeup in a photo she posted on social media In the gothic-inspired photo, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had her hair dyed dark red and parted far to one side. She also wore red lipstick and dark eye makeup, including black eyeliner on her lower lid. The selfie showed off her sheer black bra, which didn't do much to hide her voluptuous chest, and behind her was a lit-up Christmas tree. The beauty also flaunted off her stunning all-white Christmas outfit. She wore a semi-sheer gown with a cut-out just below the bust that gave a peek at her toned stomach. There was also a shot of Kourtney with her friend Addison Rae, 22, laughing in an all-red ball pit. The mother of three has been friends with the TikTok star since 2020, when they collaborated on a video for the app together. Angel in white: The 43-year-old star shared several photos from her holiday and showed off her stunning figure in a semi-sheer white gown during her Christmas Eve bash BFFs: Kourtney became fast friends with TikTok star Addison Rae after the two collaborated on a video with her son Mason in 2020 They have posted consistently on social media with each other since then, and the POOSH founder even made an appearance in Addison's 2021 film He's All That, which was a spin-off of the '90s rom-com She's All That. On her Instagram story, the brunette shared photos of the aftermath of New Year's Eve celebrations. Her floors and tabletops were covered in colorful confetti, poppers, and festive hats, and there were also several bottles of open champagne on the coffee table. Kourtney married Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in May 2022, but the two don't share a home yet. Home for the holidays: In the group of photos, the KUWTK star shared shots of her home decorated for her extravagant Christmas Eve party While on the Skinny But Not Fat podcast with Amanda Hirsch, she revealed that they don't live together yet because of the challenges that come with blending two families. She said: 'I think were in the place where were figuring out how to blend our households and our kids. For the most part, were getting those things in place. We do family dinner every Sunday night with all the kids at his house.' The oldest Kardashian sister has three kids with her former flame Scott Disick, Mason, 13 Penelope, 10, and Reign, eight. Travis, 47, shares his kids with his former wife, Shanna Moakler, Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17. Rating: These days, John Stonehouse MP wouldnt have to fake his own death. Facing bankruptcy, his political career in shreds and his marriage on the brink, he could rehabilitate himself simply by going on Im A Celebrity. Theres a hint of Im A Celebs Matt Hancock in Stonehouse (ITV), with Matthew Macfadyen as the duplicitous chancer once tipped to be a future Labour prime minister. Hes so insufferably smug, so selfish and self-serving... not to mention randy. One moment sums him up neatly, when he sits with his bit-on-the-side secretary Sheila (Emer Heatley) in the cinema, dipping greedily into her popcorn until he takes the box and hogs it to himself without so much as glancing at her. Matthew MacFadyen as John Stonehouse, Keeley Hawes as Barbara Stonehouse and Emer Heatley as Sheila Buckley It beggars belief that Stonehouse maintained a political career as long as he did. Never mind fooling the spooks while spying for the Czech security agency a bunch of Boy Scouts could have spotted him for a wrong un. This three-part drama, continuing tonight and tomorrow, is jauntily tongue-in-cheek, its played for fun and giggles, with a bouncing foxtrot soundtrack straight out of Jeeves and Wooster. Thats something of a missed opportunity, because Mrs Stonehouse is played by Macfadyens real-life wife, Keeley Hawes the first time theyve starred together on telly since Spooks, the Noughties spy caper where they met. Both are actors of deceptive depth. Fans of HBOs Succession know Macfadyen is mesmerising as the pathetic, scheming executive Tom Wambsgans, who survives every radioactive scandal and scuttles away like a cockroach. Stonehouse with his wife Barbara pictured in a press conference months after his escape And Hawes is unique for her ability to be mumsy in one role, such as the matriarch Louisa of The Durrells, and icily glamorous in the next as the over-sexed Home Secretary in Bodyguard, for example. Together, they could have delivered an excoriating portrait of a political marriage: the unspoken blackmail, the delicate balance of power, like two little dancers revolving on a music box packed with dynamite. None of that is attempted here. Barbara Stonehouse is clearly much brighter than her husband, but she chooses not to know what hes up to. When she finds him stashing suitcases in the bedroom wardrobe, or arguing in a hushed voice with the police over the phone, she remains mute... though the clouds of suspicion on her face speak volumes. Keeleys best silence comes when shes introduced to Sheila for the first time. Stonehouse looks awkwardly guilty for a moment and then decides hes got away with it. The frost in his wifes eyes tells us she knows exactly whats going on. We need to feel for her, because Stonehouse is such a pompous idiot that its hard to care what happens to him. His downfall begins on a trade mission in the 1960s to Czechoslovakia, when his sultry translator declares over dinner that shes agog for his rampant masculine charisma. Next morning, Czech secret agents take Stonehouse aside and show him explicit footage from the hotel room, apparently filmed through a spyhole in the ceiling. The Soviets had a word for movies like that: Kompromat. Mr Stonehouse didnt need a translation. But his reaction to their proposition betrayed both his stupidity and his cheap venality: You want me to spy for you? Would I be paid? Whether for legal reasons or just because its more amusing, the drama makes it clear that Stonehouse betrayed nothing of importance to the Eastern Bloc. His best scoop was the plans for Concorde, which had already been announced by the French media. You are the worst spy I have ever come across, ever, complains his Czech handler. Hes certainly no Kim Philby. Arriving at the Czech embassy to deliver another batch of non-secrets, he bellows into the front doors intercom: Its John Stonehouse. Agent Twister! Premier Harold Wilson (Kevin McNally) is pretty clueless too. He has a couple of smashing lines one about the Queens views on socialist Tony Benn (Frankly Ive never heard her so put out) and one about the general lack of sexiness on the Labour front bench. His wife Mary thinks most of the men look like battered saucepans. That must be why Private Eye, in the 1970s, referred to the government as Harolds Kitchen Cabinet. Margaret Thatcher makes a cameo appearance, with just one line of dialogue. At least shes played by a woman, actress Devon Black. Thats an improvement on C4s execrable Prince Andrew: The Musical last week... when the Iron Lady was portrayed by drag queen Baga Chipz. Nick Cannon is not considering a family planning. During CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live' broadcast in Time Square, Andy Cohen joked that the father of 12 seemed to be "single-handedly repopulating the Earth" by having additional children. On December 14, Cannon welcomed his youngest child with model Alyssa Scott. What is your plan? Cohen asked Cannon, according to People. Nick Cannon Rules Out Vasectomy "Clearly, I have no plan," Cannon responded. Cohen, who was anchoring the live broadcast with CNN's Anderson Cooper, then inquired as to whether Cooper was open to a vasectomy. As for Cannon's counsel to new fathers, he remarked, "Simply act out of love. Some could say that's what brought us here in the first place, but that's what I would always do with a grin." Eventually, the topic of discussion shifted to New Year's resolutions. When questioned about his 2023 ambitions, the ex-husband of Mariah Carey reiterated his prior assertion that he did not have any. Last month, Cannon and Scott welcomed their twelfth child, daughter Halo Marie Cannon. Halo was born a year after the death of the couple's 5-month-old son Zen, who passed away from brain cancer. Nick Cannon welcomed multiple children in 2022: son Legendary Love in July with Bre Tiesi, followed by Onyx Ice Cole Cannon, a daughter with former Price is Right model LaNisha Cole, in September. Nine days later, daughter Rise Messiah Cannon with model Brittany Bell; Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa announced the birth of their daughter, Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon, in November, before he welcomed daughter Halo Marie Cannon with Alyssa Scott last month. Nick Cannon's first children, twins Moroccan and Monroe, were born in April 2011 with Mariah Carey, and it wasn't until February 2017 that he received his third kid, Golden 'Sagon' Cannon. In December 2020, he also had a daughter, Powerful Queen. Nick Cannon was blessed with another set of twins, Zion and Zillion, in June 2021, as per Metro. Read Also: Bob Marley Musician Grandson Jo Mersa Dies at 31; Reggae Artist's Cause of Death Revealed Cannon Avoids Answering How Many Children He Plans to Have The birth of Halo Marie occurred about a year after the loss of Zen, who died of a brain tumor at barely five months of age in 2021. Nick Cannon has been candid about his expanding family and has accepted the constant jokes about the number of his children with good humor. Per Daily Mail, Cannon expressed thanks for his relationships and family while avoiding a definitive response regarding the number of children he will have. Cannon has a total of 12 children with six women. On Christmas Day, he looked to have his hands full ensuring the happiness of all of his children. Cannon and Alyssa Scott recently had a daughter on December 14. The birth occurs only one month after Cannon's other ex-girlfriend Abby De La Rosa posted an Instagram video of their newborn child. Abby gave birth to a baby girl who was given the name Zeppelin. They also share twins, Zion and Zillion, who are one year old. Rise Messiah Cannon was born in September to Cannon and Brittany Bell, with whom he also has Golden, age five, and Powerful Queen, age two. Less than two weeks prior to the birth of Rise, Cannon and former The Price Is Right model Lanisha Cole welcomed Onyx into the world. In July, Nick's girlfriend Bre Tiesi gave birth to her first kid, a son named Legendary, who was Nick's ninth child at the time. Related Article: TJ Holmes Files for Divorce from Wife Amid Affair Rumors with Co-Host Amy Robach @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Justice B V Nagarathna (Image credit: Twitter/@LiveLawIndia) New Delhi: Justice B V Nagarathna of the Supreme Court, who gave a dissenting verdict on demonetisation on Monday, said the scrapping of the whole series of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes had to be done through a legislation and not through a gazette notification as Parliament cannot be left aloof in a matter of such critical importance. Justice Nagarathna, who was the juniormost judge in the Constitution bench also comprising justices S A Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said the demonetisation of an entire series of notes at the Centre's instance is a far more serious issue that has wider implications on the economy and the citizens of the country. Observing that there was no independent application of mind by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Justice Nagarathna said the entire exercise was carried out in 24 hours. "In my view, the power of the central government being vast has to be exercised through a plenary legislation rather than by an executive act by issuance of notification. It is necessary that Parliament, which consists of the representatives of the people of the country, discusses the matter and thereafter, approves the matter," she said. The judge said the proposal originated from the Centre while the RBI's opinion was sought and such an opinion given by the central bank cannot be construed as a "recommendation" under section 26(2) of the RBI Act. "Parliament is often referred to as a nation in a miniature. It is the basis of democracy. Parliament provides representation to the people of the country and makes their voices heard. Without Parliament, democracy cannot thrive. Parliament, which is the centre of democracy, cannot be left aloof in a matter of such critical importance," she said. In her minority verdict, Justice Nagarathna held that the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes was vitiated and unlawful. The apex court in a 4:1 majority verdict upheld the government's 2016 decision to demonetise the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes, saying the decision-making process was not flawed. The top court's judgment came on a batch of 58 petitions challenging the demonetisation exercise announced by the Centre on November 8, 2016. File photo of Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar. (Photo: AFP) VIENNA: Voicing "very deep" concern over the raging Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India is on the side of peace and since the beginning of the hostilities New Delhi's effort has been to bring Moscow and Kyiv to return to dialogue and diplomacy as differences cannot be settled through violence. Jaishankar, who arrived here from Cyprus on the second leg of his two-nation tour, made the remarks on Sunday evening while addressing the members of the Indian diaspora in Austria. "This (Ukraine) conflict is really a matter of very, very deep concern Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in September (that) we actually genuinely believe that this is no longer an era of war. You cannot settle differences and issues through violence, Jaishankar said. "So from the very beginning, our effort has been to urge (Russia and Ukraine to) return to dialogue and diplomacy, the Prime Minister himself has spoken on numerous occasions with President (Vladimir) Putin and President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. I myself talked to my colleagues in Russia and Ukraine, he said. We know this is not (an) easily resolvable situation. But it's important that countries who believe (in)...negotiation, speak up clearly in that regard," he said, adding that "we're on the side of peace and a large part of the world thinks like us. India has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue and end their ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Modi has spoken to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on multiple occasions and urged for immediate cessation of hostilities and return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue for the resolution of the conflict. In his bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16, Modi said "today's era is not of war" and nudged him to end the conflict. India has not yet criticised the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue. Jaishankar also told the audience that there are profound changes in India's national security. "Much of it is centred around the intense challenges we face on our northern border with China. We continue to have the problem of cross-border terrorism with Pakistan, he said. Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in "minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides", according to the Indian Army. It is the first major clash between the Indian and Chinese armies since the fierce face-off in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The ties between the two countries have remained frozen since then with India making it clear that peace and tranquillity at the border is the sine qua non for the overall development of bilateral ties. The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks so far to resolve the standoff. Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Jaishankar also noted that India has vastly improved its relationship with Bangladesh. "We have settled our land boundary agreement with them. It's an example of how successful diplomacy has directly contributed to a stronger relationship (between two neighbours), he said. In his speech, Jaishankar also said that India and Austria would sign some agreements on Monday and some of them are of interest to Indian diaspora - one on migration and mobility for Indians who want to come here as students/professionals and another on 'Working Holiday' programme which will enable Indian students in Austria to work for six months. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with top Austrian leadership in the first diplomatic engagement in 2023 and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Modi to Chancellor Karl Nehammer. This is the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years, and it takes place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) on January 3. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) on January 3. The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said that the focal theme of this year's ISC is "Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment". The ISC will witness discussions on issues of sustainable development, women's empowerment and the role of science and technology in achieving these objectives. "The participants will discuss and deliberate on ways to increase the number of women in higher echelons of teaching, research and industry, along with trying to find ways to provide women with equal access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, research opportunities and economic participation," the PMO said. A special programme to showcase the contribution of women in science and technology will also be held, which will include lectures by renowned women scientists. Several other programmes will also be organised alongside ISC, like the Childrens Science Congress, to help stimulate scientific interest and temperament among children. The Farmer's Science Congress will provide a platform to improve the bioeconomy and attract youth to agriculture. The Tribal Science Congress will also be held, which will provide a platform for the scientific display of indigenous ancient knowledge systems and practices, along with a focus on the empowerment of tribal women. "The first session of the Science Congress was held in 1914. The 108th annual session of the ISC will be held at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, which is also celebrating its centenary this year," the PMO added. Police allowed five Telugu Desam leaders, led by Nakka Anandbabu, to meet him in the police station. Representational image/DC VIJAYAWADA: Police on Monday arrested Vuyyuru Foundation chairman and non-resident Indian, Srinivasa Rao, on a charge that he caused the death of some persons due to negligence. Arrested under Section 304 (2) of IPC, he was produced before a court and put in judicial remand. Rao was absconding soon after the death of three persons and injuries to many in the stampede at a public meeting in Guntur, which was attended by former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Sunday evening. The police booked a case at Nallapadu police station based on a complaint from the family members of one of the deceased, Ramadevi, and started a search for him on Sunday itself. After the arrest, the police shifted him to the crime police station in Guntur for questioning. Police allowed five Telugu Desam leaders, led by Nakka Anandbabu, to meet him in the police station. It was at the initiative of Rao and at the behest of Chandrababu Naidu that the event for distribution of Janata Vastralu and essential commodities to the people in Guntur was held, leading to a stampede and three deaths. At the start of the meeting, Naidu had appreciated Raos role in organising the event. The stampede took place after Naidu left the venue. The Sarpanches are expressing their plight to MLAs and MLCs. (DC File Photo) KHAMMAM: Sarpanches of small gram panchayats are facing trouble in their families over their mortgaging of gold ornaments and even their houses in banks to pay the bills of contractors for works done in respective gram panchayats. They are on a long wait but not getting the payments reimbursed from the government. They are exerting pressure on ruling TRS legislators to speed up the governments payments to them. The sarpanches are presenting their plight to MLCs and MLAs during their visits to the villages. The financial condition of Ammugudem gram panchayat in Nelakondapalli is the worst. G Sathish, its sarpanch and president of Nelakondapalli mandal sarpanches association ,showed his ire at the mandal general body meeting in the presence of TRS MLC T Madhusudhan. Sathish, a graduate in MBA, joined politics while working as HR manager with the Hyundai company in Hyderabad. We will not take up any new work till the pending payments are done. We as sarpanches are paying the amounts to the contractors by selling or pawning even the thali (mangalsutra) of our wives. We are in a sad plight even inside our homes now. our legislators should understand the severity of the problem and force the government to make the payments that are due to us, he said. There were disputes among the sarapanch families over the mortgaging of properties in banks to pay the bills produced by the contractors after completion of various works. Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Sathish said, Wives of sarpanches blame their husbands for not releasing their pawned jewellery. These women are unable to explain the reason to the relatives for not wearing ornaments at family functions. He said that he himself faced problems at home over getting a loan from the bank for paying bills to the contractors for village works. Such grim experiences are being faced by two to three sarpanch families in every mandal in Khammam district. The spouse sarpanches are bringing such complaints during the meetings of sarpanches. We decided to stop all the works until the previous payments are done, he said. The Telugu Desam held the Andhra Pradesh government responsible for the stampede incident in Guntur city on Sunday night that left three women dead and seven others injured. By Arrangement Amaravati: The Telugu Desam held the Andhra Pradesh government responsible for the stampede incident in Guntur city on Sunday night that left three women dead and seven others injured, even as party president N Chandrababu Naidu expressed "profound shock and grief" over the tragedy. Naidu announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased while the state government announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh each. TD leader K Ravindra said he would pay another Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs one lakh each to the injured persons. Another TD leader Mannava Mohana Krishna announced a further relief of Rs three lakh each to the kin of those killed. Three women were killed in the stampede at some of the stalls in a public ground in Guntur where a non-governmental organisation distributed "Sankranti Kanuka" (gift) to poor families. The TD president attended the event and the tragedy struck a few minutes after he left the venue. TD state president K Atchannaidu blamed the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the tragic incident as it failed to provide adequate security. "Is it not the police's responsibility to ensure adequate security and proper crowd control measures where a former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition is attending an event? Looks like the Jagan regime is putting the people's lives at stake to carry out its blame game," Atchannaidu alleged in a statement. He said reaction of some ministers and the vile campaign on social media by the YSR Congress soon after the tragic incident gave rise to suspicion over the ruling dispensation's evil designs. Naidu, in a separate statement, said he was aghast over the stampede and death of poor people. "It is most unfortunate. I attended the event to encourage a voluntary organisation in its endeavour to help the poor. I am deeply pained that it ended in a tragedy," the former Chief Minister said. We will need to write the doctrine and the strategy, and that will not be easy for a government that prefers certitude over doubt. (Representational Image/AFP) In concluding his chapter on intelligence agencies and their manner of functioning, Amarjit Singh Dulat, a former head of the Research and Analysis Wing, wrote in his recent book that RAW is pretty good, better than the ISI. He left it at that, without explaining in what way it was so, and it would be interesting to learn how he arrived at this conclusion. To know whether something is good, bad or indifferent, one must first ask what it is intended to do. What are the outcomes that are sought to be achieved? For Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence, it has been two things. First, to tie down its giant neighbour so that the military and economic asymmetry is neutralised. Second, it should control its western neighbour through proxies. This is to say that Pakistans primary national security objectives have been tasked in large measure to its military intelligence agency. If it is possible for one to be a dispassionate observer in this matter, it appears that both outcomes have been achieved. Indeed, they have been achieved so comprehensively that they have managed to get into the minds of the adversary and switch off his thinking, as A.S. Dulats book reveals, and as I wrote about here last week. To draw a comparison, we must first know this: What are the outcomes that RAW seeks to achieve? This is not clear because we have no national security doctrine or national security strategy. A defence planning committee under the current national security adviser, Ajit Doval, had been tasked five years ago to write up the doctrine and strategy, but has not yet done it. While we have not defined what the threat is in terms of doctrine, we do know who the enemy is by instinct. Addressing his first combined commanders conference in October 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said: The threats may be known, but the enemy (terrorism) may be invisible. His NSA has spoken of, though not written about, something referred to as the Doval Doctrine. It also identifies Pakistan as the main national security threat and terrorism as the primary problem. His solution is to do to the enemy what the enemy does to you, though he does not reflect on what that might mean in the long term. To be clear, this focus on terrorism is not just about the current government. Going back to 1990, the Indian State determined that Kashmir was where its national security strategy would be centred. The Army raised units called the Rashtriya Rifles, which would focus on counter-insurgency rather than on war. The Line of Control and bits of the international border were fenced off in a defensive act. The intelligence agencies would be focused on counter-terrorism. As the head of RAW, Dulat refused to let go of the Kashmir portfolio he held in the Intelligence Bureau. Why the agency tasked with external intelligence (spying on other nations) was intruding into the space of the agency working on internal intelligence (tasked with internal security) is not explained. But it doesnt have to be. For the entire Indian State apparatus, Kashmir and Pakistan was the obsession. This has been rudely taken apart by happenings on the eastern front. Till the clash in Ladakhs Galwan Valley, of Indias 38 divisions, only 12 faced China while the rest were ranged against Pakistan. Today, 16 face China with more on the way. We have been yanked into a military posture that is conventional again. India was compelled to do this against its will, though there is of course no media uproar over why we were wasting time obsessing over the wrong thing. For decades, instinctively and in a sort of primitive manner, India showed laal ankh to Pakistan. Years of refusal to engage with either the insurgents or the separatists mean that we no longer have a meaningful intelligence game in Kashmir. And, of course, we have no agency to act either, except through force. It is disappointing that this is how a democracy and a modern state responded, but it is not surprising. Obsessing over something but also refusing to deal with it is a strange paradox but understandable if one is familiar with the Indian psyche as it has evolved on the communal question. The refusal to hire the minorities, especially Muslims, is also likely to have affected counter-intelligence, espionage and operations capabilities. How many individuals in RAW and the Intelligence Bureau have Urdu and Pashto (or Mandarin)? It would be interesting to know. Dulats book tells us that the approach by intelligence agencies, including RAW, followed that of the military. In the absence of defined threats and a doctrine, the system fell into a sort of sleepwalk mode. The political establishment and the media enthusiastically barked up the wrong tree. Building intelligence capability now to counter our primary threat China will not be easy. We will need to write the doctrine and the strategy, and that will not be easy for a government that prefers certitude over doubt. It will require, above all, for the nation to be weaned off the idea that the primary problem is terrorism and the main adversary is Pakistan, and the belief that the current Kashmir policy is meaningful or sustainable. None of this is, of course, going to happen. For this reason, we will bumble along till we are forced or compelled to do something. The light that Dulat shines on the state of affairs in our intelligence services is at once bright and illuminating and also depressing and scary. 110 debit cards, 110 credit cards, several bank passbooks, fake seals of 15 commercial establishments, six mobile phones and three laptops... These articles were found by police in the possession of a 34-year-old man, who is accused of procuring more than a dozen Point of Sale (PoS) machines through fraudulent means. Police said Navneet Pandey, originally from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and residing in Banashankari 2nd Stage, obtained the swiping machines from different banks by submitting forged applications in the name of restaurants and hotels. Police got his trail after receiving a complaint from Vivek K A, who runs the Kidambis Kitchen restaurant in Banashankari 2nd Stage. Vivek was one of his many victims. He learnt about the fraud when a representative of YES Bank visited his restaurant on December 26 to verify his application for the PoS machine. Vivek was stunned to learn that one Navneet Pandey had submitted Form 3 (Certification of Registration) to the bank, attesting that the PoS machine was required for Kidambis Kitchen. He had also signed in the proprietors column. Vivek filed a police complaint two days later. Police traced Pandey to his place of residence in Banashankari 2nd Stage and arrested him under IPC sections related to forgery and cheating. Police produced him before a court and sought his custody for 14 days. According to police, the bank cards recovered from Pandey were issued to various individuals. India was Nepal's top inbound tourist market in 2022, the country's tourism authority said on Monday, as the key sector in the Himalayan nation is gradually witnessing recovery from the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic. Of the total 614,148 foreign visitors from January to December last year, 209,105 were from India, followed by the US with 77,009 and the UK 44,781, according to data published by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Australia is in fourth place with 26,874 inbound visitors, while Bangladesh with 25,384 tourists ranked fifth in the list. The arrival of 614,148 tourists last year indicates a significant recovery in the Nepal tourism sector, NTB CEO Dhananjay Regmi said. In 2021, the country witnessed only 150,962 tourist footfall, while it was 230,085 in 2020, according to the data. Before the pandemic hit the tourism industry, Nepal received 1.2 million tourists in 2019. The highest number of 88,582 tourists entered Nepal via air routes in October 2022. Of the total international visitors last year, 40.06 per cent were from the SAARC countries, the NTB data said. Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Nepalese economy. It is also a major source of foreign exchange and revenue. The tourism industry contributed about 6.7 per cent to Nepals GDP. Possessing 8 of the 10 world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest, Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventures. The Hindu, Buddhist and other cultural heritage sites of Nepal, and around the year fair weather are also strong attractions. The LockBit ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for a hack that occurred on Christmas day against the Port of Lisbon Administration (APL), the third-largest port in Portugal. Although the incident had no impact on the port's operations, the port's administration said it was collaborating with law enforcement to recover the material that had been exfiltrated. The Cyberattack Gang Says It Compromised All Of The Port's Data According to Bleeping Computer, being one of the most accessible ports in Europe, the Port of Lisbon is an essential component of the city's key infrastructure in the capital of Portugal. Because of its importance to the Eurasian port system, the Port of Lisbon leaves itself vulnerable to cyberattacks from which hackers can gain and exploit valuable information. On Thursday, the LockBit ransomware group said that it had attacked the port and claimed to have stolen financial data, audits, budgets, contracts, ship logs, and other details regarding cargo and crews. Despite the attack, the Port of Lisbon officials reported that the cyberattack did not affect its operational activity. However, it ensures the public that the incident has already been relayed to the National Cybersecurity Center and the Judiciary Police. "All security protocols and response measures planned for this type of occurrence were quickly activated," port officials claim in a statement. Additionally, the APL says that it will be working permanently with authorities to make sure that the systems and data in it will remain secure, The Record writes. The group gave law enforcement until January 18 to respond and requested $1.5 million in exchange for the data's download or destruction. Furthermore, if the Port of Lisbon didn't reply by the deadline, the ransomware group threatened to reveal the stolen data. Aside from this, it is important to note that LockBit will sell the data for the same price to anyone who wants rapid access to them. Read More: Department of Finance in California Suffer LockBit Ransomware Cyberattack The Port of Lisbon Attack Follows Other Notable Cyberattacks Being active since late 2019, the notorious ransomware group LockBit is frequently seen as a strict competition against Conti to become the most well-known digital extortion gang in the globe. The notorious RaaS (ransomware as a service) operation is also powered by the LockBit gang's third iteration of its encryptor, making them one of the most active groups this year. The incident is the most recent in a string of hacks that have seriously disrupted ports throughout Europe, according to The Record. This week, speculations surfaced in Japanese media that the Japan Police's cybercrime unit had provided free system restoration assistance to at least three domestic businesses affected by LockBit 3.0 attacks. Continental, the international automaker that the ransomware group named on its Tor website in November 2022, was the target of another recent attack by LockBit as well. Because of this, European prosecutors and cybersecurity experts also started looking into a ransomware attack that affected several important oil port terminals in February. Ports, according to a number of cybersecurity experts, are prime targets for nation-states and cybercriminals looking to cause chaos and disaster. This is due to the fact that ports and maritime operations have a large worldwide footprint, frequent communication, and an amplified impact of loss, making a cyberattack an important issue. Related Article: LockBit Ransomware Claims Responsibility on Continental Automotive Attack Public service in Sri Lanka is not an eight-hour job, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday, as he urged public servants to work overtime to make the cash-strapped island a prosperous nation this year. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis last year due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves that also sparked political turmoil in the island nation which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family. "Each persons duties (public servants) cannot be limited to 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. Lets all work with commitment. By the end of 2023, I hope to take this country forward with the support of all of you and restore normalcy," news portal newsfirst.lk reported, quoting Wickremesinghe as saying during an event held at the President's Office here on Monday. The President said no public servant can shirk responsibility as 2023 was a crucial year for the country's economy. Incidentally, Sri Lanka turns 75 as an independent nation later this year. National Day, also known as Independence Day, is celebrated on February 4 to commemorate the countrys political independence from British rule in 1948. From April to July, chaos reigned supreme in Sri Lanka, with miles-long queues forming at fuel stations and irate residents coming out in thousands blocking roads. In May last year, the Sri Lankan government declared a debt default on over $51 billion in foreign loans - a first in the country's history. The resignations by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in May 2022 amid massive anti-government protests subsided with the formation of a government led by their ally Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe, 73, is now tasked with stabilising the economy and restoring the financial health of the economy, already hit badly by the pandemic. "Five and a half months ago, we took over a historic task at this office. During those five and a half months, we took steps to establish normalcy in the country at a time when the government had collapsed and the economy had also collapsed. However, not all our economic problems are over yet. Nevertheless, today we have the ability to provide fuel, gas, foodstuff and fertilisers as required," Wickremesinghe said. Last year, Sri Lanka and the IMF agreed on a staff-level agreement to release $2.9 billion over 4 years. But the much-anticipated IMF bailout will have to wait as the country pursues talks with creditors to meet the global lender's condition for the facility. Wickremesinghe recently said that India and Sri Lanka held "successful" talks on debt restructuring and the country will also begin discussions with China, as it tries to get assurances from major bilateral creditors to close the crucial deal with the IMF. "We have to move forward by implementing the debt-restructuring programme. Moreover, we have to build an economy that can compete with the new world. The opinion of the majority is that there is a need for a change in the political system of this country," he added. Tough action by armed commandos and forest personnel, and use of technology has helped Assam achieve the target of zero poaching of one-horned rhinos during 2022, a feat which the state achieved after a gap of more than two decades. With nearly 2,900 rhinos (2018 Census), Assam is the largest habitat of the prized one-horned rhinos, a vulnerable wildlife species. According to the State of the Rhinos Report 2022, the population of one-horned rhinos, found only in India, Nepal and Bhutan, is 4,012. But poaching in Assam's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries has remained a serious concern. Poachers having links with international gangs of wildlife parts smugglers have killed at least 191 rhinos since 2000. 2014 and 2015 witnessed the highest incidents of poaching at 17 each. At least 18 rhinos were killed in 2016 and the number of poaching reduced thereafter and only one rhino was killed in 2021. The BJP-led government, which came to power for the second straight term in May 2021, however, set a target of zero poaching. Congress and other parties also made rhino poaching an issue in their election manifestos. The state government in June 2021 set up a 22-member task force headed by special director General of police (law and order) GP Singh, and deployed armed commandos for vigil and strict action against poachers. The task force was comprised of senior forest officers and SPs of at least 11 districts (Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Morigaon, Baksa,Chirang, Barpeta and Majuli) and divisional forest officers (six wildlife divisions). The armed commandos of police and state forest personnel were deployed in the core areas of the rhino habitats (Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, Pobitora) while drones and dog squads were also used to track movement of poachers and trace them, Singh told DH on Monday. "Data about all past poachers and their present activities were collected, mapping of all boatmen was done, CCTVs (including night vision) were installed on the entry and exit points and all those engaged in the task were asked to adopt a zero tolerance policy. People living near the forests were sensitised while co-ordination with police in neighbouring Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur was streamlined," Singh said. The task force also took help of police in Kerala in arresting poachers, who had fled to the state. Singh said the last poaching was reported at Hilakunda in Kohora range of Kaziranga National Park on December 28, 2021. At least four poachers were killed while 58 others were arrested since the task force was constituted, Singh said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the zero poaching of rhinos in 2022 was a landmark achievement. "This is probably after 20-25 years, Assam has not reported poaching of a single rhino during a year," he told reporters. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, CEO of Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group in Assam and an expert in rhino conservation said proactive role played by district police in rhino-bearing areas, vigil in civil areas, and the tough stand taken by the state government helped curb poaching. "The sophisticated weapons given to the forest protection force personnel also enhanced the zeal of the frontline staff," he said. Most of the poaching has been reported from Kaziranga, which houses the maximum number of 2,613 one-horned rhinos. Orang National Park, Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary are the other rhino-bearing areas in Assam. The rhino horns are smuggled mainly to China and Vietnam mainly for preparation of traditional medicines and others. The death of two Russian nationals in quick succession and in suspicious circumstances in Odishas Rayagada district recently merits a thorough investigation. Although the Russian embassy in New Delhi has said that Indian police had found no criminal element in the deaths, the possibility of foul play cannot be ruled out, especially since one of them, Pavel Antov, was a multi-millionaire businessman and member of parliament, and importantly a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Antov died after allegedly falling from the third floor of a hotel, his friend Vladimir Bidenov had been found dead two days earlier in a room they had shared in the same hotel. Police said Bidenov had died of a heart attack. The deaths have triggered much speculation. Two Russians dying in quick succession in a remote part of India raises questions. The hurried manner in which the bodies of the two men were cremated compounds the suspicions. Antov was a critic of Putins war on Ukraine. In June last year, Antov had on social media called Russian missile attacks on a residential block in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, terrorism, though he subsequently backtracked, calling himself a Russian patriot and a supporter of Putin. Several critics of Putin have died unnatural deaths in recent years, and their numbers have grown since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Was Antov eliminated for his damning indictment of Putin on social media? Over the past year, several Russian businessmen with ties to key industries have died in mysterious circumstances. These include top officials of Gazprom, the Russian energy conglomerate in which the Russian government owns a majority share. A year ago, a top Gazprom official was found dead with his wrists slashed, and a suicide note beside his body. Other Gazprom officials have murdered their family members before killing themselves. The chairman of Lukoil, Russias second largest oil producer, Ravil Maganov, who had called for an end to the war, died in September after falling off the sixth floor of a hospital. The Indian government must investigate the deaths of the two Russian nationals on Indian soil. If there is evidence of foul play, especially by either the Russian criminal mafias or by the Russian State, it is imperative that the Modi government takes it up with the Russian government. Britain, a haven for Russian billionaires and former spies who had fallen foul of Putin, learnt a bitter lesson the hard way, especially following the Salisbury poisonings, a Russian intelligence hit job using a Cold War-era nerve agent that became a large-scale public health threat to British citizens. India cannot allow its soil to become a playground for Russian political intrigues and criminal activities. Off-spinner Agha Salman and pacer Naseem Shah helped Pakistan derail New Zealand to 309-6 Monday after opener Devon Conway scored a brilliant hundred on the first day in the second Test in Karachi. Salman grabbed 3-55 and Naseem took 2-44 to trigger a New Zealand middle order slump which saw the tourists lose five wickets for 45 runs during the final session, slumping from 234-1 to 279-6. At close, Tom Blundell and Ish Sodhi were batting on 30 and 11 respectively as they try to revive New Zealand's innings. Conway, who scored 122, put on 134 for the opening wicket with Tom Latham (71) after New Zealand won the toss on a National Stadium pitch that had traces of grass but did not initially support bowlers. Also Read: Not satisfied with preparation, New Zealand's Milne pulls out of India tour Conway steadied the innings with another 100-run stand for the second wicket with Kane Williamson who made 36, but Pakistan pulled back after the visitors were 226-1 at tea. Salman had Conway caught behind by Sarfaraz Ahmed soon after tea to make it 2-234 before six runs later Naseem dismissed Williamson in the same manner. Conway struck 16 boundaries and a six in his 257-minute stay at the crease. Salman then struck twice, beating Daryl Mitchell's defence for three and had Henry Nicholls caught behind with a turning delivery for 26. Abrar Ahmed took his only wicket by trapping Michael Bracewell for nought. The two-match series is tied at 0-0 after the first Test -- also in Karachi -- ended in a tame draw. In the morning, Pakistan's three-pronged pace attack looked helpless until Naseem struck in the sixth over after lunch, trapping Latham leg-before with a sharp incoming delivery. Latham, who scored 113 in the first match, hit nine boundaries in his 100-ball knock, his 24th Test half-century. Conway was lucky to survive a sharp chance when Saud Shakeel failed to hold on to a miscued drive off Hasan Ali on 89. Pakistan brought on Abrar Ahmed in the ninth over, but there was no sign of turn as Conway smashed a boundary and a six off the spinner's second over. The hosts picked Naseem and Hasan in place of spinner Nauman Ali and fast-bowler Mohammad Wasim after the first Test, while New Zealand picked pacer Matt Henry over Neil Wagner. Mumbai-Jodhpur train derails in Jodhpur Division 2023-01-02 8 coaches of the Bandra Terminus-Jodhpur Suryanagari Express train derailed between the Rajkiawas-Bomadra section of Jodhpur division at 3.27 on January 02. No casualties were reported. An accident relief train has been dispatched from Jodhpur by Railways. CPRO of North Western Railway Shashi Kiran said, 11 coaches were impacted due to the derailment of the Bandra Terminus-Jodhpur Suryanagari Express train. No casualties reported yet. Higher officials have reached the spot. Buses have been arranged for stranded passengers so that they can reach their destinations. In case you missed it first time around - July 2022: The view from Claudy's sloping Main Street on a summer's morning is idyllic. Green hedges skirt the edges of sprawling fields in the Faughan Valley below. Houses lie dotted across the land that leads to and surrounds Feeny and Dungiven. Distant cars scurry along country roads, apologetically subtle amidst the natural beauty. The vista's gentility betrays the horror of what happened here fifty years ago. Three bombs. Nine dead. No warning. No explanation. No admissions. It's been 50 years since the bombs were detonated in Claudy killing nine innocent people and injuring many others On the morning of July 31 1972 a Monday - at the height of what would become known as one of the deadliest years of the Troubles, three car bombs exploded in the village. Nine-year-old Kathryn Eakin was cleaning the windows of the family's nearby grocery shop when the first bomb planted in a stolen Ford Cortina - exploded outside McElhinney's Bar at around 10.15am. Kathryn died a week later in hospital from her injuries. Joseph McCloskey, a 39-year-old factory worker was killed instantly by the bomb while bringing his four-year-old son to buy a newspaper. Pub owner Elizabeth McElhinney (59) also died instantly, killed in the blast as she served a customer at the bar outside which the bomb was planted. 15-year-old Patrick Connolly was struck by flying metal as he stood in a shop on Main Street, dying eight days later from his injuries. During the ensuing panic, police became aware of a second vehicle a stolen Mini Traveller parked outside the post office on Main Street. After a suspicious device was located in the rear of the car, police began to clear the area, with much of the crowd heading for Church Street. At approximately 10.30am, two further explosions occurred almost simultaneously, read the 2010 Ombudsman's Report into the bombing. As well as the device in the Mini Traveller on Main Street, a further bomb had been placed in a stolen green Morris Minor van outside the Beaufort Hotel on Church Street. The final blast killed street cleaners James McClelland (65) and David Miller (60), as well as sixteen-year-old William Temple, who had been accompanying the local milkman on his round. Insurance salesman Arthur Hone (38) died a fortnight after the bombing, while mother-of-eight and cafe owner Rose McLaughlin (52) died in hospital four days later. A family member of those killed in the 1972 Claudy bombing, places their hand against a stain glass window in the village. Photo: Paul Faith/PA For fifty years, the effect of that devastating half hour in the north Derry village has haunted the survivors and victims, with the false dawns of promise exacerbating that hurt. No one ever claimed responsibility, nor has anyone ever been charged. A 1973 inquest recorded an 'open verdict' in respect of the nine deaths. In 2002, the PSNI commenced a review of the original RUC investigation with a view to identifying new evidence, and with it came arrests - three men and a woman in November 2005. Two men aged 67 and 60 were arrested in Dungiven and a 50-year-old man in Portglenone, Co Antrim. A 58-year-old woman was detained in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. All were released without charge. Among them was serving Sinn Fein MLA for East Derry, Francie Brolly, who at the time told The Irish Times the arrest had been a 'character assassination'. Mr Brolly later began legal action against the PSNI over his arrest, but the matter was later 'stayed' and he did not proceed with the case. Victims and relatives of those affected by the Claudy bombing pictured in 2010 when the Police Ombudsman's report into the atrocity was published. Photo: Julien Behal/PA Then in 2010, the families packed into the village's Diamond Centre for the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the bombings and their investigation. The report revealed a distinctive car travelling from Claudy had stopped in Feeny, where a passenger attempted to use an out-of-order phone box. It was then driven at speed to Dungiven, where two men got out and attempted to use the phones in separate shops. With those phones not working, the shop assistants were asked to tell police in Dungiven that there 'were three bombs in Claudy'. By the time police in Claudy received this information, the first bomb had already exploded. The owner of the car, referred to in the report as 'Man A' was arrested by police in early August 1972, but was released after his alibi was confirmed by a third party and Fr James Chesney. Chesney, a Catholic priest, features prominently in the 2010 report, with a document dated August 1972 revealing that police had assessed his alibi as being 'prepared in advance' of the bombings. James Chesney Intelligence held by the RUC prior to the bombings had idenfitied Father Chesney as the Quarter Master and Director of Operations of the South Derry Provisional IRA, said the report. One detective had wanted to have Chesney arrested and the parochial house searched, but found his request refused by a Special Branch officer, who said 'matters were in hand'. Then-Secretary of State William Whitelaw relayed the intelligence to Cardinal William Conway in December 1972, who mentioned the possibility of transferring him to Donegal. Chesney ultimately was transferred to Donegal, where despite travelling over the border numerous times, he was never further questioned or investigated in relation to Claudy. He died in 1980. The 2010 report concluded that the police were 'wrong' to engage with the government and Catholic Church on Chesney rather than act on intelligence around his alleged involvement. Eleven years later, in September 2021, the PSNI and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) agreed confidential settlements to legal action taken by three of the Claudy families. Claudy's Main Street pictured today. The case, centred on investigative failures into the attack, was brought by the families of William Temple, David Miller and James McClelland and was settled 'without an admission of liability'. Further legal proceedings on behalf of the families against the Catholic Diocese of Derry remain unresolved and are still ongoing almost a year later. 50 years after the events of that July morning turned their lives upside down, the families' wait for the truth still continues. As one by one those who could provide answers take the truth to their graves, the families can only hope a pang of conscience leads someone to speak out. Staring across the Faughan Valley and beyond, there is still a hope that someone out there will come forward, reveal what they know, and hand the families the keys to closure. A pioneering justice scheme which enables the judiciary to sentence offenders within the community under supervision has been hailed by Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan as an alternative to short prison sentences. Enhanced combination orders (ECOs) provide an intensive community-based sentence with a focus on rehabilitation, reparation and support in an attempt to break the cycle of reoffending and keep communities safer. The latest reoffending statistics published by the Department of Justice show that reoffending rates of people on ECOs are down by nearly 4% for the 2019/20 cohort compared with 2018/19. Initially piloted in the Ards and Armagh/South Down court divisions, the ECO scheme is also now operating in the north west court areas. From its inception there have been 867 ECOs imposed on 804 people. Dame Siobhan said: The aim of the enhanced combination order is to bring together elements of community supervision such as community service, victim engagement and judicial oversight. Having an option such as the enhanced combination order as an alternative to a prison sentence of 12 months or less provides an opportunity for intensive work to be carried out which helps prevent the individual coming before the courts in the future. Probation Board NI chief executive Amanda Stewart said: It involves interventions by probation staff to address criminogenic needs and participants are also offered assessments by psychologists at PBNI. By then working with Barnardos and restorative justice organisations, problems such as addiction, mental health, family, and unemployment can be addressed. This order has prevented reoffending by rehabilitating people and by reducing the number of victims of repeat offending. This intensive approach to tackling the root causes of offending alongside intensive psychological support is making a real difference to peoples lives. Victim Support NIs chief executive Janice Bunting said: The latest reoffending statistics are welcome and I commend probation for the development of the enhanced combination order which has resulted in fewer victims of crime. The restorative element of this order is critical in helping give victims a voice and enabling them to explain the impact the crime has had. Ronnie Armour, director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, said: Improving public safety by reducing the risk of offending by supporting and challenging people in our care to change is at the core of our work. At a time when the prison population is increasing to levels not seen in many years, we welcome alternatives to short prison sentences such as the ECO which can play an important role in diverting people away from custody. OnePlus has had a busy few months, with the brand launching products other than smartphones to increase its offerings. The brand recently launched its TWS earbuds, new monitors, and even TVs. Now, the company is getting ready to launch a new 100W dual port fast charger. This products launch in China has already been confirmed by the brand. However, there is no indication regarding whether it will also hit global markets. OnePlus 100W charger specifications (expected) The new 100W charger from OnePlus will mark the first of its kind from the brand as it will also have a dual-port super flash charger. The charger is rumoured to have a USB-A + Type-C design, which means that you can use both ports at the same time. It is believed that the charger offers PD fast charging at up to 65W. OnePlus 100W dual port charger uses What makes this charger different from others in the market is that it can be used to charge various types of devices such as smartphones, TWS, and laptops. There are also reports indicating that the charger is reportedly designed keeping the battery size of the upcoming OnePlus 11 smartphones as well as the safety requirements of a massive battery capacity. Official claims state that the charger can top up 100% charge in 25 minutes, and up to 50% in 10 minutes. It is important to note that the OnePlus 11 has been marketed as the first product that can support aging battery charging acceleration and long-term charging protection. The smartphones are reportedly equipped with a specific battery management chip and 13 sensors to offer real-time battery state detection. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. With the launch scheduled for January 4 in China, the OnePlus 11 series has been making its fair share of headlines lately. There have already been plenty of leaks about the specifications, with the brand confirming a handful of them. Now, CoolAPK has uploaded live images of the OnePlus 11, giving way to more speculation about the upcoming product. These live images were taken at an offline store and they show that the green colour option of the smartphone will have a bright glossy finish. OnePlus 11 live images reveal the design The OnePlus 11 could have a circular camera module with a curved frame and glossy metal paint. The alert slider appears to be placed on the right edge, right below the power button. The volume rocker, on the other hand, can be seen be on the left edge. The display seems curved on the edges and there is a hole-punch cutout on the front aligned towards the left corner. There are also thin bezels around the display. OnePlus 11 specifications (expected) The OnePlus 11 is confirmed to run on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. It is said to have a 6.7-inch E4 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2K resolution. The smartphone is believed to have a 5000mAh battery capacity and 100W fast charging support. It is rumoured to offer 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, with the base model offering 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Leaks also indicate that the smartphone will have a 50MP Sony IMX890, 48MP ultra-wide angle camera, and 32MP telephoto camera that supports 2x optical zoom. On the front, it could have a 16MP selfie camera. OnePlus 11 price in India (expected) The brand has confirmed that the OnePlus 11 will launch on February 7 in India. The OnePlus 11 price is expected to be between 55,000 and 65,000. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. The Redmi K60 series recently launched in China, and now, the smartphone lineup could be awaiting its global launch soon. The series includes three smartphones, the Redmi K60, Redmi K60 Pro, and Redmi K60E. Noted tipster Kacper Skrzypek has said that the smartphone may be rebranded and launched as the Poco F5 Pro. He also states that the Redmi K60e will be exclusive only to China. This wont mark the first time that a Redmi smartphone will be rebranded as a POCO device or even the other way around. For instance, the Poco F4 GT was launched as Redmi K50 Gaming in China. On a similar note, the Redmi K40 is sold as the POCO F4 in India. Redmi K60 specifications (expected) The Redmi K60 comes in four different storage options, with the base variant offering 8GB RAM with 128GB storage configuration, while the high-end version is equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. It has a 6.67-inch QHD+ AMOLED display that has a 480Hz touch sampling rate and 120Hz refresh rate. The Redmi K60 has a triple camera setup, including a 64MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro sensor. It also has a 16MP selfie camera. The smartphone is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor with Adreno GPU. It has a 5,500mAh battery with 67W fast charging support and 30W wireless charging support. The smartphone runs on the Android 13-based MIUI 14 custom skin. Redmi K60 price in India (expected) While this has not been confirmed, the Redmi K60 price is expected to be around 29,990, based on its Chinese pricing which is RMB 2499. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Due to problems with the supply of iPhones and a general decline in the stock market, Apple's shares dropped to an 18-month low this week. On Wednesday, the company's stock reached its lowest level since June 2021 and closed at $126.04, remaining in that range, Mac Rumors reports. The Tech Giant Is Struggling With The Effects Of Zhengzhou's COVID-19 Restrictions Over the past few months, troubles with COVID-19 have limited iPhone output at Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn. Workers at Foxconn's primary iPhone facility in Zhengzhou, China, protested last month due to terrible working conditions brought on by COVID-19 regulations. However, the iPhone manufacturer is experiencing labor scarcity as a result of the virus's rapid spread, even though the Chinese government has already begun to loosen some restrictions. With that, the company published an unusual public alert last month, saying that due production limits at Foxconn at the time, shipments of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be lower than expected. Additionally, it was noted earlier this week that Foxconn's overall capacity utilization remained below 70%, according to Gizchina. Due to the enormous demand for Apple's current flagship models, this issue has since begun to affect the company's ability to produce the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, the supply of these iPhones has been delayed by many weeks as a direct result of the production problem. In addition to its headquarters in Zhengzhou, Foxconn also relies on its other significant base in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Although this action was taken, it was still insufficient to immediately alleviate the capacity shortage that Apple is experiencing. In light of the current circumstances, Trend Force has revised its estimate of the total number of shipments of all iPhone 14 models in 2022 to 78.1 million units. The normal iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models, however, are both still available on the tech giant's store website. Read More: Apple Faces iPhone Production Disruption In 2023 As COVID-19 Resurfaces In China The Holidays Are Projected To Make Things Worse For The iPhone Maker The COVID-19-related problems, the economic concerns, and the Chinese New Year holidays will make matters worse for Apple, at least through the first half of 2023. With this, Apple plans to considerably increase the number of offshore production sites that are outside of China due to the growing concern about geopolitical tensions. By the middle of the year, plants in Vietnam should begin to contribute to Apple's 2023 goal of doubling its device production capacity in India. The company will be forced to rely solely on production facilities outside of China to meet the demand for its products in the North American market because of the growing trade spat between China and the US. This will only be possible, according to Trend Force, if at least 30-35% of Apple's whole device production capacity is situated in Vietnam and India. Therefore, over the coming years, Apple will need to increase the proportion of devices produced in these two nations. Related Article: Apple Contractor Foxconn Invests $500 Million in India to Diversify Supply Chain The Redmi Note 12 5G series launch in India has been confirmed by the brand to happen on January 5. This series will include three models - Redmi Note 12 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G models. Previously, leaks suggested that the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G will be equipped with a 200MP sensor had been doing the rounds. Now, the brands latest communication confirms that the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G will have a 50MP camera with a Sony IMX766 sensor. Alvin Tse, the General Manager of Xiaomi India, shared sample camera shots taken with the help of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G. This smartphone has been dubbed Super Note. The tweet also stated that the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G will have similar camera specifications to the version that launched in October in China, with the 50MP Sony IMX766 primary camera sensor and support for optical image stabilisation (OIS). Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G camera capabilities Sumit Sonal, General Manager, Marketing, also tweeted about the capabilities of the upcoming smartphones camera. The SONY #IMX766 on the #SuperNote captures more light = more details, which further = better photo quality. The sensor on this camera has captured a great deal of detail, including the person, the light inside the room, the shadows, and the fine details on the window, he said. The colour reproduction on the #RedmiNote12 Pro is one of the best in the segment- making the colours look even more dynamic and true to life, he added Redmi Note 12 Pro launch date in India The Redmi Note 12 series is confirmed to launch in India on January 5. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Today, OnePlus announced that the users in India who have purchased OnePlus 5G smartphones can now finally enjoy the 5G network in India, provided they are using telecom providers like Airtel and Reliance Jio. The brand confirmed that OnePlus devices have been launched after 2020 (including flagship offerings as well as Nord devices) and are now officially able to support 5G. OnePlus devices now support 5G networks In order to ensure all customers can enjoy the services, the devices have been tested using the Vi 5G network in New Delhi, which means that once Vi starts offering 5G in India, users will be able to tap into the network. The brand has also confirmed that it is working with leading telecom partners in order to offer 5G technology services to users all over the country. OnePlus collaborated with Airtel, Jio and Vi to offer a glimpse into the capabilities of 5G technology, during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) in Delhi. Users saw a real-time demonstration of 5G networks on OnePlus smartphones. OnePlus has confirmed the roll-out of updates to support Jio 5G and Airtel 5G Navnit Nakra, OnePlus India CEO and Head of India region, OnePlus India, elaborated on the ability to support 5G, saying We are thrilled to join hands with the leading telecom players of India to bring the transformational 5G technology to our India community. We are positive that our future-ready smartphones combined with superior 5G network capabilities offered by our telecom partners, would empower our users with seamless technology. And it would help them achieve a lot more through their daily lives. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. 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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 A free sharing app has prevented the equivalent of 312,000 meals from going to waste in just over a year - with 883kg of food saved by Louth users. Since Olio first partnered with Tesco Ireland in November last year, the apps army of 'Food Waste Heroes' volunteers has collected the equivalent of 6,000 meals a week from the supermarkets stores throughout the country to redistribute for free. Louth took the third spot for the most active Food Waste Hero community to date, with volunteers visiting Tesco Ireland supermarkets to collect unsold food still fit for consumption and list it for free on the app so that others can collect and consume it. It is great to see such an active community of people in Louth joining together to fight waste, while helping out their neighbours, said Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio. Our partnership with Tesco Ireland has resulted in a massive 656,000 items of food being diverted from going to waste in just over a year. Food waste accounts for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions and is the single largest emitting sector. If we are to fix the climate crisis, preventing food waste should be a priority. Fruit and veg (37%) accounted for the most shared items, followed by dairy and eggs (32%) and bakery (24%). Olio user, Sarah Karam, 33, signed up as a Food Waste Hero in June. She has so far given away 526 items, saving the equivalent of over 1,260 meals and 396k litres of water. It took a couple of weeks to get established but I have people who regularly collect from me now and any food I post on Olio is gone within an hour, she said. Fruit, veg and ready-made meals are always the first to go. Ive made some great friends through the app including other food waste heroes locally. We help each other out and are all determined to reduce the environmental impact of food waste. Food waste in my own home is now less than 1%. More than 1,800 people in Ireland have signed up to be Food Waste Heroes since November last year, with 534 collections made each week across the country. Tesco Ireland has been donating surplus food through its partnership with FoodCloud since 2014. Last year we made the decision to partner with Olio to help us expand our surplus food donations programme, said Rosemary Garth, Communications Director, Tesco Ireland. This step was another major milestone towards helping us achieve our ambition to ensure that no good food goes to waste. Thanks to Olio and their team of flexible volunteers, in 2022 we were able to increase our Christmas food rescue efforts, making sure as much food as possible ended up feeding people in the communities that surround our stores." The Olio app can be downloaded from Google Play and Apple app stores. The desktop version is also accessible via olioex.com. The Department of Education has confirmed that as of 22 December, 386 Ukrainian pupils are enrolled in schools across Louth. Out of that figure, 212 of these pupils are attending primary schools while 174 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. Nationally, 13,753 Ukrainian pupils are enrolled in Irish schools; with 8823 attending primary schools and 4930 attending secondary schools . Commenting on the figures the Department of Education said: To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate, hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. These teams are ensuring that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine. The Department said they will continue to publish figures on the enrolment of Ukrainian children each month. Just before Christmas a plan to move a group of around 50 Ukrainians staying at the Crowne Plaza in Dundalk was put on hold by Minister Roderic O'Gorman after protests from the group and local politicians. Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the now-defunct exchange, has denied his involvement in moving funds related to Alameda wallets in a tweet to his 1.1 million followers on December 30. This is in response to the allegations that he may have been the one responsible for moving funds out of Alameda wallets. Sam Bankman-Fried Uses Twitter to Deny Allegations On Twitter, Bankman-Fried writes, "None of these are me. I'm not and couldn't be moving any of those funds. I don't have access to them anymore." His tweet was a response to a Cointelegraph's story, saying the wallets associated with Alameda transferred funds just days after he was released. According to the report, the wallet that belonged to Alameda transferred 600 ETH to a wallet address that started with 0x64e9. The on-chain transactional records show that part of the funds was swapped to USDT. Meanwhile, the other part of the transaction was sent to a mixing service. The movement of funds as well as the manner in which it was moved raised suspicions in the crypto community. It was suspected to be an inside job. Reports suggest that Bankman-Fried might be the one behind it. Based on the report of Cointelegraph, it was found that the Alameda wallet is swapping bits of ERC-20s for Ether and USDT. These are then funneled through instant exchanges and mixers. Data from Arkham Intelligence showed that Alameda sold around $1.7 million worth of cryptocurrencies between Wednesday and Thursday, as per Business Insider. In a tweet, Arkham Intelligence said that it was rather extensive if it was a rogue employee or some kind of breach. The sales of cryptocurrencies come as creditors, customers, and suppliers of Bankman-Fried's businesses attempted to be first in line to be paid out amid the bankruptcy of the FTX exchange. Currently, Alameda Research holds $112 million worth of cryptocurrencies, a decline from the previous $140 million in holdings in November. Read Also: Judges Orders Home Detention For Sam Bankman-Fried Upon Posting $250 Million Bond Sam Bankman-Fried Will Appear in a New York Federal Court Bankman-Fried was arrested on December 12 in the Bahamas. Last week, he was extradited to the US to face eight charges of fraud from the country's prosecutors. He was released after his family put up the required collateral against his $250 million "appearance bond." It's considered the largest-ever bond. After being charged with fraud, Bankman-Fried is under house arrest in California. He allegedly mishandled client funds in conjunction with the collapse of the FTX exchange. He is set to appear in a New York federal court on January 3. Since stepping down as CEO of FTX last month, he has denied any criminal liability. In November, FTX and Alameda Research filed for bankruptcy following a liquidity crunch wherein billions of dollars worth of customer funds were reported missing from the companies. Allegedly, Alameda Research tapped into FTX customer funds to cover its own losses incurred this summer as the crypto market crashed. Related Article: Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Has Been Arrested in the Bahamas UPDATE: Gardai have called off the search for Michael Kearns, who had been missing from West Cork since December 30, after a body was found on New Years Day. "Following the discovery of a body yesterday evening, Sunday 1st January 2023, the missing person appeal in respect of 55-year-old Michael Kearns who went missing from Kealkill, Co. Cork, has been stood down," a spokesperson said this morning. "No further information is available at this time. "An Garda Siochana would like to thank the public and media for their assistance in this matter." SUNDAY: Gardai are appealing for help from the public to trace the whereabouts of a 55-year-old man who went missing from Kealkil in Cork on Friday afternoon. Gardai are appealing for help from the public to trace the whereabouts of a 55-year-old man who went missing from Kealkil in Cork on Friday afternoon. 55-year-old Michael Kearns was last seen leaving his home in Kealkil at approximately 3pm on Friday, 30 December, in a 171D registered white Peugeot Partner van. Michael is described as approximately 5ft 11 in height and of thin build with short fair/grey hair. Michaels family are concerned for his wellbeing, and have requested Garda assistance in locating him. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bantry Garda Station on (027) 20860, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. A Canadian mining firm may be greeting 2023 with an issue from 2022. The Canadian Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (CMMC) in British Columbia recently revealed it has shut down its mill following a ransomware attack earlier this week. The company is doing its best to return to normal operations as soon as possible, though it didn't mention when it can be expected to happen. CMMC Ransomware Attack Details the CMMC mentioned in a statement that it became the target of a ransomware attack late on Dec. 27 but was able to implement its risk management systems and protocols to contain it. As a result, the company has since isolated operations, switched to manual processes where possible. However, this decision almos means that the CMMC is forced to shut down its British Columbia mill as a preventative mesasure to determine the effect of its response on its control system. Fortunately, the ransomware attack and CMMC's response did not compromise the company's safety measures or cause any kind of environmental damage, per Bleeping Computer. Furthermore, the CMMC is also conducting its own investigation with relevant authorities regarding the source of the attack. Read More: Philippine Space Agency Warns the Public Over Expected Debris From a Chinese Rocket Launch Mining.com mentioned in its report that the company has yet to disclose any computer systems held hostage by the cybercriminal responsible for the attack and its identity. There is no word about the amount of ransom money they are looking to get, either. However, Bleeping Computer, with the help of cyber-intelligence form KELA, discovered that a hacker offered to sell account credentials belonging to a CMMC employee on a hacker marketplace on Dec. 13, 2022. As such, it is possible that the cybercriminal responsible for the ransomware attack used these credentals to get their ransomware in to the company's systems. Regardless, CMMC's external and internal IT teams are still working on risk assessment and are actively establishing additional safeguards to mitigate any further risk the ransomware has to the company. Effects Of The Ransomware Attack On CMMC While the company mentioned that its main priority is to return to normal operation as soon as possible while limiting the attack's financial impact, it has yet to give a definite or estimate date of when it can do so. As such, it can be speculated that the company will enter 2023 with this issue in mind if it is unable to return to normal operations soon. This is evidenced by the price drop in the company's shares, with it dropping 5.5% on the morning of Dec. 30 in Toronto to $1.27 each within a 52-week range of $0.91 and $3.23, putting the company's value at $266.7 million. Whether this drop in the company's shares will affect its plans in the immediate future is unknown. It has plans to expand its British Columbia mill to 65,000 tonnes per day from its current 45,000 toness, as well as increasing its average annual production to 138 bilion pounds of copper equivalent. Related Article: Louisiana Hospital System Ransomware Attack Compromises 270,000 Patients' Data A man has been arrested for questioning in Cork city after a 59-year-old man almost bled to death after he sustained a slash wound to the head on New Year's Day. Gardai were called to a house on Magazine Road on the southside of Cork city shortly before 5pm yesterday. They were told by a tenant that another man living in the house had incurred serious injuries after being struck with a bottle and was at risk of bleeding to death. Gardai found the injured man in the property with a towel to his head. He was bleeding heavily after being hit by a man brandishing a bottle. Gardai attempted to stop the bleeding by compressing the head wound. An ambulance was called and the injured party was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH). The Ukrainian national was examined by medics at CUH where he underwent emergency surgery. He required a number of blood transfusions and is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital. A garda source has indicated that the incident was "touch and go" and that it could have been a "close run thing". The injured man had sustained a severed artery and lost a huge of blood. The incident occurred after a group of men who were living in the rented accommodation gathered together. An argument broke out and one man hit the injured party with a bottle. A man who was highly intoxicated was arrested at the scene after he became abusive towards gardai who had been called to the property. The Latvian man is being detained at Togher Garda Station in Cork city. Gardai are now questioning him about the assault on his fellow tenant in the property. He can be held for up to 24 hours. A forensic examination has been carried out at the scene and witness statements have also been taken. Members of the public who were in the area of Magazine Road between 4pm and 5pm yesterday, who may have information pertinent to the attack, are asked to contact gardai. Anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area at that time should contact gardai in Togher on 021-4947120. Arran Blake - bassist and vocalist, Pretty Happy; film-maker 2022 has been a good year for us, and we owe a lot of that to the city we come from. It felt like the first proper time back for gigs, and in that, the return of music. In the last twelve months, weve played and seen the best gigs weve ever experienced. After releasing an EP named after the fine publication you are reading (I know, I know well get nowhere with flattery) you can probably tell how much we love to utilise our inherent Cork culture in our music. People from Cork are known for being offbeat, big-headed (how could you have a small head coming from here?), and possessing a great sense of humour. Some of the best people we know, our family and friends, exemplify these traits, so when we write about Cork, its more a love letter to the great people that populate our streets rather than the physical city itself. We have lots of hope for 2023. This year has been magical for the sounds coming out of Cork. Elaine Howley, I Dreamed I Dream, Mossy, Mantua, Ana Palindrome, Dankenstoneds Bongster, the list goes on. Corks never lacked talent, so thats not an issue. Our biggest hope in the new year is more support systems put in place for live music, more curated venues and more craic agus ceol. So, were excited to see what next year holds for our beautiful, self absorbed, perfect City. Julie Landers - drummer and vocalist, I Dreamed I Dream; music journalist Im really excited and optimistic for whats gonna come in 2023. Some of the best music being made at the moment is being made in Cork and I say that as a rotten blow-in. People are getting really inventive with where theyre putting on gigs and how theyre running them. Quare in St. Annes Park as part of Cork Midsummer Festival was a fantastic example of that. Theres so much going on in Cork and I think its only going to get better next year. There are some brilliant heads about the city that are full of amazing ideas and the drive to carry them out. Saying that, I do want there to be more opportunities made by the City Council and those who own venues for artists. Because you can be the best musician in the world but if there isnt somewhere in the city for you to play the music that youre playing things become much harder. Im interested to see what happens in the new year. Well be coming into the second year of Cork City Councils Arts and Culture Strategy for 2022-2026, and I want to see how the objectives they outlined in their initial strategy manifest. Stevie Grainger - DJ; music educator; broadcaster, RedFM; columnist, The Echo In 2022, it was good to see gigs and shows come back without restrictions, though I think it's tougher than ever to run these events. I'm delighted to break even anytime I do one myself, so putting all that energy and time into them isn't always the best move. I enjoyed promoting and programming shows in Cyprus Avenue, Marina Market, Test Site and City Hall, and I was lucky enough to be able to bring some upcoming acts to the stage here and some other festivals too outside the city. We have the talent here! Yesunia performing at Stevie Gs Cork City Hall event on Culture Night. For 2023, I'd hope that more artists from my musical background will do some proper releases, and I hope there's more opportunity for shows too. The club scene may finally benefit from some better opening times, and we might be able to actually be proud of our nightlife, which has disintegrated somewhat in recent years. I spend my days mainly doing youth work now, so I'd really love it if there was more backing forthcoming for these projects, as kids of all ages and backgrounds need to be supported. All in all, I remain optimistic. Cork is amazing and people love coming here. Let's make it a city worth visiting, both day and night! Emily Dollery - DJ, Set Guitars to Kill on UCC 98.3FM The first gig I can remember attending after lockdown was WORN OUT in Fred Zeppelins in April. I can recall there being a palpable sense of joy and relief at the ability to come together once morea feeling I would encounter again seeing local talent like Mossy, Staff Party, Automatic Blue and more in the following months. The level of support and collaboration Ive seen in the local scene has been fantastic, especially in these strange and often challenging post-lockdown times. I think one issue local artists have encountered is the limited number of venues in Cork, but some amazing new spaces (for example, Crack Jennys and the newest iteration of Plugd on Coal Quay) have popped up and provided the opportunity for a diverse range of artists to experiment in their performances. Im also hopeful that it will become somewhat easier for independent artists to make a living through their work; the Basic Income for the Arts scheme that was piloted this year has definitely provided a ray of hope and, in my opinion, would allow a great deal of freedom and security for smaller artists. It would be wonderful to see this implemented on a wider level, and the newfound security would surely incentivise more musicians to create without the fear of financial loss. Donagh Sugrue - multi-instrumentalist, Messyng & An Eldritch Abomination Im kind-of the wrong person to ask from an artist/promoter perspective because I essentially spent the year as a fan. The reintroduction of gigs in Plugd was absolutely great for my sanity, given that a considerable chunk of my personality is just saying the phrase goin Plugd later?. I feel like Covid pulled a bit of the arse out of music as a community in Cork. There is still an awful lot happening, but it can feel pretty disparate and distant. I hope we get to relive the experience of just hanging out. I think there really needs to be another venue for live original music that facilitates this hanging out though, somewhere akin to upstairs in the Roundy. I would also love to see an increase in live music where alcohol is not a driver of the success of the evening. So much of our live music industry is already tied up in pubs and bars. It would be really nice to see some places running shows where it is only music. You can pay for your ticket and not be expected to ALSO buy drinks. Ciara Fozzie Hayes - bassist, RPC; gig booker/show-runner, Relapse Promotions I did not trust 2022. I dont think anyone did, did they? That suddenly all of the smaller joys we used to take for granted would come flooding back, just like that? But thats what happened, almost overnight. I think it's fair to say no matter what reservations anyone had, theres no denying 2022 was a smashing year for music in Cork city, at least in the counterculture spaces. All of the new promoters who have cropped up in the wake of the pandemic are doing an absolutely fantastic job, and seeing all of the new bands who have formed is just amazing there were only two different ways the scene could have gone following the pandemic and it chose the option of thriving. Cork is a particularly interesting example when it comes to local music because of the immensely diverse range of bands and artists that the city is home to. Some of my highlights for Cork-based releases this year include Red Sun Alerts single Literally, The Magnapinnas Party Rumours EP, and - if I may be so bold as to self-promote R.P.Cs Chop, Drop & Roll EP. The one glaring issue I will point out is Corks current lack of suitable venues, so hopefully that is a market someone will capitalise on. Personally, I have a lot of events planned that I cant wait to announce. Pebbledash - Cork alt-rockers As a band, we can see the variety in Cork, and its something we are really proud to be a part of. The support for young bands has been immense, and is something we saw with the release of our two singles during the summer. The appetite for something raw and local is palpable, and when we felt that, as Im sure other bands did, it gives you a propulsion to produce the best work you can and to try and make it unique and exciting. Pebbledash: The appetite for something raw and local is palpable After playing loads of gigs in Cork also, we look to broaden our horizons and begin playing further afield with a gig or two lined up in Dublin and a few other counties. Apart from that, Im sure like many other bands we are putting our heads down and focusing on creating original and memorable songs and who knows what the future will hold, we cant wait to be more involved and watch other bands in Cork progress and perhaps steer the focus down south. Emma Maguire - vocalist & guitarist, Mossy This year saw us being offered our first headline gig with our friends Little Known in Cyprus. We were lucky enough to play in venues like The Everyman during Uncorked, and Workmans Club and Whelans in Dublin. Played with some new friends and old - Red Sun Alert, The Cliffords, The Drive, Cardinals, Pebbledash, Floorshow, Skies Behind and so many more. To top it all off, we released our third single Call Me at the end of November. As for our 2023 its starting to look like recording our first EP and writing a lot more. New Year New Set. The one thing Id love to see for the Cork scene this year is the potential to establish more music venues. The Drive - Cork shoegazers Theres been some great releases and shows this year from fellow Cork artists, God Alones LP is savage, and its release show in Cyprus Avenue was unbelievable. Pretty Happy's EP is pure Cork too. The music scene is bursting and it's great to see it this way. As for us, we plan on playing load of shows in the new year to tour our latest release, in reverse.. 2022 was a great year for us, we spent so much time writing and touring the songs that would become this project. In the new year were hoping to get a lot of writing done, some new tracks will grace your eardrums, and plenty more shows. Were very excited for what 2023 has in store for us and the Cork scene as a whole. The Drive: The music scene is bursting and its great to see it this way. Elle OLeary Kelleher - guitarist & vocalist, I Dreamed I Dream; music journalist Cork music has had a bit of a mad year. Theres been a lot of focus on negatives; Cork is facing a very serious venue crisis and is still chronically under-represented by the mainstream national music media. Honestly, Ive never been more proud of the artists working in my city than I have been this year. In spite of everything, Cork bands are thriving. Cork artists are working to tear live music away from the stranglehold of Diageo by putting on gigs in alternative spaces. Ive seen gigs in record shops, a deconsecrated church and an anarchist bookshop, to name just a few. The artists in this city are a million times more resourceful than anyone else because they have to be. Imagine what people could do if they had some money! The Cork alternative scene is proving to be a startling antidote to handsome guitar boy and corporate-backed, FIFA soundtrack-ready shouty man post-punk music, and Im so excited to see whats going to come next. Some of my favourite Cork (or Cork-based) bands to make waves this year have been Pretty Happy, whove absolutely burst away from being local darlings to literally rockstars playing with legends like Kim Gordon and Pavement, whilst never forgetting to pull the rest of the Cork scene up with them, Dankenstoneds Bongster, who are, in my opinion, the worlds greatest stoner band, and Elaine Malone, who is mere moments away from hypnotising the world into psychedelic bliss (which is honestly what everyone needs right now.) Ive also heard tell of this gang of lunatic women called I Dreamed I Dream? I dont know about them, though. Ive heard theyre oddballs alright. Cian Mullane - multi-instrumentalist, God Alone, Daz-Gak!, Red Sun Alert 2022 was the best year yet for all of my projects - we got to play new countries, release new music, and sleep on a lot of new friends' floors. A lot of my favourite artists released bangers of albums this year also such as new releases by ActualAcid, Junior Brother, Gilla Band, CMAT, Unyielding Love, The Mary Wallopers, A-tota-so and The Magnapinna. Next year is looking to be really nice, with new releases, and new tours, and new bands, and I am very excited to see what myself, my friends and everyone sound in the country gets up to. Evan Prendergast - drummer, WORN OUT; gig promoter, Dead Cult After having what I love taken away from me for two years due to Covid, I was determined to make 2022 count. I needed to move up and push forward. With WORN OUT, we toured Scotland and England, toured with Cro-Mags, released our single, Bridgeburner, toured Ireland, played the best shows weve ever done, and just generally pushed forward with what we love to do. This year was the first full year of Dead Cult. We sold out 90% of our shows, had the first ever Cork Metal Market, brought bands over from the UK, grew as a team, sold out of merch and have made plans for the future that Im extremely excited about. For 2023, Id love to see more venues opening or pubs taking a chance on the heavy and alternative scenes. We have an incredible array of bands and artists, with less and less ways to showcase them. People go to the shows. Its very much alive. Dan Sheehy - vocalist & guitarist, Skies Behind Cork music is buzzing. At least the small alternative rock/punk/indie corner of Cork music that we find ourselves most comfortable in. The last year, I've been so surprised, excited and inspired by the talent and energy that's got our small local venues bursting at the seams. I could spend a paragraph listing off band names, but then I invariably miss some very special acts in the process. For 2023, my only advice is to get in to Fred's, Spailpin or Cyprus Avenue on a night that you're free. Discover a band youve never heard of before, and get on board before they take over the world. For medical students who returned from Ukraine after the outbreak of war, the New Year brings an uncertain future for them. In fact, over 9,000 students pursuing medical courses in Ukraine did not celebrate 'New Year', as stated in a report by IANS. RB Gupta, President of the Parents Association of Ukraine Medical Students, said that around 22,000 students had returned from Ukraine when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine. Of these, 4,000 final-year students were allowed to do internships in Indian colleges. The rest were seeking accommodation from the National Medical Council (NMC) and the Central government in medical colleges in India. But the NMC refused, prompting the students to file a petition in the Supreme Court. These students cannot go to Ukraine for offline classes and NMC will not consider their degrees to be valid if studies are done through online mode. Meanwhile, around 9,000 students went to countries like Russia, Georgia, and Tajikistan to complete MBBS, spending around Rs 10 lakh annually, as per the IANS report. "But those who have no money have no choice but to wait," said Gupta. One such student from Kanpur, said, "The government should consider accommodating us. We will contribute to the economy after completing MBBS." He further said, "Due to mental trauma, my family and I did not celebrate New Year." Medical students' plea In response to a plea filed by Ukraine-returned Indian medical students demanding accommodation in India, the Supreme Court on December 9 requested the Centre to consider the students' situation and come up with a solution, citing it was a "human problem". The matter will be heard next on January 25, 2023. Twitter is being sued by California Property Trust for failing to pay $136,250 in rent for its San Francisco headquarters under its new CEO Elon Musk. On December 16, Columbia Reit - 650 California LLC informed Twitter that its failure to pay the outstanding rent within five days would result in a breach of the lease for the premises. Twitter Reportedly Failed To Pay Rent Due To Recent Cost-Cutting Efforts A seven-year contract agreed in 2017 allows Twitter to occupy the 30th level of the Hartford Building, a skyscraper on the outskirts of San Francisco's Financial District. According to Engadget, California Property Trust alleged that Twitter disobeyed the ruling in a complaint it submitted to the San Francisco County Superior Court this week. As per a report from December 13, it was also stated that the social media company had recently stopped paying rent on all of its international operations to reduce costs. The New York Times reported on Twitter's freeloading at the beginning of last month, stating that the billionaire and his advisers sought to renegotiate lease conditions following large layoffs. As a cost-saving measure on Christmas Eve, Musk also sent personnel to a data center in Sacramento to take down important servers. Cuts to the company's infrastructure and public policy divisions were made last week, according to the report, and layoffs have since continued. According to the New York Post, staff members have been instructed to postpone paying contractors or suppliers, including accountants and consultants engaged in important regulatory assignments. The company must also pay banks an estimated $1 billion in interest payments per year as a result of the money the new Twitter chief borrowed to help finance his acquisition of Twitter. It can be remembered that Musk has made significant cost-cutting moves after purchasing Twitter for $44 billion in October. Twitter is apparently under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, thus Musk looks to be seeking to cut costs as the company prepares for more legal battles. Additionally, he made the announcement last month, following a Twitter vote, that he would stand down as CEO once he found a successor. Read More: Data Of 400 Million Twitter Users Is On Sale, Hacker Claims Twitter Continues To Suffer As Musk Drags The Company Down With Him In addition to the rent lawsuit, the business is being sued for failing to reimburse Musk for $197,725 in charter flights he took during his first week working for Twitter. Around the same time, Musk is said to have added "more than half a dozen" lawyers from SpaceX to Twitter's legal team to support its counter suit, Engadget reports. Because of these issues, Business Insider writes that Musk's team is considering not paying the severance at all to avoid any legal action from enraged former employees. In yet another cost-cutting measure, Twitter recently put workplace supplies up for auction, but the social network did not immediately comment on the matter. With this, Musk's representatives are attempting to secure more investment in Twitter amid reports that the firm has stopped paying its vendors and rent, Yahoo Finance says. Related Article: Twitter is Working Again After Thousands of Users Experienced Downtime One of the worlds most notorious ransomware gangs has issued a rare apology after claiming that one of its partners was responsible for a cyberattack on Canadas largest pediatric hospital. On December 18th, the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto fell victim to a ransomware attack that left the institution unable to access many of its critical systems. The incident led to an increase in patient wait times. As of December 29th, SickKids said it had regained access to almost 50 percent of its priority systems, including those that had caused diagnostic and treatment delays. SickKids is aware of a statement from a ransomware group offering a decryptor to restore systems impacted by the cybersecurity incident on December 18. Read more: https://t.co/clU1IqK7Qh pic.twitter.com/H9S4ERgih7 SickKids_TheHospital (@SickKidsNews) January 1, 2023 Over the weekend, security researcher Dominic Alvieri spotted an apology from the LockBit gang for its involvement in the incident. The group said it would provide a free decryptor to SickKids and that it had blocked the partner who carried out the attack for violating the gangs rules. As BleepingComputer notes , the LockBit group runs whats known as a ransomware-as-a-service operation. The organization has affiliates that do the dirty work of finding targets to compromise and extract payment from, while the primary operation maintains the malware that partners use to lock systems. As part of that arrangement, the gang takes a 20 percent cut of all ransom payments. Additionally, the group claims to prohibit affiliates from targeting medical institutions where an attack could lead to someones death. 1. Can Louisiana Tech pull off another win if Tamicha Jackson or Betty Lennox struggle offensively? Yes. Even though the Lady Techsters barely edged Vanderbilt in the second round, that win proved Tech can have a much more balanced attack. With Lennox scoring just five points, the Lady Techsters had to get production inside, and Ayana Walker did that. The key for Louisiana Tech, however, is for Jackson and Lennox to get other people established early before they look for their own shot. Then, once the inside game gets going, the Lady Techsters can open it up by kicking it back out to Tamicha and Betty. At this point of the year, players need to be able to play 40 minutes and run up and down the floor without getting winded. This is tournament time and it shouldn't be a factor. Where it might have an effect is on Lucienne Berthieu. Since she just came back from an injury, she is going to need some help up front off the bench. 3. Will Iowa State senior Stacy Frese win the anticipated backcourt matchup as the Cyclones take on Penn State? Both backcourts are great, but Frese and Penn State's Helen Darling might cancel each other out. Same goes for Penn State's Andrea Garner and (ISU's) Angie Welle. All four of them may be fantastic, but this game might come down to the 3-point shooting of (ISU's) Megan Taylor or (PSU's) Lisa Shepherd. Or, does (PSU's) Maren Walseth get the better of (ISU's) Desiree Francis or vice versa? I think the teams' third or fourth player is going to have some sort of a key in this one. Historically, this is when Penn State has usually run into trouble in the tournament, but none of the players on the roster this year were around when that has happened. And now that they've come this far, there was probably more pressure for them to win their first two games. What happened last year probably won't be a factor. 5. Which Midwest team makes it to the Final Four? Helen Darling will be enough to get Penn State through. Series Breakdown: Stars vs. Devils By Bill Clement Special to ESPN.com Check out which team has the edge, and then see what I think the outcome will be. Matching up 5-on-5 BREAKDOWN EDGE The Stars and the Devils are evenly matched at even strength. Both teams have top offensive lines, Dallas' led by Mike Modano and Brett Hull -- the two leading scorers in the playoffs -- and New Jersey's led by Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias. Both teams have depth in the form of four lines and players down the order who can come up with big goals -- Claude Lemieux and Alexander Mogilny for the Devils, and Mike Keane and Joe Nieuwendyk for the Stars. The key here will be which team sticks to its five-on-five system the best, which means defense first, great positioning and waiting for breaks. EVEN Special teams BREAKDOWN EDGE Dallas' power play is hot at the right time. The Stars scored power-play goals in each of the final four games of the Western Conference finals, including two in Game 7. Meanwhile, the Stars' penalty killing was nothing short of sensational against Colorado, allowing only three goals in the Avs' 33 power-play opportunities. The Stars, who had the best all-time penalty-killing mark during the regular season, shut out Colorado's power play over the last four games. While the Devils' penalty killing is excellent, their power play going into the series can't match the Stars. Goaltending BREAKDOWN EDGE Martin Brodeur and Ed Belfour are both looking for their second Stanley Cup, which tells a bit about their distant histories. But recent history, as in this year's playoffs, shows us a difference in their resumes. Brodeur was excellent when he had to be, but not so excellent at other times. Belfour, however, has been a picture of consistency. He didn't allow more than two goals in any game against the high-powered Colorado offense. He was flawless. Intangibles BREAKDOWN EDGE The intangible is momentum. The Devils, down 3-1 to Philadelphia, accomplished the improbable by coming back and winning three straight games against the Flyers. Although they lost both games against Dallas during the regular season, the Devils believe they can beat anybody. The power is in the belief. PREDICTION Dallas in six. If Belfour plays 90 percent as well as he did against Colorado, it will be enough to beat New Jersey. His goaltending is invariably the key. I expect the Stars to repeat as champions. Bill Clement, a former NHL player with Philadelphia, serves as an NHL analyst for ESPN and ABC. NEWS FLASH Air Serbia has rolled dishes influenced by Chinese cuisine in both business and economy class as part of its on board catering offer. The meals are currently being served on the carriers flights between Belgrade and Tianjin. Some items from the menu include chicken in sweet chili sauce with Chinese cabbage and vegetables, sweet and sour pork with fried rice and chicken in roasting sauce with rice and vegetables. The airline will also soon have Cabin Crew Brand Ambassadors for China on its flights to and from the country whose main role will be to perform simultaneous translation for crew in communication with passengers both in-flight and with visitors at the carriers Premium Lounge in Belgrade. MONDAY, Jan. 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Children and adults with a rare type of soft tissue cancer will now have a new treatment option that could have a big impact. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for use in patients with advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery. This approval will make a huge impact in terms of a rare disease that has been particularly challenging to treat, said Dr. Alice Chen, of the Developmental Therapeutics Clinic in the U.S. National Cancer Institutes (NCI) Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD). This cancer begins in the soft tissue that connects and surrounds the organs and other tissues. It spreads slowly, but is typically deadly once it spreads. Chemotherapy doesn't work against it and new targeted treatments, including drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, do not have lasting effectiveness. About 80 people in the United States receive an ASPS diagnosis each year. About 50% of patients with metastatic disease are still alive after five years. The cancer mostly affects adolescents and young adults. The approval was granted following the results of a non-randomized phase 2 trial led by the NCI, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The drug is approved for people aged 2 and up. About 40% of the patients in the trial were treated at the NIH Clinical Center in Maryland, said Dr. James Doroshow, director of the DCTD. Our ability to bring patients in from all over the world was a key factor in the ability to do the study, Doroshow said in an NCI news release. This was the first study conducted in the NCI-funded Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network that has resulted in a drug approval. This is a major milestone for investigators in the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network, as well as for the ASPS patient community, and for research on rare cancers, said study leader Dr. Elad Sharon. This approval also marks the first time the drug has been approved for children. The Pediatric Oncology Branch in NCIs Center for Cancer Research helped enroll children in the trial, Chen said. This study is an important example of collaboration between pediatric and medical oncology, allowing children with very rare cancers access to effective new therapies, said Dr. John Glod, of the Pediatric Oncology Branch. The entire study team is grateful to the patients who participated in the study and made this work possible. Atezolizumab works by helping the immune system respond more strongly to cancer. An anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, the drug is approved for patients with several cancer types, including liver cancer, melanoma and lung cancer. The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for the drug in 2020, to treat patients with metastatic ASPS. This meant the drug had met the FDAs criteria for expedited development and review. Last year, the agency granted orphan drug designation to atezolizumab for soft tissue sarcoma in general, a status that provides incentives for companies to develop a drug for rare diseases. The NCIs phase 2 trial enrolled 49 ethnically diverse patients aged 2 and older with ASPS that had spread. The patients were given an infusion of atezolizumab every 21 days. About one-third of the patients responded to the treatment with some degree of tumor shrinkage. Most of the other patients experienced stable disease. Patients who had two years of treatment were given an opportunity to take a treatment break for up to two years with close monitoring, according to the study. None of those patients on the break had disease progression. About 41% of patients who received the drug had serious side effects that included anemia, diarrhea, rash, dizziness, hyperglycemia and pain in the extremities, but no patients left the study because of side effects. This approval represents a victory for rare diseases, which are understudied in clinical trials, Chen said. For this approval to go through in a rare disease, and to be able to make an impact on these young peoples lives, is very significant. Research teams are now conducting additional trials with atezolizumab in patients with ASPS. This includes giving the drug in combination with other therapies. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group and the manufacturer of atezolizumab, provided the drug to the NCI through a cooperative research and development agreement. More information Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston has more on alveolar soft part sarcoma in children. SOURCE: U.S. National Cancer Institute, news release, Dec. 28, 2022 MONDAY, Jan. 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Cervical cancer is preventable, but people often feel uncomfortable talking about it because of its link to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). Dont be embarrassed, a cancer expert advises. Not only does your doctor want to help you, but the virus is incredibly common, affecting most American adults, according to Dr. James Aikins Jr., chief of gynecologic oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, in New Brunswick. Aikins offered some additional advice and reassurances. Cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV, he said. While people with healthy immune systems can typically clear the virus within one to two years, high-risk strains can infect specific cells of the cervix. This can result in abnormal cell growth and changes that can lead to cervical cancer. Although abnormal Pap results can seem scary, abnormal results dont necessarily mean you have cervical cancer, Aikins said in a Rutgers news release. People can help prevent future HPV cases and cervical cancer by getting vaccinated. The vaccine is available for both males and females starting at age 9. Regular Pap and HPV testing can detect any precancerous changes that may occur in cells. Screening is so important because high-risk strains of the virus dont present with any symptoms. Typically, 21- to 65-year-old women are screened, with frequency rates depending on age and other circumstances. Aikins said its important to get screened for cervical cancer, even if you and your partner have had the HPV vaccine. If you're nervous about your Pap test, you are not alone, but its important to remember that a few minutes of potential discomfort can save your life, he said. Also, remember that your doctor is not judging you their main concern is your health. More than 14,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Cervical cancer doesnt have symptoms until the cancer has grown and spread to nearby organs or tissue. At that point, symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, heavy periods and pain in or around your pelvic region. Though cervical cancer isnt contagious, HPV can spread through intimate contact. It may also cause cancers in the anus, penis, vagina and back of the throat. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the HPV vaccine. SOURCE: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, news release, Jan. 2, 2023 Annual agronomy roadshows showcasing the latest arable research will take place at venues across Scotland this month. The free one-day events will cover a range of topics relevant to farm businesses, as well as presenting the latest research in crop and soil management. Speakers from SRUC and AHDB will show field trial results from the 2022 season to help inform farmers how variety, fertiliser and fungicide choices can be adjusted for the 2023 season. One of the main topics of research work highlighted at the shows will look at the performance of individual fungicides and how this translates into adjustments to fungicide programmes. Crop selection and variety performance, optimising fertiliser inputs and IPM planning will also be covered at the roadshows. Crop choices and varieties that align with cereals markets are key to margins and, with world demand and prices high, a market update from experts putting the current market conditions into context is set to aid decision making. A session led by AHDB on benchmarking figures will look at costs of production and crop yield to help attendees make better informed farming decisions by highlighting the profitability of different options. Optimising soil health and crop nutrition plays a major role in boosting profits but also contributes to the industrys journey to net zero. Presenters will cover the latest research and advise on the products and management practices that are most effective, and the role of carbon in soils will also be explored. Elsewhere, Scottish Quality Crops Ltd will discuss what its quality assurance scheme is doing to promote the value of Scottish produce to end-users, as well as the work it is doing to support its members in times of change. The day will conclude with a presentation on precision agriculture from Scottish Arable Farm of the Year award winner, McGregor Farms, and a discussion from local farmers on their current farming practices. Adrian James, of AHDB's Cereals & Oilseeds Scotland said: The aim of the roadshows is to present the latest results from the independent crop research AHDB funds through its partners in Scotland. "Our thought-provoking conversations, delivered via a range of speakers drawn from research, industry and farming, will offer expertise from all areas of agriculture. "I encourage anyone with an interest in arable farming to attend so they can benefit from the valuable and practical information that we will be sharing to inform their farming decisions. Professor Fiona Burnett of SRUC explained that producing crops profitably and sustainably had never been more important. "It is information on soil health and the role of carbon within soils that will help the arable industry strike the win wins for both profit and sustainability. "Our roadshows will cover these hot topics and so much more and we hope people from across the supply chain in Scotland will attend. Where and when are the events? The events are free to attend but numbers are limited, so those interested are told to book in advance to reserve a place. 10 January: Buccleuch Arms, Saint Boswells, Melrose TD6 0EW 12 January: Murrayshall Country House Hotel, Scone, Perth PH2 7PH 18 January: Thainstone House Hotel, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire AB51 5NT Improved trade and regulatory policy will support UK dairy in 2023 and allow it to compete at a global level, the NFU's dairy board chair has said. In his New Year message, Michael Oakes highlighted the importance of growing dairy exports in 2023, the work of the Dairy Roadmap and the need for financial sustainability. "I dont think anyone could have predicted how 2022 has gone for the dairy sector," the West Midlands tenant farmer said. "We have seen milk prices head towards 50ppl, and costs of production reaching similar levels, with almost hourly changes to input costs." The NFU anticipates that in the medium to long-term, dairy demand around the world will keep growing, but milk production will not keep up. Because of this, Mr Oakes said the UK needed trade and regulatory policy to support the industry to help it to compete at a global level. "This is why we have spent a considerable amount of time in 2022 pushing forward our dairy export strategy, with the ambition to double our dairy exports in the next 10 years," he said. Last year, UK dairy exporters sold 1.4 billion of goods to 135 countries across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. Mr Oakes said British dairy farmers produced "safe, sustainable and high-quality produce" for UK consumers and for emerging export markets around the world. He added: "Building exports takes time, but this work will continue into 2023, and we are pleased to have built a strong rapport with the Department for International Trade during the past year. "This will help us work with the wider dairy industry to drive forward and grow dairy exports, while ensuring we do not undermine our domestic production." Another agenda the NFU predicts will continue at pace over the course of this year is the issue of sustainability. In his New Year message, Mr Oakes said the pressure from consumers and the supply chain on the dairy sector would continue to grow, and farmers had to rise to the challenge. "Fortunately, the work of the industrywide Dairy Roadmap helps to put us in a good position to respond to a lot of these questions, demonstrate best practice and prepare for the future." However, the sector also needed to ensure its financial sustainability, he said, with 2023 seeing a key piece of work to improve dairy contracts move forward into legislation. "To support this work, we are also focusing on farmer collaboration to improve relationships in the supply chain," Mr Oakes explained. "There will be more challenges ahead, but the NFU will continue working hard on your behalf to ensure the best future for our dairy farmer members." NASA's biggest project yet has been a success. The Artemis I Orion spacecraft completed its trip of 1.4 million miles and returned to Earth on December 11th. It has since made its journey from the Naval Base in San Diego to the Kennedy Space Center. What's Next for the Artemis Mission The return of the spacecraft means that the mission is going as planned, even if you consider the multiple delays that were experienced with the launch. For now, NASA will prioritize examining the Orion spacecraft. NASA will take Orion's heat shield apart to analyze the component extensively, and determine how its reentry into the Earth's atmosphere affected it. They will also look at Moonikin Campos, the test dummy that was onboard to study how the flight would affect humans. NASA expressed that Artemis I was a huge step forward toward NASA's lunar exploration efforts, which sets the stage for the next mission, which will involve humans flying around the Moon aboard Artemis II, as mentioned in Engadget. The Artemis II launch date is still unknown, which is understandable considering Artemis I had just finished its mission. However, NASA did say that it will announce the mission around early 2023, which will be manned with a four-person crew. The second Artemis mission will not return man to the moon just yet, but it is an important step to make sure that systems for the next mission will go accordingly. Like Artemis I, the second mission will test the range of the SLS and the Orion spacecraft for deep space missions. It will also make sure that the conditions within the spacecraft are suitable for supporting life. It should be able to sustain the astronauts onboard on longer missions, while they practice operations that will support the next step which is the Artemis III. Artemis II's flight will be a hybrid free return trajectory. They will use the Earth's gravity to pull the spacecraft back after traveling around the Moon. It will orbit the Earth twice first to conduct tests on the systems while it's still close to home. Read Also: NASA Has Chosen Who Will Make the Artemis 3 Spacesuits The End Goal Ultimately, NASA plans to build an Artemis Base Camp on the Surface of the Moon, as well as the Gateway in lunar orbit. This will be a big step toward scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for the next generation. The Gateway is a spaceship that will remain in the lunar orbit for more than a decade. People will be working and living with the spacecraft, which will support long-term science and human exploration on and around the moon, according to NASA. It will also work as a stopover for astronauts, where they will transfer from the Orion spacecraft to a lander that will get them to the Moon. The human landing system will be the final mode of transportation that will take astronauts from the lunar orbit to the lunar surface. The Artemis missions will not only allow humans to establish a hold on the Moon, but it will also bring us closer to a Mars exploration that is led by humans. Related: 10 Things To Know About the Artemis Program and the Next Moon Landing India has extended the anti-dumping duty (ADD) on various jute products imported from Bangladesh and Nepal. Bangladesh had urged the Indian government not to accept recommendations for extension, while the Indian industry was lobbying to ensure the duty comes into effect. The finance ministry issued a notification issued on Friday to extend ADD for 5 years. The duty is applicable in the range of $6.3 to $351.72 per MT. The notification said, The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and shall be payable in Indian currency. India has extended the anti-dumping duty (ADD) on various jute products imported from Bangladesh and Nepal. Bangladesh had urged the Indian government not to accept recommendations for extension, while the Indian industry was lobbying to ensure the duty comes into effect. The finance ministry issued a notification issued on Friday to extend ADD for 5 years. Indian jute industry was lobbying relentlessly with the government to protect the domestic sector from cheaper imports from the neighbouring countries. Indias Directorate General of Trade Remedies recommended in October this year that the Indian finance ministry should continue the ADD on jute products from Bangladesh and Nepal. During a recent visit to India, Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi had requested his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal not to extend the tenure of ADD on the import of jute and jute goods from his country that was imposed on January 5, 2017 and was supposed to end on December 31, 2022. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) The United States imported home textiles from Europe worth $621.678 million in the first nine months of 2022. Bed products topped the list with a value of $182.215 million during the period, constituting 29.31 per cent of total home textiles import by the US. Floor products were second on the list, accounting for 25.55 per cent of the total US imports. The US imports of floor items from Europe were valued at $158.815 million in January-September 2022, which was 25.55 per cent of the total home textiles imports by the US. The inbound shipment of made-ups was $90.183 million (14.51 per cent), furnishing articles $57.512 million (9.25 per cent), camping $37.067 million (5.96 per cent), window $30.308 million (4.88 per cent), bathroom & kitchen $28.250 million (4.54 per cent), and table $18.815 million (3.03 per cent), according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. Sets, worn clothing and used/new rugs were the other home textiles items imported by the US, which totalled $13.067 million (2.10 per cent). The United States imported home textiles from Europe worth $621.678 million in the first nine months of 2022. Bed products topped the list with a value of $182.215 million during the period, constituting 29.31 per cent of total home textiles import by the US. Floor products were second on the list, accounting for 25.55 per cent of the total US imports.# In 2021, the US had imported total home textile products worth $830.597 million. Out of which, floor import was $257.192 million (30.96 per cent), bed products $246.893 million (29.72 per cent), Made-ups $107.773 million (12.98 per cent), furnishing articles $77.082 million (9.28 per cent), camping $41.283 million (4.97 per cent) and bathroom & kitchen $36.015 million (4.34 per cent), as per TexPro. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Croatia has become the latest country to join the eurozone and Schengen area. The country has adopted euro as its currency and has started circulating euro banknotes and coins from yesterday, i.e., January 1, 2023, bringing the number of European Union (EU) member states using the single European currency to 20. Croatias national bank Hrvatska narodna banka (HNB) has also joined the Eurosystem. HNB also becomes a full member of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, although the country has been part of the close cooperation framework since October 2020, European Central Bank (ECB) said in a press release. Croatia has become the latest country to join the eurozone and Schengen area. The country has adopted euro as its currency and has started circulating euro banknotes and coins from January 1, 2023, bringing the number of EU member states using the single European currency to 20. Croatia's national bank Hrvatska narodna banka has also joined the Eurosystem. The euro areas central banking system comprises the ECB and the national central banks of those countries whose currency is the euro. As such, the ECB is currently responsible for directly supervising five significant institutions in the country and overseeing 16 less significant institutions there. As part of its supervisory tasks, the ECB is also responsible for licensing banks and assessing the buyers of qualifying holdings in all banks. HNB already has a representative on the ECBs supervisory board. The euro areas central banking system comprises the ECB and the national central banks of those countries whose currency is the euro. Hrvatska narodna banka has paid the remainder of its contribution to the capital of the ECB and transferred its contribution to the ECBs foreign reserve assets. Croatian counterparties of the Eurosystem will be able to participate in ECB open market operations announced after January 1, 2023. Croatia joining the euro area as its 20th member also means that the new system of rotating voting rights in the ECBs Governing Council comes into force as of January 1, 2023, with the rights rotating according to a calendar. From now on, internal borders can be crossed freely, without controls, like here at Bregana. And all the other crossing points at land with Slovenia and Hungary, at sea with Italy, and as of March, by air with all other Schengen States. No more checks, no more passport control, no more queues, just people crossing smoothly, as we can see right behind us. They can visit with the same Schengen visa as they use to travel to all other Schengen countries. People will be able to travel freely, business will be unhindered by checks, said Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) Samantha Prabhu is one of the lovely actresses from the South Film industry who enjoys massive popularity in Bollywood as well. One of her most ambitious films yet - Shaakuntalam (Telugu) announced its release date today. The film is all set to release on February 17 this year. Earlier it was slated to release on November 22, 2022. However, to make it a better experience for the viewers in 3D format, the release date was pushed. PETACH TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, announced today that the Company will change the ratio of its American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing thirty (30) ordinary shares to a new ratio of one (1) ADS representing three hundred (300) ordinary shares. The ratio change will be effective on January 9, 2023. For ADS holders, the ratio change will have the same effect as a one-for-ten reverse ADS split. On the effective date, each ADS holder will be required to exchange every ten (10) ADSs then held for one (1) new ADS. The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary bank, will arrange for the exchange of the current ADSs for the new ones. There is no change to the Company's underlying ordinary shares, and the Company's ADSs will continue to trade on the NYSE American under the symbol "CANF". No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the depositary bank and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the depositary bank. As a result of the change in the ADS ratio, the ADS price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS price after the change in the ADS ratio will be equal to or greater than ten times the ADS price before the change. About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, and inflammatory disease. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson recently reported topline results in a Phase III trial for psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and enrollment is expected to commence in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,500 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.can-fite.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Can-Fite's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, among other things, our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine; risks related to not satisfying the continued listing requirements of NYSE American; and statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business. More information on these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included from time to time in the "Risk Factors" section of Can-Fite's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022 and other public reports filed with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Can-Fite undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. Contacts Can-Fite BioPharma Motti Farbstein info@canfite.com +972-3-9241114 AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Ahold Delhaize (ADRND.PK,AHODF.PK) said Monday that it has begun the 1 billion euros share buyback program announced on November 9, 2022 and expects to complete the program before the end of 2023. The share buyback program is executed in one or several tranches, the company said. The purpose of the program is to reduce the capital of the company, by cancelling all or part of the common shares acquired through the program. Ahold Delhaize noted that it is committed to the share buyback program, but the program is subject to changes in corporate activities, such as but not limited to material M&A activity. Copyright(c) 2023 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. Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech, Project Manager for Startup AREWA, spoke on how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. [Image: Startup AREWA] ABUJA, NG, Jan 2, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech and Project Manager for Startup AREWA, discusses how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. She emphasizes some of the fundamental advantages of social media technologies, such as giving women access to a virtual environment where they may express themselves."It is impossible to overstate the importance of women in the growth of any nation, state, or community. This is to reiterate the critical role that women's education plays in long-term national development, which begins at home. Women are frequently observed to be the children's first teachers at home. A mother's influence on upbringing in any developing country, and the empowerment of women, has a significant impact on key developmental outcomes like health, education, reproductive patterns, income level, and other factors," said Dr Mahmood.While a report from PWC in April 2020 states that 41% of micro-businesses in Nigeria are owned by women, a report in EFInA stated that 55% of the financially excluded adults in Nigeria are women, and of the 25.1 million financially excluded in the north, 13.1 million are women. Business transactions are largely cash within informal channels, as business funds are kept at home because financial institutions are concentrated in the state capital, while poor record-keeping from transacting through informal channels in turn hampers eligibility for credit.The previous census, which was performed in 2006, indicated that women made up around 49.7% of the population of Nigeria. Despite this, Nigerian women (particularly those in the northern region) have not been able to change the long-standing status that society accords to women. There are a number of reasons why women in Northern Nigerian society are treated unequally, the majority of which can be linked to the patriarchal system in place and the general lack of gender awareness among the rural population, including women who have been socialized to accept their subordinate position.However, with better access to information online, women have developed a greater sense of awareness. Online educational content, blogs videos and social media tools have given women access to a virtual world that provides them with opportunities for self-expression. Digital platforms are aiming to be more inclusive than ever before in light of the changing political conscience. It is now essential, not simply an option, to guarantee women's safety, inclusivity, and a voice at all intersections.Through online workspaces, more women have recently been able to achieve financial independence. There are now more jobs available for women thanks to specific job postings on numerous online portals. Housewives or moms who have taken extended absences from the workforce now have access to special possibilities to re-enter the workforce. Many websites provide part-time and full-time occupations that people can undertake from home.In Northern Nigeria, Startup AREWA and Financial Service Innovation (FSI) organized a virtual hackathon on financial inclusion amongst female entrepreneurs within the northern region by proffering simple and easy-to-use fintech solutions to increase more of their participation in setting up businesses. The innovative solutions developed from this hackathon were able to tackle the challenges faced by unbanked and underbanked female entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria.Dr. Marliyyah reveals how women now have access to a wide range of created opportunities online as a result of technology advancements. "Technology has helped women affirm their freedom of expression and right to the workforce, which they frequently find difficult to accomplish. This is a really great achievement that shows how it can be utilized to empower those with disadvantaged identities."However, it must not be overlooked that having internet access is necessary in order to take use of these virtual prospects. How many women and members of underrepresented groups actually have access to such technology is still an open subject. To ensure that intersectional gaps are filled and that technology and the internet are more widely available, intervention is necessary in this context."About Startup AREWAStartup AREWA was established to organize, empower and promote the Northern Nigeria technology and Startup Ecosystem, with the overarching goal of using technology and startups as a strategy to combat unemployment and poverty across the Northern Nigeria.From the first Bootcamp at Bello Memorial Foundation Hall in Kaduna to a series of over 20 Bootcamps across Northern Nigeria, engaging over 5000 Startups with support from innovators and public-private leaders, Startup AREWA is implementing its strategic plan of promoting and providing real-time support to Startups.Official website: https://startuparewa.ngFacebook: https://facebook.com/startuparewaTwitter: https://twitter.com/startuparewaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuparewa/Email: hello@startuparewa.ngFor more information, please visit https://startuparewa.ng, write to contact@startuparewa.ng, or call us on +234 90 9685 9999.Source: Startup AREWACopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 20% increase in new roles in 2022 with record number of opportunities for school leavers and apprentices 10,000 new jobs recently announced by management consulting sector over next 3 years More than half of the new roles will be based outside London , in cities including Manchester , Glasgow , Edinburgh and Birmingham Follows a 14% increase in headcount in 2021 as the consulting sector continues to grow LONDON, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Record numbers of opportunities for school leavers, apprentices, and graduates from across the UK are expected for those wanting to join the management consulting sector as firms experience a significant increase in demand from clients. Figures collected by the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) show that nearly 10,000 new jobs have recently been announced by firms as they invest in boosting their talent pipeline over the next few years until 2026. It comes as firms of all sizes have confirmed ambitious recruitment plans during one of the busiest periods ever for the consulting industry as clients turn to consultants for critical support during periods of significant change and digital transformation. Large, medium, and small firms have all increased the number of roles in their firms in 2022. Small and medium sized MCA member firms have hired approximately 1,200 more people this year and this number is expected to increase both in 2023 and 2024 by 1,300 and 3,000, respectively. Of the roles created, over a third will be outside London with many more open to people regardless of where they are based. Over 400 of these roles in small and medium firms will be for school leavers, apprentices and graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in consulting working with a variety of clients in the public and private sector. Large firms have also seen substantial growth plans which will see headcount increase. This includes EY who plan to increase the number of consultants from 5,100 to around 10,200 people by 2026. More than half of the new roles will be based outside of London. Deloitte created 1,200 new consulting roles in 2021/22, with the practice forecasting around 1,500 new roles for the current financial year (1 June 2022 to 31 May 2023). Overall, KPMG saw 2,767 more new hires in 2021 compared to 1,857 in 2020 and 1,085 graduate and apprentice joiners compared to 909 in 2020 while PwC brought 5,856 new joiners into the business across the UK, with 1,418 joining through their graduates, school, and college leaver routes while Grant Thornton recruited a record 450 trainees and increased its total number of staff by 12% to more than 5,100 last year. The recent announcements follow record recruitment growth last year in the sector when there was a 14% increase in headcount for consultancies in 2021, with an estimated overall total of 88,000 management consultants across the UK. The MCA Annual Industry Report showed that small and large firms saw the largest headcount increases of 17% while medium sized firms saw an increase of 10%. This robust growth in employment can be directly attributed to the step change in demand for consultancy services from clients in recent times with further recruitment expected in the next 12-24 months to help meet demand. In addition, there has been a 51% increase in the number of graduates employed from 2020 with more school leavers also joining the sector. In total there were nearly 1,700 apprentices in programmes for firms represented by the MCA with large firms employing the majority of apprentices. Medium sized firms have the highest proportion of new graduates and apprentices outside London and this trend is expected to continue due to hybrid working, the reduction in travel and less time required on client site. It has also opened the talent pool to those who were previously unable or reluctant to work in the sector. There was also an increase in the number of regional offices for consultancy firms with Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and Edinburgh all seeing more opportunities for local talent. These strong numbers reflect the demand for talent with growth in the sector of 18% in 2021 and further growth expected in the next 12-24 months and reflects the positive impact consulting firms are having in wider society. Highlights of these projects were announced recently at the MCA Awards and includes helping to deal with the backlog of women delayed in waiting for breast screening due to the pandemic (CF), to critical digital upgrades required for Network Rail's safety management (EY) and the London Ambulance Service (Mason Advisory). Other leading projects selected by the judges include Atkins' work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on materially reducing cyber risk by creating a cyber aware workforce and culture. Tamzen Isacsson, MCA Chief Executive, said: "The UK has one of the leading management consultancy centres in the world and the strong demand globally and in the UK for our services from clients means firms are recruiting intensively to meet demand. This is positive news for our sector and provides huge opportunities for talented individuals from across the UK regardless of their background or location." For more information, please go to www.mca.org.uk Notes to Editors: The Management Consultancies Association (MCA): The MCA is the representative body for the UK's leading management consulting firms. For over 65 years, the MCA has been the voice of the consulting industry, promoting the value of consulting to business, the public sector, media commentators and the general public. The MCA's mission is to promote the value of management consultancy for the economy and society as a whole. The MCA's member companies comprise over 50% of the UK consulting industry work with the vast majority of the top FTSE 100 companies and almost all parts of the public sector. The UK consulting industry is amongst the best in the world and a vital part of the business landscape. Click to see the full list of current MCA members see link. Compliance with the MCA's tough entry criteria and adherence to the principles of Consulting Excellence means that MCA member companies are widely acknowledged to provide high quality services to their clients. Many of their achievements are recognised in the annual MCA Awards. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/record-number-of-new-consulting-roles-to-be-created-across-the-uk-says-management-consultancies-association-mca-301711027.html A date was set for the first pre-trial hearing between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It will take place on January 3, according to Engadget. Microsoft and FTC will face each other in court to decide the fate of the tech company's $69 billion bid to buy Call of Duty creator Activision Blizzard. FTC Files a Case to Block the Acquisition Deal Between Microsoft and Activision At the start of 2022, Microsoft and Activision announced the merger. At the time, the tech company also announced that the deal is expected to close no later than June 2023. However, last month, FTC, which enforces antitrust law, asked a judge to block the acquisition deal between the two companies. FTC argues that the merger would allow Microsoft's Xbox exclusive access to Activision's games, leaving Nintendo consoles and Sony's PlayStation behind. But according to Microsoft, its acquisition deal with Activision would benefit both gamers and gaming companies. To prove this, the tech company offered to sign a legally binding consent decree with the FTC. Under the decree, the company will provide Call of Duty games to rivals such as Sony for a decade. The tech company made the argument in a filing in order to convince an FTC judge to allow the deal to proceed. According to Reuters, antitrust experts says that the FTC may find it challenging to prove its claims in court. In a WCCFTech report, Andre Barlow, an antitrust lawyer at Doyle, Barlow & Mazard PLLC, said that legal precedent is not on the side of the FTC. Barlow added that at least three judges have accepted remedies being offered by the merging parties. Roger Alford, a law teacher at the University of Notre Dame, also said that vertical merger challenges are really difficult to win. He added that it will be an "uphill battle" for the FTC. The Microsoft-Activision case is a sign that the Biden administration is taking a stronger approach to enforcing its antitrust law. Read Also: FTC Sues Microsoft To Block $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal FTC Will Face a Difficult Battle in Convincing a Judge of its Case's Merit According to FTC director Holly Vedova "Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals." Vedova added that because of that, the commission seeks to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio. Likewise, it seeks to stop Microsoft from harming the competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets. But the FTC is expected to face a difficult battle in trying to convince a judge of the merits of its case. First, the tech company is not pushing for a horizontal merger where it would take one of its direct competitors out of the picture. In addition, the company shows a willingness to make concessions in order for the deal to move forward. In a legal filing last month, Microsoft wrote that "the commission cannot meet its burden of showing that the transaction would leave consumers worse off." The company added that the transaction will allow consumers to play Activision's games on new platforms and access them in new and more affordable ways. In addition to FTC's case, the deal is also facing regulatory scrutiny from the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority. Recently, the agency said it would conduct an in-depth investigation of the proposed merger. Related Article: Microsoft Responds To FTC's Activision Blizzard Lawsuit CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeing Machines Limited (AIM: SEE), the advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, will exhibit its world-leading interior sensing technology at CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre (LVCC), the most influential technology event globally, from 5 January through 7 January 2023. Seeing Machines' immersive technology demonstrations will be held by appointment at a private suite in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino and in our demo car, to showcase the Company's latest groundbreaking software and algorithm developments for its FOVIO driver and occupant monitoring system (DMS/OMS) technology solutions. Seeing Machines' DMS and OMS technology can also be found integrated into a range of Tier 1 customer and partner demonstrations, who will also be showcasing at CES: Magna (LVCC West Hall Booth 4425) - DMS/OMS integration into Rear View Mirror (LVCC West Hall Booth 4425) - DMS/OMS integration into Rear View Mirror Ambarella and Autobrains (Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas) - Combined safety solution in System on Chip (SoC) (Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas) - Combined safety solution in System on Chip (SoC) Analog Devices (LVCC West Hall Booth 4725) - DMS with integrated IR LED Driver and GMSL Camera Seeing Machines is revolutionising global transport safety, developing and licensing proprietary technology to some of the world's leading automotive manufacturers. We use advanced machine vision technology to precisely measure and analyse head pose, eyelid movements and eye gaze under a full spectrum of demanding lighting conditions, including through sunglasses. This data is processed to interpret driver attention state, focus, drowsiness and impairment levels to provide critical inputs in real-time to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as well as to vehicle cockpit, comfort and convenience systems. As the worldwide focus on transport safety heightens, Seeing Machines continues to grow as an automotive technology leader in driver and occupant monitoring systems, having won a total of 15 automotive programs for 10 individual OEMs, spanning more than 160 vehicle models, undeprinned by over 11bn km of driving data and delivered with proven global automotive Tier-1 customers and partners. Seeing Machines' corporate executives and technical subject matter experts will be present at CES 2023. About Seeing Machines (AIM: SEE), a global company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Australia, is an industry leader in vision-based monitoring technology that enable machines to see, understand and assist people. Seeing Machines' technology portfolio of AI algorithms, embedded processing and optics, power products that need to deliver reliable real-time understanding of vehicle operators. The technology spans the critical measurement of where a driver is looking, through to classification of their cognitive state as it applies to accident risk. Reliable "driver state" measurement is the end-goal of Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) technology. Seeing Machines develops DMS technology to drive safety for Automotive, Commercial Fleet, Off-road and Aviation. The company has offices in Australia, USA, Europe and Asia, and supplies technology solutions and services to industry leaders in each market vertical. www.seeingmachines.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/seeing-machines-world-leading-interior-sensing-technology-on-show-in-suite-and-in-car-at-ces-2023-301711754.html LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent assessment of trends in Young Adult publishing, Toni Fitzgerald writes that "T he most successful and relatable YA authors grasp the essential emotions of being a teen. The writers tackle wildly varied subjects... but at the base of it all, feelings drive YA literature..." Paula Paul's novel Colors of Truth examines the parallel lives of two teenaged girls in small-town Texas in the 1950s. A Goodreads reviewer writes, "I loved the characters and reading about Caroline's awakening to the evil in her community and country. Her sense of outrage as she realizes the happenings in the war and sees the racism in her own community propels her to act in ways that she never thought possible." A self-help guide written by Laya Saul for adolescents, You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way is recommended by the Teens Read Too blog "for a young adult looking for a handbook to get through the tough times of adolescence". LibraryBub, an industry first, was established in 2015. Dedicated to making strong, mutual connections between indie and small-press authors and an extensive network of libraries, it works in conjunction with all major libraries. The core commitment of the LibraryBub service is to help librarians to identify acclaimed books from the independent publishing sector. LibraryBub introduces thousands of librarians to bestselling and award-winning books from the independent publishing sector. These books hold immense potential for enhancing the lives of their readers. Novelist Haruki Murakami explains the role of libraries in his process of researching the fiction he writes. "I'd been trying to write about the war, but it wasn't easy for me I went to the library every day, reading books, mostly history books. They have a good collection of books about what happened... Most people go to a place to research before writing the book, but I did the opposite." He depended on what others had written. "Imagination is the most important asset of mine, so I didn't spoil my imagination by going there." Librarians enable writers to make that kind of difference to people's lives, and LibraryBub CEO Alinka Rutkowska considers it a privilege to support them in that role. Below is this month's selection by category. FICTION Literature & Fiction Send Down the Master in Person: reflections on Adolf Eichmann by A. Keith Carreiro ISBN: 978-0997382730 Silent Screams by L.J. Crawford ISBN: 978-1941749531 Mystery & Thriller Amish Accident (Book Six of the Covert Police Detectives Unit series)by Ashley Emma ISBN: 979-8417433276 Romance Abraham and Sarah's Amish Baby (Book One of the Amish Bible Story series) by Ashley Emma ISBN: 979-8767031887 Science Fiction & Fantasy The Power of Three (Book One of the Power Rising series) by Cathy Parker ISBN: 978-1950282906 Young Adult Colors of Truth by Paula Paul ISBN: 978-1098384722 Children's Top Secret: Diary #1 (Book One of the Confessions of a Nerdy Girl Diaries series) by Linda Rey ISBN: 978-0999312025 NON-FICTION Business Finding the Speaker's Edge by Michael D. Butler ISBN:978-1637921739 Leading Positive Organizational Change: Energize - Redesign - Gel by Bart Tkaczyk ISBN: 978-0367608767 The Lean Recruiting Toolkit by Craig E. Brown ISBN: 978-1730966057 Politics & Social Sciences Adoration and Pilgrimage: James Dean and Fairmount by James F. Hopgood ISBN: 979-8886790108 Religion & Spirituality Back to God, Away from Religion by Gopi Menon ISBN: 979-8522234980 Be Strong and Courageous: Joshua Showed Us How by Walter Albritton ISBN: 978-1662861574 Songs in the Night: how God transforms our pain to praise by Michael A. Milton ISBN: 978-1596382213 Self-Help Coming of Age: our journey into adulthood by Cate LeSourd ISBN:978-1737766803 Confessions of an Ironman by David Solyomi ISBN: 978-1637351079 Debt-Free ASAP! by John Nicholas ISBN: 978-1736158708 There Is Greatness within You: quotations and principles to succeed by John Paul Carinci ISBN: 978-1665713351 Wealth Simplified: the secrets of everyday people who retire richer, happier and earlier by Robert F. Roby ISBN: 978-1637351567 Young Adult You Don't Have To Learn Everything the Hard Way by Laya Saul ISBN: 978-0972322973 "The LibraryBub system is not only unique, but is one of the best forms of advertising." That's the experience of Canadian author John Murray. "Where else," he wonders, "could I have reached hundreds of people whose job it is to buy books?" It is true that we await to see the ultimate result, but the economics is beyond question." Librarians are invited to sign up for LibraryBub at http://librarybub.com/ Independent publishers can visit http://librarybub.com/authors/ to submit their books for consideration. Media Contact: Alinka Rutkowska alinka@leaderspress.com www.leaderspress.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/young-adult-titles-featured-in-librarybub-selection-for-january-301711114.html UK scientists have examined the impacts of potential-induced degradation (PID) in solar cells and modules, based on a field study from a 1.2 MW PV system in Spain. Meanwhile, in a separate study, scientists in Japan have created a model for one of the less-investigated PID mechanisms, creating a model of its progress that will be useful in future research and mitigation efforts.PID covers a range of different effects that have been observed to reduce PV module performance in the field. The way these effects progress can differ depending on module materials, installation conditions, and other factors, ... 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. Energy Dome, a Milan, Italy-based provider of CO2 Battery as long-duration energy storage solution, has been awarded 17.5 million in funding. The award came from the European Innovation Council, through the EIC Fund. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the scale up of its business and the deployment of CO2 Batteries across global markets. Led by CEO Claudio Spadacini, Energy Dome invented and developed the CO2 Battery, a Long-Duration Energy Storage system that makes Long Duration Energy Storage viable globally. The properties of carbon dioxide allow the system to store energy efficiently and cost-effectively, with a modular and site-independent footprint. CO2 Batteries use readily available components from reliable and existing supply chains, providing a pathway to store massive amounts of intermittent renewable energy and accelerate the energy transition. EIC Fund, an entity owned by the European Commission to make grants and direct equity investments in companies with promising cleantech solutions, joined other strategic investors, including Barclays, 360 Capital, CDP Venture Capital SGR and Novum Capital Partners, that have invested a total of $25m in Energy Dome. FinSMEs 02/01/2023 LeadArt Biotechnologies, a Boston, MA and Ningbo, China-based biotechnology company focused on drug discovery by automating chemoproteomics processes, raised US$6M in Pre-A funding. The round was led by BlueRun Ventures Aster. The company intends to use the funds to advance the development of its automated chemoproteomics platform and the creation of a human target-probe database. Led by CEO Feng Ni, LeadArt Biotechnologies is accelerating drug discovery by automating chemoproteomics processes and creating a human live-cell target-probe database. Its platform integrates biotechnology and automation technologies to discover disease-related targets and chemical probes for traditionally undruggable and unexplored targets. The company recently signed a strategic collaboration with AstraZenecas iCampus to develop a herbal medicine preclinical translation platform in Chengdu, China. FinSMEs 02/01/2023 TheLawyerGuide.com, an Oslo, Norway-based legal tech startup providing a platform for lawyers, raised 475K in funding. The company has raised 475K through a share issue on the crowdfunding platform Folkeinvest.no, which values the company at 4M. More than 50 new shareholders joined the round. TheLawyerGuide.com intends to use the funds to expand its operations to the United States and several other large European countries. Led by CEO Ali Ahmed, the startup offers a platform for reviewing lawyers. All national lawyers are listed on the platform. Lawyers can claim their profile and enrich it with more information. The company earns money by lawyers that pay for the service, while also introducing potential new clients to the professionals. In addition, the platform offers a web-based SaaS marketing suite. After its launch under the name of Advokatguiden in Norway in 2020, TheLawyerGuide.com has since expanded to Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In 2023, the company will expand its operations to the United States and several other large European countries. FinSMEs 02/01/2023 On December 8, 2022, H.E. Li Jiming, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, paid a farewell call on H.E. Sheikh Hasina, the Honble Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Mr. Yan Hualong, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, attended the meeting. HPM Sheikh Hasina appreciated Chinas contribution to the joint fight against COVID-19 epidemic, the construction of major development projects in Bangladesh, and the facilitation to repatriate displaced persons from Rakhine State of Myanmar to Bangladesh. The HPM also asked Ambassador Li to convey her gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang for the kind support from Chinese side. She highly commended Ambassador Li for his significant contribution to Bangladesh-China relations during his tenure, and welcomed him to visit Bangladesh anytime in the future. Ambassador Li promised to convey the messages from HPM to Chinese leaders. He said that China congratulates Bangladesh for its development achievement under the able leadership of HPM Sheikh Hasina and with the joint efforts by all Bangladeshi people. China-Bangladesh relations has made great progress in the past more than three years, which would be impossible without the determined support by HPM Sheikh Hasina and all other Bangladeshi colleagues. Ambassador Li pledged to continuously contribute, under a different title, to the friendly relations between the two countries and two peoples. The two sides also discussed current international and regional situation, bilateral cooperation on trade and economy, people-to-people exchange between Bangladesh and China, etc. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. On the afternoon of December 8, 2022 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Chairman of Sudans Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in Riyadh. Xi Jinping noted that China and Sudan are good friends and good brothers who share weal and woe. China supports all parties in Sudan in continuously and steadily advancing the political transition through dialogue and consultation, and opposes interference by external forces in Sudans internal affairs. China will continue to speak up for its friend Sudan on international occasions. China is ready to work with Sudan to consolidate friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, firmly support each others core interests, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push for the steady and long-term growth of the China-Sudan strategic partnership. Xi Jinping stressed that China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity for Sudans development, carry out cooperation in oil, agriculture, mining and other fields, and encourage competent Chinese enterprises to participate in construction projects in Sudan, so as to help Sudans economic and social development. China is ready to work with Sudan and other Arab states to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Sudan within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and strengthen coordination and cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral organizations to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice. Al-Burhan extended congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinpings re-election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. With a long history, the friendship between the Sudanese and Chinese people is profound and solid. China has long been firmly supporting Sudan in maintaining national security and stability. On behalf of the Sudanese government and all Sudanese people, Al-Burhan sincerely thanked President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. Sudan firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests and firmly supports all China-proposed important initiatives. Sudan hopes the relations between Sudan and China and the overall relations between Arab states and China will be further developed. Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi and He Lifeng, among others, were present at the event. Tesla may not be getting a happy start to its new year. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently filed a complaint against the automaker for allegedly breaking labor laws in its Orlando, Florida, location. The company and its attorneys have yet to respond to an inquiry, nor has it addressed the NLRB's complaint, per Bloomberg. NLRB v. Tesla Complaint Details The NLRB mentioned in its complaint against Tesla that the company illegally coerced its employees in its Orlando, Florida location from discussing workplace issues, including not talking about pay and working conditions. According to the complaint, the NLRB's regional director in Tampa alleges that Tesla prohibited employees from complaining to higher-level managers about their pay or other conditions of employment. The company also forbids employees from discussing their payments with other Tesla employees. Interestingly, the company also doesn't allow employees from discussing the hiring, suspension, or termination of employees with others. The complaint also mentioned that Tesla had done these alleged crimes from Dec. 2021 to Jan. 2022. As a result, the company violated laws that prevent companies from "interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of rights" guaranteed in the NLRB Act. Kayla Blado, the agency's spokesperson, said in an email that a judge would hear the arguments it laid out in its complaint during a February hearing. Read More: Apple's Stock Suffers An 18-Month Low Following iPhone 14 Pro's Supply Setback Tesla and any other party o the proceeding can appear and present testimony regarding the allegations the agency stated in its complaint. Complaints from the agency's regional directors are considered by agency judges. As such, companies can appeal the complaint to the agency's members in Washington, and then to federal court. NLRB's Fight Against Tesla This complaint isn't the first the NLRB filed against Tesla. You may remember that the agency ruled against Tesla's dress code, stating it was unlawful for the company to mandate employees to only wear Tesla or pre-approved black tee shirts. Additionally, The Verge noted that the NLRB forced its CEO, Elon Musk, to delete an anti-union tweet in 2021, which could still be read to this day. At the same time, the agency also ruled that the company's firing of union activist Richard Ortiz was illegal, with the agency ordering Tesla to rehire Ortiz with back pay, per Engadget. The NLRB isn't the only one filing complaint against Tesla. An earlier Business Insider report mentioned that two Tesla employees filed complaints of their own with the agency as a result of discussing their working conditions. These discussions addressed "Tesla's failure to enforce its non-harrassment policy and its implementation of its post-COVID return to office policy," according to the fillings. These employees were part of a group drafting letter to Tesla's executive team but were fired before the letters were circulated and after their complaints were discussed with each other on internal chat groups. A group of former SpaceX employees also filed a similar complaint for being illegally fired after writing an open letter calling out Musk's behavior as "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment." Related Article: Prices of Used Tesla Cars are Starting to Drop, Data Shows A missing Corvallis man has been found dead on Marys Peak, according to a Corvallis Police Department news release. At around 4:54 p.m. Sunday Jan. 1, Benton County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a remote area of Marys Peak after reports that volunteers searching for missing 22-year-old Steven Mainwaring had located a vehicle matching the description of the Ford Bronco Mainwaring was thought to be driving. Deputies arrived at the scene and found Mainwaring dead near the vehicle, according to the news release. Through investigation, BCSO found no evidence of criminal activity or indication of foul play. Reported missing Mainwarings parents initially called police on Dec. 21 and authorities entered Mainwaring as a missing person into the system a few days later. Mainwarings last known location was believed to be in the Alsea area, CPD Lt. Gabe Sapp said. Mainwarings phone pinged off of a cellphone tower in Harrisburg Dec. 18, indicating he was around 25 to 30 miles west. Because the phone only pinged off of one tower, it was hard for investigators and search volunteers to get an exact location of Mainwaring might have been. Detectives searched the Alsea area Dec. 28 but did not find Mainwaring or the 1994 blue Ford Bronco he was believed to be driving. Those close to Mainwaring told police he was an avid outdoorsman and would usually tell family his plans. That didnt happen in this case. According to a public Facebook group, titled Help us find Steven Mainwaring, Mainwaring was a senior airman first class in the Oregon Air National Guard 173rd Fighter Wing as well as an engineering student at Oregon State University. However, university spokesperson Steve Clark said Mainwaring was not currently enrolled at OSU. There is no additional information available, according to CPD, and any updates will come from BCSO. India may have done the US a favor. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr mentioned that India's move of outright banning the use of TikTok is a move that the US should adopt to secure its communication network. TikTok has been the topic of controversy since the Trump administration for allegedly being a national security threat due to it taking data from users' phones, per NPR. TikTok Banning Approval From Carr Carr mentioned that the Indian government set an "incredibly important precedent" by banning the use of TikTok in India two and a half years ago, per Tech Crunch. According to the FCC Commissioner's statement to the Indian daily Economic Times, the banning of the social app is a "natural next step" in the US government's efforts to shore up and further secure its communication network. "We need to follow India's lead more broadly to weed out other nefarious apps as well," Carr said. He also explained that because of TikTok's nature of collecting data from phones, China could use sensitive and non-public data TikTok may have collected for "blackmail, espionage, foreign influence campaigns, and surveillance." He also added that TikTok's history of malign data and its representations are incompatible with the US government's interests and that he doesn't see a path forward for anything other than a blank ban working. Carr described India's leadership to be informative and helpful as the FCC works to ban TikTok from the US, per his statement to India's Economic Times. Carr's stance on TikTok reflects the growing cautious approach US states and lawmakers have to the China-based app, which has 100 million users in the nation. Read More: Ransomware Attack Forces Canadian Mining Firm To Shut Down Mill To Ban Or Not To Ban? TikTok is no stranger to threats of being banned and outright being banned themselves. You may remember that the Trump administration previously banned TikTok in the US for being a national security threat, but was prevented from doing so by federal judge Carl Nichols in Washington. Nichols found that Trump overstepped his authority in using his emergency economic powers. Interestingly, he was the second judge to block Trump's attempt of banning TikTok from the US. US President Joe Biden eventually revoked and replaced the executive orders Trump signed to ban transactions with TikTok by American businesses, with the current administration treating transactions with the app with "heightened risk," per CNBC. As previously mentioned, however, the number of politicians and states supporting the idea to outright ban TikTok in the US is growing by the minute, with the app being banned from all US House of Representatives-managed devices, per Reuters. Lawmakers have also created a bill banning TikTok from the country in late 2022 due to national security concerns, but the odds are presumably stacked against it, per the BBC. FBI Director Christopher Wray agrees with Commissioner Carr, with his statement in November saying that there is a possibility that the Chinese government could use the data it had collected to control data collection on millions of users, per CBS News. Related Article: FCC Proposes Record-High $300 Million Fine Against Robocall Scammers Ubisoft Is Changing Its Games In The Name Of Climate Change? Ubisoft is changing its games to help combat climate change. By Jason Collins | Ubisoft, the French game-making giant that recently upped the prices of its releases, is changing its games to continue to raise awareness and mobilize players to combat climate change and protect the environment. This statement encompasses Ubisofts current gaming lineup, ranging from their AAA titles, like the upcoming Skull & Bones, to smaller, mobile gaming titles developed by its smaller, mobile-oriented cousin, Gameloft. According to Bounding Into Comics, Ubisoft previously expressed its environmental efforts in June last year, stating it would promote the United Nations climate change message in its gaming titles. These initiatives within the industry were initially developed during the 2022 Green Game Jam, an industry-wide event hosted by the Playing for the Planet Alliance (PPA)an initiative thats entirely dedicated to inspiring the gaming industry to take action to combat climate change. These actions include reducing emissions and green activations within the video game medium. In fact, Ubisoft is actually a founding member of PPA, and its subsidiaries participate in the Green Game Jam every year by creating in-game events that inspire the gaming community to think green. In June last year, the in-game world of Riders Republic hosted its first climate match that Ubisofts team devised one year earlier. The themes of the event were Food, Forests, and our Future, and it brought together 14 in-house teams to work together and brainstorm ideas, which were subsequently implemented into titles like Trackmania, Rocksmith+, Brawlhalla, etc. For example, players can now plant a World Tree to promote sustainability in Ubisofts free-to-play Norse mythology-themed fighting game titled Brawlhalla. The event also included the option to purchase an in-game emote of the small Yggdrasil tree and several other in-game products. All the proceeds from this campaign went to Ecologi, a social enterprise working on reforestation projects. Another such instance is protecting baby sharks in Hungry Shark World by portraying the importance of coral reefs for our planet. Hungry Shark World Initiatives didnt stop there, either. Players have the chance to learn about the use of wood in music instrument manufacturing in Rocksmith+. Ubisoft introduced a video series on the impact of wood selection and harvesting for instrument manufacturing. The company has, once again, teamed up with Ecologi, to plant one tree for every five in-game interactions with the event, with the goal of planting 20,000 trees and educating players on the correlation between wood and the instruments they play. The company is actually going a step further by accentuating both the players and the gaming industries respective responsibilities in environmental protection and climate change. Ubisoft is looking to lead the change within the gaming industry by decarbonizing its own operations and inspiring players and other key industry gamers to join the company and advocate in their own respective communities. The company is looking to reduce its own carbon emissions by 47 percent in the following eight years. Its also implementing this across the board by implementing similar targets across at least two-thirds of its subsidiaries, suppliers, and other partners. Kudos where kudos are due, but its important to note that the company isnt doing this out of the kindness of its heart either. Profit drives business, and Ubisoft is actually looking to reach Environmental, Social, and Governance targets for investment purposes. NEW YORK, Jan. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Welltower Inc. (Welltower or the Company) (NYSE: WELL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Welltower 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 December 7, 2022, Hindenburg Research published a report titled, Welltower: Exposing The Shell Game. Among other things, the report claimed that the Company transferred the management of underperforming facilities to an undisclosed related party. In addition, according to the report, the new partner firm Integra seems to barely exist. The entity was registered 6 months ago, according to Delaware corporate records. Its website was registered on the same day. Further, the report alleged that, Integras CEO, 29-year-old David Gefner, appears to have no background in the skilled nursing space at all. Integra has no employees on LinkedIn except for Gefner, who claims to have worked at the 6-month-old entity for 11 months. On this news, Welltowers stock price fell $3.20 per share, or 4.69%, to close at $65.00 per share on December 7, 2022. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris 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, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm 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.pomerantzlaw.com . CHEYENNE, Wyo., Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WyHy Credit Union, headquartered in Cheyenne, announced a partnership with Stukent, an education, and digital courseware company, in order to bring a state-of-the-art financial simulator to high schools across Wyoming. WyHy is providing the Stukent personal financial simulations free of charge to high schools statewide to enable students to acquire personal financial skills using technology and decision-learning techniques. WyHy is providing Stukent to teachers and students at 18 local high schools in Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Green River, Rock Springs, Laramie, and additional Wyoming cities. In addition to the Stukent program, WyHy's recently introduced Independence Account will also enable students to manage their own finances and start gaining financial independence through digital banking, a free debit card, nationwide ATMs, and much more. No adult signer is required on the Independence Account, which makes it a first-of-its-kind service in Wyoming. For additional details regarding the Independence Account for students, go to wyhy.org/Independence. "The partnership with Stukent supports WyHy's vision of providing members and their families with the information they need to become more knowledgeable savers, borrowers, and better money managers," stated WyHy Chief Retail Officer Matt Ballou. For additional information regarding this new service partnership between WyHy and Stukent, contact Matt Ballou or go to www.wyhy.org. Contact Information: Matt Ballou Chief Retail Officer mballou@wyhy.org (307) 638-4290 Amy Davis Director of Marketing adavis@wyhy.org (307) 638-4290 Related Images Image 1: WyHy Independence Account This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment STMicroelectronics and eYs3D Microelectronics to showcase collaboration on high-quality 3D stereo-vision camera for machine vision and robotics at CES 2023 Companies will demonstrate 3D depth vision through stereo cameras fusion for fast-motion object tracking in AIoT and autonomous guided robots and industrial devices Reference designs leverage STs high-performance, near-infrared, global-shutter image sensors to ensure best quality depth sensing and point-cloud creation Geneva, Switzerland, and Taipei, Taiwan, January 2, 2023 STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and eYs3D Microelectronics, a fabless semiconductor design house that focuses on end-to-end hardware and software systems for computer vision, including advanced vision-processing System-on-Chip (SoC) devices, will reveal the results of their collaboration on high-quality machine vision at CES 2023 in Las Vegas on January 5-8. Using live demonstrations, the companies will show how stereo video and depth camera made from advanced active-coded infrared technology can enhance capabilities like feature recognition and autonomous guidance at mid-to-long working range. STMicroelectronics advanced image sensors, using proprietary process technologies, offer class-leading pixel size while offering both high sensitivity and low crosstalk, said James Wang, Chief Strategy & Sales Officer, eYs3D Microelectronics. Such high-performance image sensors at a competitive price point enable us to achieve extremely compact system size while ensuring outstanding machine-vision performance. The strong connection we have established with ST increases our confidence to develop new products that will lead the machine vision market. The collaboration with eYs3D Microelectronics, through their expertise in capture, perception understanding, and 3D-fusion, offers ST additional business opportunities, use cases, and ecosystems addressing demands for stereo vision in applications such as robots, home-automation, home appliances, and many others, said David Maucotel, Business Line Manager at STs Imaging Sub-Group. While the reference designs showcased at CES are using monochromatic sensors, we can already foresee exciting enhancements and further use-cases using the RGB and RGB-IR versions of our sensors. The CES demonstrations highlight two jointly developed reference designs, the Ref-B6 and Ref-B3 ASV (Active Stereo Vision) video and depth cameras. Both combine the eYs3D CV processor and eSP876 stereo 3D Depth-Map chipset with STs global shutter image sensors that provide enhanced near-infrared (NIR) sensitivity. The embedded eYs3D chipset enhances object edge detection, optimizes depth de-noising, and outputs HD-quality 3D depth data up to 60 fps frame rate. STs image sensors enable the cameras to output data streams in various combinations of video/depth resolution and frame rate for the best quality depth sensing and point-cloud creation. In addition, optimized lenses, filters and a VCSEL active-IR projector source optimize the infrared optical path and maximize immunity to ambient light noise. A specially developed control algorithm turns the IR projector on and o alternately to permit capturing artifact-free gray scale images. Leveraging this advanced hardware design, the Ref-B6 stereo-video camera achieves a 6-centimeter baseline and 85deg(H) x 70deg(V) depth field of view. Both eYs3D reference designs include the SDK (Software Development Kit) supporting Windows, Linux and Android OS environments with multiple different programming languages and wrapper APIs. eYs3D will showcase the joint development Ref-B6 Depth Camera at two booth locations: LVCC, Booth #15769, Central Hall and Venetian, Eureka Park, Booth #62500, AT1, Hall G. Please contact your local sale representatives or sales@eys3d.com to arrange appointments and customer presentations. Note to Editors: Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) is the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure. A point cloud is a discrete set of data points in space. The points may represent a 3D shape or object. About STMicroelectronics At ST, we are 48,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of the Internet of Things and connectivity. ST is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com. Further information can be found at www.st.com. About eYs3D Microelectronics eYs3D Microelectronics Corp. pioneers in 3D sensing technologies, and aims to develop semiconductor oriented technologies and products related to 3D vision-simulating computer vision technologies integrated with computer intelligence. With its strong foundations and experiences in memory design and computer vision, as well as close co-operations with its parent company- Etron Technology, Inc., and ARM Holdings Plc. The company focuses on computer vision processors and specializes in 3D stereo vision solutions. As one of the earliest ventures in 3D technology, eYs3D was designed-in with multiple tier-one brands in VR, robotics and IoT devices. eYs3Ds state-of-the-art stereo vision depth IC and module offer customers more integrated value in bringing 3d sensing into real applications, realizing computer vision with human perception incorporated with A.I. For further information visit www.eys3d.com Press contacts: eYs3D Olivia Wu Corporate Media Relations Email: marketing@eys3d.com STMicroelectronics Michael Markowitz Director Technical Media Relations Tel: +1 781 591 0354 Email: michael.markowitz@st.com Attachments New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Advanced Composites Market Research Report by Fiber, Resin, Manufacturing Process, End-use Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335776/?utm_source=GNW 42 billion by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Advanced Composites to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Fiber, the market was studied across Aramid Fiber Composites, Carbon Fiber Composites, and S-Glass Fiber Composites. Based on Resin, the market was studied across Advanced Thermoplastic Composites and Advanced Thermosetting Composites. Based on Manufacturing Process, the market was studied across Automated Tape Laying (ATL) & Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), Compression Molding, Filament Winding, Hand layup/ Spray Layup, Injection Molding, Pultrusion, and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding. Based on End-use Industry, the market was studied across Aerospace & Defense, Civil Engineering, Electrical & Electronics, Marine, Medical, Pipes & Tanks, Sporting Goods, Transportation, and Wind Energy. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Advanced Composites market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Advanced Composites Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Advanced Composites Market, including AGY Holdings Corp., Cytec Solvay Group, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Formosa Plastics Corporation, Gurit Services AG, Hexcel Corporation, Hexion Inc., Huntsman Corporation, Kolon Industries Inc., Koninklijke Ten Cate NV, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Owens Corning, Inc., Plasan Carbon Composites, SGL Group, Solvay S.A., Strata Manufacturing, Teijin Limited, Toray Industries, Inc., and WS Atkins plc. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Advanced Composites Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Advanced Composites Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Advanced Composites Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Advanced Composites Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Advanced Composites Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Advanced Composites Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Advanced Composites Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335776/?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. __________________________ In this photo provided by Korea's Presidential Office, Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during the New Year's address to the nation at the presidential office in Seoul, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap South Korea and the United States are discussing possible joint planning and exercises using U.S. nuclear assets in the face of North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said in a newspaper interview. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted Yoon as saying the joint planning and exercises would be aimed at a more effective implementation of the U.S. "extended deterrence." The term means the ability of the U.S. military, particularly its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on U.S. allies. "The nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises and training should be jointly conducted by South Korea and the United States," Yoon said, adding Washington is also "quite positive" about the idea. Yoon's remarks come a day after North Korean state media reported that its leader Kim Jong-un called for developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and an "exponential increase" of the country's nuclear arsenal to counter U.S.-led threats amid flaring tension between the rival Koreas. The North's race to advance its nuclear and missile programs has renewed debate over South Korea's own nuclear armaments, but Yoon said maintaining the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remained important. At a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party last week, Kim said South Korea has now become the North's "undoubted enemy" and rolled out new military goals, hinting at another year of intensive weapons tests and tension. Inter-Korean ties have long been testy but have been even more frayed since Yoon took office in May. On Sunday, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast, in a rare late-night, New Year's Day weapons test, following three ballistic missiles launched on Saturday, capping a year marked by a record number of missile tests. Yoon's comments on the nuclear exercises are the latest demonstration of his tough stance on North Korea. He urged the military to prepare for a war with "overwhelming" capability following North Korean drones crossing into the South last week. Analysts say the tensions could worsen. "This year could be a year of crisis with military tension on the Korean peninsula going beyond what it was like in 2017," said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, referring to the days of the "fire and fury" under the Trump administration. "North Korea's hardline stance...and aggressive weapons development when met with South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and proportional response could raise the tension in a flash, and we cannot rule out what's similar to a regional conflict when the two sides have a misunderstanding of the situation," Hong said. (Reuters) Brussels Airlines, the flag carrier of Belgium and part of the Lufthansa Group, has started the new year by being the first airline receiving a delivery of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Brussels Airport for the first time using the NATO Central European Pipeline System (CEPS). The Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS) is the largest petroleum pipeline system in NATO and and crosses the host nations of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. The CEPS can quickly provide military commanders with fuel for aircraft and ground vehicles. The CEPS also delivers jet fuel to major civil airports such as Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Schiphol and Zurich. The CEPS comprises some 5,300 km of pipeline with diameters ranging from 6 to 12 inches. This network of pipelines links 29 NATO depots and six depots for non-military use (offering a total storage capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres), military and civil airfields, refineries, civil depots and sea ports situated in the host nations. Aviation fuel is supplied by CEPS to commercial airports in Europe, and from 1 January 2023 these airports can also receive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via the pipeline system. CEPS is one element of the larger Nato Pipeline System (MPS), a 10,000-km network comprising 10 distinct storage and distribution systems for fuels and lubricants8 national systems and 2 multinational systems, the latter including CEPS. The first batch of Nestes SAF for Brussels Airlines was loaded into the pipeline system as a ready-to-use blend with conventional jet fuel at Nestes blending facilities in Ghent, Belgium at the turn of the year. From there, the fuel was transported by Brussels Airlines via the pipeline to the general fuel storage at Brussels Airport, making SAF available for use by Brussels Airlines. Brussels Airlines aims to emit 50% less CO 2 by 2030 compared to 2019, to become carbon neutral by 2050, and to operate its first flight using SAF by 2023. The delivery of Nestes SAF via the CEPS pipeline contributes to Brussels Airlines sustainability goals by enabling the airline to operate its first flight using SAF already at the start of 2023. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over the fuels life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced, 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines. Australia-based lithium miner Core Lithium has loaded the first export shipment of product from the Finniss mine in Australias Northern Territory. This first shipment of 15,000dmt of 1.4% Li 2 O Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) (1.4% Li 2 O), announced 3 October 2022, was successfully tendered using a digital exchange platform achieving a price of US$951/dmt. (Earlier post.) Under optimized conditions, mine ore with 1-1.5% Li 2 O can produce a concentrate of more than 6% of Li 2 O. Once loading is complete, the vessel Rossana with the 15,000dmt DSO will depart Darwin for Fangcheng, China. Loading the DSO. The first DSO shipment being loaded for export from the Darwin Port is another significant milestone for the company. Core has made good progress during 2022 to transition from a mine developer to lithium producer. In 2023 we will continue this transition and the work required to build a quality operating business. Core Lithium CEO Gareth Manderson A potential offtake agreement for Li 2 O spodumene concentrate from the Finniss Lithium Project with Tesla fell apart earlier this year. Core Lithium is targeting spodumene concentrate shipments in H1 2023. Finniss is targeting an average 160ktpa of battery-grade lithium spodumene concentrate for at least 12 years. Core has secured offtake for 80% of Finniss production for the first four years with lithium majors Ganfeng and Yahua and is engaged in talks with other interested parties. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) signed a definitive agreement with Tata Motors fully owned subsidiary, TML CV Mobility Solutions Ltd. for operation of 1,500 electric buses in the city of New Delhi. As part of the agreement, TML CV Mobility Solutions Ltd. will supply, operate and maintain 1,500 units of 12-meter low-floor air-conditioned electric buses for a period 12 years. Tata Starbus EV is an indigenously developed vehicle. Tata Motors has steadily worked to engineer mobility solutions powered by alternate fuel technology, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, LNG and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology. Up to now, Tata Motors has supplied more than 730 electric buses across multiple cities in India, which have cumulatively clocked more than 55 million kilometers, with an uptime of more than 95%. Part of the US$128-billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited, a US$37-billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. gettyimagesbank Crypto crash unlikely to discourage Pyongyang's illegal cyber activities: experts By Kang Seung-woo North Korea made headlines in 2022 by firing more ballistic missiles than any other year 38 launches. But besides its ceaseless saber-rattling, the isolated country was also in the spotlight for its illegal cyber activities that allegedly raked in billions of dollars. Crippled by international sanctions, the Kim Jong-un regime, which has refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions, has turned to digital crimes, or stealing cryptocurrencies an act feared to help fund the development of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "The threat posed by North Korea's cyber activities, especially its cryptocurrency thefts, is very real and very serious. The money North Korea has stolen, which is now in the billions of dollars, is a pure revenue stream that can finance North Korea's most destabilizing activities," said Nick Carlsen, a blockchain analyst at TRM Labs and a former FBI analyst. "Their nuclear, missile and even intelligence operations now benefit from the resources these crimes generate for them." Alex O'Neill, co-founder of the Belfer Center's North Korea Cyber Working Group, also said North Korea boasts significant capabilities in cyberspace, especially for generating illicit revenue. "North Korean threat actors are not as sophisticated as some other state actors, but the resources they devote to cybercrime and the experience they've amassed over the last decade have helped them develop into an increasingly formidable threat," he said. From left are Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Nick Carlsen, a blockchain analyst at TRM Labs, and Alex O'Neill, co-founder of the Belfer Center's North Korea Cyber Working Group. "Aside from the breaches and financial losses themselves, the international community is concerned that North Korean cybercrime blunts the effects of the sanctions regime and provides a major new cash stream for Pyongyang. It is particularly alarming that some of the proceeds seem to support North Korea's WMD programs." According to blockchain data analysis firm Chainalysis, North Korea stole $1.75 billion (2.2 trillion won) worth of cryptocurrency between 2017 and 2020 and chalked up some 800 billion won last year alone, including a single operation in which it stole $620 million in bitcoin, according to the South Korean National Intelligence Service. The amount represents a staggering haul, compared with the country's real gross domestic product (GDP) of $27.4 billion in 2020. In 2021, its economy also retreated 0.1 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea. However, Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, believes that Pyongyang's cyber capabilities are not as sophisticated as before, adding that a shift in cyber-raid targets has led its cyber capabilities astray. "Until 2016, North Korean hacking groups had launched cyberattacks against high-security governments or defense companies, raising speculation the country's cyber capabilities may have reached a significant level. However, since then, it has hacked cryptocurrency exchanges or banks to gain financial profits (in not-so-advanced ways)," Go said. Before a group of North Korean hackers known as Lazarus carried out a $81-million cyber heist of the Bangladesh central bank in 2016, they sent spear phishing emails to employees of the bank and gained access to the bank's network before using the SWIFT message network to try to withdraw up to $1 billion from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York a method seen as an old-fashioned trick in the digital age, according to Go. "Taking a closer look, its modus operandi is not a highly developed technology, but a phishing campaign," Go said, adding that as two hot keywords North Korea and cryptocurrency are involved, the issue is drawing more attention. Despite admitting the gravity of North Korea's increasing cryptocurrency heists, the experts were skeptical whether the North Korean regime is walking away with a large chunk of money taken from the illicit activities. "North Korean actors have inflicted billions of dollars of losses on victims around the world, but only a fraction of each heist actually reaches the Kim regime's coffers. The high transaction costs of converting stolen cryptocurrency into fiat money, not to mention declining asset prices, mean the ultimate recipients end up with only a portion of the amount initially taken from victims," O'Neill said, adding that driving up those transaction costs is "key to countering North Korea's cybercriminal statecraft." Carlsen echoed O'Neill's view. "There is no doubt North Korea is behind a large proportion of crypto thefts. The only questions remaining are the exact amounts stolen, and how much of the stolen crypto North Korea is able to be converted into usable traditional currencies," he said. "If anything, the scale of these thefts and their importance to the North Korean regime are hard to overstate. Cybercrime generally, and crypto thefts in particular, are now a key element in the North Korean government's economic strategy." In that respect, North Korea may find itself in a dilemma over transactions, according to Go. "To ultimately convert digital currency into funds that can be readily used is another requirement for North Korea, but it would not be easy because some exchanges with abundant liquidity may be under tight surveillance," Go said. "In addition, cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on a blockchain, so crypto hacks can be traced, meaning that it cannot be a risk-free asset for (cash-strapped) North Korea." For those reasons, Go said that it is excessive to believe that the entirety of North Korea's crypto loot went into its weapons programs amid last year's sharply increased missile tests. Actually, Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, said last August that about a third of stolen cryptocurrencies were used to fund North Korea's missile program. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversees a military drill carried out to check and assess the war deterrent and nuclear counterattack capability of the country, in this undated photo released Oct. 10 by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. EPA-Yonhap Lenovo Tab M9 Exp. release 2023, July 344g, 8mm thickness Android 12 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, microSDXC 0.9% 49,359 hits 12 Become a fan 9.0" 800x1340 pixels 8 MP 1080p 3/4 GB RAM MT6769V 5100 mAh Li-Po Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. Read more Qualcomm is expected to source the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 manufacturing to TSMC and Samsung - partnerships that have years of history. However, the latest report is that the Taiwanese manufacturer might get the majority of chip orders built on the 3 nm process because of the incredibly high 80% yield rate. Image credit: Wikipedia The current yield rate from a 3nm GAA wafer is about 60-70%, but TSMC is managing to implement between 75-80% of a single wafer. If we can trust this data, Apple and Qualcomm will not have shipment issues for their next-gen chipsets, the A17 Bionic and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Originally, Samsung experienced a horrendous yield rate of about 20% before partnering with US company Silicon Frontline Technology. The issue for Qualcomm and other chip makers is that price is paid per wafer, and yielding a lower amount of chips means a higher price for a chipset for the end customer - the smartphone manufacturer, which would mean a higher market price - a price increase which would benefit no one in the long run. Source (in Chinese) Well, 2022 is a wrap and I can say it was a rather... stale year. We can't always have exciting years, of course, but the fact that I've reverted to using a last year's phone, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, speaks for itself. That doesn't mean I didn't have my favorites among this year's crop and here they go in no particular order. Asus Zenfone 9 Just like last year, I would like to kick off this list with an Asus phone. Of course, this year, it's the Zenfone 9. I've always had a thing for compact flagships and I think Asus once again nailed it. In fact, I think the new Zenfone 9 is the prettiest phone in 2022. The design is so simple, yet super elegant and premium. It also checks almost all boxes for a 2022 flagship phone, except the telephoto camera. But at a 5.9-inch diagonal, it's hard to ask for one. But at least it delivers an excellent camera experience with the ones it has. Additionally, I'm a huge fan of clean Android software and Asus' ZenUI is probably one of the best in this regard. It feels stock, but still provides some advanced and geeky proprietary features. Battery life is surprisingly good and even beats some bigger devices with much larger batteries. Google Pixel 7 Pro The clean Android is just one of the reasons I liked the Pixel 7 Pro. The camera, of course, is another one - I just loved the processing of the stills. There's something about those I can't put my finger on it, but the Pixel photos have some distinguishable vibe to them. And I like it a lot. I also like how smart this phone is. Google's AI-powered features like call screening, speech to text and vice versa conversions are great, as well as the image and text extraction from photos. The Pixel 7 Pro is the true definition of a smartphone. Or at least I think it's the closest thing we got to a smartphone. If it wasn't for its limited market availability, I would probably be rocking a Pixel 7 Pro right now. Also, many of the smart features are not applicable in my home country. After all, speech recognition software has its limits. And although quirky, I really like the design this year, although it's almost identical to the 6 series. Last but not least, this year's Pixel release isn't plagued with numerous hardware and/or software issues as was the norm for Google phones. The small Pixel 7 gets an honorable mention since it's a compact flagship with a solid set of features and a surprisingly competitive price. Pixel 6a I'm not a Pixel fanboy, don't get me wrong. Yet, it's hard to deny that Pixels are pretty good phones this year. I really can't think of a midranger that stands out from the crowd this year except the Pixel 6a. It's affordable, runs on last year's flagship SoC from Google, offers flagship-grade camera experience, gets all the benefits of being a Google phone in terms of software updates and it's a well-rounded phone in general. If it's available in your country, you should definitely consider it. Xiaomi 12S Ultra I'm currently using the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and I'm utterly disappointed that the 12S Ultra is unusable outside China. I'm lucky enough to be able to hold the 12S Ultra in my hand and it's a great phone. It has all the bells and whistles and it's arguably the best cameraphone on the market. The telephoto camera performance is unrivaled in my opinion. Also, I'm a big fan of the design. I find the faux leather and the circular camera module pretty unique, while the surface feels great to the touch. It provides excellent grip and perhaps better durability than your standard glass sandwich build. I've also recently grown fond of Xiaomi's MIUI. It's feature-packed, polished, customizable and blazing-fast. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Like most of my colleagues, I'm choosing the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as one of my favorite phones of 2022 and that's not because we are getting free Bugatti's from the Korean tech giant, but mostly because the S22 Ultra is the closest thing we have to a zero-compromise flagship this year. It is the phone to finally unite the Note and S lineups and deliver an overall unbeatable product. It's so feature-packed that it's hard not to appeal to the masses. Hell, it even has two telephoto focal lengths and that's one of the best things about this phone. The software is one big reason I'm liking this year's Ultra. One UI is more polished than ever, it has a ton of actually useful features and it's perhaps the best custom Android skin designed to be used with one hand. That was One UI's original key selling point a few years back and it has stayed true to its roots. One criticism about One UI 5.0 I have is that even though it feels way smoother than its predecessor, it's still a bit sluggish compared to its competitors. I spent the better part of this year with the S22+ and I can say that most other Android iterations, if not all, feel faster and more responsive. And yet, I believe most people wouldn't notice the difference and won't be nearly as bothered by this as I am. Hopefully, 2023 will bring more innovative and captivating phones to talk about but, more importantly, a global release of my favorite ones. Samsung is launching all Galaxy S23 smartphones with at least 256 GB storage, according to the latest rumor claims. According to Ahmed Qwaider on Twitter, the 128 GB option is gone, meaning there wont be an 8 GB RAM version of the Galaxy S23 Ultra - only 12 GB. The leakster posted only one storage option for the S23 and S23+ but three versions of the Ulta, raising a question of whether it is a full list of variants or only the top-tier phone is listed in full. Exclusively & officially Good news for Samsung fans It's amazing to be Galaxy S23 8Ram + 256G Galaxy S23+ 8Ram +256G Galaxy S23 Ultra 12R+256G+512G+1T Goodbye 128G I've been waiting for this move for a long time A very good move from Samsung thanks @technizoconcept pic.twitter.com/7EZbA6tyjK Ahmed Qwaider (@AhmedQwaider888) January 1, 2023 The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ both started from 8/128 GB, but now the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 will have 8/256 GB as the base variant. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will have three choices - 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, and 12 GB/1 TB. The storage chips in the 2022 flagships were the UFS 3.1 solution, but we expect the Galaxy S23 series to switch to UFS 4.0 - it brings 2x faster read speed and 1.6x faster sequential write speed. Theres also a 46% improvement in power efficiency, which would increase the battery life of the bigger cells. Via Douglas Moylan took the oath of office as Guams attorney general Monday morning. Moylan, whose campaign touted a get-tough-on-crime message, served as the islands first elected attorney general from 2003 to 2006. He defeated Leevin Camacho, who held the office since 2019, by 39 votes. In his inaugural remarks, Moylan reiterated his promise to make Guam safer by aggressively prosecuting crimes. It is with a firm resolve that I enter the next four years to work with my team, the governor and the Judiciary to protect each and every one of you. When we all work together, our loved ones are safer, he said. I say to the criminals, think twice under an AG Moylan administration. Follow our laws like the rest of us or suffer the consequences. Hurt us and we will force you to grow old in prison. He said his office would focus on reducing the number of crime victims by punishing criminals to deter crime and protect the community. Lets make no bones about it the next four years is not going to be easy, he said. When an AG goes into court, were fighting to protect you. We are all safer and living a better quality of life when the AG enforces our criminal and civil laws passed by our lawmakers. Guams tourism economy cannot afford the lasting scars criminals inflict upon us. If your New Years resolution is to stop using tobacco but you arent sure how to start, a free program for all Guam residents through the Department of Public Health and Social Services can help you quit. The Tobacco-Free Guam Quitline can connect both adults and children, ages 11 and above, with tobacco addiction counseling and therapy services via a toll-free phone number or online. The prevalence of cigarette smoking is about 29% higher on Guam than in the U.S., according to Grace Garces Bordallo, coordinator for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at Public Health. In 2021, about 20% of the adult population in Guam smoked cigarettes. Bordallo said the danger of tobacco use is not only that it causes cancer and heart disease, but it also worsens and complicates other diseases, such as septicemia, pneumonia and diabetes. While cigarette and chewing tobacco use has declined among Guams youths, a rising trend is vaping or e-cigarette use, which both contain addictive nicotine, said Rhoda Basto, health educator for the Tobacco Prevention and Control program. World Health Organization data on western region members, including Guam, shows the island has the highest rate of 13- to 15-year-olds who have ever used e-cigarettes. That number is alarming and weve really focused our health education on going out to schools, said Bordallo. She said marketing directed toward kids involving a range of candy flavors for vapes is an issue. The Quitline, a federal program thats 100% funded through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking and Health grant, can help. Apart from professional tobacco addiction counselors who can assist with creating a plan to quit, free nicotine replacement therapy such as the patch or gum, is provided. The program vendor for Guam contracted by Public Health to staff and manage the Quitline is Optum Health. Quitting tobacco is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. It may take several attempts to quit, but succeeding in the effort is transformative and lifesaving for you and your loved ones health, said Bordallo. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae inspect the development of the Hwasong-12, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, at an unspecified location in North Korea, in this photo released Sunday. Yonhap By Jung Min-ho Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst on North Korea at the Sejong Institute With intelligence reports showing North Korea is set for another nuclear weapons test, when rather than whether it will proceed has become a geopolitical guessing game. One expert believes that the test will be conducted within the next seven weeks. According to Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst on North Korea at the Sejong Institute, a think tank, leader Kim Jong-un will likely order the test to be held no later than Feb. 16, the anniversary of the birth of his father, Kim Jong-il. If not, two other likely dates for testing would be his own birthday (Jan. 8) or the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (Feb. 8), North Korea's military forces. "Compared with Kim's previous New Year's remarks, which highlighted the country's economic growth, he emphasized strengthening the military and nuclear weapons this time. A nuclear test is expected soon to back up his message," Cheong told The Korea Times Monday. He was one of the experts who predicted that the North would be less likely to push for a nuclear test in 2022, the year of a politically crucial event for China's President Xi Jinping the 20th National Congress of its Communist Party where he secured a precedent-defying third term in power. "The prediction that North Korea would push ahead with a nuclear test before the midterms in the United States in November was wrong, perhaps because it ignored the North's politics. If the past is any guide, North Korea conducted nuclear tests on or just prior to politically meaningful days," Cheong said. "If the North does not conduct a test in January or February, it could be delayed to July 27, the anniversary of the Korean War armistice signing, which is called 'the Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War' in North Korea, or later." Speaking on New Year's Eve during a plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party's review of 2022, Kim called for an "exponential increase" in his country's nuclear weapons against the "maximum" level of military threats from Seoul and Washington. He then presented a task to develop a more reliable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a nuclear capability, which, if successful, would allow the regime to present a more realistic nuclear threat to the U.S. In another striking claim, Kim said North Korea is already equipped with a 600mm super-large multiple launch rocket system that can hit anywhere in South Korea with nuclear warheads. A New Year event is held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday. AP-Yonhap Up Next Other inaugural events this week: Adelup flag-raising at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 3; will stream online at facebook.com/govlouguam. At 6 p.m. Jan. 6, The Peoples Ball will be hosted at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort. Call 671-479-2546 or email gubernatorial.inaug.comm@gmail.com for more information. Mass of thanksgiving at 2 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Dulce Nombe de Maria Cathedral Basilica, will stream online at facebook.com/aganacathedral. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero took her oath of office for another four years Monday evening and reaffirmed her commitment to building a new hospital, ensuring the safety of families and shepherding in economic recovery for the island. She painted a picture of Guam on shifting sands after emerging from the pandemic, one of many seemingly insurmountable challenges the island has endured. With the uncertainty comes opportunity, the governor told a crowd of thousands gathered at the University of Guam Calvo Field House. As we push forward as an island, putting the pandemic firmly behind us and ending our public health emergency, it may seem intuitive to simply try to pick up where we left off, and move ahead as we intended, four years ago, Leon Guerrero said. But we are not where we were four years ago. And we are not, as a people, who we were four years ago. It is not possible to walk through the fire, as we have, and emerge unchanged. We are standing on the precipice of a new era in our islands history, she said. We are once again compelled to reexamine and reaffirm our values as a people, in a world that is rapidly changing. This is a time to be bold. A time of upheaval and renewal. The governor made a nod to her dear friend and colleague, Margaret Hattori-Uchima, dean of the School of Health at the University of Guam, who died last week. Her legacy endures in her work and in the lives she touched. And her commitment to the advancement of Guams health care delivery system lives on in those of us who remain, the governor said. Guams limited medical resources were more strained than ever in recent years, Leon Guerrero said. We can and we must and we will build a new hospital, she said, despite doubt over whether it was possible. Self-starting With the number of visitors to the island exceeding expectations, the tourism industry seemed to be on the way to a speedy recovery post-pandemic, according to the governor. But as we celebrate the reinvigoration of this key industry, it is important that we do not lose the self-starting hustle and momentum we achieved these last three years, she said. Close to 10,000 business licenses were filed since the start of 2020, more than pre-pandemic levels, according to the governor. Moving forward, the administration plans to continue supporting industries like aquaculture and additive manufacture, also called 3D printing, to deal with supply chain issues. Schools, safety Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio took to the stage and promised a refurbishment of school facilities that have fallen into disrepair. In the coming year, we will push for the full repair of Oceanview and F.B. Leon Guerrero middle schools and construction of Simon Sanchez High School. But we must also work closely with the Guam Legislature and the Guam Education Board to change an outdated system that has allowed the disrepair of school facilities throughout the island for years and years. We know that our families deserve better, Tenorio said. Decreasing the number of repeat offenders in both the criminal and juvenile justice systems is also a goal of the administration, he said. I look forward to working with the attorney general and supporting his efforts to reduce crime and meet the expectations of our community a Guam with safe streets and safe neighborhoods. But I am also convinced we must increase therapeutic services, investing in rehabilitative counseling, and vocational training as part of this effort. Great promise Leon Guerrero said that our islands great promise can only be fulfilled by the people, by every heart and every mind, rising up with the determination and drive demanded by this moment in our islands history. She called on the public to put aside their differences and work toward prosperity. Whatever your political allegiance is, whatever your age, ethnicity, or system of beliefs, this is how we succeed. This is how we persevere only, and always, together. A disagreement over who will lead the 37th Guam Legislature has senators in a deadlock. In a move unprecedented in recent years, three candidates were nominated to be speaker as the inaugural session of the new Legislature began Monday. None of the three nominees incumbent Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje, Democrat Sen. Joe San Agustin, or Republican Sen. Frank Blas Jr. were able to garner the eight votes needed to be speaker. In the meantime, Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido will hold the position of presiding officer over the session, per Guam law. With no resolution, family, officials and supporters in the crowded Guam Congress Building were cleared out as lawmakers put session into recess around 11 a.m. No one in the session hall was sure when lawmakers would reconvene. The election of legislative officers, committee chairs, swearing in of attaches, and adoption of rules for the new Legislature remain in limbo. Though the speaker position and other leadership positions usually are sorted out during private, in-party caucuses before the inauguration, there was no word about who the Democrat majority had decided upon to lead lawmakers. Terlaje voted for herself and received votes from Democrat Sens. Sabina Perez and Sen. Darrel Chris Barnett, who nominated her. San Agustin likewise voted for himself and received five other votes from Democrat Sens. Amanda Shelton, Dwayne San Nicolas, Roy Quinata, incumbent Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and Sen. William Parkinson, who nominated him. Republican Sen. Jesse Lujan nominated Blas, the new Republican minority leader. Republican lawmakers voted in a block for Blas, garnering him six votes. Democrats divided Barnett, shortly after session recessed, said there was no secret that he supported Terlaje for the speakers seat. He said that during caucus, he felt that what I call the sanctity of the electoral process, meaning who the voters turned out for and who they turned out for overwhelmingly, was just not being respected. The freshman senator, who was the second-highest vote-getter this past election, noted that more people voted for Terlaje than any other lawmaker. I think it was a validation of her performance as the leader of the 36th Guam Legislature, he said, adding that his support for her was not likely to waver. He believed Republicans were trying to make a point and that they would have to be brought to the table to sort out the deadlock. I know that they are asking for some things (that) in the last term maybe they didnt receive, that we might be more willing to entertain this term. So well see how it goes. Terlaje said she wasnt expecting a split decision Tuesday morning. She said she had no idea when session would reconvene, but, Im hoping theyre coming back right away. Perez, who voted for Terlaje, was asked whether there was anything that could change her vote. I think I still need to think about that. I dont want to make any, any commitments at this time, she said. Whoever we decide to be speaker, Im committed to working for our people. I know this is a little bit of a distraction, but its not going to take away from our commitment to serving. Unprecedented Muna Barnes, the longest-serving sitting senator, said the deadlock was unprecedented for her. Shes served seven previous terms, going back to 2003. Having been in the speakership position before, its never been about power, its always been about working with each other, working across the aisle. So for me, Im still very hopeful that we can continue to work together and see how we can move forward, she said, adding the deadlock hopefully would be resolved sooner rather than later. San Agustin said he was unsure what happened as he exited session hall Tuesday. He had only accepted the nomination as speaker, he said, refraining from discussing details about the decisions Democrats made during their caucus. I didnt know how many (people) would be nominated to begin with, how many votes I would get. I didnt know. I was thankful that I got six. Now, what everybody else got, thats beyond me, he said. Democrats would have to regroup in caucus before reconvening session, he said. Republicans Lujan said the minority caucus was ready to reconvene shortly after session recessed. He said he couldnt speak for what was happening across the aisle, but Republicans had made their choice. With Blas and San Agustin in a tie, we need two votes, so were hoping that maybe a couple of Democrats come over, he said. He declined to comment on whether there was anything Democrats could do to win over the Republican block. Well see what comes next, what comes out of our caucus or what comes out of their caucus. I dont know if the Democrats are having one caucus or if theyre having two at this point, Lujan said. Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, permit czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org. Retailer Shares Failure Rates for GPUs, Motherboards, SSDs, and Other Products. Retailer Hardware Sugar from the Philippines, has shared an interesting set of failure rates for the most popular hardware brands over its four-year operation. Despite the tiny sample size, it is interesting to discover which brands are most frequently returned. Aside from the relatively small sales area, keep in mind that other factors, such as user error, can have an impact on this type of data. As a result, approach it as fascinating information rather than an absolute. Graphics cards, notably those from Gigabyte, had the most tremendous failure rate of any hardware component. RMA data from the shop revealed a 5% failure rate for Gigabyte-branded graphics cards. MSI graphics cards appeared to be more reliable, with only 1.5% of sold units failing. However, Hardware Sugar sold 9.3% more Gigabyte graphics cards than MSI graphics cards, which should be considered. Regrettably, the shop did not specify which models were most prone to breakdown. It would also have been interesting to find out whether Nvidia or AMD makes the top graphics cards. It was the opposite way around when it came to motherboards. MSI motherboards had a higher failure rate (2.4% vs. 1.8% for Gigabyte motherboards). However, we do not know if the highest rate of RMAs was necessary for Intel or AMD motherboards. Seasonic power supplies are also quite popular in the Philippines, outselling huge names like Corsair and Cooler Master. As a point of comparison, Hardware Sugar sold 42.8% more Seasonic units than Corsair. However, Corsair was the most dependable brand overall, with a failure rate of less than 1%. Seasonic and Cooler Master, for example, were at 1.8% and 2%, respectively. Sold Failed Failure Rate Graphics Cards MSI 129 2 1.5% Gigabyte 141 7 5% Motherboards MSI 470 10 2.4% Gigabyte 388 7 1.8% Power Supplies Corsair 451 1 0.22% DeepCool 46 0 0% Cooler Master 157 3 2% Seasonic 644 12 1.8 Cooling NZXT 154 6 4% Corsair 42 0 0% DeepCool 149 0 0% RAM G.Skill 601 4 0.66% TeamGroup 179 2 1% NVMe SSDs Samsung 257 0 0% TeamGroup 243 3 1.2% Cooling systems from Corsair and DeepCool, on the other hand, did not fail. However, the most popular cooling products, NZXT, had a 4% failure rate. We do not know whether the data applies to air cooling, liquid cooling, or both. We think the latter because CPU air coolers are not very prone to failure. A fan may die early from time to time, but it is uncommon to see a heatsink fail. G.Skill was the chosen brand among DIY users and consumers in the Philippines regarding memory. G.Skill memory kits sold 235.8% more than TeamGroup memory kits, according to Hardware Sugar. Despite the huge margin, G.Skill had a failure rate of only 0.66%. Samsung and TeamGroup were the two most popular high-speed NVMe storage brands. Although the sales figures were close, Samsung was the dependable manufacturer with no RMAs. TeamGroup units, on the other hand, had a 1.2% failure rate. 3nm chips are up and coming, and it's rumoured that yields are actually pretty good. Business Next, citing multiple analysts and experts, claims that TSMC's yields are significantly higher than Samsung Foundry's for their 3GAE (3nm-class, gate-all-around early) node. TSMC began mass production of chips based on its first N3 (3nm-class) fabrication process several months after Samsung Foundry kicked off high-volume manufacturing using its 3GAE node. TSMC's N3 yields might be as low as 60% to 70% or as high as 75% to 80%, according to analysts and specialists in the semiconductor industry contacted by Business Next. Dan Nystedt, a financial expert, tweeted that TSMC's current N3 yields are comparable to N5 yields early in its ramp-up, which the media has said might be as high as 80%. The allegation, which relies on unnamed industry sources, claims that Samsung Foundry's 3GAE yields in the beginning ranged from 10% to 20% and have not increased since then. There was also a wide range in chip quality, according to the research. Estimates for TSMC's current N3 yields are all over the place, but there are a few key points to keep in mind. First, we do not know if yields are determined only for commercial wafers processed through Fab 18 at TSMC, or if they also include shuttle (test) wafers that contain TSMC's customers' unique intellectual property. Aside from TSMC and its clientele, no one else is aware of the precise yield rate of commercial or shuttle wafers. Third, market speculation suggests that TSMC's N3 is only being used to produce a handful of early adopter designs on commercial wafers at the moment. Because Apple is TSMC's largest customer and its alpha client for leading-edge nodes, and because the Cupertino, California, high-tech giant adapts its designs to TSMC's capabilities, initial yields might be as high as 80%. Meanwhile, a yield rate of 60% may not be very high for a chip (or chips) intended to power mass-market items. Since the number of N3 designs TSMC produces commercially is small (we would guess that it barely reaches three ICs for now), and the yields-related data is a closely guarded trade secret of the foundry and its clients, we are unable to make any definitive statements on the foundry's N3 yields. Similar considerations lead us to recommend against drawing early comparisons between TSMC's N3 yields and Samsung Foundry's 3GAE yields. Also, speculations about the first N3 node (also known as N3B) suggest that Apple may be the only business to embrace it, as other companies are expected to switch to N3E, which has a better process window. While early N3 yields may not apply to N3E (and other nodes from its N3 technology family), this process technology is something that the industry as a whole should care about because of its widespread adoption. Materials, fab equipment tools, process recipes, and countless other aspects all play a role in the hundreds of stages involved in today's semiconductor production methods. Thus, there may be hundreds of methods to increase or decrease yields, and it is crucial to have a thorough comprehension of how each aspect impacts the others. Early N3 yields are encouraging for the remainder of TSMC's nodes, but they do not guarantee that the other N3 (N3B), N3E, N3S, N3P, and N3X technologies will be as successful (or not as successful). Take all of the numbers with a grain of salt, as TSMC did not comment on the news item (and will never comment on yields). Published on 2023/01/02 | Source Korean movies opening today 2023/01/02 in Korea: "Marie Antoinette" and "Oh! My Assistant: The Movie" Advertisement "Marie Antoinette" (2022) Directed by Kim Jae-won-IV With Sophie kim, Doyoung,... Synopsis What justice do we dream of? The appearance of a French palace decorated with numerous lights unfolds. The time is 1784. In the middle of a splendid palace, among the aristocrats adorned with all kinds of jewels, Marie Antoinette appears overwhelmingly. As the ball is welling up, an uninvited guest named Margrid Arnaud suddenly arrives. Margrid appeals for the poor lives of them and the citizens, but all he gets is callous ridicule from the nobles. Meanwhile, to Marie Antoinette, who leads the latest fashion in Paris her jeweler Boehmer comes to visit and tries to sell her an expensive diamond necklace, but is rejected by her. The Duke of Orleans, the street poet Jacques Hebert, and Margrid Arnaud, all trying to bring down Marie Antoinette for different reasons, create all sorts of scandals about her perfection and spread false rumors about her. It started with a necklace that jeweler Boehmer was trying to sell to Marie Antoinette. When Marie Antoinette gets embroiled in an unfair incident, she is criticized by the people. In the midst of this, public dissatisfaction explodes, and the so-called 'politics of terror', led by the Jacobin Party, begins. With the help of Count Axel von Fersen, who loves Marie Antoinette, the royal family tries to escape, but is captured in Varennes and humiliated by returning to Paris. After her husband Louis XVI was executed by guillotine, Marie Antoinette also disappears into the dew of her sentence after a public trial. Watching this whole process, Margrid asks himself what true justice is. "Oh! My Assistant: The Movie" (2022) Directed by Joo Sung-min-I With Song Seung-hyun, Ko Chan-bin, Lee Do-ha, Seo Hyo-myung,... Theatrical version of "Oh! My Assistant" Synopsis Seon-ho (Song Seung-hyun) is a writer who authors web-based comic strips (webtoons). In order to make ends meet, he decided to start creating "19+" titles - erotica intended only for those aged 19 and above. His comics are wildly popular, but they have had a very strange effect on his libido: He cannot fell arousal since he started writing these webtoons some two years ago. As his workload begins to pile up, Seon-ho decides to hire a new assistant. He appoints Moo-yeong (Ko Chan-bin). But Moo-yeong turns out to be no ordinary assistant - he has actually taken the job because he is Seon-ho's number one fan. He is also besotted with the writer - and hopes to start a relationship with him. The sparks of romance begin to fly between the two. But there is a catch: A male acquaintance named Joon-seok (Lee Do-ha) - who has a girlfriend - begins to take a shine to Moo-yeong. Could a love triangle be forming? And will Seon-ho rediscover his lost passion? By Azernews Ayya Lmahamad Azernews presents another weekly issue of covered major stories. HIGHLIGHTS Baku draws UN attention to Armenia's efforts to politicize eco-activists' protests Unwary of impending threat, Kremlin man in Azerbaijan's Karabakh goes all out to steal the thunder New EU civilian mission in Armenia expected to sail into uncharted waters of geopolitical maelstrom Azerbaijan renews call on Armenia for peace deal, urges withdrawal of troops from Karabakh UAE expert upbeat about investment opportunities, business dynamics in Azerbaijan First container train from Uzbekistan to Europe arrives in Baku Azerbaijan hosts international conference on transport corridors Azerbaijan, Japan ink convention on double taxation elimination Karabakh to turn into major tourism destination Icherishahar visitors flock to Magic Fortress Fair Best ways to embrace winter magic in Baku Azerbaijani carpets kindle Romanians' interest NATION Baku draws UN attention to Armenia's efforts to politicize eco-activists' protests In a letter of address to the UN Secretary-General, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov provided detailed information about the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits in the territory of Azerbaijan. Russia's top diplomats express country's readiness to mediate Azerbaijani-Armenian ties Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan doesnt understand the realities on the ground, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. She made the remarks during a weekly press conference, commenting on Pashinyans criticism of the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily deployed in Azerbaijans Karabakh region. Unwary of impending threat, Kremlin man in Azerbaijan's Karabakh goes all out to steal thunder On December 25, several hundred separatists with the blood of innocent Azerbaijanis on their hands took to the streets of Khankandi in protest at the ongoing picket of Azerbaijani eco-activists on the Lachin road. Azerbaijan renews call on Armenia for peace deal, urges withdrawal of troops from Karabakh Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has urged Armenia to honor its commitments under the November 10, 2020, peace deal and find a middle ground with Baku to restore peace and order in the region to pave the way for comprehensive regional cooperation. Azerbaijan summons French ambassador over slander & prejudice campaign Azerbaijan has summoned French ambassador Anne Bouillon to the Foreign Ministry to present a note of protest addressed to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. BUSINESS UAE realtor assesses real estate in Baku, advises on business ventures In an exclusive interview with Azernews Sabina Mammadli, Partner & Managing Director of BlackOak Real Estate, a leading Dubai-based international property company, Riad Gohar spoke about the Dubai real estate sector, as well as the development of the real estate sector in Baku, gave advice to Azerbaijanis seeking business in the UAE and bilateral cooperation. UAE expert upbeat about investment opportunities, business dynamics in Azerbaijan In an exclusive interview with Azernews' Sabina Mammadli, Managing Partner of AG MENA, a leading multi-services firm headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Zain Dhareeja spoke about the UAE Golden Visa, new opportunities for investors, businesses in the UAE and business dynamics in Azerbaijan, as well as objectives of his visit to Azerbaijan. First container train from Uzbekistan to Europe arrives in Baku The first container block train carrying copper concentrate from Uzbekistan to Europe arrived in Baku. The container train arrived in Baku via the CASCA+ (Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Anatolia) multimodal transport route project. Azerbaijan hosts international conference on transport corridors Azerbaijan has held a conference on North-South and East-West transport corridors the basis for mutual communication and joint cooperation in a virtual format together with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan look into prospects for transport co-op Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation in the transport sector. The discussion took place during a meeting between Azerbaijani Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev and Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov. Azerbaijan, Japan ink convention on double taxation elimination Azerbaijan and Japan have signed a convention on the prevention of tax evasion and elimination of double taxation in relation to income taxes. Oily Rocks: World's first city on piles in open sea The Oily Rocks is an entire city at sea, a unique technical project, located 110 kilometers off Baku, in the middle of the Caspian Sea. Launched in 1947, the Oily Rocks platform made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the world's first offshore oil platform. CULTURE Best ways to embrace winter magic in Baku In Azerbaijan, a festive mood reigns everywhere, especially in Baku. Hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights brighten up all streets in the capital city. AZERNEWS invites its readers to get in the holiday mood, walking through Baku. Icherishahar visitors flock to Magic Fortress Fair Azerbaijani citizens and foreign guests have wasted no time getting in the festive mood. Icherishahar visitors are strolling through the streets of the Old City to find perfect handmade gifts at Magic Fortress Fair. Quarantine officials in blue gowns guide travelers arriving from China to undergo a PCR test at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Jan. 2. Yonhap Korea started requiring COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China on Monday, with such measures causing confusion and inconvenience at Incheon International Airport, the gateway to Korea, throughout the day. Under the new restrictions that were announced only three days ago, all arrivals from China are obliged to undergo a PCR test within the first day of their entry. They must also remain in separate facilities here until their test results are confirmed, while Korean nationals and foreigners with residency status returning here from visiting China have to quarantine at their residence after a PCR test. Beginning Monday morning, Incheon airport authorities handed out red name tags to all short-term visitors from China to identify them from travelers from other countries. Soldiers wearing blue protective clothing then escorted them to the PCR testing center located at Terminal 1. As there was no separated route for them, some travelers arriving from Singapore were mistakenly given the red name tags after standing in wrong lines. Foreigners who underwent the PCR test were asked to stay in a waiting room on the first floor of the nearby Transportation Center until their test results came out. The center where benches and simple refreshments are prepared can accommodate about 300 people at the same time. Government authorities, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jee Young-mee, conducted an on-site inspection of how the new measure was being carried out. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo inspects a COVID-19 testing station at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Jan. 2. Yonhap Published on 2023/01/02 | Source New poster added for the upcoming Korean movie "Next Sohee" (2022) Advertisement Directed by July Jung With Bae Doona, Kim Si-eun-I, Kim Woo-kyum, Song Yo-sep, Kwon Da-ham,... Started filming: 2022/01/16 Synopsis A work that deals with the incident experienced by So-hee, a high school girl who went on a field trip to a call center, and the story of Yoo-jin, a female detective, who doubts her. Release date in Korea : 2023/02 Published on 2023/01/02 | Source New stills added for the upcoming Korean movie "The Point Men" (2020) Advertisement Directed by Yim Soon-rye With Hwang Jung-min, Hyun Bin, Kang Ki-young, Jeon Sung-woo, Park Hyoung-soo, Ahn Chang-hwan,... Synopsis Based on the true events of the Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan. A group of Korean tourists is taken hostage by an extremist Taliban group in Afghanistan. The Korean government dispatches Jae-ho (Hwang Jung-min), known as one of Korea's most skilled diplomats, in order to handle the situation. Once he arrives, he asks for the Afghan government's cooperation and uses every means possible to free the hostages. However, his efforts go in vain. Due to his failure, he's forced to work with Dae-sik (Hyun Bin), a special agent who is an expert on the Middle East. As they begin making their move to get to the Taliban, the first hostage death occurs. With nowhere else to turn, the two become unlikely allies in a race against time to save the rest of the hostages. Release date in Korea : 2023/01/18 Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin has sent a congratulatory letter to China's new top diplomat, Qin Gang, on his inauguration, according to a source here Monday. In the letter, Park expressed his willingness to cooperate with Qin in maintaining high-level communications between Korea and China, the source said. Last week, China appointed Qin, its ambassador to the United States, to lead the country's foreign ministry, replacing Wang Yi, who had served as foreign minister since 2013. (Yonhap) Lifelong friendship results in Apodaca scholarship at WCU College friends (from left) Keith Corzine, Tom Apodaca and Dean Hamrick are shown at the dedication of WCUs Apodaca Science Building. A decades-long friendship that began with a chance encounter in a dormitory parking lot and has endured despite differences in political philosophies has resulted in the creation of new endowed scholarship for student employees of the Department of Residential Living at Western Carolina University. Former N.C. Sen. Thomas Apodaca and his family have established the Keith Corzine Residential Living Endowed Scholarship to honor Corzine, associate vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises, who is retiring effective Jan. 1 after a career of more than 34 years in WCUs Division of Student Affairs, most of it in the student housing profession. Apodaca, a 1980 graduate of WCU with a degree in finance, was working as head resident in Albright-Benton Residence Halls and gave Corzine his first job in student housing, hiring him to serve as a resident assistant beginning in the spring semester of 1980. Corzine, a 1982 graduate of WCU with a degree in management, said he recalls that December day clearly. He was on his way to his home in Clyde for the winter break in 1979 after interviewing for a resident assistant position in Harrill Residence Hall when he remembered his building was scheduled to be rekeyed over the holidays. I was a third of the way to Sylva when I realized I didnt leave my keys, so I turned around and drove back to campus. I parked and walked through the side entrance to Albright-Benton. Back in those days, the head resident had a reserved parking space right beside that entrance, so as I came walking up, Tom comes walking out the door, Corzine said. Tom goes, Corzine, how come you didnt interview. I said, Because you didnt call. I interviewed at Harrill, and I never heard from them. So, he looked at me and goes, You still want to be an RA? And I said, I do. He said, You be here January the whatever for training, and youre going to be on second-floor Albright. Thats what started my career in housing, and a lifelong friendship and respect for one another, Corzine said. Corzine took over responsibility for what he described as a rowdy, all-male floor for the 1980 spring semester, then became an RA on a different floor of Albright-Benton for the 1980-1981 academic year before accepting a job as head resident the senior student housing position within a residence hall of 400 men. A past member of the WCU Board of Trustees, Apodaca, who lives in Hendersonville, also remembers that parking lot encounter. I was down an RA and I said, Corzine, would you come be an RA in Albright. He took the job and now he is, what, associate vice chancellor for auxiliary services? So, he may work out, were not sure yet. Its been 42 years and the jurys still out, Apodaca said, with a hearty laugh. I had met him and gotten to know him. I was always impressed by how level-headed and mature he was. At times, thats hard to find in a dormitory. Thus began a friendship that has endured the test of time, survived in spite of opposing political opinions and thrived in a time when civil discourse has become anything but civil. Apodaca is a staunch Republican, while Corzine is a devoted Democrat. Sometimes when I introduce myself to his political colleagues, I say that Im Toms liberal buddy, Corzine said. Ive often been proud of our relationship in that regard. I think mine and Toms relationship politically has been a healthy one and represents the type of politics that a democracy has to have because of the fact that we have common ground. Apodaca agreed. This is how it should be, although its a burden because Im always right, he said, with a chuckle. But I want to hear what Keith has to say. Weve had great discussions and weve never really gotten cross with each other over it. We may disagree, but we move on. It really hasnt been an issue, and thats been a great thing. It is somehow fitting that Apodacas political party is represented by the color red, while Corzines is represented by blue. You put red and blue together, and you get purple, Corzine said, noting that purple is WCUs school color. People so often make assumptions that they are complete opposites and dont have common ground that they dont attempt to find it. I do think that Tom, with his influence and regardless of my political views, was an incredible advocate for Western Carolina University and still is, Corzine said. We are no doubt in a much better position as an institution because of Toms influence through the years with him in the Senate and as part of our Board of Trustees. Did Corzine ever envision his one-time college residential living supervisor becoming one of the most powerful politicians in North Carolina, serving as chair of the Senate Rules Committee and co-chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and Higher Education? Well, not at the time, but when you sit down now and think about it, you might think, well, now I see it, he said. Corzine recalls his first visit to Apodacas head resident apartment in Albright-Benton. I noticed the phone jack was way down the hallway and theres duct tape with telephone line running into the bathroom. There was a phone extension on the hall in the bathroom, and when I asked him about it, he said, You take every opportunity to make a deal. You just never know when the deals going to happen, and you have to be prepared. So there was a phone right there by the shower, the toilet and the sink, he said. We should have seen it coming then. Both men attribute their lasting friendship to bonds forged as members of the unofficial residential living fraternity. I wasnt in a fraternity and in fact wasnt allowed to be in one because, back then when I was a head resident, they wouldnt allow us to be in a fraternity, Apodaca said. But we kind of had our own fraternity. We had to put up with a lot of things, some that are hard to forget and some that arent. Its just being there and having the same environment and the same interests and the same things happening. Corzine described housing folks as being like one big family, with an all-for-one, one-for-all kind of mentality. I would argue that your RA position is your No. 1 student leadership training position on a college campus, he said. They are taking people who come from different pieces of our society. Thats what a residence hall is its a densely populated reflection of our society and larger community. RAs are trying to help facilitate community and helping people work through being away from home, learning to be disciplined and to study, and to see the bigger picture of why being educated, moving forward and going out to become a productive citizen is important. Apodaca said that Corzine and another former RA and longtime friend, Dean Hamrick, a 1984 graduate who now lives in Texas, have always stayed in touch since their time at WCU. Always, said Apodaca, founder and managing partner of Vista Strategies and Solutions, a lobbying firm with headquarters in Raleigh and Hendersonville. And weve tried to be in touch with each other at important events. I remember the day I announced I would be running for Senate. Keith and Dean were there in Hendersonville. Were there for each other for a lot of things in our lives. Thats part of what led Apodaca and his wife, Lisa, a 1980 graduate of WCU, to contribute $25,000 to begin a scholarship fund in recognition of Corzines contributions to the university, kickstarting an endowment that had long been discussed by residential living staff. He deserves it. Lisa and I were thrilled to be able to do it, and I cant think of anybody more deserving of it. Were happy to do it and Im glad to help get it started and seeded, Apodaca said. Im truly proud of him. His reputation is impeccable. Ive never really heard anyone say a bad thing about him. Hes almost dedicated to a fault. Its hard to get a danged return phone call from him because hes always so busy. The scholarship fund will provide financial assistance to students who have worked for the Department of Residential Living for at least two semesters, including resident assistants, office assistants and maintenance, housing, paint and student mail crew. Sure, Im proud. I was a little embarrassed when he said he was going to name it after me, but he also had this sternness in his voice and he talked about his other scholarships in other peoples names, Corzine said, referring to the Pilar Apodaca Scholarship, established in honor of Tom Apodacas grandmother, with preference given to Hispanic American students. He was very much willing to support this scholarship effort, but he was pretty adamant that if he was going to do so, it would be in my name after working all these years and being involved in the program as I have been. Im honored, Im pleased. I thank my friend for years and years of support for Western Carolina University in lots of obvious ways. This one comes home. Sam Miller, WCU vice chancellor for student affairs, has worked alongside Corzine since 2007. Keith may be 'headed to the house,' as he would say, but his legacy of commitment to the mission of the Department of Residential Living will remain thanks to the scholarship fund established in recognition of his numerous contributions. His work has directly and positively affected the lives of thousands of students over the years, and he will continue to do so indirectly through this scholarship, Miller said. * * * * * Those interested in honoring Keith Corzines work and recognizing his retirement may contribute to his scholarship online. For more information on making a tribute gift to a fund of your choice to honor someone else during this holiday season, contact the WCU Division of Advancement at 828-227-7124 or advancement@wcu.edu, or visit give.wcu.edu. The Ministry of Justice / Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-jin Starting this year, foreign nationals who have obtained advanced degrees in science and technology fields here will be offered an easier path to citizenship or permanent residency. The Ministry of Justice announced on Sunday that the fast-track pathway for residency to science and technology experts, which had been running on a trial basis, will be expanded this year. The new measures will enable eligible applicants to obtain permanent residency or citizenship in three years, down from the current six years. Under the newly launched system, non-Korean nationals who have obtained a master's degree or a Ph.D. at universities or educational institutions specializing in science and technology designated by the government will be able to apply for an F-2 visa with a letter of recommendation from the dean, and regardless of their employment status. The government has so far designated Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and the University of Science and Technology (UST) as eligible institutions. After obtaining an F-2 visa, foreign nationals can then apply for an F-5 visa granting permanent residency, or may also apply for "special naturalization." Those wishing to obtain permanent residency should meet certain qualifications such as having lived in Korea for at least three years. Those applying for citizenship will be assessed on their research results and they will be able to hold dual citizenship. The justice ministry's move is a part of the government's effort to encourage global talent to stay in the country amid a growing brain drain. Recent surveys found that foreign nationals who have obtained an advanced degree here are choosing to leave the country due to the absence of any system guaranteeing stable visa conditions while they seek employment. President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a ceremony to mark the start of business for the new year at the former presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Jan. 2. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol held a New Year's meeting with the country's leaders Monday and called for quickly rectifying the "evils" blocking economic growth and development. The meeting was held at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae and brought together some 200 top officials from across the executive, legislative and judicial branches, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. First lady Kim Keon Hee was also in attendance. "We must prioritize the public livelihood issues we are faced with while swiftly correcting the evils blocking our economy's growth and development, and accelerating normalization," Yoon said. "We must also unwaveringly defend the law and principles. The top three reforms in labor, education, and pensions are difficult and tough, but it is a path we must follow without fail, and the people have commanded us to do so," he added. In an apparent reference to militant labor unions, Yoon warned against bowing to the "resistance of the establishment," which he said would threaten "sustainable prosperity." Yoon reaffirmed his commitment to an economy led by the private sector and centered on markets, saying he will also ensure the government's full support for diplomacy, trade, and science and technology. He promised to strengthen the foundation of freedom, solidarity, human rights and the rule of law, saying solidarity with the international community based on universal values will protect the national interest and bring more economic opportunities to the nation. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a New Year's greeting meeting with leaders of Korea's executive, legislative and judicial branches at Yeongbingwan a reception hall at the former presidential office and residence, Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps President urges support from businesses to overcome economic headwinds By Nam Hyun-woo President Yoon Suk-yeol met the leaders of Korea's executive, legislative and judicial branches on Monday, asking their support for his drive to make reforms in three areas: labor, education and pensions. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), however, did not attend the New Year's meeting, signaling that Yoon's call for bipartisan efforts to achieve unity could be an empty slogan. According to the presidential office, Yoon met the leaders at the Yeongbingwan reception hall at Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, in Jongno District, Seoul, and brought together some 200 top officials from political parties and Cabinet ministries. National Assembly speaker Kim Jin-pyo, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, Constitutional Court of Korea President Yoo Nam-seok, National Election Commission Chairperson Rho Tae-ak were some of the leaders who attended the event. From the ruling People Power Party (PPP), floor leader Joo Ho-young, Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo, Kweon Seong-dong, Chang Je-won, Song Eon-seog and other politicians also showed up. From the opposition bloc, minor progressive Justice Party Lee Jeong-mi attended the event, but no ranking officials from the DPK attended the event, such as Chairman Lee or floor leader Park Hong-keun. Lee chose to visit Busan to meet local party members as well as South Gyeongsang Province to pay a courtesy visit to liberal former President Moon Jae-in. Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, left, speaks with former President Moon Jae-in during Lee's visit to Moon's residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Joint Press Corps The presidential office said it had invited the leaders of five parties and the floor leaders of three major parties the PPP, DPK and Justice Party. But the DPK members "did not attend," an official at the presidential office said without elaborating on the reason. On the other hand, the DPK said its members decided to skip the event because of a schedule conflict. Lee had been scheduled to visit Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, they said. The DPK expressed resentment, saying that the invitation process itself had been "inappropriate." According to the DPK, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety had sent "an email asking DPK Chairman Lee to attend the event" around 2 p.m., Dec. 22, and demanded the party to reply no later than 6 p.m. the same day. The DPK replied to the ministry that Lee would not attend the event on the morning of Dec. 23, and "a working level official" from the ministry later visited the party to hand over in person a letter of invitation to the party. "Chairman Lee had no opportunity to speak during the event," Rep. Cheon Jun-ho, Lee's chief of staff, said. "If they had sincerely wanted to invite the main opposition party's leadership, they should have at least tried calling me instead of just sending an email." His remarks indicated that his party members felt insulted about the manner in which the presidential office had invited the DPK leadership. In previous administrations, the sitting president would send a senior presidential secretary for political affairs to each party to invite their leaders in person. The DPK chairman's absence at the New Year's event presided over by Yoon is a snapshot of the frosty state of inter-party relations. Since taking office in May last year, Yoon has met with PPP heavyweights many times, but has never met the DPK chairman. Meanwhile, the strife between the presidential office and the main opposition party has continually been deepening. The two sides' conflict is anticipated to come to a peak later this month, as the prosecution is expected to summon the DPK chairman for questioning over bribery suspicions. The DPK has said that the investigation constitutes "political retaliation" by the Yoon administration. In his speech during the New Year's greeting, Yoon reiterated his will to remove the "evils blocking the country's economic growth" and to "adhere to the law and principles without wavering." "We must prioritize issues of livelihood while swiftly eradicating the evils blocking the country's economic growth and development, as well as accelerating normalization," Yoon said during the greeting event. President Yoon Suk-yeol salutes the national flag during his New Year meeting with business leaders at the COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul, Monday. From second from left are Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Korea Federation of SMEs Chairman Kim Ki-mun, Yoon and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Yonhap Travel patterns normalized somewhat in 2022 as many countries across the globe loosened COVID-19 restrictions and booking windows increased. However, a lack of international travel, particularly from Asian countries, continues to be a concern for the U.S. hotel industry. Compared to 2021 levels, international travel grew significantly, especially from European countries. Hannah Huse, vice president of sales and marketing for Twenty Four Seven Hotels, said international travel dramatically improved in 2022 compared to 2021 across its portfolio. John Beck, general manager of Crowne Plaza HY36 in New York, said bookings by international travelers at his hotel are up 83% year over year, crediting the increase to European countries being fully opened up. Although international travel is set to reach 2019 levels next year, tourism from Asian countries especially China continues to lag pre-pandemic levels. Read the full article at HotelNewsNow (part of CoStar) Its been quite a while since weve reported on scoured grapes or any other form of distilled spirit from the pomace from a wine fermentation tank or any other residual grape material. Each country has a proud tradition of turning leftover lemons into boozy lemonade, but perhaps the pinnacle of these is cognac, and knowing more about this liquor will help you to sell practically any aperitif or digestif. Much like how champagne comes exclusively from Champagne, cognac is eponymously named after the French enclave where it is made. And analogous to bourbon from Kentucky, that geographic stamp of authenticity in Frances case, an AOC designation must be continuously earned by strictly adhering to the rules. The varietal of region thats used for cognac is ugni blanc, more commonly known as trebbiano in Italy, which by the word indicates that its a white. Then production is specified to be two distillations in copper stills followed by at least two years of aging in French Limousin or Troncais oak. Knowing that the English word brand shares a root with the word burn, its a tad ironic that we should learn about effective marketing from this distinctive type of brandy. Beyond the rules for production, to further promulgate cognacs reputation and demand, the commune of Cognac is divided into several subregions, each vying to add dollars to the list price through alluring adjectives. Perhaps the two most common subregions are Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne which both allow producers to mark the final product as Fine Champagne Cognac so that the other even-more-famous French sparkling wine can be associated with this distilled spirit to help with sales. The next big step for elevating the sticker price is the grading system based upon the aging of the final bottled product in terms of post-distillation years in the cask: VS (Very Special): at least two years VSOP (Very Special Old Pale): at least four years Napoleon: at least six years XO (Extra Old): at least a decade For cognac and any other barrel-aged alcohol, the main selling point is that more aging imparts more flavor, but distillers also have to account for product loss. Wood casks are ever-so-slightly porous, with roughly 3% of volume evaporating each year. This can increase ABV, but the trade-off is that theres less physical liquid to sell. Typically, a master taster or blender will mix from several casks from different regions to create the flavor unique to that label. This results in hundreds of different products, for which the most popular are the big four of Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Remy Martin. Beyond supplying a familiar brand, you can enrich the narrative for patrons at a restaurant or hotel lobby bar by discussing the unique blend of different casks and aging processes used by distillers. The selling is typically reserved for the after-dinner experience as a digestif, dessert accompaniment or nightcap. In the old days, cognac was the beverage of choice for cigar smokers and while the tobacco has gone away, this spirit is still around as a time-honored way to finish off a meal. And to cap off this column, lets touch upon the creme de la creme for cognac Louis XIII. Produced by Remy Martin, the name honors the first monarch to officially recognize cognac as its own classification distinct from Armagnac which happens to be the oldest brandy recorded to be distilled in the world. Louis XIII is all the rage right now, accomplished largely through exceptional marketing. Made from grapes produced in Grande Champagne vineyards in the immediate southeast of the town of Cognac, the final blend comprises cask-aged distillations ranging from 40 to 100 years. But the main attraction is the opulent, and a tad garish, handmade crystal decanter, with its studded glass replica of a flask serving as a preeminent symbol of luxury, quality and stature. Outrageously expensive for the everyday drinker, customers should anticipate paying hundreds of dollars for a once-in-a-lifetime, single-ounce taste. For you as the merchant, stocking this particular cognac, besides its sizeable carrying cost, can by itself act to elevate the restaurants prestige in order to attract wealthier clientele. Plus, it can anchor the rest of the menus pricing in order to help sell more of the other cognacs you have stocked. Ultimately, cognac is yet one more way to round out a great beverage strategy with lots of opportunities to enhance the dining experience for your guests. This article represents but one section from our latest book on how to enhance your wine sales entitled, In Vino Veritas. Buy your copy today on Amazon, or for bulk orders contact us directly. Larry Mogelonsky Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited View source Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung, left, and former President Moon Jae-in, right, hold hands as they pose for a photo in front of Moon's private residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Screenshot from Lee's Facebook By Lee Yeon-woo Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), skipped a New Year's meeting with incumbent President Yoon Suk-yeol and met instead with former President Moon Jae-in. On Monday, Lee went directly to Moon's home in the southeastern city of Yangsan after wrapping up a meeting with senior DPK members in Busan. Lee has been on a listening tour. The Lee-Moon meeting continued for one-and-a-half hours, according to sources. After exchanging their New Year greetings, they conversed about current political affairs. Among other matters, the two politicians shared concerns that the nation faces crises regarding the livelihoods of the public, national security and the retreat of democracy. Moon was quoted as saying that he hopes the DPK, under Lee's leadership, will help navigate the economy through troubled times. Expressing worries about strained inter-Korean relations, the former president also called for efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, according to party spokesperson Rep. An Ho-young. Lee and Moon also shared their views on the deadly crowd crush in Itaewon that killed at least 158 people, and said the nation needs to recover from the tragedy. Moon said that the country's "hard-won democracy must not retreat." Other details of their conversation have not been made public. During their meeting, Moon expressed his wishes for the new year and said he hopes the DPK will become "a party which gives hope to people by doing good work," Rep. An told reporters after the meeting. Moon's wife Kim Jung-sook reportedly served Pyongyang Onban, a one-pot dish with soup and rice that originated from North Korea. The former president also expressed his concerns about the current back-and-forth posturing between North and South Korea, as the North marked a record number of missile tests in 2022 and launched another short-range ballistic missile from its east coast on the first day of 2023. Pointing out that 2023 marks 70 years since the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, An said that Moon urged the two Koreas to work together to achieve peace. Chief of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Lee Jae-myung waves to supporters after visiting former President Moon Jae-in at his private residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Joint Press Corps Adams, Great Barrington Receive Water Project Loan Forgiveness Funds ADAMS, Mass. Adams received $1,188,354 in loan forgiveness and Great Barrington Received $486,968 in loan forgiveness. Both towns are making upgrades to their wastewater treatment plants. State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) Board of Trustees, announced on Dec.14, 2022, that more than $107.3 million in grants were awarded for 43 projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth. The grant funds are awarded to cities, towns, counties, and water utilities to help pay for improvements to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. "These grants will support vital water infrastructure projects throughout the state," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. "This investment furthers our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all Massachusetts residents by providing access to clean drinking water in even more communities this coming year." The grant amounts are to be provided as loan forgiveness and are awarded by project category to provide much needed financial assistance towards high priority projects. In Adams, funds will be used in the repair, replacement, and refurbishment of various systems of the Adams Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) as defined in the 2020 Capital Needs Assessment Report to address stringent NPDES permit limits, reduce nutrient discharges, and ensure the integrity of the plant. The Adams WWTF has been in operation since 1968, with limited capital improvements occurring in 2006. The Town of Adams has performed general maintenance and rebuilt equipment to maintain WWTF operation; however, many components have far exceeded their anticipated life expectancy. This project serves to repair and replace aging process equipment and infrastructure to allow the WWTF to continue serving the community and reliably protecting the environment in the future. The total loan amount is $6,829,620. In Great Barrington, funds will be used in part of a 20-year capital improvement plan to upgrade and modernize the Great Barrington wastewater collection system. The Town recently completed a long-term planning study that recommended improvements to its pump stations to extend their useful life, ensure long-term functionality, and permit compliance. The key components of the project include upgrades to pump stations at the following four locations: Cone Avenue, Risingdale, South Main Street, and Fairgrounds. The total loan amount is $4,508,962. Additionally, communities that qualify as "Disadvantaged Communities", determined by an affordability metric that ranks each community in the Commonwealth, will receive additional loan forgiveness funds to ensure that subsidy is given to the communities that need it most. The Trust understands certain communities face exceptional environmental and financial challenges. By utilizing loan forgiveness, this can minimize the fiscal impact of these vital water infrastructure projects. "All Massachusetts residents should have reliable access to safe drinking water and structurally sound water resources in their communities," said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. "We are pleased to put federal American Rescue Act funds to work toward financing infrastructure initiatives that will bring long-lasting benefits to water systems in these 35 municipalities." The Trust, in collaboration with MassDEP, helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds (SRFs). The SRF programs are partnerships between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SRFs function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. By Lee Hyon-soo The so-called Grand Tour was a traditional trip through Continental Europe that British upper-class young men undertook from the mid-17th to early 19th century as an educational rite of passage when they came of age. Although the tour originated in Britain, sons of wealthy men in other European countries as well as North and South America also took on this practice. The Grand Tour is long gone, but the idea behind it captivated me, so much so that I have traveled to Europe nine times over the years in order to gain a broad understanding of Western civilization. Still fresh in my memory is the sense of elation I felt when I set foot on European soil for the first time in my mid-30s. My first stop was Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. On my way from the outlying airport to Athens, the stately Parthenon atop the Acropolis suddenly came into view. To see the Parthenon, high overlooking the city, was a thrill I will never forget. So, naturally, the Acropolis became the focus of my Athenian tour and I spent hours climbing up and down this dramatic hill. Athens has reminders everywhere of the great classic age and I trod where Demosthenes orated and Socrates taught. From Athens, I flew to Rome which is called the Eternal City because ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened to the world or how many empires came and went, Rome would go on forever. I paid homage to the vestiges of ancient civilization scattered throughout the city. Among the historic sites I visited, the Capitol, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Catacombs, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain are the first ones that spring to mind. I then moved on to Zurich, Munich, Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam and London. To tour these renowned cities was a breathtaking experience for me. All European cities looked distinctively unique and it was a lot of fun to wander from city to city at a leisurely pace. My tour would have been incomplete without my visits to museums and art galleries for which Europe is famous. It was a delight to view great cultural and art collections firsthand. I was most impressed by what I saw in the Louvre, the British Museum and the Vatican Museum. My appreciation of early Western civilization was enhanced immensely by my visits to Athens and Rome in particular. But the cities that captured my heart were Paris and London. Paris, a magnet for tourists, seemed to have magic in the air. To feel it, I roamed through the city. I particularly enjoyed strolling along the Champs Elysees, exploring the winding streets of Montmartre, riding an excursion boat on the Seine, or lazing away at a sidewalk cafe drinking coffee and watching fashion-conscious Parisians walk by. I was attracted to London for a different reason. Having lived in Canada for many years, I felt at home in London. Furthermore, it was fun indeed to scour the old city for the roots of North American culture. Eastern Europe was not included in my one-month travel itinerary because that part of Europe was off-limits to Koreans at that time. But after the Iron Curtain was lifted in the early 1990s, I traveled to Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz, Budapest, Salzburg, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, and Potsdam. In later years, I also set foot in Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Turkey. Being consumed by wanderlust, I have traveled the world and my favorite destination was Europe. Not only did my trips to Europe enlighten me and broaden my horizons, but I was fascinated by the sights, sounds and tastes of the historically rich cities I visited. The writer (tomhslee43@gmail.com) is a freelance columnist and the author of "Tales of A Korean Globetrotter." The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) recently entered force on December 29, 2022. Under the pact, Australia is offering zero-duty access to India for about 96.4 percent of exports (by value) from the day the agreement is enforced. In this article, we detail the specifics of the ECTA and discuss how they will boost Indias trade and investment prospects. On December 29, 2022, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which was signed on April 2, 2022, entered into force. Over the next five years, it is anticipated that the India-Australia ECTA, which aims to improve trade and investment opportunities between the two nations, will propel bilateral trade to US$50 billion Australia trade to cross US$45-50 billion from the existing US$31 billion. According to the agreement, Australia would grant India preferred market access on all of its tariff lines. All of the labor-intensive industries with export potential for India are included in this, including gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, food, agricultural products, engineering products, medical technology, and autos. Meanwhile, India will grant Australia preferential access to over 70 percent of its tariff lines, including those that are relevant to Australia from export perspective, including raw materials and intermediaries like coal, mineral ores, wines, etc. In this post, we go over the specifics of the ECTA and describe how they would help the Indian economy. What are the salient features of India-Australia ECTA? The India-Aus ECTA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries and covers almost all the tariff lines dealt in by India and Australia respectively. It encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between India and Australia, and covers areas like: Trade in goods Rules of origin. Trade in services. Technical barriers to trade (TBT). Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures Dispute settlement Movement of natural persons Customs procedures. Telecom, pharmaceutical products, and cooperation in other areas. Terms and Conditions of India India-Australia ECTA Categories Features Trade in goods Exports from India to Australia Australia will provide zero-duty access to India for 100 percent of its tariff lines in two categories under this Agreement: Zero duty immediately on 98.3 percent of tariff lines, amounting to 96.4 percent of the value of Indian exports. For those tariff lines, Indian exports will have immediate market access at zero duty from December 29, 2022. Exports in labor-intensive sectors, currently subjected to import duties ranging from four to five percent by Australia, will benefit from immediate duty-free access. Phasing out to zero duty on the remaining 113 tariff lines, constituting 1.7 percent of tariff lines and amounting to 3.6 percent of Indias exports (in value terms) in five years. Imports from Australia to India For imports from Australia, India is offering concessions mostly on raw materials and intermediates, either in the form of tariff elimination or tariff reduction (TR) with or without a tariff-rate quota (TRQ). Only a few agricultural products, such as oranges, mandarins, almonds, pears, and cotton, among others, have been allowed with limited quotas. India will provide zero-duty access immediately on 40.3 percent of its tariff lines and the remaining 30 percent in a phased manner over a period of three, five, seven, and 10 years. This also includes 125 tariff lines where duties will be reduced rather than eliminated. India has kept many sensitive products in the exclusion category without offering any concessions. They include milk and other dairy products, chickpeas, walnuts, pistachio nuts, wheat, rice, bajra, apples, sunflower seed oil, sugar, oil cake, gold, silver, platinum, jewelry, iron ore, and most medical devices. Rules of origin Strict rules of origin have been included to prevent third-party goods routed through the partner country from getting preferential treatment under ECTA. Trade remedies To control the surge in imports and protect the domestic industry, the ECTA offers a safeguard mechanism that enables fast application of interim measures. This mechanism will be available for 14 years from the date of completion of elimination or reduction in tariff. Trade in services In terms of market access to services, Australia has offered 135 sub-sectors to India, and India has offered 103 sub-sectors to Australia. Key areas of Indias interest like IT, ITES, business, professional services, health, education, and audio-visual are committed by Australia under this agreement. Further, Australia will provide post study work visas up to four years for Indian students, work and holiday visa arrangements for young professionals, and temporary entry and temporary stay commitments for up to four years for intra-corporate transferees, contractual service suppliers, and independent executives. Dispute settlement Under this agreement, any dispute shall be resolved through consultations and negotiations, failing which parties from both countries may resort to an arbitral panel, which shall consist of three members. Each party to the dispute shall appoint a member and the third member who would be the Chair of the panel, shall be appointed by mutual agreement. How will the India-Australia ECTA benefit Indias trade and investment prospects? According to Sanjay Budhia (Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on EXIM), The India-Australia ECTA is expected to boost investments, enhance market access, create additional job opportunities, and most importantly strengthen the bilateral ties of two important players in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), bilateral trade between India and Australia is expected to reach US$70 billion by 2028. According to GTRI, trade with a value of US$23 billion would become duty-free from the day the agreement is enforced, i.e., December 29, 2022. This value accounted for 93 percent of merchandise trade between India and Australia in the financial year (FY) 2022. In the same period, Indias goods exports to Australia valued US$8.3 billion and imports were about US$16.7 billion. Two-way trade in goods and services in FY 2020 were valued at US$24.3 billion. Indias merchandise exports to Australia grew 135 percent between 2019 and 2021. This trade agreement is expected to bring immediate progress in Indias labor-intensive sectors, which will see a removal of import duties ranging from four to five percent. Furthermore, this agreement is also estimated to create 40,000 additional jobs in the Indian textile sector and increase mobility for Indian working professionals in 11 sectors. Besides providing cheaper raw materials to many sectors, including steel and aluminum from Australia, the ECTA would also facilitate increased investments from Australia and support Indian manufacturing. Further, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) expects that the deal would allow large Indian IT companies to increase their involvement in Australian government projects. (This article was first published on January 2, 2023 and last updated on January 12, 2023.) Related reading Get a dedicated Relationship Manager to help you grow your wealth Kabul has reacted strongly to Pakistani Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah saying that Islamabad may attack Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgents in Afghanistan if it feels threatened. In a late night statement on Sunday, Afghanistans Ministry of National Defense said that it considers as provocative and baseless recent speeches of the Pakistani Interior Minister about the presence of (TTP) in Afghanistan and their possible attack inside Afghanistan. The statement added that such speeches by Pakistan damage the good relations between the two neighboring and brotherly countries. It further said that evidence exists which indicates that TTP centers exist inside Pakistan. Statement of the Ministry of Defense regarding the recent assertion of the Pakistani Interior Minister The Ministry of National Defense considers as provocative and baseless recent speeches of the Pakistani Interior Minister about the presence of (TTP) in Afghanistan 1/4 pic.twitter.com/JZuRzmeiXH (@MoDAfghanistan2) January 2, 2023 In a stern admonishment of the Pakistani ministers interview to Pakistani news organisation Express News, the Afghan ministry responded by saying, we request that any concerns and problems should be resolved through understanding. It added that Afghanistan is ready to defend its territorial integrity and independence, and it is mentionable we have a better experience than anyone in defending and protecting our country. Afghan news agency Tolo News too published detailed news on the war of words between the two nations. Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated sharply after Pakistan blamed Afghanistan for sheltering TTP militants who have been carrying out regular attacks on Pakistani security forces. Tensions have arisen on the Durand line the colonial border between the two Islamic nations, which has been rejected by Afghanistan and also the Pashtuns who reside on both sides of the border. Alarmed by the rising frequency of killings on the border as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Pakistani minister Sanaullah had told local media that the government will speak with Afghanistan to dismantle TTP hideouts and hand over the militants to Pakistan. The interior minister added that international laws give you the right to target those who attack you. Just last week Pakistan had to face the shame after numerous countries US, UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia issued advisories to their citizens to not venture out or visit hotels in Islamabad due to heightened fear of militant attacks. In an unprecedented decision, Pakistans National Security Committee (NSC) met twice within a week to take stock of the deteriorating security and economy. On Monday, the NSC met for the second time under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The NSC has resolved to fight terrorism head-on. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping too had told Prime Minister Sharif that Pakistan will have to do more to protect Chinese nationals in Pakistan from attacks. Continuing with its renewed focus on South Asia, Russia has proposed to set up two mini nuclear power stations in Sri Lanka and add the island country to the regions nuclear energy club. Russias new Ambassador in Colombo Levan Dzhagaryan recently met the top officials of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) in a bid to set the wheels in motion and pave way for the visit of a high-level delegation from the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. Dzhagaryan, in an interview with Ceylon Today, revealed that Moscow plans to assist Sri Lanka in the construction of two mini nuclear power plants for official use with each station having a capacity of 55 megawatts. To begin with, it could be two plants, then four plants, and finally six plants. This suggestion was critical from several perspectives. First and foremost, this would save oil and coal. Second, because there will be no coal, it will be environmentally friendly, and the ecology will be safe and secure. It is also less expensive, said the Russian Ambassador. Last month, Sri Lankas Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera held talks with Dzhagaryan to discuss the countrys energy sector requirements and nuclear energy cooperation with Rosatom. Interestingly, Dzhagaryan served as the Russian Ambassador to Iran for more than 11 years before coming to Sri Lanka. He not only oversaw the handing over of Irans first commercial nuclear reactor in Bushehr but also played a critical role in Tehran setting up more power units under Russian technologies. Immediately after his arrival in Colombo last November, Dzhagaryan met Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana suggesting that the project can take off quickly as the energy crisis in the nation is continuing. The Russian diplomat believes that the setting up of mini nuclear power stations would not take much time. We have power stations all over Russia. We also have floating nuclear power stations for remote destinations, he said adding that delegations from both countries have already had three rounds of video conferences on various topics such as ammonia and nuclear energy cyclotron. Listing India as a true friend, the Russian Ambassador has been giving the example of civil nuclear cooperation through the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu which remains an important component of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Moscow is also helping Bangladesh in the construction of its maiden nuclear power plant in Rooppur. Consultations on cooperation in the area of peaceful uses of atomic energy have been held between Moscow and Colombo in the past as well. In January 2018, a top-level delegation of Rosatom and its subsidiaries paid a working visit to Sri Lanka holding negotiations with Lankan atomic energy agency and also then President Mithripala Sirisena. Had a fruitful meeting with delegates of ROSATOM to uplift science, technology and research fields in Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/PbCBkPFGOh Maithripala Sirisena (@MaithripalaS) January 17, 2018 It was also under Sirisena that Sri Lanka sealed a nuclear energy pact with India in January 2015, a few months after the Narendra Modi government came to power in New Delhi. Also Read: Russias security chief Patrushev lands in Sri Lanka to rekindle Moscows romance with South Asia Rashida Adenwala Advertisements TiE Hyderabad, the global entrepreneurial network, announced Rashida Adenwala as new President, the first woman to occupy the chair for the year 2023.The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley is a nonprofit organization devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial life cycle. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs, Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation.TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a go-to network of over 15,000 global entrepreneurs across 63 cities in 14 countries, and Hyderabad is one of the most vibrant and renowned chapters worldwide.The new president, Rashida Adenwala has taken over reins today from Suresh Raju. Rashida Adenwala is the Founder Partner of R & A Associates, an integrated Corporate Secretarial & Legal Services Firm, offering a full range of corporate law services.The new board comprises Rashida Adenwala, Founder Partner, R&A Associates as President, Srini Chandupatla, Co-Founder, Manjeera Digital Systems as Vice President, Suresh Raju, Founder & Partner Jupiter Alternative Investments Fund as Immediate Past President TiE Hyderabad, The other board members for 2023 include Venkateswara Rao Annapragada , Investor & Business Mentor. Dr. Balaji Bhyravbhatla Managing Director, HyLasCo Bio-Technology (India) Pvt. Ltd. Ravi Chennupati Chairman and Managing Director Ezone Security Solutions, Sharlin Thayil Co-Founder & CEO, Business Director View360 Technologies, Carnegie Technologies, Raj Samala, Founder & CEO, Revalsys Technologies, Raveendra Nalluri, Partner, Orpine, Inc, Dr. Nandita Sethi, Founder & MD, The Entrepreneur Zone (TEZ), (A Unit of Zen SkillProc Pvt Ltd), Bhanu Prakash Varla, Partner & Director, Graylogic Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Jayesh Sanghvi, Office Managing Partner, Hyderabad, Ernst & Young LLP, and Abhijit Banerjee, Managing Partner, Upwisery Capital Advisors LLP - Zauba CorpWelcoming Rashida Adenwala as the new President of TiE Hyderabad, Suresh Raju, Founder and Partner of Jupiter Alternative Investments Fund said, TiE Hyderabad recently hosted the TiE Global Summit which has witnessed many firsts to its credit, astounding success with global delegate participation crossing 3000+ registrations from 48 cities, 200+ speakers covering 69 Sessions, 9 Masterclasses, 32 Round tables, 3 Conclaves (SME Conclave, TiE Japan Conclave, TiE Africa Conclave), Expo stalls for 105 Companies, TiE Nurture Lounge enabling 1000s of Mentor-Mentee conversations, launch of TGS 100 as a new platform to identify top start-ups, Incubators Showcase, TiE Global Women Finals and University Pitchfest of over 40 teams from across the world -- all of this was spread across two and a half days.. The Chapter looks forward to Rashidas contribution to further TiEs mission in fostering entrepreneurship.Setting the agenda forsaid, .Each year, TiE Hyderabad impacts over 1,100 start-ups and 7500+ students, conducts around 100 events and activities to encourage and nurture next generation entrepreneurs. Some of the well-known programs include TiE Nurture Accelerator, TiE Grad, TiE Young Entrepreneurs, Open Mic, Mentor Advisor, Investor Connect, Knowledge Series, Leadership Series, MemberMixer, & My Story, among others.TiE Hyderabad steers over 100+ programs for chartered members, associate members, and other ecosystem partners and provides startups and its members access to about 3,000 successful entrepreneurs and professionals across the globe. Around 160 +charter members are Hyderabad-based and volunteer for mentoring, education, and providing access to customers and investors through the global network. The highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time, The Legend Of Maula Jatt, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, was all set to be released in India on Dec 30. However, the censor certificate given to Pak movie has been revoked. Directed by Bilal Lashari, the movie is an adaptation of the 1979 cult classic Maula Jatt. Ameya Khopkar, the president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's cinema wing, said on Twitter that the films release has been stalled after a warning given by the party. "... the screening of The Legend of Maula Jatt has been completely cancelled...," he said. Fawad Khan reacts to The Legend Of Maula Jatt's release getting postponed in India Twitter Here's what Fawad Khan said: Fawad Khan was recently asked about the India release of the movie. In an interview with CNN, he said, "That would be great, obviously. If it were to happen, its a great way to handshake. It is kind of like those sweets and delights we send across to one another on Eid and Diwali. Films and music is that kind of an exchange. But things are a bit heated still, lets see. Ive heard it may release and it may not. So, let us see." Twitter Talking about the recent recognition and accolades for Pakistani cinema, the actor who was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil said, "I am a small part of the industry and the kind of boundaries it pushed, the business it did and the filmmaking styleall of it proved great for Pakistani cinema." Twitter As per PTI, the release of the movie has been postponed indefinitely. "We have been informed by the distributors that the release of the film has been postponed. We were told this two-three days ago. No further date has been shared with us," an official from the multiplex chain told PTI. An industry insider had said the film's release was stalled due to resistance from certain sections of society. "Zee Studios had acquired the rights of The Legend of Maula Jatt as they were expecting the film to do well. But due to resistance from certain sections, the decision was made to not release the movie," he told PTI on the condition of anonymity. (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) A data breach at Toyota Motors Indian division could have exposed the personal data of some users, the company revealed on Sunday, as per a Reuters report. Reuters The car company said that it has informed the Indian authorities. The breach occurred at Toyota Kirloskar Motor -- a joint venture between Kirloskar group and the Japanese automobile giant. The company hasnt however shared the extent of the violation and the size of the data that has been compromised. This comes after Toyota Motors T-connect service potentially leaked 296,000 pieces of customer information last October. As per the companys report, around 296,019 email addresses and customer numbers of those using T-Connect -- a telematics service that allows connecting the vehicles to a network -- were leaked. These individuals were those who signed up for the service using their email IDs since July 2017. Unsplash At the time, third-party access couldnt be confirmed from the access history of the data server where the information was stored, based on an investigation conducted by security experts. However, the report also stated that third-party access could not be completely ruled out. The car company didnt really confirm if there were instances of the information being misused but warned that the accounts could be subject to spamming or phishing scams along with unsolicited emails. Keep visiting Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news More steps needed to tackle demographic problems Amid steady rises in incomes and living standards since the 1980s, the nation has been struggling with a shortage of workers mainly in the manufacturing sector. This was because Koreans began to shun so-called 3D jobs (dirty, difficult and dangerous). Given this, the government took steps to bring in migrant workers through programs such as the industrial trainee system in 1993 and work permits in 2003. Notwithstanding such endeavors, however, the lack of workers showed no signs of abating especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while new problems emerged. Against this backdrop, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has unveiled a package of measures designed to overhaul the current work permit system for the first time in 19 years. Belated, such a move still deserves welcome and acclaim. The new device, initiated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, focuses on how to manage migrant workers effectively to meet industries' growing demand. Thus far, foreign laborers were required to leave Korea once they worked for four years and 10 months. Yet they now can work for more than 10 years consecutively if they wish. Migrant workers will also be able to work as maids, babysitters, and at logistics companies. The government also decided to offer employment opportunities to foreigners studying in Korea who are judged as displaying high vocational proficiencies. In light of the rapid changes in the demographic structure arising from the low birth rate paired with fast aging, the extension of migrant workers' employment has become inevitable. The administration should double down on implementing the relevant policies properly while paying heed to the possible problems resulting from the new measures. For starters, there should be in-depth consideration into the expenses needed for the welfare and education of foreign workers and their dependents and possible infringements of human rights, such as maltreatment and deferred wage payments. Despite such concerns, however, it is high time for the nation to open its labor market further to cope with the worsening demographic problems. There should be comprehensive, pan-government steps toward the envisioned creation of an immigration agency, for instance. For this, the Yoon administration should seek cooperation from the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as relevant efforts require the legislation of new laws. Aware of the seriousness of the situation, the administration announced steps, Wednesday, to tackle the demographic issue through measures such as accommodating more migrant workers with vocational skills. Toward this end, the government plans to establish the immigration agency this year to map out overall immigration policies. According to Statistics Korea, the nation's working age population will likely decrease by 9 million by 2040, while the number of elderly citizens will increase by the same number. The nation already began to see a natural population decline from 2020 with the number of new births falling below deaths. The agency said this natural drop will reach 100,000 in 2022. The demographic decline may dampen the nation's growth potential. Should the current trend continue, Korea will register a potential growth rate at the zero percent level and the economy will stop growing in 20 years. Some experts warn against the possible depletion of the national pension and disappearance of rural villages as seen in the case of Japan. Desperate to prevent such scenarios from occurring, previous governments spent 280 trillion won ($221 billion) over the past 15 years to raise the birth rate, but to no avail. In 2021, the fertility rate expected per woman in Korea reached only 0.81, the lowest in the world. Now is the time to shift the policy toward elevating social and economic sustainability by securing relevant human resources, rather than sticking to the birth rate. A major shift in demographic policy is needed and the establishment of the immigration agency should be the starting point in this regard. There are different ways to bounce back from losing a loved one. This man in Kolkata found an apt way of remembering his late wife. A 65-year-old man in Kolkata created a silicone statue of his late wife, who passed away in 2021 from complications related to COVID. The statue, which cost Rs 2.5 lakh, is placed in the wife's favorite room, which seems incredibly lifelike as it rests on a sofa. It weighs roughly 30 kilograms and is draped in the same silk sari from Assam that the woman wore when she attended the reception for her son's wedding. But this wasn't only a way for a grieving husband to cope with the loss of his wife; it was also what she wished for. Tapas Sandilya told the Times of India in a statement that his late wife, Indrani, had said she wanted to be turned into a statue after she died. "We visited the Iskcon temple in Mayapur a decade ago and could not stop admiring the lifelike statue of the order's founder, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami. It was then that Indrani had told me of her desire for a similar statue if she happened to pass away before me." "My wife died on May 4, 2021, and I just wanted to fulfill her wish." Sculptor Subimal Das, who works primarily with silicone replicas for museums, is the person behind this creation. He told TOI that completing the statue of Indrani was one of the most challenging projects he had ever worked on and that it took him six months to complete. "It was absolutely necessary for the statue to have a realistic facial expression," he said. Sandilya and Das coordinated to achieve the desired expression. "I had to work with Subimal (Das) for the clay-molding phase, as nothing less than Indrani's actual facial expression would do for me. I, after all, lived with her for 39 years," Sandilya said. TOI-Kolkata In addition to that, he recalled how Indrani's tailor helped him determine her exact measurements. "My wife would always get her clothes done by him, and he knew the exact measurements. Everything had to be a perfect fit," he said. But Sandilya went on to say that the statue did not win the approval of all family members. "My family was strictly opposed to the idea of installing such a lifelike sculpture but gave in. Some of my relatives and neighbors helped," he told TOI. "If we can keep framed photographs at home after someone's death, why not a statue?", he exclaimed. (For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes) There is no doubting the merits of the open source philosophy for writing code and producing software. Many of the software packages at the core of modern computing, from the Linux operating system to MySQL, were created using a model of open sharing and collaborative development. Four decades of great code, nurtured by the philosophy of openness, have settled any questions about whether the open source idea works. But for all its greatness, open source is not without faults. Now that open source has entered the mainstream, let us consider some of its downsidesnot so much the philosophy but the day-to-day reality. Here are seven reasons developers might think twice about contributing to an open source project. Open source doesnt work with the cloud Many of the current open source licenses were crafted before the cloud, when users accessed software by downloading and running it on their desktops. Cloud companies have since figured out ways to freeload on the open source ethos while keeping their code changes proprietary. One open source manager at a major cloud company told me, rather coyly, that they distribute the software, so they dont need to share the source code. There are dozens of examples of cloud vendors creating special versions of open source projects to resell in the cloud. One of the most visible rifts was between Amazon Web Services and the creators of Elasticsearch. When the two sides couldnt come to an agreement, they split, and now there are two effective versions of the Elasticsearch codebase. Some open source advocates are pushing back on cloud co-option by crafting stricter licenses or amendments such as the Commons Clause. We may see improvements going forward, but they won't help with the legacy systems being shipped under the original open source licenses. Open source has a diversity issue The word community gets thrown around a lot in open source circles, but that doesnt mean open source culture is some sort of Shangri-La. Open source developers can be an edgy group: brusque, distracted, opinionated, and even downright mean. It is also well known that open source has a diversity problem, and certain prominent figures have been accused of racism and sexism. Structural inequality may be less visible when individuals contribute to open source projects with relative anonymity, communicating only through emails or bulletin boards. But sometimes that anonymity begets feelings of disconnection, which can make the collaborative process less enjoyable, and less inclusive, than it's cracked up to be. Community takes time to build and maintain Many enterprise companies release open source versions of their product as a community edition. It's a great marketing tool and also a good way to collect ideas and sometimes code for improving the product. Building a real community around that project, though, takes time and resources. If a user and potential contributor posts a question to an online community bulletin board, they expect an answer. Yes, many contributions are made freely, in the spirit of open source, but nurturing community still takes time. When it works well, the result can be a burgeoning group that is building great code but theres often plenty of work along the way. One consequence of this tradeoff is that larger, enterprise projects tend to dominate the field. They can afford to finance the community model through paid roles that smaller companies can't manage. Open source mentorship is surprisingly rare Along similar lines, many developers are happy to share their code with anyone, but that doesnt mean they want to help others actually learn. Giving someone access to a Git repository takes a few minutes, but supporting their growth as a developer and fellow contributor is a significant commitment. Some projects even include a clause in their contributor agreements that contributors should not expect to be onboarded or supported, or even to have their questions answered. In essence, contributing to an open source project can feel like a slam dunk into the deep end of the pool: Heres a bazillion lines of code and an issue for you to solve. You will find very few comments to explain whats going on. Thanks and good luck! Even die-hards need paychecks The majority of open source developers are idealists who arent motivated by fame and fortune, but they still need to eat and sleep under a roof. The real world has many physical limitations that arent compatible with the free sharing ethos of open source. Scarcity may be a foreign concept to the digital world, but it's a very real issue for biological life forms. Open source works well for small stacks and passion projects, where no one expects to get paid, but it can be an uneasy fit for larger codebases that are supported by full-time coders. If too many users opt for the free version, the entire project can crater. Nothing is really free Hang out in open source long enough and you will likely run across the acronym TANSTAAFL, which stands for There Ain't No Such Thing As a Free Lunch. Richard Stallman liked to say that he wanted to create software that was free as in speech, but not free as in beer. After users download open source software and use it, they will begin to discover its limitations. Sometimes, the code just needs some minor refinement. Sometimes, it doesnt have the right features at all. No one wants to complain about the glass thats only half full, especially when the price is zero. But filling the rest of the glass can be a substantial burden for the developer on a deadline. Even when the free code gets you 99% of the way to your goal, that last 1% can be a real slog. Some projects shouldn't be open source One developer of a database told me that he never really considered open-sourcing his project. His customers were a few big companies with massive data sets. They had the budget and they were willing to pay him to do the work. If a customer wanted to read the source code, he was more than willing to let them have it. But he didnt want to go through the trouble of splitting off a formal, open version of the project. Open source versions are good for code thats used by a wide class of developers who can help develop the code together. In some cases, though, the exchange of money is a simpler and ultimately more sustainable way of organizing the work of making software. In 2019, Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency, with the European Parliament following suit six months later. Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. Last month Cop 15 the 15th global biodiversity summit took place in Montreal to attempt to build a "Paris agreement for nature". The objective was to set the course of biodiversity action for the coming decades to identify a series of targets on restoring nature, degraded landscapes, and species loss. Progress was made in terms of agreement to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 as well as targets for protecting vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands and the rights of indigenous people. Now that its done, governments, companies and communities need to figure out how they will make these commitments a reality. If these declarations are to be converted into practical solutions, native forests and other natural habitats must be allowed to flourish. This means there must be paradigmatic shift in the way land is used and managed in Ireland. For this to happen, Government policy makers who consistently proclaim their concern for the preservation of natural ecosystems need to move away from policies that are actively destroying it. Why is the management of these ecosystems so important? We tend to look at the mountain landscapes across Ireland as place of unsullied natural wilderness. In fact, if we look closely, what we see is barren wasteland, compared to the species-rich native forests they once were. What remains of the native forests are almost all damaged by over-grazing and the invasion of non-native plant species. In An Irish Atlantic Rainforest, Eoghan Daltun suggests the ever decreasing availability of natural habitats such as native forests is a key factor in the collapse of Irish wildlife populations. Just as human society requires food and other resources, so does it have just as great a need for the things that healthy forests and other natural ecosystems provide." These include climate stabilisation, clean air and water, revenues from tourism, recreation opportunities and the increasingly widely recognised health benefits that come from access to wild nature. Cop 15 reached agreement to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 as well as targets for protecting vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands and the rights of indigenous people. Another result of loss of natural habitats is flooding. The main effect of the build up of heat in the atmosphere due to rising levels of greenhouse gases, is on the hydrological cycle. This translates into more frequent extreme rain events in many parts of the world, including Ireland. Artificial land use leads to water rushing off land that would previously have absorbed colossal amounts of water. Engineering solutions such as high walls and dredging cannot resolve the issue. Long-term solutions need to be nature-based ones that cost a fraction of the amount of artificially engineered solutions. "Nature must be allowed to come back. Society needs it; our rapidly disappearing wildlife desperately needs it," says Mr Daltun. The question is how can that be achieved in ways that work for the custodians of the land that is farmers and rural communities. Dalton compares the disappearance of the worlds great tropical rainforests to the disappearance of native forests in Ireland. He suggests the only difference is that on this island it has taken place over a much longer timeframe, so most people take it for granted that the way things are now is actually the natural state of the land. "An incredibly rich and complex old-growth forest system, complete with every trophic layer (layers of the food pyramid), can be reduced down to just grass and sheep, and the result is still almost unanimously considered natural. The hidden truth is that despite the green image that is so carefully projected, Ireland is actually one of the most ecologically trashed and dysfunctional places on Earth." Mr Daltun lays much of the blame on the disappearance of natural habitats at the feet of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (Cap). He says the payment system leaves farmers with little choice but to destroy wildlife habitats. "Land with anything remotely resembling wildlife habitat, such as scrub, has until now been excluded from all farm payments as one of the principal conditions for eligibility is that land must be in good agricultural and environmental condition [GAEC]" The other key problem is the regular setting of fires to remove scrub, gorse, and other unwanted vegetation from hillsides. Recent spring droughts leading to dead grass, gorse and bracken become a powder key of flammable material. Agriculture must become more nature-friendly. Also needed is a network of areas in which no food production or any extractive activity takes place where natural processes can dominate. These fires lead to small animals including bird chicks being roasted alive, sapling trees and floral diversity decimated. The reason for this is the same to make the land compliant with the GAEC condition laid down for farm payments. Farmers cannot be blamed for this. Most farmers are ordinary people with worries, mortgages, and bills, working very hard to make ends meet. The problem is the policies they work under. In 2021, the Government proposed that up to a third (30%) of a farm holding would be able to consist of scrub and other natural habitats and still be eligible for payments in the next Cap phase (2023-2027). While this is a welcome step in the right direction, Daltun suggests we need to go further it must be extended to entire farms if that is what the farmer wishes. What is needed is the complete removal of financial penalties for any farmers looking to move towards the restoration of natural habitats instead of (land-sparing) or alongside (land-sharing) food production. Farmers should have the option of continuing to receive (equivalent) farm subsidies for not farming, but for letting wild nature come back instead, if that is what they choose. Currently Mr Daltun suggests the Common Agricultural Policy is not delivering for either farmers or nature, with a third of subsidies going to 1% of farms and 80% of the money going to 20% of farms in both cases generally the wealthiest and least nature-friendly operators. Attempts at meaningful reform are blocked by "well-resourced lobbyists for the most industrial sides of farming. They have privileged access to the politicians deciding how the hundreds of billions of euro in farm subsidies are spent and ensure that little or nothing changes regarding where the money goes." Other measures the author suggests that would make a huge difference to biodiversity would be for Bord na Mona to rewet all its bogs and for Coillte to abandon planting monocultures and move over entirely to continuous cover, naturally regenerated wild native forests. He says timber production doesnt need to be based on a perpetual environmental catastrophe it could be the exact opposite. Agriculture must become more nature-friendly. Also needed is a network of areas in which no food production or any extractive activity takes place where natural processes can dominate. The best people to lead on this is farmers and they need financial support from policy makers as well as the recognition from society that provision of wild natural habitats is as important as food production. Interview Clear Political Plan Would Help Myanmar Resistances Cause: Ex-US Ambassador Scot Marciel as the US ambassador in Yangon in 2018 / The Irrawaddy Scot Marciel served as US ambassador to Myanmar from 2016 to 2020 and is now Oksenberg-Rohlen Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, affiliated with the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University. He recently spoke with The Irrawaddys editor-in-chief Aung Zaw about new US legislation authorizing nonlethal assistance for the Myanmar resistance, as well as efforts to isolate the Myanmar junta internationally and his outlook for the crisis-torn country for 2023, among other topics. AUNG ZAW: 2023 is going to be a tough year for Myanmar and the Myanmar people. The regime is facing a very resilient and growing resistance on different fronts. We had some surprising news last week. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was passed by the US Congress; it authorizes support for civil society and political prisoners in Myanmar and significantly it mentions the names of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the Peoples Defense Force (PDF). It provides nonlethal assistance to support the resistance and political groups in Myanmar. So how do you see that bill and how is it going to work in the Myanmar landscape? SCOT MARCIEL: Its important to remember that a lot of what the bill does is to authorize things, like funding, for example, which is great, but it doesnt actually appropriate any money. So its mostly sending a strong message from Congress both to the people of Myanmar but also to the Biden administration that they want a bolder approach, a more active approach. My sense is that the Biden administration is moving that way anyway, so this bill will encourage the administration to go down the path it has been going but maybe faster. On the ground resistance groups and opposition groups are very excited. Their spirit has been strengthened somehow. They welcome the bill. Myanmar people generally and opposition and democratic forces are always in favor of the US doing more. The regime responded quite strongly. They said it was a violation of sovereignty and interference in internal affairs. So how do you see this nonlethal assistance? I dont think we know yet exactly whats going to happen. As I said the bill authorizes funding, but its a separate question of whether money will be appropriated for it and if so how the Biden administration would use it. But certainly there could be money for education, health careagain, not to the junta, but to pro-democracy forces, whether to the NUG or possibly through ethnic armed groups. I mean, weve [earlier] provided assistance for example to the Karen health department, even when I was there [as ambassador], so theres more that could be done, even possibly for efforts at governance. Well have to see what the Biden administration decides to do. The legislation mentions the NUG, PDFs, and EAOs. Right. Again, well have to see what the Biden administration decides to do with that authorization. But certainly it sends the message that Congress believes that the administration should be providing funding to those organizations. One important factor would be that for anywhere in the world the US has pretty high standards of accountability for the money. I dont mean accountability in the sense of human rights. Any organization that the US government provides assistance to would need to show that its spending the money the way it says it is, and that the moneys not going to other places. Last week there was interesting news about the UN Security Council resolution on Myanmar. For the first time in decades theyre calling for the release of all political prisoners, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, and to cease hostilities immediately and aggression towards the population. So it expressed deep concern, but what is next? What are the actions that should follow? I was surprised, actually, to see the resolution. Whenever you try to get a Security Council resolution you have to make compromises to avoid the vetoes. So Im sure that some wanted even stronger language but in the negotiations they had to soften it. Still, I think the Resolution is a very strong symbolic message of support for democracy and the resistance. And a very strong messagefrankly, endorsed by Russia and Chinato the junta that its not gaining support and may even be losing support. I would keep my expectations low about what to expect as a follow-up, just because, again, with the Security Council everything has to be negotiated. And if Russia or China or anyone else disagrees they can stop it. Particularly Russia and China because they have veto power. Its interesting to see that China and Russia did not support the regime this time. India also. As were speaking, a newly appointed Chinese special envoy is reportedly flying in to Myanmar to meet with the regime. China has a lot at stake in Myanmars stability, with investments, its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects. China has been condemned for its support of the regime and the military. Whatever the US is doing China will be very cautious about, if not oppose. What do you think about what China is doing? And Russia has been the key country since the coup in terms of supporting the Myanmar military with hardware. The regimes Air Force uses Russian jet fighters and helicopters to bomb the population and to go after resistance forces. So there are two major countries that keep supporting the regime. My sense is that China is ultimately being quite pragmatic. It was happy to work with the old military regime as you recall, but then also perfectly happy to work with the NLD [National League for Democracy] government, with which it had good relations. And I assume it is working with the junta because the junta at least ostensibly has power. But I dont think theres any deep attachment or loyalty there. I think if the various forces aligned against the military were able to push the military out of power, China would be happy to work with those forces in government. And its important that we make it very clear that this is not a US-China issue. [This] is an internal Myanmar issue and we dont want to turn it into a US-China matter. Thats part of the reason maybe for some caution on the US side. It is a fear that doing too much might provoke China into backing the junta even more strongly and then it becomes a US-China issue, which it should not be and which it is not. Russia has fewer interests in Myanmar than China. I think [Russian President Vladimir] Putin likes to make mischief anywhere he can and gain influence anywhere he can. And in this case sell weapons and make some money. But I dont think again theres any deep, long-term attachment there. Its just a target of opportunity for Russia. But of course Russia has its own problems. And if you flip it, from the juntas point of view, working closely with Russia allows them to avoid excessive reliance on China, which they certainly want to do. But again, I dont think Russia has very significant long-term interests [in Myanmar]. Its just an opportunity for them. As you said, China is very pragmatic. China can also be flexible. Whatever changes take place in Myanmar, its position is not fixed. Its based on a foundation of pragmatism. Whether its the opposition forces or the EAOs, or democratic forces, or the junta, it can swing to the other side. It makes friends with everyone. And this is why it makes sense for the NUG and the EAOs in whatever conversations they have with the Chinese to make it clear theyre not hostile to China. Because any government that emerges has to have at least a reasonable relationship with China. The Chinese government probably has a sense that this regime may not last long, that it doesnt have a future, and that its better for Beijing to deal with a more stable government that has support, right? I think thats true. Its been clear for some time that the junta might be able to stay in power for some time just through pure brutality, but theres no evidence at all that the junta will be able to stabilize or effectively govern the country or gain any kind of popular support. The Chinese know that. The challenge in many ways for the forces of resistance is that even as theyre trying to defeat the junta they also have to show on the political side that they present a stable alternative that will be able to overcome the historic mistrust among different ethnic groups. [Thats] not easy to do, and not something that can happen overnight. But I think the more that that happens and the more outside governments can see that at least theres agreement on a path, on a roadmapeven if all the details need to be worked out over timeit becomes easier for other governments to see that there is an alternative to the junta that offers more stability. This is a concern for the opposition and for the Myanmar people because unity is quite rare. But with the resistance going strongif facing some ups and downs over the past two yearsit seems they must come to an understanding that there must be some kind of common ground, if not a united front. If not, no kind of assistance, including that authorized by the NDAA, will arrive, because the resistance forces lack a common understanding or unity. This is really challenging. You hear Myanmar people say Weve overcome a lot of the differences and now were working together. Which is true, certainly theres been a lot of change. There is a unity of purpose, at least among many, to push the military out of power. But then theres the next stage of What then? I think its unrealistic to expect a detailed blueprint of exactly what a future federal democracy might look like. That might take years, possibly. But the more there can at least be agreement on the basic principles, such as what were outlined in the Federal Democracy Charter, and on the path forward Heres what our plan will be for the next two years then that helps a lot both for the foreign governments but also for the Myanmar people. It also then gives other governments an alternative to the juntas proposedI hate to even call them elections, but what theyre calling elections. We all know that those will be a complete sham, and they wont solve any of the problems, but to the extent that the opposition, the resistance can show, Hey, heres our path forward, then that makes it easier for governments to say Yes, were going to stay away from supporting these elections, or accepting these elections. The regime seems to be going ahead with its elections. Some governments may support them, because they feel that this is the only way to stabilize the country. For the regime its about extending its power and legitimizing its rule. In this regard, what can we expect from ASEAN? You were the US ambassador to Indonesia [2010-13]. Indonesia is going to hold the ASEAN chair for the next year. Do you think Indonesia will be different from Cambodia? Its a sleeping giant, a huge country, politically strong, and thanks to the reforms there its one of the most promising countries in the region. On Myanmar, so far Indonesia has taken quite a strong stance. Its quite surprising, isnt it? A little bit surprising, but not that much if you remember that Indonesia has come a long way internally. They care about democracy, but also about proper governance. I mean in Myanmar I dont think its right to say its just about democracy. Im not a Myanmar person but my sense is people are resisting not only because they want democracy but also because they want some hope for their future. And I think [Indonesia] doesnt want to see a Myanmar thats falling apart and is in a humanitarian crisis over many years. So I would expect [Indonesia] including Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will be quite active. Certainly more sympathetic to the forces of democracy and open to change. I think ASEAN as a whole though is probably going to remain divided. I dont know what this recent meeting in Bangkok [organized by Thailand and attended by the juntas foreign minister and his Thai, Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian counterparts] was all about. It didnt look good, but I cant say for sure. There will be a temptation for some ASEAN countries to accept the results of elections just because they dont see another way out of the crisis. And so the challenge for Myanmar people is to explain to those governments why these elections are not a path out of the crisis. Because they wont solve the fundamental problem First, theyll be a joke in many ways, with very limited participation and possibly significant violence, but also, because so many political leaders and activists are in prison. They wont serve as a path out of the crisis. And thats the key message that governments in ASEAN and elsewhere that are searching for a way out of the current situation need to hear. Especially for neighboring countries including Thailand. Thailand is a country that has absorbed refugees, asylum seekers, fleeing activists and politicians. From a humanitarian standpoint, Thailand has been kind to those who have arrived here. But Thailand is also very worried about the house burning next to them. It is on fire now. Last year we were talking about a humanitarian corridor and US assistance and refugee camps along the border areas. And also the security challenges of the refugee situation. If the US wants to do more, it will have to talk more with Thailand, which is a key country if there is to be change. I agree Thailand is critical. The Thais know what is happening inside Myanmar. They have to know that the junta doesnt represent a source of stability going forward. They have relations with the military so they dont want to upend those. Im not involved, but I would imagine that US officials are talking to Thai officials about this regularly, both the politics but also the humanitarian side. Knowing Thailand a little bit, we shouldnt expect or ask the Thais to make some grand announcement. But rather, just pragmatically on the ground to do as much as possible to help both the people seeking asylum, but also to facilitate aid getting in to Myanmar, because the more aid that gets in to help people, then the more those people wont feel the need to come to Thailand. So its in their interest. But the Thais would have to do that rather quietly for a lot of political reasons. To go back to the earlier question about what the Myanmar people are expecting, its not about democracy alone. Its about a government being transparent. Even if its an authoritarian model, we still want the government to be transparent. They dont want the country to be ruled by thugs and criminals. Today Myanmar is obviously ruled by thugs and criminals. We as Americans always prefer democracy. We like to see democracy and individual rights protected. No governments including our own are perfect democracies. We all have our faults. But there are governments that are more on the authoritarian side but still provide a lot of services and benefits to their populations. And which dont bomb them and torture them to death on a daily basis, like the junta does. So as Ive said before the junta is the worst regime in Southeast Asia since the Khmer Rouge. There is nothing positive that they are doing for the country or for the world. Its all negative. Its always dangerous to say anything would be better. But in this case almost anything would be better. That said, I dont think the Myanmar people have to settle for a lousy government thats just a little bit better than the junta. I think people can and do expect more than that. Ideally thats democracy in a federal system. At a bare minimum a government that doesnt butcher its people, provides some services, some transparency, and returns the sense of hope that a lot of people felt during the previous decade. Over the last two years, everything the country hoped for and built over the previous 10 years has all gone. Many of the younger generation, who have a lot of good skills, have left the country. Seeing them Im more hopeful because they are better equipped in terms of language, technology and skills. They have more exposure to the outside world, theyre more hopeful, they know how to negotiate, they know how to work, so I think this gives a sense of hope for the country. But it really leaves us feeling hopeless to see how the regime is behaving. Yeah. Theres no hope for the country as long as that regime is in power. Even if some people might have this or that concern about the NUG or other forces of resistance, the NUG, some of the EROs, and other groups struggling against the junta offer a lot of hope and the potential for real progress. The junta offers none of that. We all know whats going to happen if they stay in power. Going back to the NDAA, what do you expect in terms of broader sanctions against the regime and its cronies? What do you say to Myanmar people who want to see the regime punished seriously, and an end to the flow of funds and other assistance it needs to survive, including the proceeds from gas and oil sales? What do you foresee in this area? I havent been talking to people in Washington so I dont know specifically what they have in mind. I know theyre looking regularly at what sanctions might actually have an impact, particularly on the flow of finances to the junta and to people supporting the junta, so I would expect that you will see additional sanctions, but I dont know specifically which ones. As to whether the US administration will impose sanctions on MOGE [Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise], I dont know. I know its something theyve looked at. I think there have been concerns about that possibly resulting in a cut in power both in Yangon but also in Thailand, which makes itI know a lot of people like to think thats an easy answer; its not easy. If it was easy it would have been done. It is complicated but I assume the administration is continuing to look at that and study that. Tell us about the Russia connection. The regime continues to receive jet fighters from both China and Russia and use them to attack parts of the country where the resistance is strong. Its heartbreaking to see near-daily bombings and air raids against innocent people, whose lives are being lost. What can the US and other partners and actors, at the UN level or other international levels, do to stop the flow of military hardware and assistance? Its very hard to stop the flow of fighter planes and weapons from Russia. Were sanctioning Russia, toofor different reasons, related to Ukraine. So were already doing everything we can vis-a-vis Russia. I have seen various individuals and groups mention that there should be greater efforts to sanction aviation fuel. I dont know the details of how that supply chain works but certainly I would hope and expect that the US together with like-minded governments is looking at whether theres a way of cutting off that flow or at least making it much harder to get aviation fuel, because without that fuel of course the jets cant fly. How do you see Myanmars political landscape in 2023? I think youre going to see a continuation of what weve been seeing, which is a slow and steady generational shift within the resistance movement, younger people playing a bigger and bigger role, I think that will continue. I hope well see continued progress in building up the relationship among all the different communities who share similar goals. I think thats likely but it takes a lot of hard work and it requires overcoming some old thinking. I dont see the junta gaining strength; it probably will continue to lose strength but its very hard to predict exactly what will happen. I wish I could say were going to see a miracle and everythings going to be solved in six months. I think more likely, sadly, we will see more of the same on the ground with the junta gradually weakening and the forces aligned against it, the Myanmar people, gaining strength and hopefully being able to actually carry out governance at local levels in more parts of the country, including education and all these things that are so crucial for the future. So rather than the headlines at the top I would look more at the ground level. Becauseyou know this and people inside the country know thisyoung people have missed a lot of education. And getting more non-junta schools up and running and better quality local governance in more parts of the country is a huge area for 2023. Burma Acting President: 2023 Will Mark Turning Point for Myanmars Revolution Acting President Duwa Lashi La of Myanmars civilian National Unity Government visits a people's defense force in May last year. Acting President Duwa Lashi La of Myanmars civilian National Unity Government (NUG) said in his new years speech that 2023 will mark the turning point in the war against military rule and called for continuous revolution. When we are fighting against the brutalities of the terrorist military regime, resilience is really important. The regime is waiting for the time when the people and the revolutionary forces are exhausted, so all of us must continue to work hard and speed up the revolution, Duwa Lashi La said in his state of the union address. He said the regime was crippled militarily, economically, socially and diplomatically because of peoples united opposition to dictatorship and their sacrifices and efforts. Duwa Lashi La said the regime was internationally isolated while the NUG and resistance forces had gained advantages. The ethnic Kachin leader called for revolutionary unity during an important time and cohesive cooperation to root out the dictatorship and establish a federal democracy for all ethnicities. The key to the success of the revolution depends on the unity of the resistance forces and people, he said. Duwa Lashi La repeated calls to ignore the regimes sham election this year, calling it a trap and deception to alleviate the myriad crises facing the junta. The revolution will succeed as it is a battle that all ethnic forces are fighting in unison, Duwa Lashi La said. The NUGs defense minister U Yee Mon in his new year speech said an offensive strategy was ready to hammer the junta this year. He said the NUG would step up the arming of resistance groups. The NUG and allied groups are determined to achieve decisive results for the revolution this year and we have drawn up a one-year plan to implement it, U Yee Mon said. Myanmars ethnic armed groups and revolutionary forces have also vowed to uproot the dictatorship. A total of 22 groups, including the National Unity Consultative Council, NUG, All Burma Students Democratic Front, General Strike Committees, 88 Generation Peace and Open Society and ethnic groups, in a new years statement vowed, to work tirelessly and in unison until the military dictatorship has been eradicated and the peoples revolution has triumphed. President Yoon Suk-yeol reveals Korea's space development road map at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Nov. 28. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon Mars landing by 2045 is achievable: experts By Baek Byung-yeul The year 2022 was a meaningful time for the history of Korea's space development as the country succeeded in launching its first-ever locally-developed space rocket, the Nuri, in June and settling the Danuri lunar orbiter in the moon's orbit in December. Korea recently announced its vision to join countries advanced in space development by landing on the moon in 2032 and Mars by 2045. Industry experts said that the nation's space development goal could be achieved faster if strong national support is provided. They gave positive responses to the government's big picture of sending a spacecraft to Mars by 2045, although Korea currently lags behind the countries that lead the space industry, and called for detailed steps to implement the goal. While space exploration may appear to have very little immediate impact on the lives of average citizens, experts said such research will lead to results that can be transferred to the private sector and become an important springboard for the country's economic development. Han Jae-hung, a professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST / Courtesy of Han Jae-hung "The plan to send a spacecraft to Mars by 2045 will be fully achievable. It is a project that we must do someday and I understand that the government has drawn up a big picture. The nation should focus on making plans to achieve this goal. With the strong drive, we can reach Mars faster than we planned," Han Jae-hung, a professor of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), told The Korea Times. But the professor said Korea has a lot of work to do before achieving that goal. "Korea has yet to carry out a manned spaceflight. This mission seems simple, but there are so many new things to prepare. At the moment, the country doesn't even have an astronaut training center. There is no basic research on what health problems astronauts have if they fly in space for a long time, so the nation has to take steps to achieve these goals," Han added. President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Nov. 28 that Korea will take a leap forward as a space powerhouse by developing within five years an engine for a space launch vehicle that could fly to the moon. Korea aims to send a space ship to the moon by 2032 and start resource mining there. It also aims to land on Mars by 2045. On Dec. 21, the National Space Committee designated three regions Daejeon Metropolitan City, South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province as space clusters to carry out its goal. Lee Sung-hee, CEO and founder of local space industry startup Contec, also said Korea's vision of advancing into space is a goal that can be achieved through step-by-step preparations. "In February, 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) succeeded in entering Mars' orbit and is planning to explore Venus before 2030. As the UAE case shows, the nation's strong policy drive is very important in the space industry. By combining the country's strong drive to set up a space agency with a systematic approach to establish a sustainable policy direction, Korea's moon landing and Mars exploration goals could be a reality," Lee told The Korea Times. Lee, a former researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), established Contec in 2015. Contec operates ground stations for satellites. In 2019, the company established a ground station on Jeju Island for the first time among Asia-based companies. Nurturing downstream space industries is key The experts elaborated that the space business is largely categorized into upstream businesses, such as satellite and space launch vehicles, and downstream businesses, such as collecting and applying data from space. Under the government's vision of advancing into space, research results will be transferred to the private sector, and various space-related industries will be developed through private companies, which will become a new axis of the economy. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) lists the following areas as recipients of socioeconomic benefits from space investment: environmental management, transportation and urban planning, science, climate monitoring, telecommunications, defense and security and energy. Citigroup also recently estimated that space-related industries will grow in size to around $1 trillion by 2040, which is why Korea should expand its investments in space development. Lee Sung-hee, CEO and founder of Contec / Courtesy of Contec Burma Revolutionary Armies Demand Unified Attacks on Myanmar Junta Taang National Liberation Army troops. Myanmars powerful ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have vowed to uproot the countrys military dictatorship, despite junta promises of peace talks and a general election. In his new years speech on Sunday, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing promised greater opportunities for ethnic minorities if the armed conflict is resolved. He also promised a general election across the country, including all ethnic groups, to protect everyones democratic rights. General NBan La, the chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization, the political wing of the Kachin Independence Amy, said in his speech on Sunday that the junta is the enemy of all citizens. He added that all citizens and EAOs must attack the junta decisively as no regime can resist a revolution of the entire people. The Kachin leader said a regime that murders civilians has no right to hold an election. The international community should support Myanmars people and revolutionary organizations to resist military rule, Gen NBan La added. The Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Taang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army released a joint statement on Sunday saying that most of the population has been displaced and is living in fear because of the regimes continuous war crimes and atrocities. The alliance promised to work with resistance groups which emerged following the coup with popular support to fight the dictatorship. It urged all revolutionary organizations to be organized and united in fighting the regime. Brigade 5 of the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, issued a final warning to all government employees to resign and leave its territory in Hpapun District, Karen State, by January 10. It called for a boycott of any junta election. The junta continues to commit extrajudicial killings of civilians including children, massacres, burning people alive and using civilian detainees as human shields, looting and burning houses, shelling and airstrikes on residential areas and acts of sexual violence. An estimated 1.1 million people have been displaced since the coup and over 40,000 civilian houses have been destroyed in junta arson attacks. By December 30, nearly 2,700 people had been killed by junta forces and around 16,704, including government leaders, have been arrested or detained since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that monitors deaths and arrests. Frank O. Mora, the new US Ambassador to the Organization of American States, has ties to the local community. Mora is a professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University's Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, and hes the second person in recent years from FIU to serve as OAS ambassador. President Joe Biden nominated Mora, who previously was in charge of FIU's Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), for the post and the Senate confirmed his nomination last week. The multilateral organization is dedicated to strengthening peace and security in the Western Hemisphere. Mora will guide diplomatic attempts to resolve regional issues on behalf of the US. I am grateful to FIU for the almost 10 years I have been director and professor at this great institution, said Mora. I am also grateful to the Biden administration and the Senate for the opportunity to serve our country in this new role. Before Mora's confirmation, Carlos Trujillo, a member of the FIU Board of Trustees, served as the last permanent ambassador to the OAS, serving under the Trump Administration. Mora is already familiar with the issues affecting the Western Hemisphere as he served as US deputy assistant secretary for defense for the region from 2009 to 2013. For six years, Mora was director of FIU's Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, which the school says serves as a nexus between academia and public policy. Mora previously taught national security strategy and Latin American studies at the National War College, National Defense University, and served as chair of the department of international studies at Rhodes College. Mora's other endeavors also included consulting work for the Library of Congress, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Southern Command. We are incredibly proud of Dr. Mora and know he will lead with distinction in this new role, said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell. He is an academic with deep experience and understanding of the region. At FIU, Mora collaborated with scholars to provide research for the likes of the US Department of Defense, publishing numerous studies offering political forecasts on the Caribbean, Central America and South America. "Ambassador Steven J. Green, Mrs. Dorothea Green and I congratulate Dr. Mora on his well-deserved appointment as the United States ambassador to the OAS,'' said Kimberly Green, whom the center was named after. "His work and leadership in the Americas benefitted both FIU and the region, and we are proud to have worked with him during his leadership as director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center." Shlomi Dinar, interim dean for the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs at FIU, which houses LACC, said Mora made LACC into one of the top echelons solution centers in the nation. Professor Mora helped LACC become a major solution center on major issues facing the region and I know he will do the same at OAS, said Dinar It is a testament to the caliber of Green School faculty with direct policy experience like Dr. Mora, who is able to provide critical real-world solutions in the area of foreign policy and international affairs. Mora prepared himself for a career in foreign policy and international affairs. According to his resume, he earned his Bachelor's degree in international affairs at George Washington University and his Master's in inter-American Studies and a doctor of philosophy degree in international affairs from the University of Miami. Mora also studied at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in 1984 and participated in a program on Central American studies in 1988 in Costa Rica. Mora speaks two different fluent foreign languages--- Spanish and Portuguese. Today A mix of clouds and sun, with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 92F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tonight Partly cloudy. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tomorrow Partly cloudy early. Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds developing later in the day. High 79F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken/ AFP-Yonhap U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with incoming Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang over the phone on Sunday, Blinken said on Twitter, after China last week appointed its ambassador to the United States to be its new foreign minister. Blinken said he discussed the U.S.-China relationship and maintaining open lines of communication in his phone call with Qin. China on Friday appointed Qin, its ambassador to the United States and a trusted aide of President Xi Jinping, to be its new foreign minister, as Beijing and Washington seek to stabilize rocky relations. Qin, 56, replaces Wang Yi, who had been foreign minister for the past decade. Wang, 69, was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in October and is expected to play a bigger role in Chinese foreign policy. Though Qin sounded optimistic about U.S.-China relations during his relatively brief, 17-month stint as ambassador in Washington - his predecessor had held the post for eight years his tenure nonetheless coincided with deteriorating ties between the two superpowers. Wang's stint as foreign minister saw a sharp rise in tensions between Beijing and Washington on a wide range of issues ranging from trade to Taiwan. (Reuters) A group of people held a protest outside Plaza de Colon in Madrid, Spain, in protest at the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijani mineral resources by Armenian separatists, Azernews reports. The picket, organized by Mahammadali Akbarov, a member of the Association of Azerbaijanis of Spain, demanded an immediate halt to the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijani mineral deposits in Karabakh under the temporary control of the Russian peacekeepers. Azerbaijanis, displaying posters with various slogans, showed their solidarity with the Azerbaijani eco-activists, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and volunteers, who are holding uninterrupted protests near Shusha on the Lachin road, demanding an end to ecocide and environmental terror of Armenians. Medics evacuate 13-year-old Yaroslav to Mykolaiv after he was wounded near Kherson during a Russian military strike on New Year's Eve and was in intensive care as Russian troops shelled the city children's hospital on New Year's Eve, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine Jan. 1. Reuters-Yonhap Ukrainians faced a grim start to 2023 as Sunday brought more Russian missile and drone attacks following a blistering New Year's Eve assault that killed at least three civilians across the country, authorities reported. Air raid sirens sounded in the capital shortly after midnight, followed by a barrage of missiles that interrupted the small celebrations residents held at home due to wartime curfews. Ukrainian officials alleged Moscow was deliberately targeting civilians along with critical infrastructure to create a climate of fear and destroy morale during the long winter months. In a video address Sunday night, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his citizens' ''sense of unity, of authenticity, of life itself.'' The Russians, he said, ''will not take away a single year from Ukraine. They will not take away our independence. We will not give them anything.'' Ukrainian forces in the air and on the ground shot down 45 Iranian-made explosive drones fired by Russia on Saturday night and before dawn Sunday, Zelenskyy said. Another strike at noon Sunday in the southern Zaporizhzhia region killed one person, according to the head of the regional military administration, Alexander Starukh. But Kyiv was largely quiet, and people there on New Year's Day savored the snippets of peace. ''Of course it was hard to celebrate fully because we understand that our soldiers can't be with their family,'' Evheniya Shulzhenko said while sitting with her husband on a park bench overlooking the city. But a ''really powerful'' New Year's Eve speech by Zelenskyy lifted her spirits and made her proud to be Ukrainian, Shulzhenko said. She recently moved to Kyiv after living in Bakhmut and Kharkiv, two cities that have experienced some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Multiple blasts rocked the capital and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday and through the night, wounding dozens. An AP photographer at the scene of an explosion in Kyiv saw a woman's body as her husband and son stood nearby. Ukraine's largest university, the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, reported significant damage to its buildings and campus. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two schools were damaged, including a kindergarten. The strikes came 36 hours after widespread missile attacks Russia launched Thursday to damage energy infrastructure facilities. Saturday's unusually quick follow-up alarmed Ukrainian officials. A Ukrainian soldier turns up the volume as he watches Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's New Years Eve address to the nation, in a military rest house, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in region of Donetsk, Ukraine, Dec. 31, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap The holiday season is finally here. No matter where you come from, these 5 food-themed K-dramas - from "Wok of Love" to "Business Proposal" - you can be inspired to unleash your inner chef this Yuletide season! 1. 'Wok of Love' Starting the list with this 2018 series, starring Lee Junho, Jang Hyuk, and Jung Ryeo Won. This drama is set in the backdrop of a Chinese restaurant, handled by Doo Chil Sung, a former gangster who just got released from prison. He meets A-list star chef Seo Poong, who loses his job and ends up working at his chain, and is joined by a former chaebol heiress Dan Sae Woo. Apart from various cuisines that you can try cooking at home, you will also be entertained by the cast and the drama's storyline. 2. 'Pasta' "Pasta" is about an Italian restaurant established in South Korea, called La Sfera. Seo Yoo Kyung (Gong Hyo Jin) began her career as an assistant to chefs for 3 years at La Sfera. She dreams of becoming an Italian cuisine chef. Her life starts to change when the restaurant hires Choi Hyun Wook (Lee Sun Kyun), a skilled chef who went to culinary school in Italy. 3. 'Oh My Ghost' Another classic drama entered the list! "Oh My Ghost" tells the story of Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young), who gets possessed by the ghost of a confident young woman who seeks to solve her unfinished business by hooking up with Bong Sun's boss, Kang Sun Woo (Jo In Sung). You can enjoy the characters' chemistry and humor in this series, together with their amazing cooking skills! "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" scene-stealer Kang Ki Young is also in this drama. 4. 'How Are You Bread' If you want to take a break from heavy meals and enjoy the aroma of coffee and cake, this K-drama is for you! Starring EXO leader Suho as Han Do Woo, he is a mysterious and top-notch pastry chef. Every morning in a magical bakery, he makes bread to grant other people's wishes. 5. 'Business Proposal' Of course, one of 2022's most loved rom-com series is also here! This SBS series centers its story on Shin Ha Ri (Kim Sejeong), who agrees to go on a blind date in the place of her best friend, but it was too late when she realizes that the guy she's going on a date with is her boss Kang Tae Moo (Ahn Hyo Seop). What other food-themed K-dramas would you recommend this holiday season? Share it with us in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. From "Business Proposal" to "Reborn Rich," 2022 gave us plenty of good shows. But have you seen Im Siwan's "Summer Strike"? Or Yuri's "Good Job"? Listed below are some of the underrated 2022 K-dramas, but have great storylines! 1. 'Good Job' SNSD's Yuri and Jung Il Woo returned to the small screen through this action-comedy series. Though it did not receive high ratings during its run, the drama and its cast received recognition from viewers. This follows the story of Don Se Ra, a kind-hearted lady who was born with hyperacuity. To hide her condition, she always wears glasses anywhere she goes. She then meets Eun Seon Woo, a smart and sometimes rude CEO of Eun Kang Group. They join forces to find the culprit behind Seon Woo's mother's death. 2. 'Gaus Electronics' It features the lives of employees in the Marketing team of Gaus Electronics. Cha Nae Rae (Ko Sung Hee), a hot-tempered assistant manager, always clashes with her junior Lee Sang Sik (Kwak Dong Yeon), who often causes trouble unintentionally. Other stars you can watch in this series are Kang Min Ah, Bae Hyun Sun, and Sazal Mahamud. 3. 'Once Upon A Small Town' One day, Han Ji Yul (Choo Yeong Woo), a veterinarian in Seoul, receives a call from his grandfather, which makes him move to the countryside. He joins an animal clinic in Huidong village. While on his newfound journey, he meets Ahn Ha Young (Red Velvet Joy), a bubbly police officer, and starts to develop special feelings for her. 4. 'Cheer Up' Due to her family's financial problems, Do Hae Yi (Han Ji Hyun) places a priority on making money rather than school. However, one day, she finds herself joining their campus university cheering squad Theia. She only joins the club for money, but later on, finds her true purpose in life as she meets Park Jung Woo (Bae In Hyuk) and other squad members. 5. 'May I Help You' This MBC series follows the story of Baek Dong Joo (Lee Hyeri), who works as a funeral director. She has the ability to talk to dead people, who ask her to grant their last wish. If she doesn't fulfill their wishes, Dong Joo's day becomes filled with bad luck. 6. 'Summer Strike' After years of working in the city, Lee Yeo Reum (Seolhyun) decides to resign from her work and leave her stressful life for good. She makes a bold decision to move to a small seaside village named Angok. She then meets the reserved librarian An Dae Beom (Im Siwan), and starts a new exciting journey with him and the other villagers. 7. 'Seasons of Blossom' Based on a webtoon novel, this is an ongoing series that follows the love story of Han So Mang and Lee Ha Min. A young student-teacher returns to her high school and reminisces her first love, who died in an accident. She meets his younger brother, and as the two interact. They find closure about the tragic accident that happened six years ago. Which of these underrated K-dramas would like to watch? Share your replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. The latest episode of the highly loved series "Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow" takes viewers on an intense emotional ride as Go Yoon Jung discovers the truth about her identity. In particular, Shin Seung Ho joins hands with Jo Jae Yoon once again to eliminate Lee Jae Wook. Keep on reading to know more! 'Alchemy of Souls' Episode 28: Jang Uk Confesses To Jin Bu Yeon In the previous episode, Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook) admits missing Jin Bu Yeon (Go Yoon Jung), and kisses her with so much passion. Episode 28 begins with the two declaring their love for one another, and promise to go all-in with the idea of marriage. However, Jang Uk doesn't want to get on Jin Bu Yeon's mother's bad side anymore. Jin Bu Yeon then agrees to go home, and asks Jang Uk to visit her at Jinyowon, and sneak in at night. Meanwhile, Jin Bu Yeon regains most of Naksu's (Jung So Min) memories. Seo Yul (Hwang Minhyun), who knows about the truth, acts so coldly towards her. Jin Bu Yeon Searches For Answers in Danhyanggok Seo Yul also talks to Jin Ho Gyeong (Park Eun Hye), saying that she shouldn't kill Naksu as her soul would soon disappear in Jin Bu Yeon's body. Elsewhere, Heo Yun Ok (Hong Seo Hee) plans to reveal to Jin Bu Yeon that she is Naksu by using an herbal medicine for soul shifters. With this, Jin Bu Yeon ends up seeing Naksu's memories once again. To answer all of her questions, she goes to Danhyanggok without hesitation, and eventually discovers more memories of the past. She also sees younger Jin Bu Yeon, the true owner of the body. Jin Bu Yeon then learns that she needs to leave the real Jin Bu Yeon's body soon. After this, Jin Bu Yeon bids goodbye to Jang Uk without telling the real reason behind it, leaving the other confused. Jin Bu Yeon Reveals Divine Powers Crown Prince Go Won (Shin Seung Ho) joins hands with Jin Mu (Jo Jae Yoon) once again, expressing his desire to be as powerful as Jang Uk. The two send Jang Uk to the North Fortress as the General, making sure that he doesn't get in their way. In addition to that, Jin Mu asks Jin Ho Gyeong to give up Jinyowon to more powerful mage families. To his surprise, Jin Bu Yeon shows up and stands up against him. Jin Bu Yeon declares that she has regained her divine powers and memories, surprising everyone. She is tasked to find the Jinyowon plaque inside a prison where the powerful Gwisu is being held captive. Despite the risk of being killed, she intends to keep Jinyowon's pride and reputation. When she enters the prison, the wraiths begin to haunt her. Out of nowhere, the blue jade inside her pocket glows, summoning Jang Uk. When he destroys the wraith, Jang Uk discovers the blue marks in Jin Bu Yeon's eyes, leaving him in shock and confusion. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. The newly released series "Island" and "The Glory" welcomed 2023 with new achievements as both dramas topped the global content rankings. Song Hye Kyo & Kim Nam Gil Make Successful Comeback With 'The Glory' and 'Island' Netflix's original series "The Glory" starring Song Hye Kyo, and TVING's original drama "Island" starring Kim Nam Gil, have been listed at the top of the content service, drawing attention. According to Flex Patrol, an online content service ranking website on January 2, "Island" and "The Glory" ranked 10th and 5th in the world in the Amazon Prime Video TV Programs and Netflix, respectively, as of January 1. Both Korean dramas achieved successful results just two days after their release on December 30, 2022. 'The Glory' Ranks First on Netflix Week During Its Release Song Hye Kyo plays the role of Moon Dong Eun in "The Glory." This follows the story of the main character who suffered school violence risking her life and revenge against the perpetrator. It is writer Kim Eun Sook's first revenge and first youth-grade drama, consisting of 16 episodes. Part 1 which consists of eight episodes already begun airing on Netflix, while Part 2 is expected to be released in March 2023. Since many were anticipating Song Hye Kyo's acting comeback, fans abroad exhibited their support for the actress, which resulted in "The Glory" ranking first in 10 countries including Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, and Venezuela. TVING's 'Island' Starring Kim Nam Gil, Cha Eun Woo, & Lee Da Hee Shows Popularity Abroad Meanwhile, TVING's star-studded horror drama "Island," tells the tragic life story of Van (Kim Nam Gil), who fought against evil alone for thousands of years on the Island of Jeju. It is a mysterious island created to trap evil energy. Lee Da Hee and Cha Eun Woo also participate in the drama. In terms of ranking, "Island" ranked first in five countries namely, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The fantasy-horror drama ranked second in these regions namely Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, Uganda, and Tanzania. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Glory' Episode 1-4: Song Hye Kyo Begins Her Fiery Revenge Against Lim Ji Yeon Have you watched the pilot episodes of "Island" and "The Glory"? How are the dramas so far? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! 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. Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Mendicino says the federal government is "looking at a variety of options" to carry out a planned buyback of banned firearms including enlisting outside help.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Local residents carry their belongings as they leave their home ruined in the Saturday Russian rocket attack in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. AP-Yonhap Russia deployed multiple exploding drones in another nighttime attack on Ukraine, officials said Monday, as the Kremlin signaled no letup in its strategy of using bombardments to target civilian infrastructure and wear down Ukrainian resistance to its invasion. The barrage was the latest in a series of relentless year-end attacks, including one that killed three civilians on New Year's Eve. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Monday that 40 drones ''headed for Kyiv'' overnight. All of them were destroyed, according to air defense forces. Klitschko said 22 drones were destroyed over Kyiv, three in the outlying Kyiv region and 15 over neighboring provinces. Energy infrastructure facilities were damaged as the result of the attack and an explosion occurred in one city district, the mayor said. It wasn't immediately clear whether that was caused by drones or other munitions. A wounded 19-year-old man was hospitalized, Klitschko added, and emergency power outages were underway in the capital. In the outlying Kyiv region a ''critical infrastructure object'' and residential buildings were hit, Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba said. Russia has carried out airstrikes on Ukrainian power and water supplies almost weekly since October. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of ''energy terrorism'' as the aerial bombardments have left many people without heat amid freezing temperatures. Ukrainian officials say Moscow is ''weaponizing winter'' in its effort to demoralize the Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine is using sophisticated Western-supplied weapons to help shoot down Russia's missiles and drones, as well as send artillery fire into Russian-held areas of the country. Moscow's full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 has gone awry, putting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin as his ground forces struggle to hold ground and advance. He said in his New Year's address to the nation that 2022 was ''a year of difficult, necessary decisions.'' Putin insists he had no choice, but to send troops into Ukraine because it threatened Russia's security an assertion condemned by the West, which says Moscow bears full responsibility for the invasion. Local residents carry their belongings as they leave their home ruined in the Saturday Russian rocket attack in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. AP-Yonhap The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on July 8, 2020. Montreal police say they are investigating after a 30-year-old woman was shot Sunday in the Town of Mount Royal, an affluent suburb on Montreal Island.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! As trainees, we have unpredictable schedules. Sometimes we work days; others, we work long nights. As the weekends come by, my best friend inevitably asks me: Whos showing up this week at work, Batman or Bruce Wayne? This week Batman is showing up to catch babies. And frankly, theres nothing else Id rather be doing at 3 a.m. Jacques Balayla is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, Batman catching babies. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With so many demands on their time, physicians today report record levels of burnout. Burnout is caused by many factors, one of which is clinical documentation. Studies indicate physicians spend two hours documenting care for every hour spent with patients. At Nuance, we are committed to helping physicians do what you love care for patients and spend less time on clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is an AI-powered, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RATE AND REVIEW https://www.kevinmd.com/rate FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/kevinphomd FOLLOW ON TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinphomd GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/NWBg5e Powered by CMEfy. 378 Shares Share A 23-year-old girl reached out to me, a medical professional, seeking advice. Im not afraid of them killing me, she said, referring to the torture and rape that men and women endure in Iranian prisons. What Im afraid of is what theyll do to me in captivity. What pill can I take to end it [if Im caught at the protests]? As a physician, my oath is to save lives, but in this situation, saving a life could mean giving a 23-year-old advice on how to commit suicide. I took a deep breath and cried. The largest womens rights movement of our century is currently happening in Iran. It began with the brutal murder of Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, by the morality police. Amini was beaten into a coma for inappropriately wearing her hijab and died two days later. This event became a turning point in Iran, where women and men were no longer willing to tolerate the violence of their oppressors. Many people think the movement is only about wearing a hijab, but its about much more than that. Why have Iranians risen against their government? Iranians have a Westernized way of thinking. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought the dictator Khomeini to power, women had many of the same freedoms as men. Under Khomeinis rule, however, the regimes focus became the destruction of human rights and the targeted oppression of women. Suddenly, it became illegal to listen to music, dance, sing, go to concerts, or enjoy any of the simple pleasures in life. Women were not allowed to show their skin or hair, ride a bicycle, or attend sporting events. They lost all legal custody rights to their children, the ability to divorce, and the ability to travel abroad without the approval of their husband or father. They became prisoners of their gender, forced to live under a conservatorship. Furthermore, participating in these illegal activities became punishable by lashes, imprisonment, and/or death by execution, with imprisonment involving the most heinous forms of punishment including endless solitary confinement, torture, and rape. The brutality of the regime is unimaginable. Under their rule, it is illegal to execute a virgin girl. Therefore, she is raped the night before her execution. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, a Revolutionary Guard said, I could tell that the girls were more afraid of [that] night than of the execution that awaited them. [During the rape], they would always fight back. By [the] morning, the girls would have an empty expression; it seemed like they were ready or wanted to die. The Supreme Leaders theological text, Tahrir Al-Wasilah, condones and promotes horrifying acts, including pedophilia. It explains which sexual acts can and cannot be performed on a girl prior to the age of nine. Studying this text is mandated and tested prior to entry into university. Fortunately, the liberal mentality of the parents of these youth has mostly prevented the regimes attempt at brainwashing them. Soon after the Revolution of 1979, the government executed 30,000 people. Those executions have continued over the past 43 years, with at least one prisoner being executed per day. These prisoners include artists, journalists, athletes, lawyers, and activists who have spoken out against the regime. The Iranian people are captives in their own country, and the Islamic Republic has been killing and emigrating the most brilliant minds in a failed attempt to prevent the possibility of a successful revolution. What has been happening in Iran during this womens rights movement? Iranians, particularly those in their teens to 30s, have been peacefully protesting. The bravery of the youth has been deeply inspirational, particularly as the Islamic Republic has been attempting to silence them using brutal measures, including poisoning their food and water, committing genocides of ethnic minorities using machine guns, shooting protestors with pellets (specifically aiming to blind them), shooting women in the breast and genitals as a form of inhumane humiliation, driving military vehicles over protestors, and abducting, raping, and killing them. The regime has already killed over 500 individuals (including 69 children) and has imprisoned over 18,000. Many of those released are dying within 48 hours due to intentional overdoses of intravenous acetaminophen, which is administered prior to discharge. These deaths are being documented as death by suicide. In prison, captives endure the most atrocious forms of torture imaginable, including the regimes egregious use of rape as a power tool to subdue their victims. This crime is being committed indiscriminate of gender or sex. One teenage boy stated that he and his friends were electrocuted and raped for protesting. Nikka Shahkarami, a queer 16-year-old girl, was captured and endured similar torture and violation at the hands of the regime for 10 days before being thrown off a building to her death. Her funeral fell on the day of her 17th birthday. The brutality of this regime continuously evolves in horrific ways. They have begun public executions of protestors by hanging. Two 23-year-old men were executed just last week. Individuals such as Dr. Aida Rostami, a physician with Doctors Without Borders, were abducted and tortured to death for treating wounded protestors. Her body was discovered with fractured extremities, a traumatic skull, and an empty eye socket. The regime claims she died in a car accident. The Islamic Republic is committing major human rights violations, and reports of the 400+ recorded deaths fail to account for the regimes acetaminophen overdoses and the silent executions that have been ongoing for decades. These have continued without acknowledgment or coverage. The death toll is also underestimated due to death threats received by victims families if they speak about their loved ones murder. This week, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, who was violated and murdered by the regime, was abducted soon after speaking up. She is still missing. Montreh Tavakkoli is a hematology-oncology fellow. Activists of right wing Hindu groups Dogra Front and Shiv Sena, reacting to the militant attack in the southern Rajouri district of Indian-controlled Kashmir burn Pakistan flag during a protest in Jammu, India, Monday, Jan.2, 2023. Assailants sprayed bullets toward a row of civilian homes Sunday night, leaving at least four civilians dead and five others injured, police said Monday. AP-Yonhap Two children were killed and five other civilians wounded in a blast in a village in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday, a day after assailants sprayed bullets toward a row of homes, leaving at least four dead, police said. The blast occurred near one of the houses targeted overnight in Dhangri village in southern Rajouri district. A 5-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl died in the blast. The injured were being treated at a hospital. On Sunday night, two gunmen indiscriminately opened fire at three houses in Dhangri, top police officer Mukesh Singh told reporters. He said four civilians were killed and five others were wounded. Police blamed militants fighting against Indian rule for carrying out the two attacks at Dhangri, which is close to the highly militarized Line of Control that divides the disputed region between India and Pakistan. It was unclear whether the explosive was left behind by the attackers. Authorities rushed police and soldiers to the area and were searching for the attackers. Hundreds of people assembled in Dhangri to protest the killings, chanting slogans denouncing the attackers. Nearly three dozen people in the southern city of Jammu also protested the killings that Manoj Sinha, New Delhi's top administrator in the region, condemned as a ''cowardly terror attack.'' ''I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,'' he said. India and Pakistan each claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. Rebels in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi's rule since 1989. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and most Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict. (AP) Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High 86F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 56F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Jeremy Renner attends the Hawkeye New York Special Fan Screening at AMC Lincoln Square on November 22, 2021, in New York City. Lou Ann Homan-Saylor lives in Angola at the White Picket Gardens where you can find her gardening or writing late into the night under the light of her frayed scarlet lamp. She is a storyteller, teacher, writer, actress and a collector of front porch stories. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 2 (ANI): Locals in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged a protest over the attack in Dhangri in Rajouri district on Sunday in which four villagers died of gunshots and at least six people were injured after gunmen fired indiscriminately on three houses of Hindu residents, separated around 50 metres apart. Locals gathered at Main Chowk in the mountainside village of Dhangri, in Jammu division and raised slogans against police and district administration demanding that J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to listen to their demands. The locals have also called for Rajouri Bandh as a protest against the administration. Also Read | Correction: Poll Date 1st January 2023 Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services. According to the police, an incident of firing was reported on Sunday evening in which four people were killed and six injured. The firing was done by two terrorists at three houses separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other at upper Dangri village. "LG Manoj Sinha hosh mein aao" the protesters raised slogans. Also Read | India's Internet Industry To Reach $5 Trillion Valuation by 2030, Second Largest User Base in World. "The district administration has failed. We want L-G Manoj Sinha to come and listen to our demands," Dhiraj Sharma, the Sarpanch where the firing incident occurred said. He further said that the incident took place at around 7 pm and the police reached the spot around 8.30 pm. "Had the locals not taken up the initiative, all of these 10 people would have been killed. They came to the hospital after they saw that the civilians are active. All the agencies have failed here," he added. The head of the village further pointed out the "failures of administration" here and said that the police released the dead bodies at 2 am with no security. Police and civil administration should be reshuffled, the Sarpanch demanded further seeking the army deployment here. Another local, Ranjeet Tara said that the alleged terrorists inquired before firing at the deceased persons as "Hindus are being targeted here". "They checked their Aadhar card before firing at him. These shells were found at their home, They are targeting Hindus to evacuate the area. We request the Centre and the L-G to strengthen VDC (village defence committees) further and provide people here with VDC guns, so that people can protect themselves because by the time forces reach here, the entire area could have been finished," Ranjeet Tara said. Ranjeet Tara further said that they won't vacate the side of the protest until action is taken.Police have strengthened the presence of security and forces and are continuing their search operation in the Dhangri village. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 2 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win the upcoming state assembly election and come back to power in Karnataka based on governance. Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in the year 2023. Also Read | UPI Payments Touch Record High of Rs 12.82 Lakh Crore in December 2022. Talking to reporters after visiting a temple here on Monday, he said, "Today is the most sacred day in the Hindu religion and it has been the practice to have the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara." "As it is not possible to go to Tirupati, he came to Vyalikaval Venkateswara Temple of TTD and prayed for the welfare of the people. There will be a blessing from Lord Venkateswara in the current year. Venkateswara means development and prosperity. The state of Karnataka will witness unprecedented development in the new year," Bommai said. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: Father-Son Duo Kill Man, Dump His Body Near KMP Expressway in Nuh; Arrested. On being asked about Pradeep, an industrialist who committed suicide by making Mahadevapura BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali responsible for the extreme action, the CM said, "FIR has been filed. Law will take its course," Bommai added. On the health conditions of the Siddeshwara Seer, Bommai said, "the seer identified him but was unable to talk. Apart from this, all his body parameters are functioning normally. He recognised the voice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had called to enquire about his health condition." "I am in regular touch with the concerned and getting the health updates regularly. No need for becoming panic. The seer has a special inner power with which we will win over the ill health and will remain with us for a long time," Bommai stated. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, January 2: Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the discharge application filed by Lt Col Prasad Purohit in the Malegaon 2008 blast case. He had filed this as an appeal against the Special National Investigation Case (NIA) court framing charges against him in the blast case. High Court division bench has observed that Lt Col Purohit was not discharging duty as an officer of the Indian army while he was attending meetings of the Abhinav Bharat Group, as alleged by the NIA. Malegaon 2008 Blast Case: Bombay High Court Dismisses Discharge Appeal Filed by Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Says Causing Bomb Blast Not an Official Duty. Purohit's appeal was mainly based on his argument that there was a lack of sanction under section 197(2) of the CrPC from the Indian Army to prosecute him in the blast case because the charge framing was not valid against him, his plea argued. But NIA had confronted his sanction related argument in their reply. "that Sanction was not required to prosecute Lt Col Prasad Purohit because he was not discharging his duty while he was attending those meetings," NIA said in their reply. The court accepted the NIA's argument and dismissed Purohit's appeal. A bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Prakash D Naik of the Bombay High Court passed orders today. On August 1, the Supreme Court asked the Bombay High Court to decide expeditiously the plea of Lt Col Prasad Purohit, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, regarding the prior sanction for his prosecution. Malegaon Blast Case: MP Pragya Singh Thakur Fails to Appear in Court. Purohit had said that the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him in the case, was wrong in law. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Justice Vikram Nath asked the High Court to decide the plea of Purohit pending already for quashing the sanction for his prosecution in the case. "The writ petition filed by the petitioner bearing Writ Petition is pending consideration before the High Court wherein the petitioner has sought quashing of the sanction under Section 197(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, we deem it appropriate to request the High Court to take up the said writ petition and decide the same expeditiously in accordance with the law. The writ petition is disposed of in above terms," the bench in its order stated. Purohit had moved the High Court with his plea challenging the validity of the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the case. A prior sanction for Purohit's prosecution was required since he was a serving Army officer at the time. Earlier, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court had dismissed his plea to discharge him from the case. In the 2008 Malegaon blast case, six people were killed and over 100 injured after an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque at Malegaon in north Maharashtra, about 200 kilometres from Mumbai. All the seven accused in the case are currently out on bail.BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Sameer Kulkarni, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahilkar and Sudhakar Chaturvedi are the other accused in the case. (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, Jan 2 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday condemned an incident in which a 20-year-old woman was killed after her scooty was hit by a car and her body dragged for four kilometres from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala. Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said the incident was "shameful" and the culprits should be "punished severely". Also Read | #ElonMusk-run #Tesla Has Announced the Upcoming Launch of Model S and Model X in #China, Latest Tweet by IANS India. "What happened to our sister in Kanjhawala is very shameful. I hope that the culprits will be punished severely," the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said in a tweet in Hindi. Five men have been arrested in connection with the woman's death. The victim's two-wheeler was hit by a car in which the accused were travelling on Sunday, police said. Also Read | Data Breach: Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reports Data Breach System, Says 'Extent of Intrusion Is Being Confirmed'. A video purportedly showing the woman's body without clothes and broken legs has surfaced on social media. PTI could not independently check the veracity of the video. The footage also led to claims that the victim was raped and killed, but police said it was an accident. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the city police in connection with the incident. Police said the victim's body was sent to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital at Mangolpuri for post-mortem. They said the victim's leg got entangled in one of the wheels of the car and she was dragged for around four kilometres. (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, Jan 2 (PTI) The demonetisation notification issued by the Union government cannot be set aside on the ground that it caused hardship to citizens, the Supreme Court said on Monday. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: No BF.7 Omicron Variant As Per Genome Sequencing Results After Six International Passengers Test Positive For COVID-19. The top court, which upheld the Centre's 2016 demonetisation by a 4:1 majority verdict, said individual interests must yield to the larger public interest. "The contention that the impugned notification is liable to be set aside on the ground that it caused hardship to individual/citizens will hold no water. The individual interests must yield to the larger public interest sought to be achieved by impugned Notification," the majority judgement of the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said. Justice B V Nagrathna, however, dissented. Also Read | Did PM Narendra Modi Shave His Head, Beard and Mustache After Performing Last Rites of His Mother Heeraben Modi? Here's a Fact Check of Viral Mundan Photo. The apex court said while adjudging the illegality of the impugned notification, it would have to examine the basis as to whether the objectives for which it was enacted has nexus with the decision taken or not. "If the impugned Notification had a nexus with the objectives to be achieved, then, merely because some citizens have suffered through hardships would not be a ground to hold the impugned Notification to be bad in law," it said. The apex court said the action which was taken by the Centre through the impugned notification dated November 8, 2016, has been validated by the 2016 ordinance and which fructified in the 2017 Act. "The Central Government is answerable to the Parliament and the Parliament, in turn, represents the will of the citizens of the country. The Parliament has therefore put its imprimatur on the executive action," the bench said. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for one of the petitioners, had challenged the notification on the ground that it caused hardship to a number of people. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhangri, January 2: Twenty-three-year-old Deepak Kumar who was killed in terror attacks on the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir's Dhangri village on Sunday was about to join Indian Army's ordnance department on Tuesday. Deepak, who was son of an employee of the public health engineering department, worked hard and qualified for the army job, his close relatives said on Monday. He was supposed to join the army's ordnance department in two days but destiny had something else in store for him, they said. Four civilians, including Deepak, were killed and six others injured when terrorists opened fire on three houses of the minority community in the village in the border district of Rajouri Sunday evening, officials had said. The other deceased in the incident were identified as Satish Kumar (45), Pritam Sharma (56) and Shishu Pal (32). "Food was being prepared when terrorists entered Pritam Sharma's house. They verified his name through Aadhaar card and then resorted to indiscriminate firing," said Ranjeet Tara, a resident of Dhangri and Pritam's neighbour. Jammu and Kashmir: Four-Year-Old Child Killed, Seven Injured in IED Explosion in Rajouri. This was the first house that became the target of the terrorists, he said, adding that he was the first to visit the house after the attack to ferry the injured to the hospital. "The food is still on plates. Blood stains have dried. The terrorists targeted the minority community in Rajouri to force their migration," Tara said, while showing the bullets still lying in the house. On Sunday at around 7 pm, two terrorists appeared in a house in Devi Ka Naka of Dhangri and resorted to firing in which two brothers got injured. Later, one of the injured, Deepak Kumar, succumbed, eyewitnesses said. The terrorists then moved to another house located at around 200 metres away and again resorted to firing in which Pritam Sharma and his son were killed, they said. Continuing their attacks, the militants then moved towards a house located at around 300 metres away and fired in which ex-serviceman Satish Kumar died while his wife, a daughter, a son, a brother and a neighbour got injured, the eyewitnesses said. Jammu and Kashmir: Several Injured in Suspected Terror Attack in Rajouri's Dhangri Village. As the terrorists were going from one house to another to target minority community members, one villager Bal Krishen came out with the gun of a village defence committee (VDC) member and started firing in the open. "Only after Bal Krishen resorted to firing with a VDC gun that the terrorists fled the area," former MLC Vibood Gupta said. The terrorists, presuming that the firing was done by security forces, escaped from the scene, Gupta said. Irate over the attacks, victims' relatives and other villagers protested at Dhangri Chowk with the bodies when they received them from the GMC hospital. Army and police put the area in cordon throughout the night. On Monday at around 9:30 am, an IED explosion took place outside the house of victim Deepak Kumar in which nine people got injured. Of the nine injured, a baby boy aged four years and a 17-year-old girl later succumbed to injuries. Dheeraj Kumar, Sarpanch of Dhangri, said that it is a major security lapse. "What were the security forces doing here? The incident took place despite high alert," he said. As the people raised the issue of the security lapse with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he promised a detailed probe into it. J&K DGP Dilbag Singh termed it a "planned attack" to target senior officers who were visiting the Sunday's attack site. While the people were protesting along with six bodies at Dhangri Chowk, Lieutenant Governor Sinha reached out to them. Sinha, along with DGP Singh, visited houses of the victims and expressed their condolences. Those behind the terror attacks in Dhangri village will not go unpunished, Sinha said on Monday and announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia and a government job to the next of kin of the civilians killed in the incidents. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 1 (ANI): The Doda civil administration has deployed snow-clearing parties after fresh snowfall on Saturday suspended vehicular movement in some places. Snowfall in Kashmir attracts tourists from across the world at this time of the year. Also Read | Weather Forecast: IMD Predicts Light to Moderate Rains in Coastal Areas of Tamil Nadu Between January 3 to 5. Due to heavy snowfall on the highway, vehicular movement got suspended, and the tourists were facing difficulties, informed the administration. As per information, many tourists had to wait for a long till the road was cleared. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission Latest News Today: DA Hiked From 34% to 38% for Government Employees of This State. Indian Army deployed along LoC in the Uri sector continues patrolling in harsh winter conditions. The India Meteorological Department on Sunday informed that minimum and maximum temperatures in January 2023 are most likely to be below normal over many parts of central India and adjoining areas of peninsular, east and northwest India. As per IMD, above-normal to normal minimum temperatures are most likely over southern parts of the south Peninsula, many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest India. IMD also predicted monthly rainfall for January 2023 over Northwest India consisting of seven meteorological subdivisions (East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) is most likely to be below normal (78 per cent of Long Period Average (LPA)), said IMD on Sunday. The rainfall over Northwest India consists of seven meteorological subdivisions (East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) is most likely to be below normal (86 per cent of Long Period Average (LPA)), said IMD. Monthly rainfall over the country as a whole during January 2023 is most likely to be below normal (82 per cent of Long Period Average (LPA)). Meanwhile, the temperature dropped to a below-freezing point at Mount Abu in Rajasthan on the first day of the new year as tourist flock to the only hill station of Rajasthan. Tourists who had come here to enjoy snowfall were seen draped in blankets to keep it warm. At Mount Abu face-covered students were seen huddled around a bonfire to beat the cold. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jan 2 (PTI) The death toll in the blaze in a firecracker factory in Maharashtra's Solapur district has gone up to four after one more person succumbed to injuries on Monday, an official said. Also Read | Pune: Student Abused, His Hand Chopped Off for Refusing to Give Rs 100 in Pashan; Four Including Two Minors Arrested. The blaze had erupted after a blast on Sunday at the unit located in Shirala village of Barshi taluka, around 400 km from Mumbai. Also Read | Bestiality Horror in Karnataka: Man Rapes Cow Calf After Tying It to Tree in Raichur; Arrested. Three workers were killed after the incident and as many others injured, police had said. One of the injured persons died during treatment in the early hours of Monday, the official said. A worker was undergoing treatment at the Solapur civil hospital, while another injured person was discharged, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berhampur (Odisha), Jan 2 (PTI) Wildlife personnel on Monday arrested a man from near Chilika lake for allegedly killing birds after four carcasses of feathered creatures were seized from his possession, an official said. At least four carcasses of three bird species were seized from the possession of the man. The birds were allegedly killed by poisoning them at Barakudi channel, near Kalupada under Tangi range of Chilika wildlife division. Also Read | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Donates Salary for Students' Education Under Chief Minister Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh. The carcasses of bird species included one large whistling duck, purple moorhen and two Pheasant tailed jacana, said Choodarani Murmu, range officer Tangi. "The accused person was carrying the carcasses of the birds in a bag, when the wildlife personnel caught him moving suspiciously. While searching, they found the dead birds", she said. Also Read | Kanjhawala Hit and Run Case: Forensic Science Laboratory Team Doesn't Find Blood Stain on Seat of Car That Dragged Woman to Death in Delhi. He was suspected to have killed the birds by giving poison, she said The carcasses of the birds were buried after post-mortem by veterinary surgeons, she added. With this, wildlife officials have registered at least six bird poaching cases and arrested six hunters during this migration season in Tangi range. At least 24 dead birds were seized from the accused persons. The first bird poaching case was registered on November 22, when the wildlife persons arrested a person and seized two migratory birds near Balipatapur. Meanwhile patrolling was intensified in and outside the Chilika lake to prevent poaching. While as many as 20 camps have been set up in the lake involving around 80 personnel and three boats, off-shore patrolling also continued in Tangi and Rambha range areas. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, January 2: A minor girl was allegedly molested at a five-star hotel at Juhu in Mumbai on New Year's Eve, the police said, adding that a case was registered at Juhu police station and the accused was taken into custody. "A case of molestation of a minor girl has been registered with Mumbai's Juhu Police Station and the accused has been arrested," said Mumbai police. Gujarat: Two Constables Drag and Hit Man on New Year Eve in Surat; Suspended. Based on the girl's statement, Juhu Police said it registered the case under IPC Sections 354 and the POCSO Act and took the accused into custody. In a similar incident earlier, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped in Mumbai on the intervening night of December 22 and 23. Maharashtra: Truck Transporting Goods From Mumbai to Ahmedabad Gutted in Fire in Palghar. A case was registered at NM Joshi Marg police station. Six persons, including three minors, were arrested in connection with the incident. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 2 (ANI): The Mumbai Police nabbed a person who allegedly threatened to blow up Mount Mary Church in Bandra area, police said on Monday. According to the police the accused was arrested from Kolkata after he sent a mail threatening to blow up the Mount Mary Church. Also Read | Data Breach: Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reports Data Breach System, Says 'Extent of Intrusion Is Being Confirmed'. The police traced the accused's location by tracking the IP address and arrested him. Mumbai Police further informed that the motive of the accused in sending those mail is yet to be ascertained and will be known only after the enquiry. Also Read | Online Fraud: Mumbai Woman Duped of Rs 64,000 by Conmen After Tweeting Complaint on IRCTC Twitter Handle, Case Registered. On December 30, the Mount Mary church in Bandra received a threatening email warning of an attack by the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, informed police officials. Police registered a case u/s 505(3) of IPC against unknown persons. The police officials later in the day informed that another email was received following the first one where the sender claimed to be the mother of the child who allegedly sent the first threat email. "In it, the mother apologized saying that her child is mentally ill so he sent such a message," informed police officials. In a separate incident on the same day, the Mumbai Police control room received an anonymous call on Friday night saying that there will be explosions in Mumbai on New Year's Eve. The caller identified himself as Azhar Hussain from Uttar Pradesh and said that he has weapons and RDX. Acting on the call, a team from the Azad Maidan Police station immediately started the investigation and arrested the caller. The police later found out that the call was a hoax, and arrested the caller. The police revealed that the accused caller was identified as Narendra Kavle and he had made this call in an inebriated condition. Further investigations are underway in both cases, the police have said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, Jan 2 (PTI) BJP president JP Nadda will visit Bihar on Tuesday to take stock of the party's organisation as it prepares for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This will be Nadda's first visit to the state after Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) ditched the BJP to form a government with the RJD and Congress. Also Read | Live Bomb Found Near Punjab, Haryana Chief Ministers Official Residences (Watch Video). Nadda will land at Patna airport around 11 am, and go to Vaishali district's Goraul block by road to address a meeting of party workers at 12.30 pm, state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal said. He would then visit Harihar Nath temple in Sonepur before returning to Patna. Also Read | Mumbai: Man Undergoes Plastic Surgery, Receives Stitches Due to Kite String Injuries. He is expected to chair a meeting with state BJP leaders in the evening before leaving for Delhi. "All preparations related to the visit have been made," Jaiswal said. Taking a dig at the BJP, the Congress claimed that Nadda's visit would not make any difference. "The BJP will face a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls and assembly elections in the state. In fact, BJP is scared of the Bharat Jodo Yatra's success," state Congress president Akhilesh Singh said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Barpeta (Assam), Jan 2 (PTI) For over 200 poor young students of a school in Assam's Barpeta district, the first day of the new year proved to be a 'warm' one, as they received sweaters from good samaritans among Netizens, following a social media post by a theatre group. The movement started with a teacher of the school looking for means to help her pupils. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Dies Of Shock After Gun Misfire Kills Guest During New Year Party in Shivamogga. Anupama Das had discussed at home how the students, who hail mostly from financially backward families, cannot afford sweaters and are forced to attend classes in winter in the cotton uniform provided by the government. "We discussed how we can help them and then a theatre group, Samahar Natya Gosthee came forward to help," Das said. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists Strike Twice in Rajouri Within 14 Hours; Minor Siblings Among Six Killed in Attacks; Protests in Many Areas. General secretary of the theatre group, Sitanath Lahkar, said, "We have very limited financial resources. So, we made an appeal on social media and received an overwhelming response from netizens," he said. Within five days, the group collected enough funds to get sweaters for the entire lower primary section, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 2 (ANI): The Budget Session of Parliament is likely to begin on January 31 and is expected to conclude on April 6 with a recess in between, government sources said on Monday. The session will start with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Central Hall of Parliament. This will be the first address to the two Houses of Parliament by President Murmu since her elevation to the top post in August last year. Also Read | COVID-19 Scare: India Makes RT-PCR Test Mandatory for Passengers Arriving From China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. The Economic Survey will also be tabled in both Houses on the first day of the budget session, the sources said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present the Union Budget in Parliament on February 1 and the first part of the session is expected to continue till February 10, the sources said. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Dies Of Shock After Gun Misfire Kills Guest During New Year Party in Shivamogga. They said that after a recess during which the standing committees examine the demands of grants of various ministries, the second part of the Budget Session is likely to start on March 6 and conclude on April 6. During the first part of the Budget Session, the two Houses have a detailed discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address followed by a discussion on the Union Budget. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, the Finance Minister will reply to the debate on the union budget. During the second part of the Budget Session, the major focus is on the discussion on the demands for grants for various ministries apart from the government's legislative agenda. The Union Budget, a money bill, is passed during this part of the session. The work on the new Parliament building is being carried out as part of the Central Vista development. Those involved in the construction of the Parliament are confident that the second part of the Budget Session can be conducted in the new Parliament building During the last session, nine bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and seven bills were passed by the lower House of Parliament. The Rajya Sabha passed nine bills and the total number of bills passed by both Houses of Parliament during the session was nine. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Shalini Bhardwaj New Delhi [India], January 2 (ANI): The experts have pointed out that an uptick has been noticed in H3N2 influenza cases in Delhi and NCR region recently, which is affecting people of every age group including children. Also Read | UPI Payments Touch Record High of Rs 12.82 Lakh Crore in December 2022. Senior consultant of Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospital, Dr S Chatterjee told ANI that most of the recent infections have been diagnosed to be Influenza. "In the last two weeks, there have been a lot of respiratory tract infections happening in the form of fever, cough, runny/blocked nose, body ache and headache. The diagnosis in most of the cases is influenza in the form of Influenza A, H3N2, H1N1 and also some other respiratory viruses," he said. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: Father-Son Duo Kill Man, Dump His Body Near KMP Expressway in Nuh; Arrested. He said that people with pre-conditions like diabetes and lung problems need to be more careful. "COVID-19 is very infrequent. Most of the cases are responding well to symptomatic care but people with underlying lung problems, cardiac patients, diabetics, elderly and immunocompromised people need to be careful," he added. Public Health Expert Director at Star Imaging and Path Lab, Dr Sameer Bhati said that among the recent flu cases, the majority of the cases have been found of H3N2. "We have observed an increase in Flu cases where H3N2 is found majorly after diagnosis. We do RT PCR for its confirmation where RNA is extracted from the samples and then it is amplified using RT PCR technology. The results are interpreted on the basis of specific fluorescent dye for each Influenza virus like H1N1, H3N2, H5N1 and H7N9. Generally, when H3N2 dominates the flu cases, the cases are severe for people in At-Risk Groups like older adults and younger children while people with chronic medical issues have more chances of experiencing flu complications due to weak immune systems and may also require hospitalisation," he said. Senior Consultant at Pediatric Critical Care Unit, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Dr Chandra Sekhar Singha told that children are also getting infected by H3N2. "Influenza virus infection has a range of presentations, from asymptomatic to life-threatening disease. H3N2 infection is a variant of the Influenza A virus. This season we are seeing many cases of H3N2 infection," he said. He said that these viruses infect children less than five years of age. "Along with other viruses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus. They usually infect children less than five years of age and even more those less than two years. Children may have a high-grade fever, cough and cold. Some children are having severe respiratory problems. This is occurring especially among children less than one year of age, and those with the underlying neurological problem and chronic respiratory problem," he said. Dr Chandra Sekhar Singha said that some children are also requiring hospital admissions. "Even some children require hospital admission for oxygen therapy. H3N2 infection may cause life-threatening viral pneumonia, requiring advanced respiratory support like mechanical ventilator," he added. Explaining the prevention, he said that visits to crowded places must be avoided, in addition to wearing masks and hand washing. "Infection by H3N2 can be prevented to some extent by avoiding visits to a crowded place, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask. High-risk children, like children with Chronic respiratory disease, Chronic renal disease, and immune deficiency should receive a flu shot on a yearly basis," he further said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thane, Jan 2 (PTI) A Bharatiya Janata Party delegation met the Thane police commissioner on Monday in connection with the attack on their colleague allegedly by workers of Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and sought handing over of the probe to the Crime Branch. Also Read | COVID-19 Scare: India Makes RT-PCR Test Mandatory for Passengers Arriving From China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. Prashant Jadhav (42), the Wagle mandal general secretary of the BJP, was attacked on December 30 when he was putting up a banner on his birthday. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Dies Of Shock After Gun Misfire Kills Guest During New Year Party in Shivamogga. He was allegedly attacked by some persons as the banner was blocking sunlight to a housing society, police had said. At least ten persons, including two former corporators of the BSS faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, have been named in a First Information Report (FIR), as per police. A cross FIR was also registered against Jadhav, his father, and two others at Wagle Estate police station on Saturday night under Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). A release issued on Monday by the local BJP said Thane city unit chief and MLC Niranjan Davkhare and MLA Sanjay Kelkar met Thane police authorities seeking that the probe in the attack on Jadhav be given to the Crime Branch from Wagle Estate police station. The release claimed Jadhav was attacked for opposing encroachments and alleged Wagle Estate police was going slow on the probe. Meanwhile, BSS workers held a protest in the area seeking the arrest of Jadhav for allegedly molesting two of their colleagues. The BJP and BSS comprise the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, January 2: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday hold a review meeting with the officers of Team-9 on the current situation of Covid-19 in the state, an official statement from the chief minister's office said. The Chief Minister directed the officers that Intensity Care Units should be functional in all districts and there should be no shortage of medicines, specialists and technicians. COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath Reviews Coronavirus Situation, Asks Officials To Ramp Up Testing, Genome Sequencing. Chief Minister Yogi also discussed the fog-related deaths and severe cold conditions prevailing in the state. During the review meeting, Chief Minister informed, "more than 09 lakh tests have been done in December 2022. 103 cases were found with a positivity rate of 0.01%. More than 11 lakh doses of the Covid vaccine are available in the state. it is necessary to speed up the application of precautionary dose." Chief Minister, as per the official statement, instructed officials to take care of the temporary workers serving during the Covid period. It further added that the Chief Minister said such covid workers will get preference in future appointments. COVID-19 Surge: India Reports 173 New Coronavirus Infections in Last 24 Hours, Active Cases Rise to 2,670. Chief Minister instructed during the review meeting that outsourced workers should be paid on time. The chief minister expressed satisfaction people enjoyed Christmas and New Year with their families amidst the safe environment in the state, the statement added. CM also said Investors conference should be organized in all the districts on the lines of Barabanki, the statement added. During the review meeting, Chief Minister Yogi stressed that every needy should get the facility of a night shelter. CM said that Paddy procurement is going smoothly in the state, and farmers should be paid on time. (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, Jan 2 (PTI) Auto-tech firm CarDekho Group on Monday said it has narrowed total losses to Rs 246 crore in 2021-22. The group had posted a total loss of Rs 341 crore in FY21, CarDekho said in a statement. Also Read | Audi Witnesses Sales Jump of 27.14% Accounting to 4,187 Units in 2022. The revenue from operations in FY22 increased to Rs 1,598 crore from Rs 884 crore in FY21, it added. The firm -- which enables buying and selling cars and bikes, including electric vehicles, besides providing information and research; insurance broking and financing for cars on its platform -- said it witnessed significant growth across all its business segments in FY22. Also Read | Internet User Alert: Never Search on These Things on Internet in 2023, As You Might Land in Trouble. "The group registered over 50 million unique monthly visitors, generated over 9 million leads, helped issue 16 lakh insurance policies and facilitated disbursal of over 1 lakh auto loans in FY22," it added. CarDekho Group co-founder and CEO Amit Jain said the group has successfully leveraged its house of brands strategy, operating through multiple brands, such as CarDekho, BikeDekho, InsuranceDekho, Rupyy and Zigwheels. "Our multiple business lines create opportunities for us to be present across several touch points in the consumer experience journey by offering end-to-end digital solutions," he added. On CarDekho's IPO plans, Group Chief Financial Officer Mayank Gupta said, "...we are definitely evaluating it, subject to requisite approvals and conducive market conditions". He said the group has a clear path to turn profitable at a consolidated level by FY24. (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, Jan 2 (PTI) The Initial Public Offer (IPO) of Sah Polymers was subscribed 2.37 times on the second day of subscription on Monday. The IPO received bids for 1,33,06,420 shares against 56,10,000 shares on offer, according to NSE data. Also Read | Audi Witnesses Sales Jump of 27.14% Accounting to 4,187 Units in 2022. The category meant for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) was subscribed 7.46 times, while the portion for non-institutional investors received 2.94 times subscription and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) 39 per cent. The initial public offer has a fresh issue of 1.02 crore equity shares. Also Read | Internet User Alert: Never Search on These Things on Internet in 2023, As You Might Land in Trouble. Price range for the offer is at Rs 61-65 a share. Pantomath Capital Advisors is the manager to the offer. The Udaipur-based company provides tailored bulk packaging solutions to business-to-business producers in a variety of industries, including agro pesticides, basic drugs, cement, chemicals, fertilisers, food products, textiles, ceramics, and steel. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE. (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, Jan 2 (PTI) Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court judgement upholding the decision of the Modi government to demonetise high value currency notes in November 2016. On November 8, 2016 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced demonetisation of old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 banknotes and one of the key objectives of the unprecedented decision was to promote digital payments and curb black money flows. Also Read | Audi Witnesses Sales Jump of 27.14% Accounting to 4,187 Units in 2022. "Welcome the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgement today on Demonetization. A five-judge Constitution Bench (via a 4-1 majority) has upheld the Demonetization after carefully examining the issue & has dismissed several petitions challenging the decision," Sitharaman said in a series of tweets. "There were consultations between the Centre & RBI for a period of 6 months. There is a reasonable nexus to bring such a measure & it satisfies the test of proportionality. Decision-making process cannot be faulted merely because the proposal emanated from the Centre," she said, quoting the judgement. Also Read | Internet User Alert: Never Search on These Things on Internet in 2023, As You Might Land in Trouble. "SC: "Section 26(2) RBI Act cannot be struck down as unconstitutional on the ground of excessive delegation. There has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy. The court cannot supplant the wisdom of executive with its wisdom"," she said. In another tweet, she said the apex court has remarked that "the central government's decision was after RBI board's approval which shows in-built safeguard against centre's powers. It cannot be said that there is excessive delegation of power under the RBI Act to the Centre which is answerable to the Parliament." Even the dissenting judge has said that "Demonetization was a well-intentioned and well-thought-of decision to target evils plaguing the nation's economy, such as black money, terror funding and counterfeit currency", the finance minister added. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict upheld the government's 2016 decision to demonetise the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes. There has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy and the court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive by a judicial review of its decision, a five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, headed by Justice S A Nazeer, said. Justice B V Nagarathna dissented from the majority judgment on the point of the Centre's powers under section 26(2) of the RBI Act and said the scrapping of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 series notes had to be done through a legislation and not through a notification. "Parliament should have discussed the law on demonetisation, the process should not have been done through a gazette notification. Parliament cannot be left aloof on an issue of such critical importance for the country," Justice Nagarathna said. She also said there was no independent application of mind by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and only its opinion was sought, which cannot be said to be a recommendation. The bench, also comprising justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said the Centre's decision-making process could not have been flawed as there was consultation between the RBI and the Union government. The top court's judgment came on a batch of 58 petitions challenging the demonetisation exercise announced by the Centre on November 8, 2016. According to Reserve Bank data, the currency in circulation (CIC) in value terms soared from Rs 17.74 lakh crore on November 4, 2016, to Rs 32.42 lakh crore on December 23, 2022. However, soon after demonetisation, the CIC fell precipitously to a low of about Rs 9 lakh crore on January 6, 2017, nearly 50 per cent of Rs 17.74 lakh crore on November 4, 2016. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing, Jan 2 (AP) Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travellers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. Australian health authorities said Sunday that from January 5 all air travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao will need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within two days of their departure. Also Read | Brazil: Lula da Silva Sworn In for Third Term as President Amid Fears of Violence From Jair Bolsonaro Supporters. Canadian authorities announced similar measures that will also come into effect January 5 in a statement dated Saturday a move experts say isn't very effective. Kerry Bowman, assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said the requirement is not based on science at this point." Also Read | Mexico Shooting: Ten Security Guards, Four Inmates Killed After Gunmen Open Fire on Mexican Border Prison in Ciudad Juarez; 24 Inmates Escaped. "This isn't the early days of the pandemic," he said. It's pretty clear that point-of-entry screening is not very effective at all. Often people can test positive days and weeks later. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, associate professor at University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said it's not entirely clear what the policy's goals are, but such measures have not helped. We know from the past that very focused and targeted travel measures such as this don't do much to prevent the spread of COVID, either by importing COVID to Canada, or by the threat of variants of concern in Canada, he said. Australia and Canada join other countries including the US, UK, India, Japan and several European nations in imposing tougher COVID-19 measures on Chinese travellers amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China and fears of the possibility that new variants may spread. Research has shown how the virus spreads through human mobility, which means that the next variant of the virus may not even emerge from China, and even if it did, it could land in Canada from other indirect routes, Bowman said, adding that a more effective measure would be testing wastewater from airplanes and airports to check for the viral load and mutations. Vancouver International Airport said Saturday it would expand its wastewater testing pilot programme. China, which for most of the pandemic adopted a zero-COVID strategy that imposed harsh restrictions aimed at stamping out the virus, abruptly eased those measures in December. Chinese authorities previously said that from January 8, overseas travellers would no longer need to quarantine upon arriving in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel. Hong Kong is also preparing for quarantine-free travel to China, with plans to resume operations of more border checkpoints as early as January 8, according to a Facebook post by Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan. However, a quota will remain in place limiting the number of travellers between the two places. Depending on the first phase of the situation, we will gradually expand the scale for a complete reopening of the border, Chan said. In China, eased restrictions meant that residents could celebrate New Year's in large-scale gatherings that were prohibited for much of the pandemic, even though the country is experiencing a massive outbreak of cases. There are still some worries, more or less, said Wu Yanxia, a 51-year-old Beijing resident who works at a logistic company. I hope that next year everything will be normal, such as domestic travel. Others hope that 2023 will bring better things after a difficult past year. We have experienced a very uneven year, particularly unforgettable, with many things out of our imagination, said Li Feng, a teacher in Beijing, adding that 2022 was a difficult year for both the people and the government. But I think we have come through and everything will be fine, Li said. All of us will be better, and better in both work and life. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berlin, Jan 2 (AP) The German government on Monday condemned incidents on New Year's Eve in which police officers and firefighters were attacked, mostly with fireworks. People across Germany on Saturday resumed their tradition of setting off large numbers of fireworks in public places to see in the new year. That followed two years in which sales of fireworks were banned as part of efforts to avoid overloading hospitals and discourage large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also Read | US: Baggage Handler at Alabama Facility Dies After Being 'Sucked' Into Plane Engine in Horrifying Mishap. The celebrations were accompanied by a large number of cases in which emergency officials were assailed with fireworks. In Berlin, the fire service counted at least 38 such attacks and said 15 officers were injured. Police said they had 18 injured officers, German news agency dpa reported. Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said, "this scale of readiness to use violence and destruction ... damages our city." She tweeted that her administration will discuss expanding the number of areas in which fireworks are banned. Also Read | Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lankas Ousted President, Applies for US Citizenship Restoration: Media Report. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who thanked police for intervening with more than 100 arrests in Berlin alone, said, "the perpetrators must now feel the legal consequences clearly." Government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his administration "of course condemn in the strongest terms these, in some cases, massive assaults." (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ramallah, Jan 2 (AP) Israeli forces killed a Palestinian militant and a civilian during clashes that erupted early Monday when troops entered a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians said. Samer Houshiyeh, 21, was shot several times in the chest and civilian Fouad Abed also was killed, said Samer Attiyeh, director of Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin. Also Read | Brazil: Lula da Silva Sworn In for Third Term as President Amid Fears of Violence From Jair Bolsonaro Supporters. The hospital official said Abed was 17, but the Palestinian health ministry in a later statement said Abed was 25. In a statement, al-Aqsa Brigades, a militant group linked with President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, said Houshiyeh was a member. Also Read | Mexico Shooting: Ten Security Guards, Four Inmates Killed After Gunmen Open Fire on Mexican Border Prison in Ciudad Juarez; 24 Inmates Escaped. The brigades published an earlier photo in which Houshiyeh posed with rifles. Video on social media showed his body wrapped with the armed group's flag as his mother and other mourners bid farewell. The clashes erupted in Kafr Dan near the northern city of Jenin. The Israeli military said it entered the town late Sunday to demolish the houses of two Palestinian gunmen who killed an Israeli soldier during a firefight in September. The year 2022 was the deadliest in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since 2006. The Israeli military has conducted near-daily raids into Palestinian cities and towns, killing more than 150 Palestinians. The Israeli army says most of the Palestinians killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in confrontations have also been killed. Israel captured the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war and the Palestinians seek those territories for a future state. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], January 2 (ANI): China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in an op-ed piece for US-based magazine, The National Interest, has indicated that Beijing seeks to improve ties with New Delhi. Days before replacing Wang Yi, Qin in an article titled "How China Sees the World", referred to India-China border issues and said, "both sides are willing to ease the situation and jointly protect peace along their borders." Also Read | Brazil: Lula da Silva Sworn In for Third Term as President Amid Fears of Violence From Jair Bolsonaro Supporters. The Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake in the west of the LAC, have hosted flashpoints in recent years. In the east in Tawang, the site of the latest scuffle, there are discussions about Buddhist holy sites whose control can have implications for China's authority over Tibet and its next spiritual leader according to a report in Newsweek. Recently, India and China held the 17th Round of Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on December 20 and agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. Also Read | Mexico Shooting: Ten Security Guards, Four Inmates Killed After Gunmen Open Fire on Mexican Border Prison in Ciudad Juarez; 24 Inmates Escaped. "In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The MEA statement said the two sides agreed to stay in close contact, and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. Qin, meanwhile also blamed the US for challenging the status quo on Taiwan, and Japan for altering the status quo in the South China Sea. "China's development means a stronger force for peace, not a growing power poised to 'break the status quo', as some call it. The tension across the Taiwan Strait was not created by the Chinese mainland breaking the status quo, but by 'Taiwan independence' separatists and external forces continually challenging the status quo of 'one China'," Qin wrote. "In the case of the East China Sea, it was Japan who attempted to 'nationalize' Diaoyu Dao ten years ago, altering the "status quo" between China and Japan by agreeing to put aside differences. In the South China Sea, the status quo is that regional countries are consulting on a code of conduct that will lead to meaningful and effective rules for the region," he wrote. Earlier, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call with Qin, discussed the Washington-Beijing ties and keeping the lines of communication open. Taking to Twitter, Blinken said, "Spoke by phone this morning with incoming People's Republic of China Foreign Minister Qin Gang as he departs Washington for his new role. We discussed the US-PRC relationship and maintaining open lines of communication." Qin, who was China's ambassador to the United States, was appointed as the country's new foreign minister on Friday. This decision was made by the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Global Times reported. Qin, 56, replaced Wang, who is now a Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councillor, the report added. On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador had warned Washington that it could face "military conflict" with Beijing over the future status of Taiwan. "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict," Qin told US-based publication NPR in his first one-on-one interview since assuming his post in Washington, last July. Qin, who arrived in Washington last year at a time of bipartisan discontent with China, told NPR that any idea of "changing China" was always "an illusion". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar/Berhampur, January 2: As the deaths of two Russian tourists, including a law maker of that country, were being investigated, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Rayagada SP seeking an Action Taken Report (ATR) within four weeks. The order was based a petition filed by human rights activist Rabindra Kumar Mishra of Berhampur town. The human rights body said the ATR should be submitted within four weeks from the date of receiving the letter, which was issued on Friday. Mishra told reporters in Berhampur that he requested the commission to look into the matter considering the sensitivity of the issue involving foreign nationals. Russian Refugee and Putins Critic Andrew Glagolev Found Begging at Bhubaneswar Railway Station; Detained by Odisha Police. Pavel Antov (65), a lawmaker in Russia, died after allegedly falling from a hotel's third floor in Rayagada on December 24, while his friend Vladimir Bidenov (61) was found dead in his room on December 22. Two separate cases of unnatural deaths were registered at the Sadar Police Station in Rayagada. A four-member CB team, including two forensic experts, was formed to assist the CID in probing into the deaths. The investigating agency has also collected the burnt remnants of Antov and Bidenov from a cremation ground near Rayagada, according to an official statement. The burnt remnants will be sent for forensic examination, it said. The post-mortem report of the Russian MP indicates that he died of internal injury after a fall, while that of Bidenov points to a heart attack as the cause of death, police said. The last rites of the two deceased were completed with the consent of their family members and the Russian Embassy. The team checked the hotel rooms where the deceased foreign tourists were staying from December 21 and seized their gadgets and other belongings. The CB team also recorded the statement of Russian couple Turov Mikhail and Pane Senko Natalia, who accompanied Antov and Bidenov. Russian Nationals Death Case: Odisha Police Receives NOC From Family for Cremation; Ashes To Be Sent to Russia. The Odisha police have urged the Russian couple not to leave India immediately as the investigation was in progress. Meanwhile, Odisha DGP SK Bansal said that best of investigators were engaged in the probe though no evidence of any foul play has been found so far. A group of four Russians, including Antov and Bidenov, along with their Delhi-based tour guide Jitendra Singh reached Odisha on December 19 and they first visited Daringbadi in Kandhamal district on December 20 before proceeding to Rayagada town where they checked in the hotel on December 21. Tunisha Sharma's mother has accepted her mistake of neglecting her daughter's depression for a long time. She revealed that it was due to childhood trauma in her life. Tunisha Sharma Suicide: Sheezan Khans Kin Rubbishes Late Actress Mother Claims, Says Actor Never Compelled Her to Embrace Islam. Check Out the Tweet Below: Tunisha Sharma death case | Tunisha's mother accepted that she has been neglecting Tunisha & that she didn't take care of her. Tunisha's depression was due to her childhood trauma: Sheezan's sister & Co-actor Falaq Naaz pic.twitter.com/RigCXW5FEv ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) The death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has overshadowed the Vatican's New Year celebrations as the entire papal state is in mourning as 2023 arrives. Pope Francis then took to social media to ask the world to pray for his predecessor. At this time, let us invoke the intercession of Mary Most Holy for Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all join together, with one heart and one soul, in thanking God for the gift of this faithful servant of the Gospel and of the Church. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 1, 2023 The former pope's health has been declining for some time, but the Vatican has not revealed the exact cause of his death. The Vatican noted that his body will be placed in St Peter's Basilica from January 2 for "the greeting of the faithful." His funeral is scheduled for January 5, with Pope Francis leading the ceremony. Benedict was the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. He did so because of his ailing health. The bells tolled at the Munich Cathedral when the Vatican announced his death. Before becoming a pope, he was previously the Archbishop of Munich, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. When Pope John Paul II died, he was elected as the next pope and was considered the oldest pope to ever be elected by the College of Cardinals. READ NEXT: Pope Benedict Is "Very Sick," the Vatican Confirms Pope Francis Visited Pope Benedict XVI at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery After His Death The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, revealed that a few minutes after 9:34 a.m., the hour of Pope Benedict XVI's death, Pope Francis visited his predecessor at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. The pope went to the monastery immediately after being informed by the special secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein. Vatican News has reported that the pope's body is now lying in repose at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery's chapel "next to a large crucifix, a nativity scene, and a Christmas tree." For now, only visits by cardinals and those who have close connections with the man who was the Archbishop of Rome and Successor of Saint Peter are allowed. There will be a private rite Tuesday where they will transfer Pope Benedict XVI's body to St Peter's Basilica to be venerated by the faithful. During his New Year's Day Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis asked for the Virgin Mary's intercession for the former pope's soul. He also asked all those gathered to say a prayer for him. With this, the around 40,000 people in attendance erupted in applause, some of them even bearing banners with the late pope's name and German flags as Pope Benedict used to be the top Church official in the country. Pope Benedict XVI Used to Quietly Stop Church Sexual Abuse While blamed and criticized for his lack of action in stopping Catholic priests from abusing minors, Pope Benedict XVI was actually quite active in preventing them privately. According to the Associated Press, the late pope did more than his predecessors to stopping clergy sexual abuse. While a conservative, Benedict pushed through revolutionary changes to church law to make it easier to defrock predator priests. He was also known for firing hundreds of them. Among his most notable actions was taking action against a serial pedophile priest who was once part of the late Saint John Paul II's inner circle. READ MORE: The Vatican Dismisses Pro-Trump Priest for Blasphemous Posts on Social Media This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: First Photos of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Lying in State at Mater Ecclesiae Monastery - From ROME REPORTS The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows qualified stores, including big retailers, to accept SNAP benefits payments. There is a store eligibility requirements that the FNS Imposed on authorized retailers. It includes the store having three stocking units of three different varieties for each staple food category continuously. Two staple food categories must also have at least one perishable variety. A store must also have more than 50% of its total gross retail sales from staple food sales. Butcher shops are usually SNAP-authorized stores due to this eligibility requirement. In 2019, the USDA allowed SNAP benefits payments to be accepted during online purchases through the SNAP Online Purchasing pilot program. The pilot program tested both online ordering and payment. SNAP beneficiaries were able to use their benefits to purchase eligible food items but were not able to use SNAP benefits to pay for service or delivery charges. The pilot program included Amazon and Walmart as participating retailers in the pilot launch of the program. READ NEXT: SNAP Benefits 2023: 4 Changes You Should Expect From SNAP Payments This New Year SNAP Benefits Walmart Walmart noted on its website that paying your online purchases using the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card is accepted on 49 states. In Alaska, SNAP participants can use their EBT cards at pickup. To use SNAP benefits online in buying goods in Walmart, customers should select payment methods and choose the option to add an EBT card to their account. The SNAP benefits funds cannot cover the entire order. Recipients should pay the remaining amount with a personal debit or credit card. Upon payment, you will then be directed to an external page and be asked to enter your PIN. California, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas are among the states accepting SNAP benefits online on Walmart. Walmart stores also accept SNAP benefits in their physical stores. SNAP Benefits Kroger and Other Stores More than 70 retailers accept EBT cards for online orders, including grocery chains, e-retailers like Amazon, and online delivery platforms such as Instacart. Kroger is included in the list of large retail chains accepting SNAP benefits payments. In 2020, Kroger Co. started taking SNAP benefits for its online grocery pickup service. The retail giant noted that SNAP beneficiaries can shop online for groceries at Kroger.com or through the Kroger mobile app and collect their order curbside at a Kroger store near them. Kroger said the pickup service offers a "low-contact, convenient service" to customers concerned about shopping in stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from its pickup service, it also accepts EBT cards in all its locations, which allows customers to pay for their groceries. Customers can pay for their SNAP purchases using their EBT cards as credit or debit cards when getting their orders from Kroger stores and for delivery. The retail giant announced last March that SNAP recipients will get free delivery for any order above $35. SNAP benefits recipients can also use their EBT cards at checkout on B.J.'s website or its mobile app. EBT card users can also choose the type of service they want, whether it is a free pickup, shipping, or same-day delivery. Other large retail stores accepting SNAP benefits payments include Aldi, Food Lion, Publix, Safeway, ShopRite, Stop&Shop, Hy-Vee, and H-E-B. READ MORE: Disaster SNAP Benefits Update: Are You Eligible for New Florida Payments? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Walmart Accepting EBT for Online Orders - From News4JAX The Local Station Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said he is afraid for the "future of this country" if former President Donald Trump is not criminally charged for his alleged role in the January 6 insurrection. In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Kinzinger noted that "if this is not a crime, I don't know what is." Kinzinger was one of two Republican members of the House January 6 committee to probe the Capitol riot. The Republican lawmaker added that if a president "can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable," there is no limit to what a president "can do or can't do." The January 6 panel referred four criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department. The committee recommended that prosecutors pursue charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and "incite," "assist," or "aid or comfort" an insurrection. The criminal referrals do not obligate the Justice Department to push for any charges. However, it could aid the agency in conducting its own probe. READ NEXT: Donald Trump's Tax Returns to Be Released by Congress, Sources Say Adam Kinzinger in January 6 Panel Probe The Republican lawmaker also criticized his fellow Republicans for allowing Trump to still influence the U.S. political landscape by downplaying Donald Trump's alleged incitement of the riot. Adam Kinzinger also blamed House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who is currently aiming for the House speakership. Kinzinger noted that McCarthy is "the reason Donald Trump is still a factor," adding that McCarthy also contributes to "some of the crazy elements of the House." The outgoing Republican representative noted that Trump should consider McCarthy "his best friend" as the former president is still politically alive due to the Republican leader. Kinzinger added that the Republican party is "not the future" of the United States "unless it corrects." He noted that if people are eyeing a "successful America in 20 years," it will not happen based on what "Marjorie Taylor Greene wants." Kinzinger also took a jab against former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans for failing to convict Trump during his impeachment hearing. Other Republicans on Donald Trump Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas also shared his opinion on Donald Trump's January 6 insurrection probe. Hutchinson noted that the January 6 Capitol riot "disqualifies" Trump from winning the 2024 GOP nomination. The Arkansas governor said he does not believe that Trump should be the next president, adding that the January 6 incident "really disqualifies him for the future." The Republican governor noted that he wants to see the alternatives for the position, adding that he wants to see everything he can do to ensure that there will be "the alternative and that Donald Trump is not the nominee of the party." Meanwhile, the former president has repeatedly denied the allegations against him regarding the insurrection that happened on Capitol Hill. Donald Trump even accused the January 6 panel of politically persecuting him. READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits He Didn't Win Presidential Election 2020 During Interview With Presidential Historians This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Bash Asks Kinzinger if Trump Will Be Charged for January 6. Hear His Response - From CNN As New Year's Day hit Brazil, the largest democracy in South America entered a new era as Lula was sworn in as the country's president. During his inauguration, Lula promised to get Brazil "out of Jair Bolsonaro's era of "devastation, barbarism, and hate." During his address to the country's National Congress in Brasilia, Lula, whose real name is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, promised he would also lead Brazil into a new chapter of environmental protection, social progress, and "rational democratic" government. He told lawmakers that this was a big win for democracy and then said, "Long live democracy! Long live the Brazilian people!" This made lawmakers erupt in loud cheers, according to The Guardian. However, as Lula gets inaugurated, Brazil faces increasing political division as he won a surprisingly close race against then-sitting President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite Bolsonaro's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and a failing economy, as well as supporting businesses that have led to massive deforestation of the Amazon and the displacement of indigenous people, Bolsonaro still managed to give Lula a tough race, forcing a run-off election against Lula. Lula Hits Former President Jair Bolsonaro in Inauguration Speech In his speech, Lula promised hope and reconstruction as tens of thousands of people cheered him on. However, he addressed the previous administration without even uttering Bolsonaro's name. Lula promised to revoke many of Bolsonaro's "criminal decrees." According to the Associated Press, this included loose Bolsonaro-era gun control laws. He also blamed the previous administration for the bungled COVID-19 response. READ MORE: Lula: Former Brazilain President, Current Presidential Front-Runner, and Secret Billionaire? While he said that his administration does not "carry the spirit of revenge," Lula stated that he will be going after "those who sought to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs." In other words, he vowed to go after Bolsonaro without even mentioning his name. He added, "Those who erred will answer for their errors, with broad rights to their defense within the due legal process." Security Tight During Lula's Presidential Inauguration Brazil is now politically divided after the election, with many Bolsonaro supporters threatening violence during Lula's inauguration. Because of this, security was tight during the leftist leader's swearing-in ceremony. Al Jazeera reported that Brazilian authorities deployed 10,000 police and military personnel to strengthen security. Participants were also searched as they entered the premises, with police and military not allowing attendees to bring bottles, cans, flag masts, or toy guns. While Bolsonaro loosened gun laws in Brazil, civilians were temporarily banned from carrying firearms as the inauguration happened, as threats to Lula's life were still active. Bolsonaro did not attend his successor's inauguration, making Lula the first incoming president to not receive the yellow-and-green sash from his predecessor. Instead, Lula received the sash from a black woman, as Bolsonaro vowed he would never do the symbolic act of the peaceful transfer of power. READ MORE: Brazil: US Diplomats Assure Swift Recognition of Election Winner Amid Fears of Jair Bolsonaro Pulling Donald Trump Move This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Lula breaks down in tears after being sworn in as Brazil's president - NBC News Social media company Twitter is currently facing a lawsuit after California Property Trust noted in its legal filings that Elon Musk's company failed to pay $136,250 in rent. The California Property Trust notified Twitter on December 16 that it would default on its lease for the 30th floor of the Hartford Building if it did not pay its outstanding rent within five days. California Property Trust said Twitter failed to follow the order, according to its complaint with the San Francisco County Superior Court. Twitter had a seven-year lease for the building space in 2017. Aside from its lawsuit for failing to pay for its rent, Twitter is also accused of refusing to pay for two charter flights in October worth $187,725. The lawsuit was filed last month in New Hampshire District Court. Musk has since brought SpaceX lawyers to Twitter to ramp up the social media company's legal team. Earlier reports circulated that Twitter stopped paying rent in recent weeks on all of its global offices to cut operational costs. READ NEXT: Twitter Closes Seattle Office as It Faces Eviction After Elon Musk's Takeover; Security and Janitorial Services Also Removed Twitter San Francisco Office Twitter San Francisco offices have been cut from four floors to two and have slashed its janitorial services for almost a month. Janitors working in the company went on strike in early December, clamoring for better wages, and Musk responded by getting rid of the janitorial services. Remaining workers noted that the Twitter San Francisco office "is in disarray," noting that people were packed into more confined spaces and the smell of "leftover takeout food and body odor has lingered on the floors." The recent development prompted the remaining workers to reportedly bring their own toilet paper. An internal document showed that Musk has sought to save about $500 million in nonlabor costs. Musk said that Twitter had "a little over 2,000 people." The company has also skipped payments to the accounting and consulting firm KPMG. Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover Musk fired Twitter senior executives when he gained control of the company. He also slashed the social media company's workforce by 50%. The new Twitter CEO also admitted that the company saw a "massive drop in revenue" after he successfully completed his Twitter buyout deal. Musk then blamed it on campaign groups lobbying advertisers about the future of safety and content guidelines. Among the brands that paused their spending on the platform include Audi, Pfizer, and General Motors. Twitter also launched the social media's premium service "Blue," wherein users can verify their accounts for just $8 a month. The introduction of the Blue service aims to curb spam accounts, according to Musk. Musk also lifted the suspensions on the accounts operated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, British-American former kickboxer Andrew Tate, and Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson. American rapper Kanye West was also reinstated but was suspended again after he tweeted a swastika within a star of David. READ MORE: Elon Musk Warns World: Global Recession Could Last 'Until Spring' 24' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: WATCH: Signs Projected On Twitter Headquarters After Musks Employee Ultimatum - from NBC News Ten guards and four prisoners were killed early on Sunday morning when gunmen in armored trucks stormed a state prison in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas, state officials confirm. Thirteen other inmates were injured. According to a statement released by the state prosecutor's office in Chihuahua, armed men came in armored vehicles to the prison at around 7 a.m. and began firing on guards. The Associated Press noted that at least 24 convicts managed to break out of the prison. Late on Sunday, the Mexican army and state police retook the facility. Officials from the state attorney general's office have stated that they are looking into the Mexico border prison attack. READ NEXT: Top Sinaloa Cartel Hitman Linked to the Rescue of El Chapo's Son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Killed in Mexico Prison Riot Four Suspects Arrested, Two Killed Following Mexico Border Prison Attack According to the attorney general's office, the escape occurred after a brutal attack on the jail by gunmen who came in bulletproof trucks to strike security officers. Authorities reported that inmates fled while law enforcement and suspects engaged in gunfights in the city streets. A short time after the prison breach, municipal police personnel in Juarez were attacked on Manuel Gomez Morn Avenue. According to El Paso Times, authorities arrested four individuals after a high-speed chase that began with an attack involving a Ford Expedition. Another attempt on Panamericana Avenue was stopped by law enforcement, and two suspects in a Hummer were killed. Officials said that the prison had been retaken by state police, the Mexican army, and the National Guard by noon and that an investigation was ongoing. The authorities have declared a "maximum alert" status following the Mexico border prison attack. The Most Notorious Juarez Prison The Cereso state prison in Juarez is home to one of the most hazardous prisons in Latin America. Brutal riots are common in this Juarez prison, which killed 20 in 2009 and 17 in 2011, per NPR. In August, a gang brawl in prison resulted in the deaths of three inmates, prompting the intervention of the Mexican army and the National Guard. Visitors reported hearing gunfire as families, including children, fled for safety during a family visiting hour when the chaos broke out. According to a statement released by the state's attorney general's office, a fight broke out in one wing of the prison at 1 p.m. Soldiers from the Mexican armed forces, National Guard troops, and state and local police were called in to help the jail staff retake the compound, El Paso Times reported. Law enforcement officials stayed at the location of the incident to maintain order while an investigation was conducted. There has been a rise in murders in Juarez prisons, including beheadings and dismemberments, which are said to be related to rivalries between criminal gangs, contributing to the recent bloodshed. Government officials have reported that the Mexicles, a notorious Mexico crime group, operate the facility. Prison inmates, according to authorities, have plotted and directed attacks on the city of Juarez throughout the years. READ MORE: Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Assassin 'Grim Reaper' Gets Life in Prison; Gulf Cartel Boss 'El Contador' Indicted This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 14 dead, 24 inmates escaped Cereso after riot New Year's Day 5P - From KVIA ABC-7 Prince Harry's upcoming memoir "Spare" has everyone wondering what the highlight of his most-awaited book will be. Many speculated that the book will be full of accusations against the Duke of Sussex's father, King Charles. However, one insider claimed that it was not the case. The book will reportedly discuss the trauma of the death of his mother, Princess Diana, and sharp criticisms of his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton. The insider noted that William and Kate will get a lot sharper scrutiny than they expected. The same source added that the book will be "worse for them than the royal family is expecting," with details laid bare and the king "coming out of it better" than projected. Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" will be released on January 10 by Penguin Random House. READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Netflix Mansion in Montecito on Sale for a Whopping $33.5 Million Prince Harry Memoir 'Spare' New claims reported that after Harry's upcoming memoir was leaked to the press, warnings were issued to the royal family. The insiders noted "minute details" and descriptions of the fight between Harry and William. The same source noted that they cannot see how Harry and William will be able to reconcile once the memoir is released. The book's publication will be with two major broadcast interviews, one in the United Kingdom for ITV by Tom Bradby. Anderson Cooper will also interview Harry for CBS' 60 Minutes. The two interviews are expected to be released on January 8. Meanwhile, there have been reports that Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, is reportedly planning her own. One source noted that Markle plans to write a book and leave no stone unturned. The source went on to say that there is a feeling that there is little to lose and "may as well go ahead." The insider said that the process "is already quietly underway." Prince Harry and Prince William's Relationship Reports of a rift between the two brothers made headlines in 2018 after the Sussexes chose to move away from Nottingham Cottage in London to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor in England. One source noted that the brothers had grown apart over the years. The same source said in October 2019 that William still cares about his younger brother and hopes that Harry will open up to him about his current struggles. In November 2019, it was reported that things between the two brothers were "not great." In January 2020, Harry and Markle decided to step back from their senior royal duties, which was then made permanent in February 2021. Recently, the Prince and Princess of Wales went to Boston for a short trip in the United States. However, the two did not make any plans to see Harry and Markle. The Netflix docuseries of the Sussexes aired last December, which featured claims against the royal family and the treatment they received while they were part of the monarchy. READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Royal Titles Could Be 'In Danger' With New Monarch as King Charles - Royal Expert This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Royals braced for more revelations in Prince Harry memoir - from Sky News One Florida man identified as Derek Clifton Strang was arrested after he was accused of choking an Uber driver and trying to steal his vehicle. Strang was charged with one count of carjacking with a firearm or other deadly weapon, according to online court records of Brevard County. The Uber driver told police that a man choked him and kicked him out of his red Jeep Cherokee while he was giving the Florida man a ride. Strang was sitting in the back passenger's seat of the vehicle and reportedly slid into the seat behind the driver and started choking him. READ NEXT: Florida: Police Officer Caught on Video Mercilessly Dragging Woman to Jail, Now Fired Florida Man Choking Uber Driver The arrest report noted that the sheriff's office received a call from the driver reporting that a man choked and kicked him out of his red Jeep. Deputies noted that the Uber driver picked up Strang on Wednesday in Merritt Island around 11:20 p.m. The driver approached a Chili's restaurant in Merritt Island and Strang slid over to the driver's side. He then placed both of his arms around the driver's throat and started choking him. The driver was able to pull over to the Chili's parking lot and was able to get free. He went out of the car and called 911. The Uber driver said in the released 911 call that "someone tried to steal my car," and the passenger tried to drive it "but he couldn't." Strang also called 911 and claimed to the dispatcher that he was being kidnapped by the Uber driver. Strang tried to drive away but he never made it out of the parking lot. Investigators noted that deputies found a pocketknife on him once he was handcuffed. Meanwhile, Brevard County deputies are still looking at the incidents to what led to the assault. Crimes Involving an Uber Driver In November, another Florida man called an Uber driver, robbed a bank, and fled after stealing the car he had arrived at the bank. The accused Florida man took an Uber to the Chase Bank, entered the bank, pulled out a handgun, and left the gun with an unreported amount of money. He then went on to get in the Uber and left the scene of the crime. The Florida man suspect was identified as Javier Rafael Camacho-Cepede. The Uber driver called the police to report the crime and said that the suspect carjacked his vehicle. Des Moines Police report noted that what was unique about the incident was the suspect took the Uber and took the Uber vehicle away while he was fleeing. The 22-year-old suspect faced two counts of first-degree robbery. In New Orleans, a woman working as an Uber driver was stabbed to death in the parking lot of a hotel in December. Police said that the victim was killed by a man who "just wanted to kill someone," according to authorities. Sheriff Joseph Lopinto confirmed that the woman died from her injuries after she was brought to the hospital. READ MORE: Rafael Caro Quintero's Wife Denies Legal Battle With Guadalajara Cartel Founder Over Alimony Demand This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Crime statistics say Jacksonville has highest murder rate in Florida - from FirstCoast News Laurel, MS (39440) Today Generally cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The number of children from the Ukraine attending Laois schools appears to be relatively high compared to neighbouring counties especially Kildare which has far more schools. The Department of Education confirmed that as of 22 December, 13,753 Ukrainian pupils have been enrolled in schools across Ireland. Out of that figure, 8,823 of these pupils have been accommodated in primary schools while 4,930 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. It also published a county by county table which showed that there were 189 children from Ukraine in Laois schools. Of these, 112 were in primary and 77 attending secondary schools. The Laois number exceeds bordering counties of Carlow where there are 170 and Offaly which has just 131 children from Ukraine at its schools. Kildare, given the size of the county, has a relatively low 220 children from Ukraine. This contrasts with Kilkenny which seems to be taking an above average share with 263 children at its schools who are Ukrainian. Tipperary has accommodated 272 children who have fled the Russians. MORE BELOW TABLE. The latest official figures published on December 19 show that there were 798 child and adult war refugees in Laois to the week ending Sunday, December 11. The Department says that to assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate, hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. The Department adds that these teams are ensuring that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine. Information for parents in Ukrainian and Russian on accessing school places is available on gov.ie/Ukraine. The Department says it will continue to publish figures on the enrolment of Ukrainian children each month. The death has occurred of Pat (Hank) Cummins Ballysax, Kildare Pat (Hank) Cummins, Ballysax, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, (Eircode R56 R500) who died on January 1st, 2023. Deeply regretted by his wife Betty, brothers in law, sisters in law, cousins relatives and a large circle of friends. "May He Rest In Peace" Funeral Arrangements Later The death has occurred of Madge FITZGERALD Mount Carmel, Newbridge, Kildare FITZGERALD Madge (Mount Carmel, Newbridge, Co. Kildare) - 1st January 2023 (peacefully). Sadly missed by all of her loving family. May Madge Rest in Peace Funeral Arrangements Later The death has occurred of Anthony (Tony) Kelly White Thorn Lodge, Timahoe, Donadea, Kildare Kelly, Anthony (Tony), Timahoe, Donadea, Co. Kildare, January 1st 2023, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family in his 90th year, beloved husband of the late Patricia and father of the late Gerry, deeply regretted by his loving sons Laurence and Martin, daughters Lena, Mary and Joan, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends. Rest In Peace Anthony will be reposing at his residence on Tuesday (Jan. 3rd) from 4pm to 8pm with evening prayers at 7:30pm. Removal from his residence on Wednesday (Jan. 4th) at approx 10:30am to arrive at St. Benignus Church, Staplestown, for 11am funeral mass, followed by burial in Staplestown Cemetery. Those who are unable to attend the funeral, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolences section below. Family flowers only please, donations can be made in memory of Anthony to the Friends of St. Brigid's Hospice, The Curragh, by clicking on the following link:https://friendsofstbrigidshospice.ie/ways-to-donate/ House strictly private on Wednesday morning, please. For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Ltd. Funeral Directors on (045) 868230 The death has occurred of Martin Joseph Shiel Newtown, Rathangan, Kildare, R51 A997 / Johnstown, Kilkenny Formerly of Bawnmore, Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny. peacefully at Ashley Lodge Nursing Home surrounded by his loving family. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Frances, sons Andrew and Daniel, daughter-in-law Lorna, his adored grandchildren Lara and Aria, his loving brothers and sisters and his deceased brother Pat, brothers and sister in law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. May Martin Rest in Peace Reposing at his family home on Tuesday (January 3rd) from 1o'clock with Rosary at 7o'clock. Removal by Glennons Funeral Directors on Wednesday morning (January 4th) to arrive at the Church of Assumption & St. Patrick, Rathangan for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock. Burial afterwards in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Rathangan. House private on Wednesday morning, please. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to "The Parkinsons Association of Ireland" at https://www.idonate.ie/cause/parkinsons. Messages of sympathy may be left in the Condolence section below. Mass can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/c/icatholicplayer The death has occurred of Mary (Maura) Kerr (nee Muldowney) Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Kildare Kerr, (nee Muldowney), Mary (Maura), Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Co. Kildare, December 30th 2022, peacefully in the care of Mount Pleasant Lodge Nursing Home, Kilcock, predeceased by her loving husband Dan, daughters Yvonne and Geraldine and grandson Gregory, deeply missed and forever loved by her loving children Lorraine, Donal, Mina, Pauline and Patricia, sons-in-law Pat, Sean and Damien, sister Lily, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and family friends. Rest In Peace Reposing at Oliver Reilly's Funeral Home, Woods House, Clane (W91YPX4) on Monday (Jan. 2nd) from 5:30pm - 8pm with evening prayers at 7pm. Removal from the Funeral Home on Tuesday (Jan. 3rd) at approx. 10am to arrive at the Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid, Clane for 10:30am Funeral Mass, followed by burial in Mainham Cemetery, Clane. Those who are unable to attend the funeral, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolences section below. The Funeral Mass can be viewed live on Tuesday (Jan. 3rd) at 10:30am by clicking on the following link : https://www.claneparish.com/webcam/ Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues. Family flowers only please, donations can be made in memory of Mary to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland by clicking on the following link : https://alzheimer.ie/get-involved/become-a-friend-support-asi/donate/ For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Ltd. Funeral Directors on (045) 868230. Samaritans volunteers answered almost 1,000 calls a day last year as people continued to struggle with the impact of COVID and the lifting of restrictions, annual figures show. On a local level, Judy Murphy, the interim Director of Newbridge and Kildare Samaritans, said Newbridge answered approximately 27,500 calls in 2021 which added up to almost 5,000 hours on the phones. We currently have 65 listening volunteers in our local branch who dedicate their time and efforts in supporting individuals struggling to cope, feeling isolated or even in a moment of crisis. I am immensely proud of every single one of out volunteers for what they do, she said. We are always looking for new volunteers to join us . I ask anyone who is interested in volunteering with us to register on: www.samaritans.org/ireland /support-us/volunteer/. Our next recruitment will start in th new year with training thereafter. The Samaritans Ireland Impact Report for 2021, was launched by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler in November. Helpline It showed volunteers spent almost 70,000 hours on the phone giving support to callers. Samaritans is the only 24-hour emotional support helpline which covers the island of Ireland, with over 2,000 volunteers in 21 branches nationwide (13 in the Republic of Ireland and eight in Norther Ireland). Executive Director for Samaritans Ireland, Niall Mulligan said the pandemic had a profound effect on peoples emotional well being and highlighted the importance of human connection. During the year, one in five calls for help to Samaritans was from someone worried about the impact of the pandemic, and over a third of callers felt isolated or lonely. Others faced new anxieties as restrictions were lifted, he said. As an organisation we were challenged by the continuation of the pandemic and ongoing restrictions, however our amazing volunteers ensured that we were available to talk to our callers and provide them with emotional support. Their resilience, determination, and undeterred passion for our work shone through and their level of commitment made sure our freephone helpline number, 116 123, remained open 24 hours a day, seven days a week despite the challenges of the past few years. For that we thank them. Volunteers answered almost half a million contacts, answering a call for help every 64 seconds. Mental health The most frequently raised concerns related to mental health or illness (40%), isolation and loneliness (35%), family (32%), relationship problems (20%), and COVID (20%). Multiple issues can be raised in one call) A third of all calls were answered between 6pm and midnight. A call needing emotional support lasted an average 33 minutes. Over 19,000 calls were taken from prisoners in Irish prisons while 150 new volunteers completed training. Minister Butler paid tribute to the commitment of Samaritans volunteers. I am delighted to launch Samaritans Irelands Impact Report which shows volunteers answered almost half a million calls and emails last year, with volunteers supporting others who were living in isolation or struggling to cope, she said. The scope of Samaritans work in this report clearly shows the support it had given to some of the most marginalised in society, through training, awareness and emotional support. I want to thank the volunteers for being there for others during their darkest hours. This Nollaig na mBan, January 6 at 8pm, The Dock in conjunction with long-time collaborator, The Reading Room, will host an evening of music, chats, and inspiration from women working in arts and culture. The event will feature discussion and participation from Carole and Kathleen Coleman, Amy and Senna OHara, and Rebeccah and Lauren Farrell. London-born Amy OHara has been living in Sligo for the last 27 years. After decades of quietly writing songs, her debut album A Blue I Cant Describe was released in 2021. Amys songs reflect the landscape and matters close to her heart. They are humorous and quirky, often with an underlying message. She is joined by her daughter Senna who has featured in many of Kieran Quinns Theme Nights in Sligo, and is a regular guest vocalist with Manorhamilton-based band Grooveline. Kathleen Coleman has devoted most of her adult life to her home town of Carrick-on-Shannon and county of Leitrim. Born into Dohertys Bakery on Main Street, she became a post-primary school teacher but returned to work at the busy family business alongside her husband Pauric. In 1979 Kathleen was elected to Leitrim County Council and made history as its first female chairperson. By the mid-1980s the mother of four was running a popular bookshop (and later art gallery) on Main Street and diving into community work. As a key member of Carrick Tidy Towns, Kathleen was integral to Carricks elevation to Gold Medal status. She is mother to Carole, Claire, Alice and Maurice and grandmother to seven. Carole Coleman has been a reporter and writer for 35 years. She co-presents the weekly programmes This Week and World Report on RTE Radio One. Caroles latest book News From Under a Coat Stand is a colourful diary documenting the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland in early 2020 and the ups and downs of the three-month nationwide lockdown that followed. Carole is a former RTE Washington Correspondent and is sharing her reporting expertise with journalism students at the University of Galway. She grew up in Leitrim, lives locally, and is a mother to two teenagers. Rebeccah Farrell is a native of Carrick-on-Shannon and has wide-ranging experience in the entertainment and cultural management sector. Currently Deputy General Manager of Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Irelands largest fixed seat theatre, hosting diverse programme which includes the best of West End and Broadway musicals, ballets, opera, and concerts. She was previously General Manager of Carrick Cineplex which has been a recipient of several national awards and a diverse programme of mainstream titles as well as Arthouse, World Cinema, and Live Arts titles. She led Carrick Water Music Festival for six years. Notable past performers include The Waterboys, Celine Byrne, Vladimir Jablakov, and Lisa Hannigan. A co-founder of Penknife Productions Theatrical Company with her sister Lauren, they produced the European premiere of The Edge of Our Bodies by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp in Dublins Smock Alley Theatre, followed by a run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Lauren Farrell is an actor from Carrick-on-Shannon. Her theatre credits include A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and The Edge of our Bodies. Screenwork credits include: Forever In My Heart (Hallmark Films), and Vikings (MGM/History). Lauren is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and has trained at Bow Street Academy, Dublin. Tickets for the event cost 16 and are available at The Dock box office on (071) 96 50 828 or by visiting www.thedock.ie Since the twelfth day, Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGO) have been peacefully protesting in Karabakh near the area where Russian peacekeepers are currently stationed, Azernews reports. A Russian peacekeeping supply vehicle has just passed through unimpeded on the Lachin-Khankandi road in Azerbaijan. Earlier, support vehicles and passenger cars of Russian peacekeepers also passed through the Lachin-Khankandi road without hindrance. Previously, the Armenian media spread the news that the Azerbaijanis [holding a peaceful protest rally near Shusha, close to the peacekeepers post] allegedly blocked the Lachin road and didnt let the supply vehicles through. Non-governmental organization representatives from Azerbaijan have been protesting against the fact that Azerbaijani experts are not allowed on the territory to keep an eye on the illegitimate exploitation of deposits near where the peacekeepers are stationed. To recap, following discussions with the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, Azerbaijani specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology, and Natural Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were to conduct primary monitoring on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on Azerbaijani territory. However, the monitoring failed due to the provocation of ethnic Armenians. President Joe Biden and top administration officials will open a new year of divided government by fanning out across the country to talk about how the economy is benefiting from his work with Democrats and Republicans. As part of the pitch, Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell will make a rare joint appearance in McConnells home state of Kentucky on Wednesday to highlight nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure spending that lawmakers approved on a bipartisan basis in 2021. The Democratic president will also be joined by a bipartisan group of elected officials when he visits the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area, including Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, the White House said. Bidens bipartisanship blitz was announced two days before Republicans retake control of the House from Democrats on Tuesday following GOP gains in the November elections. The shift ends unified political control of Congress by Democrats and complicates Bidens future legislative agenda. Democrats will remain in charge in the Senate. Before he departed Washington for vacation at the end of last year, Biden appealed for less partisanship, saying he hoped everyone will see each other not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of Team Red or Team Blue, but as who we really are, fellow Americans. The presidents trip appeared tied to a recent announcement by Kentucky and Ohio that they will receive more than $1.63 billion in federal grants to help build a new Ohio River bridge near Cincinnati and improve the existing overloaded span there, a heavily used freight route linking the Midwest and the South. Congestion at the Brent Spence Bridge on Interstates 75 and 71 has for years been a frustrating bottleneck on a key shipping corridor and a symbol of the nations growing infrastructure needs. Officials say the bridge was built in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day but has seen double that traffic load on its narrow lanes, leading the Federal Highway Administration to declare it functionally obsolete. The planned project covers about 8 miles (12 kilometers) and includes improvements to the bridge and some connecting roads and construction of a companion span nearby. Both states coordinated to request funding under the nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal signed in 2021 by Biden, who had highlighted the project as the legislation moved through Congress. McConnell said the companion bridge will be one of the bills crowning accomplishments. DeWine said both states have been discussing the project for almost two decades and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work. Officials hope to break ground later this year and complete much of the work by 2029. Bidens visit could also provide a political boost to Beshear, who is seeking reelection this year in his overwhelmingly Republican state. In a December 2022 interview with The Associated Press, Beshear gave a mixed review of Bidens job performance. Biden had joined Beshear to tour tornado- and flood-stricken regions of Kentucky last year. There are things that I think have been done well, and there are things that I wish would have been done better, Beshear said of Biden. Other top administration officials will also help promote Bidens economic policies this week. In Chicago on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris will discuss how the Presidents economic plan is rebuilding our infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs jobs that dont require a four-year degree, and revitalizing communities left behind, the White House said in its announcement. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was delivering the same message in New London, Connecticut, also on Wednesday. Mitch Landrieu, the White House official tasked with promoting infrastructure spending, will join soon-to-be former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday in San Francisco, which she represents in Congress. Biden was scheduled to return to the White House on Monday after spending nearly a week with family on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The president opened New Years Day on Sunday by watching the first sunrise of 2023 and attending Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Christiansted, where he has attended religious services during his past visits to the island. An inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic should not be about pointing fingers or ascribing blame, the Taoiseach has said. Leo Varadkar also said he wants an inquiry into the response to the virus up and running this year. The Fine Gael leader added that he was conscious that the pandemic is not over and that many of the people who are battling the virus would be the people being asked to give evidence. Last year then taoiseach Micheal Martin said an inquiry would be a comprehensive evaluation so the country would be ready for any further pandemics but it would not involve health chiefs being called as witnesses. Its not going to be about pointing fingers or ascribing blame, Mr Varadkar said. Its going to be about getting to the truths, understanding what happened. What we did well, what we did badly, what could have been done better, because we cant assume that this is going to be the last major pandemic in our lifetime. In fact, theres a good chance that in our lifetime, you will experience another very serious pandemic, and we need to be prepared for that, and that will be the purpose of the thinking behind the inquiry. Id hope to have that established some time in 2023. The Dublin West TD also said he is conscious that the pandemic is not over and that a lot of the people who are on the front line dealing with the trouble in our health service at the moment are the same people who we would be asking to come before inquiries and take time out to prepare for their testimony. I have to bear that in mind too. But certainly, the expectation is that we would have that inquiry up and running during the course of 2023, he added. The Taoiseach said preparatory work completed by an expert group of academics has been completed and it is being considered by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Mr Varadkar said work is also under way to phase out private medical practice from public hospitals and the Government would be putting a contract on the table in the coming weeks. We think its a very good contract, he said. It provides for a significant increase in pay for consultants. And what we want in return is the phasing out of private practice and public hospitals. We think its OK for consultants to do private practice off site. But we dont want private practice in our public hospitals any more. He said it would free up a lot of capacity within the public hospitals. That is a big change. Its at the heart of the reforms and Slaintecare, its long overdue. And Im very keen to see that happen, he said. Hopefully well be in a position to offer that contract the next couple of weeks and I hope that a lot of consultants will take the opportunity those coming in for the first time will come in as public only consultants and those who currently have other contracts, will accept that it is a fundamental change. Mr Varadkar said it was not right the way the public health service is structured at present. It is not normal, he added. Lots of countries have mixed systems but not in the way that we do. We want to make sure that our public hospitals are for all patients, that all patients are treated the same and our public hospitals are based on their need, not on their insurance status. And yes, if people want to have private insurance, thats their choice. If doctors want to do private practice, that is their choice. But that wont be happening in our public system. And Id be really disappointed if 2023 wasnt year one, or at least year zero in terms of making that happen. ReviewThe project aims both to preserve the paintings and to demonstrate the uniqueness of Ukrainian artists in the history of painting. It is both a unique opportunity to discover Ukrainian avant-garde artworks many of which have never been exhibited outside the country and the result of a complex operation meant to protect an artistic and historical heritage threatened by war. Until April 30, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum's exhibition "In the Eye of the Storm. Avant-garde Art in Ukraine, 1900-1930" will present 69 paintings by artists linked to the currents of Byzantine renovation, Cubo-Futurism, suprematism and constructivism, painted in a troubled period which encompassed the end of the Russian Empire, the First World War, the ephemeral Ukrainian independence and the creation of the Soviet Union. Colorful and incorporating elements of Ukrainian folklore and popular culture, the works are also a part of the country's identity. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes How Ukraine is reacting to the destruction of its cultural heritage "I think this exhibition shows what Russia is trying to destroy," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed in a video released at the opening press conference on Monday, November 28. "It also shows how connected Ukraine is to Europe and why you should visit Ukraine when we bring back peace." "May 1" (1929), by Viktor Palmov, oil on canvas. MUSEE NATIONAL DART DUKRAINE The paintings left the National Art Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv on November 15, 2022, on two trucks, after days of preparation under very difficult conditions, including numerous power cuts and narrowly escaping the massive Russian bombardment targeting Ukrainian infrastructure that day. When they arrived at the Polish border, they were stuck there for more than 12 hours, before they were able to resume their journey: Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile fire had accidentally hit the Polish village of Przewodow. During the whole expedition, the drivers of the trucks were in constant contact with the curators of the exhibition, who enlisted the Ukrainian ambassador to Spain and his contacts in order to make the trip possible. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Provocative tour into the subversive world of Ukrainian photographer Boris Mikhailov Folklore and popular art Organized both chronologically and thematically, the exhibition begins in the 1910s, at a time when Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. It includes works by Alexandra Exter (1882-1949), Oleksandr Bohomazov (1880-1930) and Vadym Meller (1884-1962) that blend French Cubism and Italian Futurism. "These are the most radical and experimental pieces by artists who integrate elements of folk and popular art with international 'isms'," said Katia Denysova, curator of the exhibition. The 1920s were dominated by works of the Byzantine art revival led by Mykhailo Boitchouk (1882-1937) and his disciples. "Sketch of the painting for the lecture hall of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in Kyiv" (1930), by Kasimir Malevich, pastel and gouache on paper. MUSEE NATIONAL DART DUKRAINE There are also paintings by Vasily Yermilov (1894-1968), who mixed Ukrainian folk ornaments with Kasimir Malevich's (1879-1935) suprematism, by Viktor Palmov (1888-1929) and by Anatol Petrytsky (1895-1964), whose Disabled (1924), was one of the most noted works in the Ukrainian section of the Soviet pavilion at the 1930 Venice Biennale in 1928 and 1930, Ukraine was the only republic of the USSR to have a separate section. Although monumentalist painter Mykhailo Boichuk was honored in 1928, he was later executed during the purges of the late 1930s, considered, along with his followers and a number of Ukrainian artists whose works were destroyed, as a "bourgeois nationalist." You have 53.67% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Gerard Larcher, president (Les Republicains) of the Senate and Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister, during her general policy statement before the Assembly, in Paris, July 6, 2022. ERIC TSCHAEN/REA In a political landscape so fragmented, periodically jolted by the hung Assemblee Nationale, the Senat is becoming a haven of peace for the government. Four must-pass bills for the executive branch are due to begin their itinerary in the Palais du Luxembourg, where the right and center dominate, in the first half of 2023: the bills on nuclear power and the Olympic Games in January, the one on immigration in March, and then the justice reform resulting from the conclusion of the Etats Generaux led by the chancellery (a consultation which led to a series of propositions to improve the French judicial institution, published in July). To circumvent the loss of its absolute majority in the Assemblee Nationale, the government, in search of a "new method," laid the groundwork for this parliamentary path as early as June, increasing the number of meetings with senators and, first and foremost, with Senat President Gerard Larcher (Les Republicains, LR, right-wing). While the top senator directly opposed the Elysee several times during Emmanuel Macron's first term during the Benalla affair and the management of the Covid-19 epidemic in particular and decided to boycott the first plenary session of the Conseil National de la Refondation (National Council of Refoundation), on September 8, the executive has perceived a change in attitude and tone in recent weeks. Compared to the "particular atmosphere" in the Assemblee Nationale, on December 4, on RTL and LCI, Mr. Larcher recognized "relations that are positive" between the government and the Senat. He said they are allowing "agreements, and sometimes disagreements, to be built," all in "a peaceful democracy." On the thorny issue of the pensions reform, the senator Mr. Larcher supports postponing the legal age to 64, as the Seenat voted for 4 years ago, against 65, as is currently proposed by Mr. Macron. But he does not exclude voting for this, though there would be two "important points", in his opinion: "the issue of senior employment" and the "recognition of long careers." 'The virtues of bicameralism' According to several people close to the Elysee, the president of the Senat saw himself as a force of resistance during Mr. Macron's first term, during which those who supported the president, thanks to the strength of their 350 MPs in the Assemblee Nationale, paid little attention to the Senat. Since the context has changed, they believe that Mr. Larcher does not want to be an additional roadblock, while the opposition of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), and the left-wing La France Insoumise (FI) are virulent. The president of the Assemblee Nationale, Yael Braun-Pivet (Renaissance, center), has a monthly appointment with him and bumps into him at many ceremonies in the Yvelines, the department where they were both elected. "We are both aware that in our place, we have a role to play in the stability of institutions," she said. In addition to Mr. Larcher, many senators, both on the right and the left, feel that they are listened to more by the ministers, especially the prime minister, Elisabeth Borne. "This is the fourth time I have seen her face to face, even though I am the president of a group of 14 senators," said the president of the group Les Independants-Republique et Territoires, Claude Malhuret. According to this senator who was close to former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (center-right), by trying to find compromises with the senators, the government is showing that it "is doing everything it can to avoid dissolution, by seeking every possible path to pass laws." "This legislature is showing all the virtues of bicameralism," agreed the LR president of the law committee in the Senat, Francois-Noel Buffet, who is regularly cited by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin for his work on the migration issue. Read more Three-month budget battle in French parliament leaves scars Over the past few months, on a purely tactical level, several ministers, such as Mr. Darmanin and Agnes Pannier-Runacher (Energy transition), have managed to shape a first version of their bills in a more serene manner in the Senat. The law on programming internal security, in mid-October, followed by the less obvious one on accelerating the development of renewable energies on December 5 (the formal vote of which is scheduled for January 10 in the Assemblee Nationale) succeeded in convincing the government to give priority to a mark-up of its bills by the senators as much as possible, over and above the rare bills concerning local authorities, which the Constitution requires to be thoroughly examined by the Senat. "The Senat never rejects a bill on principle," said Mr. Malhuret. "It takes it, even if it does not agree with it at all, and it decides to rewrite it, either entirely or a little." This is also a way to create the terms of an agreement, beyond the "political postures" which are more marked in the Assemblee than in the Senat, in everyone's opinion. "From the moment the Senat votes on the government's bills and gives the signal that it is possible to find a way to compromise to benefit general public interest, there is something like an obligation which is imposed on the Assemblee Nationale not to block all the bills afterwards," said the president of the committee of the economic affairs, Sophie Primas (LR). The government and its relative majority at the Assemblee have understood the new crucial role of joint commissions (CMP), the committees in which delegations from either chamber iron out their differences on a given bill. During Mr. Macron's first term, the government was not bothered with reaching agreements with the Senat on bills that were crucial to its policy, because the Assemblee Nationale has the last word in case of stalemate. Now, the closed-door meetings between seven senators and seven members of the Assemblee are majoritarily right-leaning. And more concessions are made. "On all bills, our obsession is to have a conclusive CMP," said the vice president of the Renaissance group in the Assemblee Nationale, Sylvain Maillard. Even if this means shifting policy a little more to the right. "It is evident that LR is the justice of the peace for the government's action because the other option is a 49.3 [a provision which allows the government to force passage of a bill without the approbation of the parliament] or the abandonment of the bill," observed the leader of the socialist senators, Patrick Kanner. The search for compromise can even be detrimental to the ministers in charge of certain bills. This was the case for Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt on the bill on unemployment insurance. While the former member of the Parti Socialiste stated repeatedly his opposition to measures demanded by the right, such as restrictions on the rights of people on fixed-term contracts and temporary workers refusing open-ended contracts, Prime Minister Borne made concessions LR legislators to pass the bill. 'No substantive change' The government hoped to gain other advantages from this strategy. For example, to be able to force the hand of the 62 LR MPs who are a pivotal force in the Assemblee Nationale, without being forced to overly modify the bills of their Senat counterparts, at the risk of putting themselves at odds with the Senat majority. "The strategy of presenting bills to the Senat first is a clear example of what they want to do: put pressure on us and divide LR," said MP Anne-Laure Blin (LR). If consultations with ministers and their cabinets are on the increase, the senators remain nevertheless wanting more and wonder about the long-term political meaning of this rapprochement with the executive. "The Senat is taken into consideration more because circumstances give it more weight, but there is no need to exaggerate. We still have to deal with a relative majority that has difficulty playing politics," said the president of the Senat's centrist group, Herve Marseille. This fall, the examination of the finance and social security financing bills, constrained by a repeated use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution, rekindled concerns about power that is still considered vertical, and reluctant in practice to retain amendments that come from the oppositions, whether they are in the Assemblee Nationale or the Senat. "The dialogue is better than during the previous term when we were despised or, at least, not considered at all, but there is no substantive change and certainly no political balance that would allow us to last five years with a completely unmanageable Assemblee" said the LR senator Roger Karoutchi. In a Senat that will see a third of its members run for reelection in September 2023, the balance is tenuous for the government, which will present the pensions reform at the beginning of the year. Mariama Darame, Matthieu Goar and Jeremie Lamothe Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. Wheat grains stored on a farm near Izmail, Ukraine, in the Odessa region, June 14, 2022. OLEKSANDR GIMANOV / AFP "The year of gas and grain." The expression is Philippe Chalmin's, a professor with Universite Paris-Dauphine, when he was asked to describe 2022, a year that will likely be reminded as a special of its kind in the annals of commodities. Market tensions were high, with speculative surges resulting in historic prices, followed by sharp declines. "Through volatility, markets reflect the anxieties of the planet," Mr. Chalmin said, anxieties which, although very real, can be amplified by financial or political entities. In 2021 already, commodity prices were on the rise, propelled by Chinese purchasing and post-pandemic economic recovery which resulted in supply tensions. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier this year further boosted prices. In the energy sector, gas prices rose strongly as Russian deliveries to Europe were drying up. On the futures markets, they culminated to an average of 100-125 per megawatt-hour (MWh), with peaks of more than 300 per MWh during the summer, compared to 20-30 before the war started. A slight respite took hold in December in Europe, where below-average temperatures, high gas inventory levels and a shrinking demand caused by imposed frugality allowed prices to fall back to around 85, or pre-February-24 levels. Electricity prices, which had also been soaring throughout the year, were also halved in December alone, returning to below 300 per MWh. Patrice Geoffron, director of France's Center of Geopolitics of Energy and Raw Materials (CGEMP) said 2022 "unquestionably" marked a turning point. "As in 1973, there will be a before and after. Back then, we switched from oil to nuclear power to produce electricity. This time, we have no more Russian gas and, in all likelihood, we will not go back, unless peace returns, which is now more than hypothetical," he said. Dangerous "In 2021, Russian gas exports to the European Union amounted to 140 billion cubic meters. They fell to 60 billion in 2022, and it is likely that in 2023 there will be no more Russian gas in our systems," Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency's executive director, said at a press conference in Brussels on December, 12. This would "leave an even bigger hole in the European and world gas supply," he said, adding this would translate into consequences in the coming winters. Until now, supplies have been partly offset by purchases of liquefied natural gas, notably from the United States and Qatar, but this cannot be sustained in the long run given the impact on climate. In addition, demand is likely to increase if China's activity picks up again. You have 58.29% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Russia said on Monday, January 2, that more than 60 soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory in a bloody New Year's weekend for both sides of the conflict. Kyiv took responsibility for the strike which it said took place in the occupied city of Makiivka in the eastern Donetsk region on December 31. In an extremely rare announcement following criticism by Russian military correspondents, the defense ministry in Moscow said that 63 Russian servicemen were killed "as a result of a strike by four missiles" in Makiivka. It was the biggest loss of life reported by Moscow so far in a conflict that has dragged on since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade on February 24 last year. The Russian ministry said US-supplied Himars rocket systems had been used and the target was a temporary deployment point. Late on Monday, the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a statement that its forces were behind the strikes on Makiivka. "Up to 10 units of enemy military equipment of various types were destroyed and damaged," the general staff said, adding that the human "losses" were still being established. Earlier in the day the strategic communications department of Ukraine's armed forces said that nearly 400 Russian troops were killed in Makiivka. Russian war correspondents, who have gained influence in recent months, said hundreds could have been killed and accused Russia's top commanders of not learning from past mistakes. Read more Russia renews major missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure Former Russian separatist leader Igor Strelkov said the troops, largely consisting of mobilised Russians, were stationed in an unprotected building that was "almost completely" destroyed because ammunition stored on the premises detonated in the strike. He said "hundreds" have been killed and wounded. "Ten months into the war it is dangerous and criminal to consider the enemy a fool who does not see anything," said Andrei Medvedev, deputy speaker of the Moscow city legislature. The Samara governor, Dmitry Azarov, said that among the victims were residents of his region, adding that a hotline was set up for their relatives. On social media, some accused the Russian authorities of downplaying the death toll. 'War to kill' Russian strikes across Ukraine on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day killed at least five people and wounded dozens. The Ukrainian capital again came under fire from Iranian-made drones on Monday, although Ukrainian forces claimed the majority were shot down by air defenses. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in northeastern Kyiv and said emergency services were dispatched. "An injured 19-year-old man was hospitalized in the Desnyanskyi district of the capital," he said. Read more War in Ukraine: Deadly Russian shelling leaves Kherson in the dark Following the strikes, the power company Ukrenergo said the situation with the electricity supply in Kyiv was now "more complicated". "That is why emergency shutdowns are now in effect," it said. General Valery Zaluzhny, commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, said that the army had so far liberated "40% of the territories occupied after February 24." Russia's New Year assaults which targeted downtown areas of large cities show a change in tactics, said an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Russia no longer has any military goals and is trying to kill as many civilians as possible and destroy more civilian facilities," President Zelensky's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted. "A war to kill." Le Monde with AFP TWO women have been arrested following a brawl in a Limerick pub that left both parties in a state of undress. Video footage recorded on a mobile phone of the incident, which occurred in a licensed premises in the city on New Year's Eve, has been widely shared on social media. It shows one female holding the hair of another while she repeatedly hits her on the head as she is on the ground. Another female pleads with the woman on her feet to "stop". Security staff and others in the bar intervene to try and separate the women and try to break the hold one has on the other's hair. A male is heard saying, "Leave go of her". It is at this point that both women experience wardrobe malfunctions. One woman can be heard calling out "my phone". A garda spokesperson confirmed officers responded to a public order incident in Limerick on Saturday evening, December 31. "Two females were arrested for public order offences. They were later released pending further enquiries," said the garda spokesperson. Investigations are ongoing. GAA volunteers who work quietly in the background got their moment in the limelight just before Christmas in recognition of their tireless contributions to their local clubs. The Old Time Gaels of East Limerick was founded in 2003 to acknowledge Gaels in the division who have given lifelong, voluntary and dedicated service to the GAA in various capacities over the years. Many worked in administration, fundraising, field maintenance, refereeing and endless other important chores. Others have excelled on the field of play and brought honour to their clubs, division and county. Early last year the East Board and the Old Time Gaels of East Limerick came together to amalgamate the awards night and enhance the occasion. The Millennium Centre in Caherconlish hosted the first East Limerick Gaels event to celebrate dedicated volunteers in the East Division. It was newly-elected Limerick GAA chairman Seamus McNamaras first official function and he brought along the Liam MacCarthy and Mick Mackey Cups to enhance the occasion even further. It was an emotional and poignant one for some of the recipients and especially for Eddie Wade, a founding member, who is recovering from illness. A lovely tribute was relayed on the big screen by his good friend and outgoing county chairman John Cregan. Among the presentations was the referees award in memory of the late and great Jimmy Butler Coffey, of Cappamore, which went to Philip Dee of Murroe-Boher. The talented and decorated Murroe -Boher and Limerick hurler Tony Hickey received the prestigious Tom OBrien personality award, dedicated to the memory of the late Doon man. A lifetime achievement award was presented to Pauline McCarthy of Ballybricken-Bohermore for her outstanding contribution to her club and county. Colin Ryan, of Pallasgreen, took home the outstanding achievement award for his exploits during 2021 winning the famed All-Ireland Poc Fada. The main award of the night the hall of fame award - went to the legendary Eddie Wade of South Liberties, a man who has done it all and is one of the GAAs most colourful and well-known characters. The deserved honour is in recognition of his long and dedicated service to the GAA not alone to his club South Liberties, East Limerick, Limerick but to the GAA in general. The committee, chaired by Cappamores, Ger Lonergan, thanked main sponsor St Ailbes Credit Union and the Millennium Centre for hosting the event. Are you ready for a great flight? So are we." Ukrainians faced a grim start to 2023 as Sunday brought more Russian missile and drone attacks following a blistering New Years Eve assault that killed at least civilians across the country, authorities reported. Air raid sirens sounded in the capital shortly after midnight, followed by a barrage of missiles that interrupted the small celebrations residents held at home due to wartime curfews. Ukrainian officials alleged Moscow was deliberately targeting civilians along with critical infrastructure to create a climate of fear and destroy morale during the long winter months. In a video address Sunday night, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his citizens sense of unity, of authenticity, of life itself. The Russians, he said, will not take away a single year from Ukraine. They will not take away our independence. We will not give them anything. Ukrainian forces in the air and on the ground shot down 45 Iranian-made explosive drones fired by Russia on Saturday night and before dawn Sunday, Zelenskyy said. Another strike at noon Sunday in the southern Zaporizhzhia region killed one person, according to the head of the regional military administration, Alexander Starukh. But Kyiv was largely quiet, and people there on New Years Day savored the snippets of peace. Of course it was hard to celebrate fully because we understand that our soldiers cant be with their family, Evheniya Shulzhenko said while sitting with her husband on a park bench overlooking the city. But a really powerful New Years Eve speech by Zelenskyy lifted her spirits and made her proud to be Ukrainian, Shulzhenko said. She recently moved to Kyiv after living in Bakhmut and Kharkiv, two cities that have experienced some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Multiple blasts rocked the capital and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday and through the night, wounding dozens. An AP photographer at the scene of an explosion in Kyiv saw a womans body as her husband and son stood nearby. Ukraines largest university, the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, reported significant damage to its buildings and campus. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two schools were damaged, including a kindergarten. The strikes came 36 hours after widespread missile attacks Russia launched Thursday to damage energy infrastructure facilities. Saturdays unusually quick follow-up alarmed Ukrainian officials. Russia has carried out airstrikes on Ukrainian power and water supplies almost weekly since October, increasing the suffering of Ukrainians, while its ground forces struggle to hold ground and advance. Nighttime shelling in parts of the southern city of Kherson killed one person and blew out hundreds of windows in a childrens hospital, according to deputy presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko. Ukrainian forces reclaimed the city in November after Russias forces withdrew across the Dnieper River, which bisects the Kherson region. When shells hit the childrens hospital on Saturday night, surgeons were operating on a 13-year-old boy who was seriously wounded in a nearby village that evening, Kherson Gov. Yaroslav Yanushevych said. The boy was transferred in serious condition to a hospital about 99 kilometers (62 miles) away in Mykolaiv. Elsewhere, a 22-year-old woman died of wounds from a Saturday rocket attack Saturday in the eastern town of Khmelnytskyi, the citys mayor said. Instead of New Years fireworks, Oleksander Dugyn said he and his friends and family in Kyiv watched the sparks caused by Ukrainian air defense forces countering Russian attacks. We already know the sound of rockets, we know the moment they fly, we know the sound of drones. The sound is like the roar of a moped, said Dugin, who was strolling with his family in the park. We hold on the best we can. While Russias bombardments have left many Ukrainians without heating and electricity due to damage or controlled blackouts meant to preserve the remaining power supply, Ukraines state-owned grid operator said Sunday there would be no restrictions on electricity use for one day. The power industry is doing everything possible to ensure that the New Years holiday is with light, without restrictions, utility company Ukrenergo said. It said businesses and industry had cut back to allow the additional electricity for households. Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, thanked utility workers for helping to keep the lights on during the latest assault. It is very important how all Ukrainians recharged their inner energy this New Years Eve, he said. In separate tweets Sunday, the Ukrainian leader also reminded the European Union of his countrys wish to join the EU. He thanked the Czech Republic and congratulated Sweden, which just exchanged the EUs rotating presidency, for their help in securing progress for Ukraines bid. NEW DELHI : A Morgan Stanley fund is leading the race to invest in Chennai-based geriatric care firm Athulya Assisted Living Pvt. Ltd, two people aware of the talks said. North Haven India Infrastructure Fund, managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., may invest 100 crore ($12 million) in Athulya for 20-25% stake, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. This is the first time the startup is raising institutional funding. The company, which operates under the Athulya Senior Care brand, offers assisted living and home healthcare services in geriatrics segment. In September 2021, The Hindu reported that the company is in talks with venture capital firms to raise $10 million. The capital was to be deployed mainly for developing facilities and for expanding services in the southern states. Email queries sent to Athulya and the Morgan Stanley fund remained unanswered till press time. The company was founded in July 2014 as Healthabove60, offering only home healthcare services. It was renamed Athulya Assisted Living after adding senior living rental model in 2017. The startup claims it is one of the largest assisted living facilities in India with 500 beds. It offers services such as assisted living in senior living communities and senior living rental model, besides geriatric home healthcare services among others. It has four facilities in Chennai and one in Bengaluru, which is the largest with around 150 beds. The startup claims to have served over 15,000 seniors since inception, offering nursing care, doctor visits, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, blood sample collection, ICU setup at home, and bringing the entire gamut of healthcare services to the doorstep. North Haven India Infrastructure Fund, which focuses on asset-light infrastructure assets, invests in sectors such as energy, utilities, mobility, logistics, social infrastructure and healthcare. Some of the funds previous bets include pallet pooling firm Leap India, waste management and recycling startup Recykal, and iBus Network and Infrastructure. Last month, VCCircle reported that the investor, along with Denmarks Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), have emerged as front-runners to invest in organic food exporter Suminter India Organics Pvt. Ltd. NEW DELHI : Indian engineering exporters battling a demand slowdown in key export markets such as the US, EU and China are exploring a new approach to settle trade with Russia in rupees. The move comes as Indian private banks with exposure in the US market continue to remain wary of sanctions even after transactions in the new rupee trade system began taking place last month. Nine Indian banks have been given the go-ahead to open 17 special vostro rupee accounts for trade settlement with Russia. EEPC chairman Arun Kumar Garodia argued that the ultimate decision to settle trade with Russia in rupee would rest with the Indian banks and so directly approaching Russias Sberbank branch in India for trade settlement could be the best possible solution. Indian banks that have branches in the US are more worried about getting involved in trade transactions with Russia. We cant force them to discount the document and give the money in Indian rupees. We are exploring if we can directly send our document to Sberbank in India and get paid in India rupee so that sanctions dont hit the Indian private banks. Sber bank has agreed to do so," Garodia said. Russia has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become Indias top oil exporter and that resulted in a widening of its trade deficit with India. India's merchandise trade deficit with Russia zoomed over 600% in the first half of this fiscal. From a market share of less than 1% in Indias import basket before the start of the Ukraine war, Russias share in October rose to 4.24 million mt, or nearly 1 million barrels per day (b/d), taking a 21% share, S&P Ratings said. There are 2-3 issues in trade with Russia which we have been talking to the government about. So far we have not received credit in Indian rupee but we are trying to resolve it with the help of the government and banking associations so as to help speed things up," Garodia added. Meanwhile, Ajay Sahai, Director General and chief executive officer of the trade promotion organization, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said that trade with Russia is facing other problems, especially logistics. Logistics challenges have gone up as European insurance and reinsurance companies have said that from January they will stop services to any ship in the Black Sea," Sahai added. To avoid dependency on the ban on insurance services and tanker chartering in the European Union and UK, Russia offered India cooperation on leasing and building large-capacity ships, Russia said in a statement last month. On the Indian banks reluctance to take up Russia trade, Sahai stated that the banks should not have a problem dealing with Russian banks that are not facing sanctions and settlement through that route should be smooth. FIEO estimates that Indias shipments to sanctions-hit Russia could grow by an additional $5 billion once the rupee settlement mechanism becomes functional, partially offsetting the demand slowdown in western economies. . The Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended 22 Pakistani fishermen and seized 79 fishing boats in the most inhospitable, marshy and difficult terrain of Creeks and Harami Nalla in Gujarat's Bhuj sector in 2022. Pointing the achievements of Gujarat BSF, a statement issued by force, mentioned: "BSF Gujarat is further strengthening its hold along Sir Creek and Harami Nalla area by establishing permanent bases". The BSF, which guards the 7,419 km India-Pakistan border, also informed that 50 packets of Heroin worth 250 crore and 61 packets of Charas worth 2.49 crore were also recovered from the coastal and creek region of Gujarat. The statement also credited BSF Gujarat, for being responsible for securing the 826 km long India-Pakistan international border from Barmer in Rajasthan to Rann of Kutch and Creek area, including 85 kms of the Coastal area of Gujarat through effective domination of its entire area of responsibility. Besides, 22 Indians, four Pakistanis, two Bangladeshi, two Canadians and one Rohingya were also arrested for their alleged involvement in various illegal transborder activities, the statement mentioned. It further added that the BSF Gujarat successfully conducted various events like Seema Bhawani Women Empowerment Ride from Delhi to Kanyakumari and Cycle Rally from Octroi (Jammu) to Bhuj, under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. BSF Gujarat with the support of the Gujarat government successfully conducted Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Parade on October 31, 2022, at Kevadia in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest. As a means of public interface, the statement stated that the BSF Gujarat organised various Civic Action Programmes and provided essential items and stores and conducted free medical camps and awareness programs of government schemes for the benefit of the border population. The BSF also organised skill development programs and also trained border youths for recruitment in Central Armed Police Forces and other Forces. BSF Gujarat was also awarded the coveted Ashwini Trophy for the year 2021-22, three times in a row, among 11 Frontiers of BSF for best performance in Training and Sports activities, the statement said. More than 350 Mahila Praharies of BSF Gujarat are effectively safeguarding the country's borders despite the vagaries of nature, it added. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. New Delhi: India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations through their representatives in each others capitals, for the 32nd time as part of an annual ritual that has been in practice for more than three decades. They also shared a list of prisoners held in each others custody. The lists of nuclear installations and facilities were exchanged as per the provisions of an agreement on prohibition of attacks against nuclear installations. The agreement was signed on 31 December 1988, and came into force on 27 January 1991. In a separate statement, the ministry of external affairs said the two countries also exchanged a list of each others citizens held in prisons. India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians," the statement said. The government has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistans custody." In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan." India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each others country. In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan," the statement said. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India," it added. The Indian government has made the request in the context of the exchange of the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen by both countries as part of a practice to do so on 1 January and 1 July of every calendar year under the framework of a 2008 pact. Four days before Christmas, Southwest Airlines vice-president of ground operations Chris Johnson issued a memo to employees at the Denver airport. Declaring a state of operational emergency," he said the airline had received an unusually high number of absences among some workers, and would need employees alleging illness" to provide a doctors note on their first day back. A note from a telehealth visit wouldnt cut it, and mandatory overtime also would go into effect. Failure to comply would be taken as insubordination and result in termination. The meltdown at Southwest that the memo foreshadowedmore than 15,000 of its flights axed since 22 Decemberstunned the US industry. But so would the memo itself. When I read it, I could not believe it was written by Southwest," said airline analyst Henry Harteveldt. It absolutely goes against everything Southwest culture stands for." Industry consultant Robert Mann called it draconian" and a cultural failure." They just got a bigger stick," he said. They didnt offer any carrots." It was indeed a remarkable turnabout for Southwest. In an aviation industry known for its caustic relationships between management and workers, the budget airline built its reputation around being a fun and harmonious place to work. That long was the case despite being the most unionized of the big US carriers. But the mood has changed in the last year or so. Unions representing its pilots and crew have become more vocal, publicly complaining of brutal and erratic schedules and high levels of fatigue as the industry struggles with the same staffing shortage issues as other industries. Both the pilots and flight attendants unions have asked that federal mediators step into their years-long contract negotiations with management. And earlier this month, Southwest pilots picketed outside the New York Stock Exchange at the companys investor day. As a point of contrast, when the companys legendary co-founder, the late Herb Kelleher, announced his retirement in the middle of contract negotiations, the pilots union took out a full-page ad in USA Today thanking him for his service. When Southwest executives and industry watchers do their post-mortem on what caused the recent chaos, they will talk about the bad weather, outdated technology and Southwests primary model of flying directly from city to city rather than in and out of hubs. But a seeming breakdown of its famous people-first culture needs to be on the top of that list. When Kelleher launched Southwest some five decades ago, he sought to build not just a different kind of airline, but a different kind of a company. Southwest never had layoffs, handed out generous stock options, and, unlike many of its rivals, never went through bankruptcy. Creating trust and goodwill with employees was ultimately a business decision: Happier pilots and crew meant a more efficient and productive airline. You have to treat your employees like your customers," Kelleher once said. When you treat them right, then they will treat your outside customers right. That has been a powerful competitive weapon for us. Youve got to take the time to listen to peoples ideas." Its clear that more recently the company hasnt been listening. Executives have acknowledged that the airline needs to invest in and upgrade its IT systems. But for years, Southwest pilots and crew say they have been sounding the alarm about the carriers outdated technology, which makes it difficult to get its people to the right locations when weather events happen. The warnings got louder after Southwest suffered from crippling problems last fall, with union leadership predicting it would only get worse. They werent wrong. Amid the mass cancellations this week, employees said they were on hold for hours with their own airline as they tried to get their marching orders. With this most recent crisis, the pressure is now more intense for management to resolve its negotiations with the various unions that represent its employees, especially after rival Delta Airlines and its pilots earlier this month came to a preliminary agreement to raise wages 34% over the next few years. That kind of increase would be hard for a budget airline like Southwest to swallow. To do it, its management would need to evoke the same kind of creativity Kelleher did when he decided to fly only one kind of plane and have flight crews help clean the aircraft in order to keep fares lower than some competitors. Executives might also consider taking their founders advice and listen to employees ideas on how to improve operations. If they dont, they risk becoming like every other airline, an outcome nobody wants. Beth Kowitt is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering corporate America Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was arrested in his home state of Pennsylvania and charged with four counts of murder in the first degree, as well as felony burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November, according to Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson. Last week three years ago, a Hanukkah party in Monsey, New York, ended in horrific carnage. Fueled by a conspiratorial hatred of Jews, an attacker with a machete burst into the 100-person house party. In less than two minutes, he injured four victims. A fifth victim, a 72-year-old rabbi, died after three months in a coma. An entire community in suburban New York and Jews across the country were emotionally shaken and scarred. Fortunately, law enforcement quickly apprehended the attacker. They discovered diaries containing extensive antisemitic views, numerous references to Adolf Hitler and Nazi culture and abundant drawings of swastikas. Antisemitic rhetoric too often leads to antisemitic violence. Ari Mittleman is a native of South Whitehall Township and a graduate of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley. He is the author of Paths of the Righteous by Gefen Publishing House. Last month, the same perverse ideology visited Bethlehem, though fortunately without violence. A Lehigh Valley tradition, Christkindlmarkt, that attracts diverse guests from far and wide was disrupted with a deranged bigot telling patrons conspiracy theories about the Jewish community. As our nation approaches its 250th birthday, what happened in Bethlehem serves as a reminder that it is critical we talk about antisemitism, the rise in hate and a whole-of-society approach to combat it. The Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains annual hate crime statistics. In 2020, more than 7,700 criminal hate crime incidents were reported, about 450 more incidents than in 2019. Manifestations of antisemitism are often the first indicators of a societal sickness. The recent global rise in hatred against Jews is a fundamental challenge to human rights and the principles of democracy envisioned by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Attacks targeting Blacks rose to 2,871 from 1,972. Anti-Asian hate crimes grew exponentially. In New York, there was a 223% spike. In San Francisco, a 140% increase. The FBIs annual Hate Crime Statistics report found that nearly 60% of such crimes target Jews even though Jews represent just 2% of the American population. Behind each of these statistics are two faces a victim and an assailant. As disturbing as these statistics are, it is clear that these are underreported, largely because of bureaucratic inefficiencies. Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies had almost no reporting. The police departments in New York City and Los Angeles did not send crime information to the FBI in 2021. Of nearly 19,000 police forces, only 11,834 participated in 2021. Put differently, only around 65% of police agencies across our nation reported data. Addressing hate in society begins with youth. In the final days of the 117th Congress, the bipartisan Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act was introduced by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent who represents Bucks County, and his colleagues. It will require the Department of Education to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public elementary and secondary schools. With the meteoric rise in hate, the Department of Homeland Security will have additional resources. U.S. Rep. Susan Wild deserves credit for championing the new federal omnibus bill and the provision that will include $305 million for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program. Houses of worship and other nonprofits can use grants for fences, cameras and other security enhancements. Last week, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., took to the Senate floor to remind his colleagues where hate can lead. He recalled a recent visit to the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history. His powerful remarks rightfully labeled antisemitism a disgusting perversion of Christianity. Last year marked the 235th birthday of the Constitution. Our Founding Fathers were deeply familiar with the Bible and chose the opening words wisely. As our nation begins a new year, we should all have as a resolution a year more perfect, just and tranquil, with fewer violent incidents of hate. Ari Mittleman is a native of South Whitehall Township and a graduate of the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley. He is the author of Paths of the Righteous by Gefen Publishing House. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A application to have a stolen caravan forfeited to the State under the Police Property Act was declined by Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court. Brendan Kelly of Ferefad, Ardagh Rd, Longford made a counter application to the court for the return of the vehicle. Sergeant Mark Mahon stated that the application arose regarding a caravan stolen in Germany in September 2012. The value of the vehicle at the time was 10,000. Sgt Mahon outlined that the caravan was seized from a third party, John McLoughlin, in September 2020. It has been in storage ever since and has incurred storage fees of 41,000. Ms Mimnagh explained to Judge Bernadette Owens that her client, Mr Kelly, bought the caravan in good faith and after two years of ownership sold it on for 9,500 to the third party. Mr Kelly re-paid the injured party, Mr McLoughlin, in full. The original injured party in Germany was fully reimbursed by their insurance company. Mr Kelly has been waiting to get his caravan back since 2020, Ms Mimnagh said, this is a man who has never stood in a court before. Sergeant Mahon accepted the solicitor's statement that her client had paid back Mr McLoughlin. Judge Owens said she was satisfied the injured parties were notified and had no further interest in the caravan and were fully reimbursed. The judge said it would be disproportionate to direct the forfeit of the caravan to the State as Mr Kelly is an innocent party in the matter. The judge directed the caravan be returned to the applicant. Longford County Council have not received any update on the progress of the preferred route of the N4 or when work will commence on the project. Cllr Seamus Butler raised the issue at the December meeting of the local authority. The proposed N4 Mullingar to Longford (Rooskey) Road Scheme will upgrade 50km of the N4 National Primary Route between the N4 Dromod-Rooskey bypass and the N4 Mullingar bypass. The scheme will bypass Newtownforbes, Longford, Edgeworthstown, Rathowen and Ballinalack. It will improve road safety and will reduce travel times along this section of the N4. Previously a preferred route corridor and route selection report for this scheme were published in July 2010 but at that time, due to funding restrictions, further work on the project was suspended. Earlier this year concerns were raised about the future of the project after the Mullingar to Rooskey road project was left out of the government's Capital Plan. In March 1m was earmarked by Government to progress to the route selection stage. At the time local political representatives met up with TII to urge them to restore funding for N4 Longford project. The delay to the project has caused significant frustration among politicians and landowners. Longford County Council representatives and local Oireachtas members met with officials from Transport Infrastructure Ireland to discuss the project. Cllr Butler said: We were promised there would be an announcement about the preferred route of the N4 at this time of the year when we met with TII last March. Is there any update? However there was no update given on progress of the project. Brooklyn Man Busted with Illegal Firearm During New Cassel Traffic Stop Crime By Chris Boyle Published: January 02 2023 Defendant Ishmel Cohen, 38, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Ishmel Cohen, 38, was found in possession of an illegal Glock 43x firearm with ten 9mm rounds of ammunition. The Third Squad reports the arrest of a Brooklyn man in New Cassel. According to Detectives, Officers observed a 2019 gray colored Dodge Charger with a suspended registration at the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Magnolia Avenue. The Officers conducted a Vehicle and Traffic Law stop and initiated an investigation. The passenger of the vehicle began to make furtive movements causing Officers to request he exit the vehicle. Subsequent to the investigation an illegal black colored semi-automatic loaded Glock 43x firearm with ten 9mm rounds of ammunition were recovered. Defendant Ishmel Cohen, 38, of 104 Gold Street Brooklyn was arrested without incident. The driver of the vehicle, a thirty-seven-year-old male received a traffic summons and was released. No injuries were reported. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: January 02 2023 Christopher Lazazzaro is seeking $5 million in damages over chocolate that was tested as being high in lead and cadmium. A Nassau County man is suing Hershey Co. over allegations that their dark chocolate contains harmful levels of heavy metals. Christopher Lazazzaro filed a class action lawsuit in the federal court in Central Islip, New York last Wednesday after Consumer Reports revealed that all 28 dark chocolate bars they had scientifically tested contained varying levels of lead and cadmium. 23 of the bars in question including ones from Dove, Godiva, Lindt and Trader Joe's contained potentially harmful levels of the metals for those who eat at least one ounce of chocolate a day. The report also showed that Hershey's Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate was high in lead, and that Lily's Extra Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa, and Lily's Extreme Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa chocolate brands owned by Hershey were high in lead and cadmium. Lazazzaro who said that Hershey had an obligation to their customers to disclose the presence of potentially harmful heavy metals in their products is seeking $5 million in damages. Local News, Business & Finance By Chris Boyle Published: January 02 2023 Long Island Egress Pros specializes in installing emergency escape windows designed for a fast and easy escape from your basement in the event of a fire or other emergency. Long Island Egress Pros is posing a vitally important question to the Long Island community, and its one that just might save your life: what is egress? Founded in 2014, Long Island Egress Pros specializes in installing emergency escape windows and basement walkouts that are designed for a fast and easy escape from your basement in the event of a fire or other emergencies, as people nor first responders are typically able to get in or out of the high mini standard window found in most basements. But according to Egress Pros VP Randy Goldbaum, most people are not only unaware that egress windows are required in basements by federal law, but they dont even know what an egress window is. At Egress Pros we spend a tremendous amount of time bringing awareness about egress, because we learned from speaking to various communities that most people dont know what egress is, he said. Over the years we have spoken with hundreds of firefighters and all agree that basement fires are among the most dangerous and challenging fires to encounter at a house or office. It is frustrating and dangerous for the first responders because not only do countless homes not have egress, but some that do have a system that does not meet code, which can provide a false sense of safety. In order to help spread awareness about egress and to ensure that first responders are trained, Goldbaum and his partner Glen Dauman designed and developed an egress training system for the Suffolk and Nassau County Fire Academes due to the fact that they previously had no means at their disposal to learn how basement escape windows work. Firefighters have to go for regular recertification on skills that they possess, and my partner and I came up with the idea for a state certification program for egress, he said. But we figured that was only part of the problem. If you don't have the ability to physically go out into an egress, it's not the same as reading about it and fully equipping yourself for what that egress is and how it operates. With that being said, my partner Glen, who is a contractor, developed a system that allowed us to simulate a basement with a complete egress window system, Goldbaum continued. Basically, it provides firefighters with simulated real-time ingress and egress usage during an emergency. Firefighters with their equipment are using our training system for experience. To that end, Long Island Egress Pros have been kind enough to donate and install their egress training systems at both the Nassau County and Suffolk County fire academies for Long Island firefighters to train on, completely free of charge. We created and installed the systems just before COVID hit, Goldbaum said. The fire academies are now using the Egress Training System for practice in removal of occupants and simulating downed firefighters in a basement. These drills are held numerous times per month and all year long. It is lifesaving training. Goldbaum noted that Long Island Egress Pros were the ones to approach the Nassau and Suffolk County fire academies with their proposal to donate the egress training systems, and both of them emphatically welcomed the opportunity. They were both immediately on board. In fact, they were very appreciative, he said. What gave us the idea of donating these systems came from talking to firefighters and learning about the obstacles and the unique danger in dealing with basement emergencies. Our first responders need to be prepared and the only way to be prepared is to practice. Our training system provides this important training. Chief Fire Marshal of Nassau County Michael Uttaro, at a recent Christmas safety demonstration at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, extolled the virtues of Long Island Egress Pros for their generous donation of their training system. Uttaro noted that it has allowed Nassau County firefighters to familiarize themselves with basement egress windows, giving them the expertise and hands-on experience to deal with them quickly when lives are on the line. There are things you can do to retrofit your basement to make it safer, and that is installing an egress window, which aids our first responders and firefighters, Uttaro said. Egress Pros was nice enough to donate a training system to the Nassau County Fire Service Academy that the firefighters regularly train on. These devices are very importantthe firefighters who train here at the academy frequently use Egress Pros system, just in case we have a basement fire and we have to rescue somebody, or we have to be rescued and get out of the basement safely. One of the most important aspects of Long Island Egress Pros egress system and what sets it apart from the competition is a few simple but potentially life-saving improvements to egress window code: Egress Pros Windows Tilt & Inswing: All windows exceed required code size. windows have a single handle for quick release open windows by pulling into the room. No crank. Screens are slider style for ease & speed Egress is about speed and the above-mentioned improvements to windows will increase the ease of operating the window, which means you will get out faster. Another important benefit is maintaining the amount of space in the well so that firefighters laden with safety equipment i.e. oxygen tanks have the room they need to descend into the basement and rescue whoever is inside. Windows that open outward into the well, in contrast, can severely cut down on that space and hinder the efforts of firefighters, possibly leading to the loss of life. Not one to rest on their laurels, Egress Pros continue to evolve and improve their escape windows; for example, if somebody is elderly, overweight, or they have some sort of disability, the company has developed an addition to their system with those unique needs and mobility issues in mind as well. We're working with a company that makes handles that attach next to the interior of the window on the wall, and it allows people a way to boost themselves up, Goldbaum said. That gives people confidence, and when you're confident you're going to move faster. This is taking safety code and improving upon it. Goldbaum said that the feeling he gets from not only helping to spread the word on the importance of egress, but also providing firefighters with a means to train with these escape windows literally learning the ins and outs is highly gratifying, as his company is providing a life-saving service to the residents of Long Island. It feels tremendous. My partner Glen and I are always talking about how good it feels because we are saving people. We're saving both homeowners and first responders alike, he said. We just had a past customer call uswe had just installed an egress window in his house in 2021, and he had a fire in 2022. The first responders used the egress to bring the hoses into the basement and extinguish the fire quickly. First responders were able to get in and out, and it limited the amount of damage in this persons home and prevented injuries. The response to their egress training systems has been so overwhelmingly positive that Goldbaum said that Long Island Egress Pros is envisioning bringing their training program to firefighters throughout the United States. We went out and patented the whole system, and we're going to start presenting to fire training centers throughout the country. I think that's something that's really, really important to do, he said. During Fire Safety month in October, we were invited to fire house open houses throughout Long Island, and we used that time to demonstrate and educate on egress windows. Its a great learning opportunity for families. At Long Island Egress Pros, we believe the most important part of an escape plan is a way out, Goldbaum concluded. To find out more, please visit https://www.egresspros.com. The Spanish government has made a direct appeal to Britons and other nationalities to come and live and work in Spain with their families and take advantage of the new Nomad Visa. The visa, aimed at people from countries outside the European Union including Britain, offers tax breaks and other incentives for people who can work remotely for a non-Spain based company. It offers a lower tax level, residence for up to five years with their families and visa-free travel across the European Union. The Spanish government hopes that it will be able to encourage more Britons to come to Spain especially as it eases the Brexit paper mountain. Who can get a digital nomad visa for Spain? The new Spanish visa for remote workers has been created for foreign employees from Non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries. People with EU passports or arriving from Schengen countries can already work remotely in the country for under 6 months of the year without needing to register officially. For those arriving from non-EU countries the new digital nomad visa will allow applicants to apply who are either: Employed by non-Spanish companies Have an income with less than 20% earned from Spanish companies The new visa will also ease the process of applying for residency on arrival. As it stands, it is necessary to register for a permit with local municipalities within 30 days of settling in Spain. The digital nomad visa will be a perfect option for people working remotely as freelancers or entrepreneurs with multiple clients. It will also benefit people employed full time with foreign companies, with the ability to work from home or abroad. How to apply for the Spanish digital nomad visa It is not yet entirely clear how the visa for digital nomads will be acquired as the legislation is still under consideration by the Spanish parliament. However, as the proposed authorization is a national visa for Spain, it is likely that applicants will have to attend a local consulate or Spanish embassy to register and obtain permission to work from the country. How long does a digital nomad visa for Spain last? The new Spanish digital nomad visa is expected to last for 1 year after approval. Additionally, under the current proposals, residents holding the visa will be able to renew it for a further 5 years if they continue to the meet the necessary requirements. Can I use a Spanish tourist visa to work remotely? Most countries, including Spain, dont allow foreigners to work within their borders using a tourist visa. This is why the new visa for digital nomads is being introduced. Before the digital nomad visa launches, it has been possible to get a non-lucrative visa to live in Spain. However, this limits the economic activity of workers and does not permit holders to find jobs in the country. It is, of course, essential to only travel to Spain with the right visa for specific circumstances. Otherwise, the authorities could refuse to process any permits or authorizations to travel there in the future. The proposed digital nomad visa for Spain creates an exciting new opportunity for remote workers and entrepreneurs to experience life in the country whilst earning a steady income. It also greatly simplifies many of the formalities needed to live and work in Spain for a few months, or up to a year. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI) is a pregnancy condition in which immune cells from the mother (called macrophages or histiocytes) build up in the placenta and create blood clots and prevents mothers blood to flow into the fetus. Strong links exist between CHI and higher risk of stillbirth and fetal mal-development. Although uncommon, involving six in every 10,000 pregnancies however the recurrence rate is high at 25%100%(1 Trusted Source Chronic histiocytic intervillositis: A breakdown in immune tolerance comparable to allograft rejection? Go to source ). This condition is also called as Chronic (histiocytic) intervillositis of unknown etiology (CIUE), Massive Chronic Intervillositis (MCI), Nonspecific Chronic Macrophagic Intervillositis, Histiocytic Intervillositis (HI)(2 Trusted Source What is Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI)? | CHI (Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis) Support Go to source). CHI was first reported as a distinct clinical entity in 1987. In a clinical scenario, villitis of unknown cause and CHI appear to overlap in certain cases and precise diagnostic standards for CHI have not yet been established. CHI can only be identified after a pathological examination of the placenta, as non-specific peripheral blood tests like alkaline phosphatase are often elevated but are not just restricted to just this condition(3 Trusted Source Case Report: Successful pregnancy following treatment of recurrent chronic histiocytic intervillositis Go to source). Advertisement Although the fundamental cause is unknown, CHI is thought to be an improper immune response to the semi-allogeneic fetus. It might be due to the presence of maternal macrophages. The reported greater occurrence is in women with autoimmune disease(1 Trusted Source Chronic histiocytic intervillositis: A breakdown in immune tolerance comparable to allograft rejection? Go to source) Unfortunately, women with CHI do not exhibit any symptoms, and the illness cannot be identified until after delivery when pathologists, who are medical specialists examine the placenta. Some evidence suggests Alkaline Phosphatase, a placental enzyme, may be increased in cases of CHI, but that is not known for sure. The accuracy of this test is also not known. If a woman was previously affected with CHI during pregnancy, the problem might recur during subsequent pregnancies and the reason for this happening still remains unclear(4 Trusted Source Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis - A Leaflet for Mothers Go to source). Symptoms in pregnancies less than 12 weeks can be spontaneous miscarriage and high white blood cell, neutrophil and monocyte count. In pregnancies of 12+ weeks, restricted growth of fetus and reduced amniotic fluid can be seen(2 Trusted Source What is Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI)? | CHI (Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis) Support Go to source). CHI can only be diagnosed post-delivery or abortion upon examination of the placenta due to a lack of diagnostic biomarkers. The diagnosis can be confirmed upon pathological examination of placenta. The key is the finding of the so called infiltrates of 'histiocytes' as the indicated by the name of the condition, in the intervillous space of the placenta. Around 80% of the these histiocytes or the mononuclear-cells present in the intervillous space are CD68-positive cells and the for establishing the diagnosis - intervillous space must be occupied by at least 5% or more of these infiltrates of histiocytes(5 Trusted Source Towards standardized criteria for diagnosing chronic intervillositis of unknown etiology: A systematic review Go to source). Pregnancies with CHI are managed using the following drugs - A busy month of December has seen the free agent cupboard mostly cleared out. Yet as we begin 2023 there are still a few interesting options on the open market for teams looking for upgrades heading into the new season. Of course, many teams will look to the trade market over the next month or two particularly if theyre after impact options but good deals can still be found in free agency. One such player is a former MVP, who remains a threat at the plate and is well-regarded as a veteran presence in the clubhouse. Andrew McCutchen may not be the same player that went to five-straight All Star games with the Pirates, but he could still help a lot of teams. There was a report in early December that the Rays and Dodgers had interest in McCutchen, but its been quiet since. The Dodgers have since signed J.D. Martinez, which may rule them out, but the Rays could still feasibly have a spot for him. McCutchen, 36, spent the past season with the Brewers on a one-year, $8MM deal. Theyd signed him on the back of three years in Philadelphia, which culminated in McCutchen hitting .222/.334/.444 with 27 home runs over 574 plate appearances. It was a solid enough season, but what perhaps got Milwaukees attention was the way in which McCutchen torched left-handed pitching in 2021, slashing .293/.405/.622 in 195 plate appearances against southpaws. It was particularly pronounced in 2021, but McCutchens splits have favored hitting against left-handers over his career. Unfortunately for the Brewers, it wasnt the case in 2022. McCutchen would hit just .221/.303/.435 against left-handers in Milwaukee, contributing to an overall line of .237/.316/.384 overall line of 580 plate appearances. While his walk and strikeout rates have trended in the wrong direction in recent times, they were still reasonable marks, as he struck out 21.4% of the time against a 9.8% walk rate. That was good for a wRC+ of 98, a couple of ticks below the league average but the first time it had dipped below 100 in his career. He did enjoy a 262 plate appearance tear in the middle of the summer, where he crushed 11 home runs and hit at an .868 OPS. Of course, the fact that his overall season mark was well below that suggests there were some very lean runs in there as well. Perhaps the biggest concern from McCutchens season was the drop in power. He slugged 27 home runs a year prior with the Phillies, but hit just 17 last season. American Family Field in Milwaukee is generally less favorable to home run hitters than Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, but it was still a significant drop in long balls. In McCutchens defense, his exit velocity and HardHit% were both roughly the same as a year earlier, so hes still making plenty of solid contact. On the defensive side of things, McCutchen has spent most of his time in the DH spot in recent years, but can still play the outfield, and enjoyed a bit of success there in 2022. He was worth 5 Defensive Runs Saved in a small sample of 268 1/3 innings, while he also spent a small amount of time in right and center. He did make 82 appearances in the DH spot and his days of being an everyday outfielder are probably over, but hes by no means a liability in the field and his numbers in 2022 could encourage a new team to give him a larger workload in the field in 2023. McCutchen will likely sign another one-year deal, quite possibly in the same range as the $8MM salary he took home in 2022. At this stage of free agency, most of the players available have some flaws, but McCutchen could still work as a solid option for a number of teams. He still has ~20 home run power, draws walks at a bit above the league average rate and doesnt strike out too often. While hes not likely to be a teams everyday outfielder, he could shift around the corner outfield spots, making DH appearances and allowing teams to spell their starting outfielders on a regular basis. Further to that, McCutchens got a good clubhouse reputation and could perhaps work on a contending team with a slightly younger roster. While hes unlikely to be a difference maker at this point, teams could do worse than bringing in the veteran to deepen their roster for the upcoming season. Hissein Mahamoud Barkai won France's Lebey Prize for best artisan in 2022. A member of the Toques francaises association of chefs, he's become an ambassador for Chadian gastronomy around the world, with hallmark creations like the "Paris-N'Djamena". Barkai was born in Chad and after training in France as a pastry chef now spends his time between Paris and N'Djamena. His cuisine is a delicate fusion of locally sourced ingredients such as dates, almonds and sorghum flour married with French savoir faire. In October this year he was awarded the 2022 Lebey Prize for best artisan, but earning recognition in his native Chad, where cooking is reserved to women, was a slog. Being a Chadian man and cooking is near impossible, even Utopian, he told RFI's Nathalie Amar. I was lucky to live in France and be able to do what I wanted to do, but it's not easy to be able to cook here in Chad. Barkai hails from the north of Chad, where he was born into the Gorane ethnic group. In my village of birth only women can cook, so I was touching on a sensitive issue. They're very welcoming people but they are proud of their traditions and dignity. So while Barkai, like many chefs, enjoyed showing off photos of his creations on social media, he used a pseudonym in the early days. I was in Montpellier and rather than calling myself Mahamoud, I used Al Hussein. It was close to my real name, but meant that people wouldn't know straightaway that it was me, he explains. After a while he understood he couldn't spend his life hiding. He made a short video, a sort of culinary coming out and posted it on YouTube. It allowed Barkai to publicly embrace his passion. I received countless positive messages from people encouraging me and saying they'd like their son to do the same thing and so on. That's how the doors opened and it was a psychological relief. A weight had been lifted. Feast your eyes on some of Barkai's creations by clicking on the slideshow below. A culinary journey To the naked eye Barkai's pastries look like any high-end French patisseries. You'd never suspect they'd be part of African or Chadian gastronomy, he says. But once you see it on your plate and taste it, "that's when you start travelling, when you're in something completely unique: African, Chadian, the land of the Sahel". He reels off a few of the many regional ingredients that go into his recipes: balamites, dates, black tamarind, hibiscus, moringa. One of his specialties is a cup cake made with red or white sorghum flour. Not only is it locally sourced in Chad, it's naturally gluten-free. When cooking in N'Djamena, he avoids importing expensive products from France wherever possible replacing butter with shea butter, wheat flour with sorghum or ground pea flour. From Brest to N'Djamena His hallmark patisserie is the Paris-N'Djamena a version of the famed praline cream-filled cake known as Paris-Brest. However, the only thing he's kept from the classic French recipe is the choux pastry. He replaced the praline cream with almonds and the fruit of the balanite tree (Balanites aegyptiaca), known more commonly as wild date in English and savonnier (soap tree) in French because its bark produces a soapy effect. The tree's oval fruits resemble dates, though their taste is far more acidic, Barkai explains. Chadians traditionally suck on the fruit to cleanse the stomach, help with breast-feeding, strengthen hair and boost their immune system. Replacing the hazelnut-based praline cream with almonds is a challenge, he says, because of their bitter edge. We have people here who are specialised in cracking the hard nut, removing the bitter centre and blanching it several times to reduce the bitterness. But he remains attached to the slightly tart twist the almonds and balanites give his dessert. Passing on the passion Paris is a pastry chef's dream location but N'Djamena is still largely unexplored culinary territory. Barkai has trained at least 150 women in the profession since he's been travelling between the two capital cities. Trainees include young mothers and housewives who've been able to build up small micro-entreprises to support their families. I'm very proud, I've seen there are plenty of women who are now managing to live off what I've taught them. The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and Freight Forwarders have announced new rates which take effect today, Sunday, January 1, 2023. The new rates will guide Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents who assist importers to clear their goods at the countrys two seaports, Tema and Takoradi ports, Elubo and Aflao borders, as well as the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). In an agreement signed between GSA, Clearing Agents and Freight Forwarders, the GSA explained that the new rates are in accordance with the GSAs 2012 (L.1.21900), which ensures that charges correspond with the services provided. The new rates were borne out of extensive stakeholder meetings with Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GSA, Benonita Bismarck, advised the Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents not to short-change importers but to adhere to the new rates. We have gone through a tough time to get to these rates, which as we agreed, are commensurate with the services you render to importers and exporters. What we hope for is that your members would not charge more than this but feel free to charge less per the relationship you have with your customers, the CEO of GSA entreated. The Vice President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Peter Mensah, cautioned the public to be wary of the activities of fake forwarders. We also want to use this to check our members and caution the public to be wary of the activities of fake forwarders, Mr. Mensah warned. Read below GSAs full new rates -citinewsroom 02.01.2023 LISTEN Ghana will soon suffer from a human resource capital crisis if steps are not taken to address the issues within our educational system in the country. If we allow politicians in the country to continue to dictate how our educational system should work, then we should be prepared to see a collapsed system shortly. And this is going to affect every aspect of the economy since we will have nobody to manage anything in this country. Don't get me wrong! It isn't that everybody will be dead, but we might have produced students with dead brains from our institutions, who won't be able to do anything as far as using the knowledge from education to solve issues is concerned. It's only in Africa, for that matter, Ghana that our political leaders introduce weird policies just to win political Power. However, what surprises me is the fact that people don't see the negative effects of many of these voodoo policies being introduced by our politicians. I won't blame my grandmother if she goes to vote for a political party that says it wants to introduce Free Education in the entire country when even past governments found it difficult to sustain a subsidised version of free education in only three regions out of the then ten regions in the country. Because my granny doesn't understand how difficult it is to operate free education, she will always vote for any political party that says it wants to offer it to the entire nation without the available resources. How about those who knew it couldn't be done yet supported it and voted for it? How do I call such people? I called it a subsidised version because; what was done in the three northern sectors of the country wasn't entirely free education. After all, parents paid part of the fees of their children. The government only paid the feeding and tuition fees but the rest of the fees were paid by the parents. Therefore, even when parents were helping the government with the payment of fees, the suppliers of foodstuffs and other goods and services rendered to the schools were being owed by the government over long periods. All other governments that came had financial problems with paying part of the fees after parents had paid their part. It tells you there is too much to be done by the government. Therefore absorbing all fees in the senior high schools in the country wasn't and it's not feasible. What therefore will convince me to accept the fact that any government in this country can provide free education to students in senior high schools throughout the country when I knew how difficult it was for the government to do it for a smaller number of students in the country? Yes, with the northern scholarship, the government paid part of the fees and the parents paid part of it. And as I said, though that wasn't even a fully funded free education, the government still owed suppliers. So how can anybody tell me we can afford to school our students in all the senior high schools in the country free? How and with what funds? These are the questions that needed to have been asked. But we failed to demand the right answer or we even didn't ask these questions. Now, let me come back to the issue of the government reintroducing the quota system in the university colleges of education and possibly, in the musing schools in the country. Can someone please tell me what sense it makes to provide free access to education at the senior high school level only to restrict the entry into colleges of these students? I'm pretty sure after this the nursing training schools will also be asked to use the quota system again. I don't always like to bring mathematics into my writing because I'm not mathematically gifted. However, let me attempt this. I know my good friends will understand me even if I fail to explain what I want to use this difficult Math to explain. Assuming this year alone, our senior high schools produce 20, 000 students who have passed their WASSCE and wish to enter the university colleges of education and each college is only allowed to admit 5,00 students and the colleges of education are only 20 in the country. How many students will be admitted from this large number of students and what happens to the rest of them? I don't think the essence of this free education is merely to allow our youth to acquire certificates from senior high school and end their educational career there and then. We must therefore look beyond just offering free education at a particular level and not being able to support it to another level. If our students acquire certificates from senior high schools but can't have access to University colleges or nursing because of a weird quota system, then we should stop operating free senior high school education. And use the money to expand these colleges and schools that will be able to admit more students. There are two things. Either we completely scrub off the ineffective free education policy we have currently and reintroduce the system that allows parents to support the government to give proper education to our youth or we stop the payment of allowances to students in these two institutions thus, the university colleges of education and that of the nursing training schools. Look! If you have one piece of cloth and you are asked to use it to cover the privacy of either your mother or father, you must be bold enough to assess their situation and see which of them needs the cloth and make sure you cover that person to save a situation. We must all agree that we can't run the two together because our economy can't support their successful operation. Therefore, why do we continue to run the free education system to deny many students to enter into these institutions? We are cutting down the intake of more students in these institutions just to be able to pay their allowances, feed them, and provide other teaching and learning materials. And we still need money to run the free education policy in our senior high schools. Whether we like it or not, there is enough evidence to show that the free education policy is hurting other sectors of our economy. I'm pretty sure this quota system is an IMF condition because; we need to cut down on costs to enable us to survive financially as a country. But even without the IMF demanding that we do it, we should have known it ourselves that the policy is too expensive to be sustained by our weak economy. There is too much politics in our educational system and I can tell you it's not helping us. It isn't that the free education policy is bad, but there is too much politics in it that's not allowing us to see what to do to help us as a country. It's the politics in it that is why the current government is biting more than it can chew, just to score political points. The NDC put the quota system in these two institutions to reduce the cost of running them. They also took off the payment of the allowances for the same reason. Whether it's an IMF condition or not, there was a need to do that. The NPP played politics with it and assured the students and potential students of the payment of these allowances and promised to also increase the enrollment numbers. However, the latter has come to realise that it won't work. If this isn't a political miscalculation, then what is it again? To conclude, let's give the needed attention to education to help develop the required human resource capital that is required for the development of our country. To be able to do this, then certain measures must be taken now. The free education policy must be reviewed to allow parents to support the government to offer quality and more effective education to our youth, the quota system in the two institutions thus, university colleges of education and nursing training schools must therefore be removed to encourage the enrollment of many students into these instructions, and the payment of allowances in these institutions must be stopped so that; the money from the allowances can be used to support other sectors of the economy. It's only when we are bold to take these measures that, we won't only lose our human resource capital, but we can also develop other areas of the economy that will go a long way to expand the development of the country. The politics in our educational system must also be reduced to allow people with the right experience to handle it well. Ghanaians are watching. Vice President, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia 02.01.2023 LISTEN The Vice President of the Republic, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed that the improvements in the economic outlook are not due to the works of government alone. According to him, the gains made are also a manifestation of the power of the almighty God. We have been working while at the same time trusting in God because you do not just trust in God and sit and fold your arms and go to sleep, you have to work, so we have been working while at the same time trusting in God for his unfailing love and thankfully we are beginning to see the power of our lord manifesting in the improvements in our economic outlook, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said. The Vice President shared this while speaking to congregants of The Church of Pentecost, Dr. Thomas Wyatt Assembly for the 31st Watch-Night Service after he visited with her wife, Samira Bawumia. He further stressed that Ghana must guard its religious tolerance and continue to live in peace with respect for people from different ethnicities and religions. We are different people from different ethnicities and different religions but we are all children of God. What makes us unique is our unity in diversity and we should guard it jealously, Dr. Bawumia added. 02.01.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that it is monitoring the surge in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in China and other parts of the world and will soon tighten the measures against the pandemic in the country. As a result, the GHS says it is currently reviewing the measures already in place to tackle the pandemic. Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health are critically monitoring the situation in consultation with key stakeholders, the Ghana Health Service said in a statement signed by the Director-General of the Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on Sunday, January 1. The statement added, We will shortly come out with our country-specific measures to address the current threat of Covid19, especially with respect to importation. Meanwhile, Ghanaians who have not completed the vaccination process are being urged to do so to protect themselves, their families, and their loved ones. Those who have taken their first dose are to go for the second dose and those who have taken their second dose are also entreated to go for the booster. Vaccination remains the best protection against Covid19 infection, the Ghana Health Service statement stressed. The National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) has stressed an urgent need to sensitize the youth to reduce the numbers, describing the youth as a very vulnerable group who were not aware of the dangers and setbacks associated with contracting the disease. The rise in HIV-positive cases among the youth as the third quarter of 2022 HIV testing and surveillance data revealed, must be a concern to all, Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, NACP Programme Manager stated. He identified factors that had led to the high numbers as an unconcerned lifestyle of the young population and warned that the youth must be very conscious of their well-being and status. Dr. Ayisi Addo stated at the pre-launch event of a pragmatic national campaign focusing on HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits at the Ghana News Agency Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue Platform as monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema. Dr. Ayisi Addo demonstrated the use of the HIVST kits to the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Team and invited them to champion the Advocacy for its use ahead of the national launch and campaign in the year ahead-2023. He said, in the 2022 third quarter January to September the nation identified 33,870 positive cases while the 2021 Antenatal care (ANC) prevalence rate for the ages 15 to 24 was 1.5 percent, higher than the previous year. The data indicate that the age group with the highest ANC HIV prevalence was between the ages of 30-40 years. Dr. Ayisi Addo urged the public to break barriers and know their status with the use of HIV self-test kits which would be available at selected pharmacies and hospitals across the country. The HIV Self-Test Kits pack contains an instruction manual for use written in both English and Twi, a test device, a preservative, a developer vial, and a test stand. The instruction manual also has simply eleven steps to follow with graphic pictures to guide the individual to self-administer without the help of any other person. Audio-visual educational versions have also been produced separately in other local dialects to promote awareness and use of the HIVST kits. He said self-testing has come to empower Ghanaians to take control of their HIV status because "knowing your status is very powerful but walking in the dark is dangerous". HIV self-test kits availability would be scaled up in more health facilities as part of national efforts to improve HIV and AIDS Control in the coming year. He explained that the results of the self-testing were not final adding; "if you are reactive, you must go to a health facility and we will confirm your results for you". Dr. Ayisi Addo said the initiative had been programmed in a way that the health facilities would collate data for positive cases as people who test positive still needed to report to a facility for confirmation and treatment. He said the self-testing was private and requires only consulting the health personnel for advice only before or after testing and noted that the face of HIV epidemic management had changed positively due to the introduction and scale-up of Anti-retroviral treatment. Mr. Francis Ameyibor Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager said that even though progress has been made in promoting knowledge of HIV large number of the population is still unaware of their status, thus underscoring the urgency of closing the testing gap. He called on the media to join the campaign to stimulate self-testing and also upscale the fight against HIV and AIDS stigmatization and discrimination. Mr. Ameyibor noted that late diagnosis of HIV infection is the most substantial barrier to scaling up HIV treatment and reducing new infection rates and commended the National AIDS/STI Control Programme and other stakeholders for embarking on the self-testing campaign. Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) has appealed to the public to shun risky sexual behaviour and urged all to be bold in knowing their HIV status noting that, being aware of ones status is key to decision-making for positive living with or without HIV. Dr. Ayisi Addo made the appeal at the pre-launch event of a pragmatic national campaign focusing on HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits at the Ghana News Agency Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue Platform, which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema. He expressed concern that about 1,422 children in Ghana tested positive for HIV by the third quarter of this year -January to September 2022 out of which a total of 693 were boys while 729 were girls. The regional data breakdown indicates that 279 were recorded in Ashanti Region; 237 cases in Greater Accra Region; 232 in Eastern Region; 118 in Bono Region; 96 cases in the Volta Region; 93 cases were recorded in Central Region; and 68 cases in Bono East Region. The other statistics are 62 cases in Western North; 47 positive cases were recorded in Ahafo Region; 42 cases were in Upper West Region; 41 cases were recorded in the Northern Region; 33 cases were recorded in Oti Region; 30 in Western Region; and 20 cases in Upper East Region; 13 cases in Savannah Region; and eleven for North East Region. The HIV Self-Test Kits pack contains an instruction manual for use written in both English and Twi, a test device, a preservative, a developer vial, and a test stand. The instruction manual also has simply eleven steps to follow with graphic pictures to guide the individual to self-administer without the help of any other person. He added that the HIV self-test kits had been made available in some designated hospitals and pharmacies and would be scaled up to ensure easy accessibility, convenience, and confidential use by the general public. He said it would significantly improve HIV testing services towards universal health coverage. Dr. Ayisi Addo, demonstrated the use of the HIVST kits to the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Team and invited them to champion the Advocacy for its use ahead of the national launch and campaign in the year ahead-2023. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager lauded the efforts by NACP and other stakeholders for the initiative and called on the media to join the advocacy to achieve maximum impact through demystifying the myth surrounding HIV testing He said there is an urgent need to invoke an attitudinal change crusade through the encouragement and challenging people to know their status. Mr. Ameyibor noted that knowledge about your HIV status would ensure a healthy lives style whether positive or negative, one must live with a sense of responsibility. Persons whose test results are negative should receive counseling to enable them to remain free of HIV, while those who tested positive must be encouraged to seek for treatment as the Ghana Health Service provides treatment to persons living with HIV by offering them free Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs. 02.01.2023 LISTEN Unlike some countries around the world, including rich Western nations, God spared Ghana from gloom and doom despite the global economic turmoil, Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen has observed. Speaking at the Calvary Charismatic Church in Accra where he worshipped to welcome New Years Day, Mr Kyerematen said there were good times ahead in 2023. He mentioned that despite the global economic turmoil, Ghana did not go hungry or scramble for commodities as some countries did. Find out from even the most advanced countries like the UK, United States of America, Germany or France, from north to south, east and west, go and find out some were queuing for bread, petrol and cooking oil, he said, adding: These are even rich nations, but for Gods grace, we never queued for petrol. This was not because of our might or knowledge or government power, it was by the grace of God, he noted. the Minister said and asked Ghanaians to be thankful to God for His mercies bestowed on us. Source: ClassFMonline.com President Nana Akufo-Addo has once again reiterated his commitment to ensuring the completion of the National Cathedral project despite the numerous criticisms. Akufo-Addo said with support from the Christian community the promise he made to God will be fulfilled and the National Cathedral will be completed. The President was speaking after he visited the construction site of the stalled project and made a donation of GH 100,000. As I have said before, the National Cathedral will not just be another monument adorning the skyline of Accra, it will be a rallying point for the entire Christian community to come together and worship I am therefore committed to working with the Board of Trustees to ensure the completion of this project to the glory of God. The National Cathedral project has seen a lot of controversies, as many Ghanaians continue to question the prudence of the state financing an edifice that is said to be President Akufo-Addo's personal pledge to God. But President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been unwavering in his resolve to build the National Cathedral in Ghana. In the 2023 budget, GH80 million was allocated to fund the project despite the current economic crisis. However, Parliament voted against the approval of budget estimates of GH80 million for the construction of the National Cathedral for 2023. Meanwhile, the National Cathedral Secretariat has made a passionate appeal to churches and the Christian community to help complete the National Cathedral project. The Secretariat said with a contribution of GH100 monthly from one million Christians, the project could be completed before the year 2024. Speaking after President Akufo-Addo paid a working visit to the construction site, Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr Paul Opoku Mensah said the church must encourage its members to contribute. If the Church Leaders stand with us on this project, we can easily raise One million people who will give us GH100 each. So essentially we need the Church to stand with us. The state has done enough, all the preparatory works have been done, and the scope of work has been done. Without the state it was impossible. We need the Church in Ghana to stand with us, this is a monument to the Church, this is a monument to God and a symbol of the Christian presence in Ghana. The $450 million National Cathedral project was envisioned by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality. The inter-denominational cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, as well as chapels, and a baptistery. By Citi Newsroom The National Cathedral Secretariat has made a passionate appeal to churches and the Christian community to help complete the controversial National Cathedral project. The Secretariat said with a contribution of GH 100 monthly from one million Christians, the project could be completed before the year 2024. Speaking after President Akufo-Addo paid a working visit to the construction site, Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr Paul Opoku Mensah said the church must encourage its members to contribute. If the Church Leaders stand with us on this project, we can easily raise One million people who will give us GH100 each. So essentially we need the Church to stand with us. The state has done enough, all the preparatory works have been done, and the scope of work has been done. Without the state it was impossible. We need the Church in Ghana to stand with us, this is a monument to the Church, this is a monument to God and a symbol of the Christian presence in Ghana. The $450 million National Cathedral project was envisioned by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality. The inter-denominational cathedral is expected to have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, as well as chapels, and a baptistery. By Citi Newsroom 02.01.2023 LISTEN Happy New Year - Incoming Flagbearer, NPP! Dear All, Yuletide felicitations. Let the Facebook Hansard capture that, l, Sir-Obama Pokuase on this day (January 1, 2023) do officially declare my unflinching support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be the next flagbearer of the NPP. My decision is premised on the fact that Dr. Bawumia has proven to be a man of unblemished integrity and character. He's distinguished himself very well as a four-time running-mate, and now Vice President of Ghana. He's achieved these great feats due to his impeccable humility, competence and good sense of judgement. It's needless to say that Ghana is blessed to have Dr. Bawumia. He is a unifier, and a team player who appeals to all religious facets of society --- Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists, Atheists, etc -- He's tolerant of divergent views/opinions. Undoubtedly, Dr Bawumia has the wherewithal to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) break the eight year cycle. Indeed, his hardwork, commitment and sacrifice to the party and the government cannot be overemphasized. To break the eight, the NPP will need such a coolheaded and smart personality who appeals to the electorates. He stands tall amongst the list of individuals who have so far declared interest in the NPP flagbearer race. l dare say, it will be an unpardonable blunder on our part as a party to sidestep the venerable Dr. Bawumia as we prepare for a crucial battle in 2024. For these and other reasons, l reaffirm that l shall do everything within my bones and spirit to project, protect and defend his good name till he becomes the flagbearer of NPP and President of Ghana in 2025. #iAM4DMB God bless us all. Sir-Obama Pokuase No. 345 Baobab Street 02.01.2023 LISTEN Sitting in my apartment in the Gambia, as the law school is on break, I have been motivated to write this article to you to encourage you to have faith in God. Nothing is indeed impossible! Whether you are a scholar or not, there is an unseen upper hand somewhere. The Psalmist says: They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. Daniel 11:32 also affirmed that: The people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. In recent times, there have been many attacks on the church by celebrities and Philosophers. I read one widely circulated story with the caption I no longer go to church, its time wasting attributing to Asamoah Gyan advising the youth not to go to church on ATUU show hosted by Abeiku Santana. I have also watched many televisions shows with several negative theological arguments on whether God exists or not. I have also realized that for those who do not believe in God or the Gospel, it will take more than words or preaching to convince them. Such people need to have an encounter with God himself. They need actions, not theories. I was like these people with many theological arguments before I had my share of divine encounters at the Holy Ghost Temple, Adenta-Fafraha. I have decided to share my experiences with you to inform you that knowing God is the greatest weapon ever in my life. In fact, the name of Jesus is indeed higher than any other name. Giving my life to Christ is the greatest decision in my life as a young scholar. I have witnessed and seen the great impact on my life. There is no other name apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Worshipping God or going to Church is not a waste of time. It is far better than wasting your time in pubs and many others. Knowing Christ is the real deal. The devil is just trying to discourage many people from going to church. The reality is the church is akin to a hospital. Hence, the church is not a place for holy people. God is not interested in those who think that they are Saints. Anytime, you have committed any sin, the best place to seek solace is in the church. Dont judge yourselves and stay home! It is a devilish agenda to prevent you from going to church. In this article, I am sharing with you my experiences. This is my story: Growing up, my Uncle once told me that Christianity is a matter of the heart. Therefore, you don't need to go to church. Many learned people and philosophers do not believe in God's existence. But some education theorists will tell you that education is clothed with religious awareness and they believe that it is not everything that education can help us to know. Some things cannot be explained. There's a metaphysical side to this world. The purpose of this article is to tell the story of an encounter with God through his prophet. I have also observed that God can use anyone at any time to deliver His message, including those you will not consider in society. It's misery, the prophecy of a drunk. My great-grandmothers words I remember vividly before the death of my great-grandmother, she asked to have a word with me. I was in class four or five then. When I visited her in the village; she told me that God has an assignment for me and I will be a great young man in the future. The drunk from the hotel. One morning I met this drunkard at the Africana Hotel in Teshie, Accra. I went to do some ironing when my power went out. While ironing, this drunk, entered the room and immediately began to tell me the voice of God. The drunkard emphatically told me that God had said that I should give my life to him, and not rely on understanding and knowledge. She added that if I relied on my intelligence, I would have trouble in life. Most importantly, she told me that God has a special purpose in my life. Having made God's voice heard, she disappeared. I haven't seen her again since then and I can't even identify her, I was bewildered after the incident, I mean, why wouldnt I? I was a young man in my early twenties, filled with so much youthful exuberance. My friend in the Africana Hotel was equally taken aback at the revelation that morning. As a young man in my early twenties, I went home to share with my grandmother what had happened at the hotel. My grandmother said to me, she was not surprised and that she had received this message from a friend. Following this revelation, I had meetings with many people who also told me the same thing and what God wants to do in my life. But there was one shocking prophecy that finally came my way that changed everything in my life. I realized that success has a spiritual undertone and once you missed this spiritual foundation, it becomes difficult to succeed in life. I have read numerous popular books that linked their success to spiritual foundations. Some of these are related to God, others to other divinities. The Prophet at the Holy Ghost Temple In this modern era, many have differing views on prophecies. I held the same position before having an encounter with this man of God in the Holy Ghost Temple of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Adenta-Fafraha. But just as Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD. Yes, as a full professor and a student Barrister at Law in training at the Gambia Law School, I can confidently tell you that even if you have no confidence in any prophet in Ghana, there is still one prophet in the Holy Ghost Temple, Adenta-Fafraha, who will speak the mind of God undiluted. Why this? On March 6, 2011, I saw a banner announcing the program "Breaking the iron gate" in the church, and I went. I honestly don't know why I chose this program. It was the first time I ever visited that church. Well, I went that evening and I took a seat at a particular place that I'm focusing on now. There were intense prayers and suddenly, the prophet called for calm. He then said, as I pray, I saw an angelic being, and, I heard the name Obu. Honestly, I was shocked and amazed! He also called the Obu' three times. I failed to respond to the voice of God to go forward. Then, the Prophet pointed to the exact place I was sitting and the seat number. At this point, I felt some intense fire burning me. I had no option but to finally respond, got up, and walked toward him. Then, there was applause as I went forward. When I went to him, he added: Practice like an angel, Raphael. He said, who is Raphael? He then added: Young man, what do you want to be? I said: I want to be great. He added: The way to your greatness lies in your spiritual welfare. But if you will not change your confession, you will get to the destination God has for you. He then added: but I know some wars and gates need to open. He then said: Gates open so that others can enter into it. I used to think this gate to be opened was meant for family members. But that was not the case. Today, I have a whole community of people who are entering into this gate he said. Fast forward, I joined the church and became a full member. My life has never been the same again. Dodging God In 2021, I went to a funeral at Takoradi. Arriving there, I was told the Prophet was there. Hence, I decided not to go to where I was told he was. I was scared because I dont know what he is likely to tell me this time. I decided to dodge him. I went to Cecilia Bunyans house. When I thought I was dodging him, I met some couples who were ministers of God. Immediately after Cecilia introduced me, the Holy Spirit fell on the woman of God and started prophesying to me. I had no option but to kneel. The woman brought out hidden things. I was there with a friend. She was shocked herself; she realized that I am not an ordinary human being but there is an upper hand working on me. This drew my attention to what Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. In this case, I was behaving like Jehoshaphat, I knew the prophet is a true man of God but was scared of what he will say that I dont want to hear but God used another person to deliver his word. This means we cannot dodge God, especially those he has chosen to accomplish a mission. Many people think that what I do beats their imaginations as a young Professor at 37. Someone asked me whether there is a god in my family protecting me. Christ is my foundation and I never regretted accepting and giving my life to him. Many were those who had planned evil against me, but God delivered me including one that was orchestrated from Benin. Today, I am sharing my story with the world to let you know that God exists and that worshipping him is not a waste of time. Going to church is not a waste of time! From a humble beginning, this is how far the Lord had brought me. The greatest achievements in my life now are knowing God and giving my life to Christ. No one can convince me that there is no God because I have had an encounter with him and have seen his physical manifestation in my life. Anytime I go through any trouble or challenge I remember the words of the prophets to help me sail through. There are occasions when I go through challenges but just smile and people think that I am indifferent; not that, I just know they were part of my growth. And any time there is a storm, rain is abundant. My family does not even understand how I arrived at where I am. Its a miracle. It is not a small task for a young man from Dodowa to break barriers, it takes only God. I held on to the prophecy of this great man of God. Today, I am a full professor at 37, president of a University College. I told God to bring all these successes before I hit 40 and he did at 37. This is a clear case that God exists and that there are true prophets in this country that God is using. So in case, you doubt that God exists; then, just take a look at me, I am a physical embodiment of Gods grace and existence as we say in law res ipsa loquitor (the case speaks for itself). The church changed my life and the only way to a successful life is to have an encounter with God. The spiritual life is pivotal to success in life and the Youth must accept Christ and lead his path to a successful life and career. Our DNA, of course, is not our destiny. Our destiny is not connected with the very day when the sperm fertilized the egg. It is only a road map and we have control of our DNA. My advice to the youth is that success comes from God. I could remember some time ago, I needed financial assistance and I prayed to God. I told him to disgrace me with that money. That particular week, I received an invitation to deliver a speech in a big program. After my speech, I met someone and we became friends. We spoke, and he asked me to do some projects for him. Immediately, he released the money for the project and received more than what I asked from God. If this is not from God; then from whom? Do not be deceived by any demonic agendas to divert your relationship with God. The Name of Jesus supersedes any! I am always guided by this personal philosophy, which goes like this the future, you picture is the future you will feature, the YOU you see is the YOU you will become. Therefore picture a great future to feature and desire a great YOU to become and the almighty God will see to it that you have featured in the future you have pictured and have become the YOU, you have desired. The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, currently pursuing the Bar professional course at the Gambia Law School, Banjul. 02.01.2023 LISTEN By law in Germany, new buildings need to have enough photovoltaic panels to feed the energy the structure requires. Some owners use this momentum to extend the number of panels and produce excess energy to feed into the national grid and make money in return. It is expected old buildings will have to follow shortly. Supermarkets use put photovoltaic panels on their roofs. Customers during shopping can recharge their electric cars during 15-30 minutes while buying the grocery. Germany is a mostly rainy country with snow in winter and dark skies. Solar panels have been around for a considerably long time improved constantly. They are not rocket science nor in short supply. In Africa, factories can be opened to produce this technology and get independent from suppliers in the developed world. But...but it seems the sun over Africa has gone down. In Ghana, citizens cry over the high costs of such a system. They see the costs as of now but forget the savings over a longer period and the stability of having electricity constantly in the house or office building. The technology of solar panels had been subsidies by the German government over the years to encourage citizens to use this innovation. The next step was the new law by which new buildings must have solar panels and in a short time old buildings too. As Africa is blessed with sun unlike Germany it makes critical observers wonder why these countries are not at the forefront of using solar panels to protect the environment and at the same time have lighting in each house for certain. The old combustion engines running around Africa could be part of history soon or even better use hydro oxygen as another source of fuel, equally not rocket science. Money to subsidies this technology is available in Africa when the cost of governance is brought down to a reasonable minimum and corruption is eradicated equally. So, as the power of the sun gets wasted in Africa it might be a better idea for Germans to relocate to Africa as a nation and let e.g. Ghanaians inhabit Germany, possibly a win-win situation for both sides. The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yukubu says Government is in negotiation with a private company to rehabilitate and revamp the Zuarungu Meat Factory in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region. He noted that under the government flagship programme One District One Factory policy, it is refreshing to note that a private investor is in talks with the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, and Trade and Industry for the revamping of the Zuarungu Meat Factory. This was disclosed by the Minister to ModernGhana News during the second meeting of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council held in Bolgatanga, the Regional Capital. He stated that, when the Factory is revived and made operational, it would significantly contribute to the industrialisation agenda of the government and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the region and beyond for poverty reduction. The meeting which brought together Municipal and District Assemblies and other heads of departments in the region was to share the successes and challenges of the region and forge ahead with solutions to addressing them. Located at Dulugu, a community near Zuarungu, the meat factory, one of the legacies of the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was constructed and started operation in 1965. Mr. Yakubu said raw materials for the factory were obtained from neighbouring countries Burkina Faso and Mali. He added that the factory processed about 1,000 canned meat daily. The factory he stressed created numerous jobs for many people especially those in the livestock value chain and other people dealing in the sales of animals and meat. The Minister stated that it was mismanagement that folded up the factory with its facilities deteriorating in 1995. According to him, successive governments failed to revamp the facility after several campaign promises. The Regional Minister explained that the Akufo-Addo's government was committed to achieving Ghana's beyond-aid agenda through industrialization under which the Zuarungu meat factory would play a significant role when brought on-stream. On health, Mr. Yakubu explained that apart from the eight district hospitals under the agenda 111 initiative which were at various stages of completion, the Infection Disease Treatment Centre at Zebilla in the Bawku West District was about 100 percent complete. He added that some existing facilities need some minor rehabilitation and a few basic logistics to put them to full use. The Regional Minister lamented the poor referral system in the region and urged the Assemblies to support the National Ambulance Service with fuel to ensure the situation was addressed. Hopes of protecting the Amazon rainforest from further destruction, at a time when the dual climate and biodiversity crises are commanding global attention, have got a sorely needed boost following the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. During his first speech to Congress on 1 January, Lula said Brazil did not "need to deforest" the world's most important ecosystem to support the country's agricultural sector, repeating his goal of "zero deforestation. Lula's second presidency, which begins two decades after he first took up the job, comes after deforestation rates in Brazil surged by 60 percent under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Lula said Bolsonaro's far-right leadership had left terrible ruins among Brazil's institutions, destroying environmental protections, as he vowed to undo the harm caused. Great expectations Lula concedes the international community wants to see strong gestures in the defence of the Amazon following Bolsonaro's tumultuous four years in office. The world expects Brazil to once again become a leader in tackling the climate crisis and an example of a socially and environmentally responsible country, Lula said. There is no need to cut down a single tree. Just replant the 30 million hectares of land that have been degraded. This way we will be able to live without cutting wood, without burning, and without the need to invade our ecosystems." Paulo Moutinho, a scientist at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute in the Brazilian city of Belem, says immediate action must be taken to curb deforestation, with large areas of public forests in need of urgent protection measures. We are talking about 56 million hectares of well-preserved forests that's the size of Spain, Moutinho told Lucile Gimberg of RFI's science service. If the government decides to allocate these lands to conservation or make them lands for indigenous peoples, this would drastically and quickly reduce deforestation rates within a year or two. Amazon emitting carbon Under Bolsonaro, who was hostile towards indigenous landowners and actively promoted industry, parts of the Amazon became a source of carbon rather than a carbon sink. Research showed the vast majority of carbon was coming from areas of the Amazon that were not indigenous territories or protected lands, with experts warning that illegal activities and lack of rule of law were also putting protected lands at risk. Illegal gold mining and logging, overgrown public forests, drug and arms trafficking ... this organised crime must be eliminated from the Amazon, Moutinho says, adding that investments in the protection of nature needed to be prioritised. This is called the bioeconomy in Brazil making sustainable use of the wealth of Amazonian biodiversity." Forest defenders enter cabinet In a bid to ramp up protection for indigenous territories, Lula a 77-year-old leftist has named two prominent Amazon defenders as ministers in his new government. His most emblematic appointment is Marina Silva, who takes up the reins as environment and climate minister a job she already held from 2003 to 2008, when she was widely credited with a dramatic drop in deforestation. Fifteen years after quitting over Lula's ties to agribusiness, the now 64-year-old who was born in the Amazon is an ally once again, having supported Lula's presidential campaign. Meanwhile indigenous woman Sonia Guajajara becomes Brazil's first minister of indigenous peoples, a portfolio created to respond to growing assaults and land invasions against indigenous people and the loss of their environmental protections. Guajajara described her appointment as a landmark moment in the "struggle and resistance" of indigenous people. The creation of the ministry for indigenous peoples is proof of President Lula's commitment to safeguarding our autonomy and space to take decisions about our territories, our bodies and our ways of life, she said. Government has been urged to pay attention to passing the Community Service Sentencing Bill into law to decongest the country's prisons. According to a youth leader in Obuasi, Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh when the bill is finally passed into law, it will allow for alternative sentencing or non-custodial sentences which will help decongest the country's prisons and cut government's expenditure. Speaking after donating items such as bags of rice, detergents, dewormer, bottles of water, tinned tomatoes, and slippers among others to the Obuasi Local Prisons, Mr. Nsarkoh bemoaned the level of decongestion and inhumane conditions in the Prisons. He noted that having an alternative sentencing regime to punish petty offenders without not necessarily putting them behind bars will help salvage the situation. As an annual ritual, Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh donated hampers, food items, slippers, detergents and bottles of water to the aged, widows, the Obuasi Local Prisons and the Abduallam Children's home, all amounting to GH32,000. This was to show love to them and give them hope in the new year. He said the purpose of the donations was to bring smiles back into the faces of the vulnerable in society who are always marginalised. "I am motivated by the need for mankind to show love to the needy in society. I encourage Ghanaians to seize opportunities like this to show love to the less privileged, encourage them and make them feel happy." Superintendent Esther Also Nunoo who received the items on behalf of the Obuasi Local Prisons lauded Mr. Nsarkoh for the donation and appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians to support them. She added that overcrowding has been a major challenge to them, especially during the Christmas break when the courts were on vacation. This she said has put pressure on their already limited space in the Prisons. Supt Nunoo again revealed that feeding grants given to the inmates which is GH1.80p per inmate per day is woefully inadequate and stressed that donations from benevolent individuals and organisations have been supporting them to feed the inmates. Abduallam Children's home expresses gratitude James Sundia, Executive Director of Abdullam Children's home joined other recipients of the donation to thank Ambrose Nsarkoh for the kind gesture. He said, "he is one of us here at the Orphanage as he has always been here with us throughout the years to support the children". He added that such donations will serve as a morale booster to them and build their confidence level. The widows who were given hampers that contained rice, cooking oil and pieces of cloth among others applauded Mr. Nsarkoh for his support. They said the items will go a long way to cushion them and their children during the new year celebrations. Okogyeman Otamfom Saforo Okoampah lll 02.01.2023 LISTEN Okogyeman Otamfom Saforo Okoampah lll, Chief of Apirede Akuapem said African tradition and culture were not evil and called for culture preservation. Our traditions and culture are not evil. Contrary to what some Christians say, Christianity does not condemn tradition, but some pastors are throwing dust into the eyes of his or her church members. "What our colonial masters demonized about our traditions and culture is their opinion and narrative and not the truth, he said. The Chief made this statement when he met the people of Apirede Akuapem in the Eastern Region during the celebration of the biggest Odwira festival on Akuapem land. The theme for this year's Odwira festival in Apirede Akuapem: Youth skills development, a Tool for Community." According to him, African history should be written by Africans and not written for Africans, saying, Every society in Africa, especially Ghana, has its own values, tradition and culture. He added, "I am a proud Christian and my pastor was in support when it was time for me to rule citizens of Apirede Akuapem and till date, he is still supporting me physically and spiritually. "Our African history should be our own story told by us." He noted that Africans had a history before colonialism. He noted that even the bible confirms chieftaincy. "In the olden days, God elect chiefs to rule a country or town and if this was to be wrong God won't make Solomon the great king of the world which I think was the best because I know what my people need more than someone outside the town. There is the need to preserve our traditional languages, our traditional education and our culture, he emphasised. Okogyeman Otamfom Saforo Okoampah lll noted that it is usually considered that to be educated is to speak a European language if there's a change. I think is going to help us a lot especially Ghanaians. "My doors are always open to anyone, especially the youth who are ready to learn the rich traditional culture of my town and I will be very proud if 99 percent of my youth show up." The chief of Ejura Traditional Area, Barima Osei Hwedie II, has extolled the Ejura District Police Commander, Superintendent Achaab Bismark and his men for ensuring a peaceful festive season. The chief described this years yuletide as one of the best in recent years as the municipality, particularly Ejura and its environs recorded zero cases of highway robberies and other notable crimes in the area. The Chief who doubles as the Protocol Officer at the Office of the Vice President of Ghana, said this when he met heads of security agencies in the area to discuss security situation in the municipality as part of the traditional authoritys end of year review. Speaking to this reporter at the sidelines of the meeting, on Sunday January 1st, 2023, Barimah Osei Hwedie II expressed gratitude to the IGP Mr George Akuffo Dampare and the Ashanti North Regional Police Command for their support to the Ejura District Police Commander. Unlike the previous years where some cases of crimes were recorded, this years festive season was hitch-free, thanks to our gallant police officers. "Apart from the briefing I received from the police, I also saw how the police dispatched their men throughout the municipality and this might have sent a strong signal to the criminals. "I can confidently say that the police intelligence searchlight was beaming high, tracking and monitoring activities in all areas leading to this incident-free Christmas," he stated. Barimah Osei Hwedie II observed that, during this time of the year, all manner of people including nomadic herdsmen crop up in communities in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality to indulge in all forms of crime, and can make people lose their lives and properties. To this end, the chief assured security agencies in the area of the traditional authoritys support in ensuring that the agencies are well motivated to do their work professionally. Plaque and decals for winners are now available to be claimed Drop by the Marianas Variety office at Alahaihai Ave., Garapan to pick up. For more information, call our Sales Representatives at (670) 234-9272. The Iranian regime continues in the face of political, economic, and social upheavals. Iran is currently provoking a military response from Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. A video clip that circulates on Telegram channels purports to show IRGC child soldiers crossing the Araz River on the Khudafarin Bridge in the direction of the Azerbaijani territories. Of course, the use of children as soldiers in this video is illegal and subject to legal action. Iran is unable to comprehend that using such childish provocations won't succeed in frightening the modernized Azerbaijani Army. Iran's most recent cheap tricks resemble childish maneuvers in an absurd game. Contrary to Iran, Azerbaijan has many international partners and allies, so any provocations are doomed to fail. (Natural News) Whether he realizes it or not, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is about to turn the people of his country over to a cabal of power-hungry globalists who will exploit them and their nation for its resources and assets for decades to come. According to The Post Millennial, the Ukrainian president announced on Wednesday he will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, where he plans to sign loan agreements with financial behemoth Blackrock to rebuild the country following the war with Russia which shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Larry Fink agreed to focus in the near term on coordinating the efforts of all potential investors and participants in the reconstruction of our country, channeling investment into the most relevant and impactful sectors of the Ukrainian economy, according to a post online cited by the outlet. Specialists of this company are already helping Ukraine to structure the fund for the reconstruction of our state, Zelenskyy said in an evening address to the nation, according to Bloomberg News. In accordance with the preliminary agreements struck earlier this year between the Head of State and Larry Fink, the BlackRock team has been working for several months on a project to advise the Ukrainian government on how to structure the countrys reconstruction funds, said a post on the official Ukrainian president website. It added that both men agreed to focus in the near term on coordinating the efforts of all potential investors and participants in the reconstruction of our country, channeling investment into the most relevant and impactful sectors of the Ukrainian economy. During the conversation, it was emphasized that certain BlackRock leaders plan to visit Ukraine in the new year, the post noted further. The President thanked Larry Fink for the work of the professional team that BlackRock has allocated to advise on structuring the reconstruction projects. While tens of millions of people the world over have long suspected that the World Economic Forum and its founder, Klaus Schwab, were just a front for global dominance, they had their suspicions confirmed just recently. In an interview on China state television all public forums in China are state-owned or controlled, by the way Schwab finally took off his mask when he praised the authoritarian Communist regime and called it a role model for all countries. Fox News Digital reported: Schwab, 84, made these comments during an interview with CGTNs Tian Wei on the sidelines of last weeks APEC CEO Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. Schwab said he respected Chinas tremendous achievements at modernizing its economy over the last 40 years. I think its a role model for many countries, Schwab said while going on to pretend he believes in democracy by adding that each country should decide for itself what governing system its people choose. I think we should be very careful in imposing systems. But the Chinese model is certainly a very attractive model for quite a number of countries, Schwab added. Fox News Digital went on to point out that Schwab did not go on to elaborate on what aspects of Chinas governing model were appealing to him or which aspects he believed would be of benefit to other countries. China is governed by the absolute rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which does not allow people to practice the religion or belief of their choice, and has no tolerance for dissent or criticism, the outlet reported, meaning there is little for people who believe in representative government to really like. By the way, according to CGTNs website, one topic of discussion with Schwab was global governance. As the region is one of the most dynamic regions of the world today, the annual APEC events have also become hubs for movers and shakers around the world. Among them is Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum. He sat down with CGTNs Tian Wei and shared his observations about whether major economies of the region and the world can shore up global governance, the news site noted in a post along with a video of the interview. Sources include: FoxNews.com ThePostMillennial.com President.gov.ua (Natural News) Just in the nick of time, the Senate, including 18 Republicans, passed the pork-laden $1.7 trillion omnibus bill before government funding ran out and you will not believe what it contains. Another $45 billion is going to Ukraine, of course, because the cockroaches in Washington, D.C., have to keep their biolaboratories and child trafficking operations going. This brings the yearly total of Ukraine disbursements to $111 billion. Our people are braver and need more powerful weapons, bellowed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from the halls of Congress at midweek Hanukkah as Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris held up a Ukrainian flag and celebrated. If that was not enough, money is also now being spent to designate parts of D.C. as Ukrainian Independence Park, which will include signs established all around the park with information on the importance of the independence, freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine, and the solidarity between the people of Ukraine and the United States. Then we have $11 million to be spent on LGBT-themed projects, including $1.2 million for San Diego Community College to create centers to support LGBT students. There is also $3 million allotted for the American LGBTQ+ Museum in New York City and $750,000 for the [email protected] Coalition to provide workforce development programs and supportive services for Transgender, Gender nonconforming and Intersex (TGI) immigrant women in Los Angeles. In Pittsburgh, $105,000 will go to a mentoring program for LGBT youth while another $865,000 will go to a similar LGBT Center in New York. (Related: Is America on the verge of a civil war?) It couldnt be more obvious that Congress hates white Americans Nothing in the omnibus bill was designated toward securing Americas borders. However, a lot of cash $410 million, to be exact will be sent to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Oman for enhanced border security. In other words, all Senate Democrats and 18 Senate Republicans believe that you and your family (if you live in the United States) are unimportant and do not deserve protection from invaders from the south. Instead, you are expected to send your hard-earned money over to the Middle East to boost those countries border protection. Millions of Americans can no longer afford food due to Wall Street corruption and Federal Reserve money printing sprees that have been taking place for decades, but none of that matters in light of the restoration of Pacific salmon populations, a project that will receive $65 million from the omnibus bill. And, of course, more than half a billion dollars has been designated for funding more U.S. abortions, particularly in high-growth areas of the country where the globalists are concerned about a loss of biodiversity due to human reproduction. That of the funds appropriated under title III of this Act, not less than $575,000,000 should be made available for family planning/reproductive health, including in areas where population growth threatens biodiversity or endangered species, a specific portion of the bill stated. There are all sorts of pet projects that the omnibus funds as well, including a $3.6 million Michelle Obama Trail in the state of Georgia; $2 million for the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore; and $1 million for Ohios Zoras House, which is described as a sanctuary for women and gender-expansive people of color to dream, connect and create; to shine bright and inspire change. The only light-skinned people who benefit from the omnibus bill are those in Ukraine who continue to receive endless welfare payments from the United States Treasury because of Russia and Vladimir Putin. It is criminal to pass a piece of legislation 4,100 pages long without it being read, wrote a commenter. And its criminal to throw in billions of dollars of pork that only benefits Congress members and their pet projects, wrote another. The latest news about Americas Congress can be found at Treason.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A now-shuttered government-run transgender clinic in the United Kingdom known as Tavistock was targeting autistic children for recruitment into the LGBT fold, we now know. The Guardian dropped this bombshell in a recent report about the explosion of trans youth in the UK, many of whom were shuffled through Tavistocks transition programs specifically because of this vulnerability. The Cass report stated that approximately one-third of children and young people being referred to Tavistock had autism or other types of neurodiversity, the report states. Far less than one-third of the child population is autistic, so why were autistic children overrepresented at Tavistock? The reason appears to be that developmentally challenged children are more mentally malleable and thus prone to LGBT brainwashing. People who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are three to six times as likely to be autistic as cisgender people are, according to the largest study yet to examine the connection, reported Spectrum News. Gender-diverse people are also more likely to report autism traits and to suspect they have undiagnosed autism. (Related: Tavistock was exposed this past fall as the mother of all brainwashing institutions.) Protect your children, parents otherwise the LGBT mafia will exploit their vulnerabilities and transition them Clinical psychology continues to show that children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more susceptible than other children to suggestive and interrogative questioning styles, as one source put it. they tend to score higher on a number of psychological trait measures that have been reported to correlate with suggestibility and compliance in typical individuals, that same source added. What this means is that autistic children are easier prey for manipulation by actors pushing an LGBT agenda and specifically a trans agenda that targets childrens bodies, genitals, and hormones for alteration. Dr. David Bell, a former consultant psychiatrist at the Tavistock NHS Foundation Trust, admitted in a statement that autistic children are primary targets for transgenderism because they often suffer from other problems that make them especially vulnerable to such manipulation. Some children have got the double problem of living with the wrong treatment, and the original problems werent addressed with complex problems like trauma, depression, large instances of autism, he said. In many cases, autistic childrens parents are manipulated into sending their children to clinics like Tavistock due to their not knowing how to deal with emotional distress and other problems from which autistic youth often suffer. Thinking that transition might be the solution, these parents end up sacrificing their children to the god of LGBT, destroying their lives forever. Imagine that your child is in emotional distress. You, the parent, naturally, not knowing how to fix the problem, take them to a trusted healthcare professional for help, writes Ben Bartee for The Daily Bell. Then, rather than diagnosing and treating his autism, instead, your doctor recommends chemical castration and a new set of prosthetic chest implants. Your kid wasnt transgender before either physically or mentally but he sure as hell is now! The cherry on top is that youre out tens of thousands of dollars you could have used to actually improve your childs life. Tragically, many such children end up committing suicide because what they needed was love and support to embrace their natural biology, not the made-up anti-biology of LGBT perverts. Then, when he kills himself, because of the compounded pressures of newfound gender dysphoria and autism and crushing existential pain, the media blames systemic transphobia for the suicide, not the medical system that brutalized him! Bartee warns. The latest news coverage about transgenderism and the institutions that push it on vulnerable children can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: TheDailyBell.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Adapt 2030 channel creator and producer David DuByne believes food production will be affected by temperature changes caused by a huge volcanic eruption in Tonga early this year. These temperature deltas, its cooling here, its cooling there. Its cooling everywhere [in] Southern Hemisphere. So, we shall see some cooling happening to the Northern Hemisphere delayed by about six months, but will affect our 2023 crop growing zones, DuByne said. (Related: FOOD CRISIS: David DuByne tells Mike Adams hunger looms as crops fail due to grand solar minimum.) Climate change due to carbon emissions has nothing to do with it. It happened before and it will happen again. Thats just how Mother Nature works. DuByne recalled that a year after the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption, food production was knocked out, crop production was not forthcoming and famines happened across Europe. The Mini Ice Age Conversations Podcast creator and producer pointed out that the world started to see the exact same temperature profiles and drops in temperature following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano on January 15. He noted that there is already a season delay in the planting from the eruption in Tonga, which is in the Southern Hemisphere. They are not putting in the fields at the moment when they should have months ago. Late planting would have been two weeks and they are going to have to jack that thing with an enormous amount of potash to get it to grow, DuByne said. India expanding its wheat fields by 25 percent Elsewhere in the show, DuByne mentioned that Indian farmers have boosted their wheat production. India, he noted, is already the second-largest wheat grower and exporter in the world. India accounts for 14 percent of all wheat grown on the planet, and it is now expanding its wheat fields by 25 percent, he said. Farmers in India understand what is happening, and the exports that they normally would be able to give to the rest of the world are going to be kept domestically. According to DuByne, arable lands that are considered marginal nonprime will be put into 100 percent full production to get a much-needed yield. When a global famine comes, people who grow food such as grains are going to be earning a lot of money, he said. Taking large marginal lands and turning them into productive lands would be worth the time and effort provided they are close, connected and in a regional area. You could get the exclusive lease or buy out everybody elses leases on the marginal lands and put them under one control mechanism. That way distribution of fertilizers and machinery for harvesting and tilling would all be under one person making a plan out for the entire zone, DuByne explained. DuByne also talked about organic agriculture, saying that moving into 100 percent organic agriculture with no tapering phase is dangerous. He added that a lot of nations are turning to organic agriculture because they cant get access to chemical fertilizers, driving down production in the process. He also discussed the importance of buying storable foods that can last for years, or even decades. Follow FoodCollapse.com for more news about the food production crisis Watch the video below as David DuByne warns about the coming global food crisis. This video is from the ADAPT 2030 | Solar Minimum channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Fertilizer shortage incoming: U.S. nitrogen exports jump to record high this past summer, leaving US farmers with reduced supply. Western countries are orchestrating a global food crisis while blaming Russia for it. India cuts off wheat exports amid skyrocketing prices, destructive heatwave. Possibility of poor wheat harvest in China increases fears of global food collapse. Sources include: Brighteon.com CaravantoMidnight.com (Natural News) The latest drop from the Twitter Files shows that the worlds most controversial social media platform rigged the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) debate to control the narrative. It did this, according to journalist David Zweig, by censoring information that was true but inconvenient to U.S. government policy; discrediting doctors and other experts who disagreed with the official government position; and suppressing ordinary users, including those who merely shared data from government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While on assignment for The Free Press, Zweig was given access to internal files from Twitter that show both the Biden and Trump administrations directly pressed Twitter executives to moderate the platforms pandemic content according to their wishes. This same censorship agenda by both administrations was also imposed upon Google, Facebook, Microsoft and other Big Tech platforms, the same internal files show. The Trump White House, specifically Michael Kratsios, led the Trump Administrations calls for help from the tech companies to combat misinformation, one of the files stated. Areas of focus included conspiracies around 5G cell towers, runs on grocery stores, and misinformation that could stoke panic buying and behaviors. (Related: Twitter only opposed censorship when doing so negatively affected Twitter.) The Trump administration was especially focused on the issue of panic buying, probably because it did not want such activity to interfere with or damage its reputation while in office. Twitter, alongside several other tech companies, including Google, Facebook and Microsoft, participated, the files further said. Activities included a standing weekly call to share general trends and hosting a shared Microsoft Teams group. Some of the companies (not Twitter) gathered open-sources information from researchers. Our teams fed this information to the Twitter policy enforcement teams. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released advisory in July 2021 warning about infodemic, calling for more tech censorship of misinformation The Biden regime, after being passed the baton from Trump and his people, continued to fight against online free speech. Then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in July 2021 released a 22-page advisory about the infodemic, as the World Health Organization called it, that was spreading online. More needed to be done on social media, Murthy argued, to combat the misinformation that was spreading as a result of this infodemic. We are asking them to step up, Murthy said at the time. We cant wait longer for them to take aggressive action. In private, Murthy and other government officials had already said these same things to Twitter and other tech platforms, pushing them to take action against online free speech and particularly anti-vaxxer accounts, as Operation Warp Speed was in full swing at the time. Of particular concern was Alex Berenson, whom we have cited here many times, because of his vocal skepticism against lockdowns, the vaccines and other tenets of the scamdemic. The day after Murthy released his 22-page memo, Joe Biden himself publicly announced that social media companies were killing people by not censoring more information. Just hours later, Berensons Twitter account was locked, then permanently suspended a month later. Berenson later sued and regained access to Twitter. And as part of that suit, Twitter was forced to provide certain internal communications about what had happened, revealing direct interference by the White House. It turns out that Biden and his people were still very angry at Twitter for not taking more action against certain accounts, calling for more tyranny. Twitter, we now know, never fully complied with those demands, despite all the censorship that it did conspire to inflict upon users and their freedom of speech. The latest news about the Twitter Files can be found at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) He may no longer be alive, but the fallout from the sordid, disgusting life lived by entrepreneur Jeffrey Epstein is continuing years after his death from suicide in a New York jail cell. Epstein, you may know, trafficked in underaged girls, both for himself and, allegedly, for high-profile clients. Notable people who accompanied Epstein to his pedo island in the Caribbean or shared time with him elsewhere included former President Bill Clinton, disgraced British royal Prince Andrew, and famed Harvard attorney Alan Dershowitz, according to reports. But now, the banks that did business with Epstein are being singled out by entities and alleged victims alike for compensation after being accused of profiting off his nefarious and illegal activities without alerting property authorities about suspicious behaviors. The news site Explain America reports: Lawyers representing the U.S. Virgin Islands have filed legal action against JPMorgan Chase regarding the banks financial dealings with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that the Wall Street financial giant benefited from his sex trafficking and then failed to report suspicious activity to the proper authorities. Over more than a decade, JPMorgan (JPM) clearly knew it was not complying with federal regulations in regard to Epstein-related accounts as evidenced by its too-little too-late efforts after Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges and shortly after his death, when JPMorgan (JPM) belatedly complied with federal law, says the complaint filed by US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, according to CNN. Human trafficking was the principal business of the accounts Epstein maintained at JPMorgan, the lawsuit states. In addition, the complaint alleges that the bank concealed wire and cash transactions that raised suspicion of a criminal enterprise whose currency was the sexual servitude of young girls. The Epoch Times noted that Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George says in the suit that her office investigated Epsteins activities and gave the findings to JPMorgan in September. She said that investigation found that the bank knowingly, negligently, and unlawfully provided and pulled the levers through which recruiters and victims were paid and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise, according to the lawsuit. J.P. Morgan facilitated and concealed wire and cash transactions that raised suspicion ofand were in fact part ofa criminal enterprise whose currency was the sexual servitude of dozens of women and girls in and beyond the Virgin Islands, the lawsuit added further. The time has come for the real enablers to be held responsible, especially his wealthy friends and the financial institutions that played an integral role, Bradley Edwards, a lawyer in the case against Deutsche Bank, told The Wall Street Journal. These victims were wronged, by many, not just Epstein. He did not act alone, the attorney added. The attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands is accusing JPMorgan Chase of helping Jeffrey Epstein illegally exploit women and girls, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The suit says the bank helped conceal Epsteins suspicious activities.https://t.co/0eT8QXZXsf The New York Times (@nytimes) December 29, 2022 Explain America also reported: The Virgin Islands civil action comes on the heels of lawsuits filed last month by two women who accused Epstein of sexual abuse against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, also claiming that the banks benefitted from the late pedophiles sex trafficking. The pair of women have accused JPMorgan of having provided special treatment to the sex-trafficking venture, thereby ensuring its continued operation and sexual abuse and sex-trafficking of young women and girls. Without the financial institutions participation, Epsteins sex trafficking scheme could not have existed, their lawsuit noted further. Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019. A medical examiner ruled that he died by suicide, but many people believe that he was killed so that he would not identify several notable figures who used his services. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ExplainAmerica.com (Natural News) In order to meet the local school districts new equal outcomes for every student, without exception strategy, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) in Alexandria, Va., has been withholding National Merit awards from students and their families. Even though doing this has deprived many students of the opportunities that these achievements bring, including boosted chances of college admission and scholarship opportunities, at least two administrators at TJ hid them away while issuing equitable grading to all students. At TJ, students can no longer receive a grade of 0, for instance they all receive 50 percent just for showing up. For assignments not turned in, students at TJ receive a cryptic code of NTI rather than an actual failing grade. Meanwhile, top performers at TJ who actually put in the work are being deprived of high scores. And we now know that, thanks to TJ parent and lawyer Shawna Yashar, that principal Ann Bonitatibus and director of student services Brandon Kosatka were hiding away the National Merit awards that would have propelled these top performers even further ahead of other students. Yashar, we are told, has a son in TJs advanced studies program, which is one of the top-ranked schools in the country. He took the PSAT to determine whether he qualified as a prestigious National Merit scholar, which he did, though he did not get because he never received any award. It turns out that Bonitatibus and Kosatka failed to tell the Yashars that their son had ranked in the top 3 percent nationwide, making him one of about 50,000 students in the entire country to earn that distinction. Over the course of five years, some 1,200 other students at TJ were also deprived of their National Merit scholar awards, all in the name of equity. (Related: The term equity is a scam just like diversity and climate change.) Keeping these certificates from students is theft by the state, Yashar said. As many predicted would happen, equal opportunity was perverted by the left into equal outcomes Recognition of National Merit, it turns out, is how many students, especially those whose families are in lower income brackets, are able to attend college or university. The scholarships afforded through the program make it possible for students who excel to continue with their education. By depriving thousands of students who received National Merit recognition of that recognition, Bonitatibus and Kosatka deprived these same students of their education all because they are smarter than other students which creates inequality. In a call with Yashar, Kosatka admitted that the goal at TJ no longer involves teaching and passing students who actually achieve. It is instead about creating an environment where everyone is treated exactly the same, regardless of how well or poorly they perform. We want to recognize students for who they are as individuals, not focus on their achievements, Kosatka admitted, adding that Bonitatibus chose not to hand out National Merit awards because doing so might hurt the feelings of other students who did not receive them. Fabio Zuluaga, an assistant superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools where TJ is located, took a different approach by publicly claiming that the decision to withhold National Merit awards at TJ was a mistake, to be honest. Zuluaga also said simply dropping the awards callously on student desks, which had also taken place at TJ, is inappropriate as well. We have to do something special, he explained. A commendation sends a very strong message to the kid, right? Your work is meaningful. If you work hard in life, there are good benefits from that. The latest news about the takeover of American education by deranged leftists can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com NaturalNews.com A giant queen murder hornet which arrived from China in 2004 was likely responsible for the current hornet invasion of Europe. This is according to a new study which conducted genetic analysis to determine the hornets' invasion of the continent nearly 20 years ago started from just one wasp. Europe Hornet Invasion The study was published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research on October 31, where researchers from Ireland utilized the first recorded occurrence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in the country to determine the genetic evidence of a continued single hornet invasion across Europe. V. velutina members have been present in mainland Europe since 2004 and in the United Kingdom since 2016, posing a large threat to beekeeping or apiculture and bee-mediated pollination services. This has been the case since the Asian giant hornets have been known for killing local bee populations, especially honey bees. Also Read: Over 100 Northern Giant Hornet Nests Found in Jersey: Several People in France Reported Injured from Sting Genetic Analysis Genetic analysis conducted by the researchers in the study revealed the insect species' rapid and widespread invasion across the West was likely the result of just one was arriving to France from China in 2004, according to the new paper. Their research show the exceptional potential for population expansion of "eusocial insects" in invaded areas, even when original genetic diversity is extremely low, according to ecologist Simon Harrison from the University College Cork, as cited by Science Alert. Zoologist Eileen Dillane and her team from the university analyzed three genes from the first recorded arrival of the Asian hornet in Ireland in April 2021. Then, the team compared them to genetic sequences of wasps found across mainland Europe. The results show all of the genes were mitochondrial genes, which are passed on along the female line. Dillane stated that earlier work had asserted Asian hornets in Europe allegedly shared the same genetic lineage, based on research of a single gene. In addition, the team then took it as a further step and looked at two additional genes which would be more sensitive in detecting common traced within the invasive population. Giant Hornet Name Change Earlier this year, the murder hornets or Asian giant hornets got a new name called northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) due to a number of factors relating to negative associations with the hornet species name. Entomologist Chris Looney from the Washington State Department of Agriculture wrote the official proposal to change the insect's name, according to The New York Times. Looney, who has been spearheading efforts to control the spread of the hornets, cited various reasons for such change such as increase of anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Another perspective came from entomologist Jessica Ware from the Entomological Society of America, who said the name change of the insect species name was the right decision. Ware emphasizes that calling the animals an Asian giant hornet is not descriptive enough since a number of related giant hornets come from Asia as well. Furthermore, the entomologist also told The New York Times that calling them murder hornets was not very descriptive since they do not murder people. Related Article: Hornet Swarm Kills Five People in France, Seen Heading Towards Southeast UK New fascinating research revealed how selected frogs in Central and South America managed to conceal themselves, showing a rare ability to change into a transparent appearance to evade predators. Animals in the wildlife have their ways of hiding and catching their prey. They might conceal inside a habitat, plant or anything in the forests or ocean. It is a natural ability to survive in the environment. When animals sleep or eat, they can be vulnerable to prey and targets. As a result, a perfect way to keep themselves from the eyes of predators is important. According to Associated Press' recent report, new research found a rare ability how frogs could conceal and reveal themselves in the environment. The research findings were published in Science journal. Transparency is crucial for animals, especially frogs, to camouflage themselves. The research explained that glass frogs showed a fascinating and amazing ability to keep a transparent appearance without damaging their bodies. In the previous report, the Atlantic explained that frogs managed to weave like invisibility cloak to hide themselves. Frogs' transparent appearance As a result, researchers looked into how the frogs allow themselves a high level of transparency in the environment. The competition in the environment makes them more vulnerable. According to the Associated Press, the study's author Junjie Yao explained that the said frogs maintain transparency for their safety. Yao is a biomedical engineer at Duke University. Yao added that frogs could keep away from predators when they are awake. These frogs managed to adapt their hidden technique, especially when they were vulnerable. For example, glass frogs have an opaque-reddish brown appearance when awake. However, the transparent ability of frogs is not as easy as you think. According to the research, the said frogs focus on about 90% of their red blood cells going to the liver, allowing them a complete hiding ability. Blood Concentration Amazingly, concentrating the red blood cells on the liver could kill them, especially when it takes hours. How the frogs managed to survive is a mystery among the researchers. The situation could have been extremely dangerous for frogs with insufficient oxygen inside their bodies. Chances are they could suffer from blood clotting. However, this rare ability has become a survival technique for frogs to thrive. Furthermore, the study's co-author Carlos Taboada said the findings could help with anti-blood clotting medications. Additional research could provide insightful ideas into the medical field. Taboada is also a Duke University biologist. The Science explained that other species would find the transparency difficult as their bodies have red blood cells. The researchers were amazed at how the said frogs could conceal their appearances and when they could turn it on to find food. The total concentration of red blood cells has helped them stay alive despite sleeping. Also Read: How Gannets Thrive Dealing with Threats of Warming Sea Temperatures The Associated Press reported that there are other transparent species, such as insects, fish, and jellyfish. However, the frogs' transparency by concentrating the red blood cells is higher than other species. Related Article: Emperor Penguins and Antarctica's Two-Thirds Species Are Under Risks of Extinction Due to Global Heating, Research Warns For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. Conservationists raised concerns over the death of three endangered dolphins in Cambodia, urging for law immediate law enforcement. Law enforcement is important to protect animals, especially endangered dolphins. According to the NOAA, it is important to protect dolphins. People should treat them with respect and caution. In Cambodia, freshwater dolphin species are found in Mekong, Myanmar and Indonesian Borneo. According to the Associated Press, the deaths of the Irrawaddy dolphin brought an alarming situation. Law enforcement is crucial to protect dolphins from the threat of illegal fishing activities or fishing net entanglement. Recently, the Associated Press also reported that a female dolphin (around seven to 10 years old) died from fishing line entanglement. In February, the Irrawaddy dolphin was dead due to fish net entanglement. Consistent boat patrols would help save and protect the dolphin from threats. The report and the WWF Cambodia director Seng Teak emphasized that the dolphin conservation areas have increasing cases of illegal fishing, affecting the endangered animals. Also Read: New Bottlenose Dolphin Smaller Subspecies Discovered in Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, Research Reveals Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Irrawaddy dolphin population has been put on red-listed as Endangered, especially in the Mekong and Mahakam. Endangered Irrawaddy dolphin The IUCN has identified two primary threats that the Irrawaddy dolphins have encountered. According to the report, it includes being entangled in fish nets or gillnets. Illegal fishing in the conserved areas could bring more risks to the said dolphins. In addition, the main challenge for the patrol guards is confiscating illegal gillnetting that is already banned in Cambodia. Furthermore, the report added that the endangered dolphins also suffered from habitat loss and declining quality of freshwater due to degradation and construction. Irrawaddy dolphin protection The endangered Irrawaddy dolphins have the scientific name Orcaella brevirostris. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the said dolphins could weigh from 198 to 440 pounds and with a length of 5.9 to nine feet. The Irrawaddy dolphins thrive in freshwater or coastal areas in Southeast Asia. The WWF report added that about 92 of the said animals exist. Meanwhile, a recent Associated Press Report noted that the Irrawaddy dolphins were only 89 in 2020. In Lao and Khmer tourism, the report explained that dolphin ecotourism had become an essential job source. Furthermore, the WWF added that the endangered dolphins are crucial for the Mekong River's health. The protection and conservation of dolphins are significant, especially since their number is declining due to threats. The alarming deaths of dolphins in 2020 have been concerning. Records reveal that there are reported 29 deaths of endangered dolphins in the past three years. With a population of less than a hundred, the said dolphins could reach the point of extinction. The government should develop policies that could strengthen the conservation of the Irrawaddy dolphins and prevent illegal fishing in their areas. The protection of the remaining dolphins is important due to their declining number. The cooperation of communities, environmentalists, conservationists, and the government is important for effective policy-making. Related Article: Male Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins Help Each Other Find Potential Females and Mates, New Study Reveals For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. The latest weather forecast said heavy rain could persist in portions of California, Los Angeles and San Francisco this week. The forecast warned that flooding and mountain could unfold. Mudslide and avalanche risks could also emerge, causing significant travel disruptions. Residents and motorists should keep updated with the weather as the storm is packed with more moisture. The beginning of the year for residents in California would be rainy due to the atmospheric event that helps to unload more heavy rain. According to AccuWeather's latest forecast this January 2, the forecast said that the soaking rain could continue in portions of California. The report noted that this week could expect heavy rain, mountain snow and gusty winds. The forecast warned that the storm pattern could unfold in Seattle, Portland, Medford, Redding, Reno, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego and Missoula. The National Weather Service's (NWS) latest advisory also added that a potential winter storm from January 1 to 3 could unload in the Upper Midwest and Plains, resulting in icy roads and dangerous travel. Heavy rain and mountain snow The persistent rain in California also resulted in power outages. Based on the PowerOutage.US, about 35,000 had no power in Nevada and 133,000 in California as of Sunday, January 1. Meanwhile, AccuWeather reported that the heavy rain resulted in the wettest day in portions of California, especially in San Francisco. Flooding also occurred. The rainy weather also resulted in road delays and closures in Northern and Central California. CBS Sacramento reported a submerged vehicle on Highway 99 on Dillard Road. One person was found dead inside. In addition, AccuWeather added that residents in Franklin Pond, Point Pleasant and Glanville Tract received an evacuation alert due to flood waters. On the other hand, the KSBW Action News reported that hundreds of people were advised to evacuate due to rising waters on the San Lorenzo River. Rain weather conditions until Thursday In California, motorists should observe the current weather conditions as more rain could be expected this week, causing slower commutes and significant travel disruptions. While many residents in California with evacuation warnings and flooding rainfall, the latest weather forecast added that the rain and potential snow could continue, including in Northern and Southern California. Also Read: Knowing Tornado Watches and Warnings Could Help Prepare for Severe Weather Conditions, Forecast Recommends According to AccuWeather's outlook, the report showed that a potent storm could unload wintry weather conditions starting Monday until Monday night. Snow is expected in Redding, Reno, Salt Lake City and Grand Junction. Rain showers could unleash in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Las Vegas and Phoenix. It is best to bring an umbrella and raincoat jacket as more rain could be expected until Thursday. Flooding and flash floods could emerge, and residents are advised to observe the rainy weather. From Wednesday to Thursday, the forecast warned that flooding rainfall could occur with heavy snowfall, affecting residents in Redding, San Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles. Recently, the NWS Sacramento forecasted that unsettled rain could unload in portions of San Francisco, Sacramento, to Los Angeles. Related Article: Damaging Storms Could Unload in Southern United States This Week; Houston and Dallas at Risk of Isolated Tornadoes For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. According to research, the wolves' present-day fur colors have emerged because of a disease, not because the canines, whose habitats span North America and Eurasia, are always gray. Disease and Dark Fur Colors According to research, the wolves' present-day fur colors have emerged because of a disease, not because the canines, whose habitats span North America and Eurasia, are always gray. For a long time, the phenomenon went unrecognized, but now researchers have found the cause. Disease, one of the main forces behind natural selection, appears to have played an important part in this matter. According to research conducted by an international team headed by Sarah Cubaynes, an ecologist from the University of Montpellier in France, the frequently lethal canine distemper virus is the catalyst that increases the population of black-coated wolves (Canis lupus). Tim Coulson, a biologist from the University of Oxford, said that black wolves are absent or extremely rare in the majority of the world, but they can be found in North America in some places and not at all. He added that Because of extraordinary data gathered by co-authors who work in Yellowstone, Coulson has an explanation for the phenomenon that has long baffled scientists. It is based on wolf surveys conducted across North America and modeling. Evolution Through Disease Particularly when it comes to disease, the pressure of evolution can have some odd effects. Depending on which genes confer resistance to that disease, some people may have a higher chance of surviving. The genetic makeup of a population can start changing over time as a result of the survivors giving birth to offspring with these same genetic variations. However, the genetic arrangements that confer resistance frequently serve more than one purpose. We are still experiencing the effects of the Black Plague centuries later because genetic variations that conferred resistance against it also increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Read also: Germany Orders Shoot-to-Kill for Hybrid Wolf-Dog Pups to Protect Local Wolf Populations Gene CPD103 and the Canine Distemper Virus The development of a black coat in wolves was caused by a CPD103 mutation that first appeared in dogs. But unlike human red hair, the black coat gene only needs one copy to produce a black coat. Given that the DNA region where CPD103 is located is also involved in the encoding of a protein that protects against lung infections such as canine distemper, scientists hypothesized that the canine distemper virus may be a factor in the prevalence of black-coated wolves across North America. This would imply that wolves with black coats would reproduce and pass on their CPD103 variant to their cubs if they were more likely to survive the disease. Researchers looked at 12 wolf populations in North America to determine whether there was a strong correlation between black-coated wolves and the presence of canine distemper antibodies, a marker for having experienced and survived the virus. Only 5% of the black wolves had the black-coat CPD103 variant in two copies. This suggests that wolves choose partners of the opposite color to increase their chances of having offspring that survive canine distemper, the University of Oxford reports. However, it only functions in areas where canine distemper outbreaks have occurred. Science Behind Color The study not only provides an intriguing explanation for why black wolves are more common in some regions, but it also provides a tool for examining past canine distemper outbreaks and disease resistance. The group observes that a wide range of species is probably affected by their findings. Color variation can be linked to disease resistance in a wide variety of insects, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds; this coloration may serve as a signal to help animals select mates, which might give their offspring a survival advantage, Science Alert reports. The research by Coulson and his colleagues has been recently published in the Journal Science. Related article: Makings of an Alpha: Parasite in Grey Wolves Triggers Risk-Taking Behavior, Study Shows This story contains original reporting by News-Gazette staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one, because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to The News-Gazette plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Rarely is it the ones who die young who leave such an abundance of tales, wisdom and sage advice. But Scott Bennett, the state senator from Champaign who died suddenly last month at the age of 45, gave his colleagues all that and more. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain condemned in strongest terms yesterday the terrorist attack, claimed by Islamic State, targeting Egyptian police east of Cairo. The attack on an Egyptian security checkpoint in a city east of Cairo had left two policemen and a civilian dead. Two other policemen were wounded at the checkpoint in the city of Ismailia, reports citing the interior ministry and the city's security directorate said. One of the gunmen was killed, while the second escaped with the help of others, Reuters quoting sources said. Bahrain said it strongly condemns the terrorist attack and reiterated solidarity with Egypt in combating the scourge of terrorism, backing all measures to maintain security, stability and the safety of its citizens. In a statement, Foreign Ministry extended condolences to the Egyptian Government, people and martyrs families, wishing the injured quick recovery. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The leaders of Bahrain yesterday sent cables of condolences to His Holiness Pope Francis, following the passing of former Pope Benedict XVI, joining political and religious leaders across the globe in remembering the life and legacy of the late Pope. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, offered sincere condolences and sympathy to His Holiness Pope Francis, the family and relatives of the deceased and all friendly countries, wishing the late Pope mercy and forgiveness. HM King commended the efforts exerted by the late Pope Benedict XVI to promote the culture of peace, love and peaceful coexistence among peoples all over the world. Benedict XVI was hailed as one of the greatest minds and most influential figures of the 20th and early 21st centuries. His Royal Highness highlighted the efforts and contributions of the late Pope Benedict XVI to foster peace, love and coexistence among people all over the world. Yesterday, the Vatican released the first images of the late Benedict, showing him dressed in red and gold liturgical vestments and laying in state in the chapel of the monastery where he died. His body will be moved privately to the basilica, unlike what followed the death in 2005 of Pope John Paul, whose body was moved in a solemn outdoor procession that was televised live around the world. In accordance with Benedict's wishes, his funeral on Thursday will be simple and solemn. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A public firm employee convicted of embezzling more than BD8,000 in government funds has had his appeal against the three-year jail term rejected by a Bahraini court. Police had arrested the suspect on charges of forging documents to fake participation in seven training programmes to pocket BD8,000. Public Prosecution ordered an investigation and later an arrest warrant against him based on a tip-off from his workplace on the misappropriation of funds. Police found that the documents submitted by the suspect were all fake. Besides, during interrogation, the suspect also confessed to his crimes. He told prosecutors that he took advantage of his official post to forge documents and pocket the fund given out as support for enrolling in training programmes. This way, he said, he managed to takehome BD8,235 from the exchequer. Prosecutors pressed charges also taking into account witness testimonies, including that of his colleagues, confirming the forgery. Pfizer-BioNTech shots are key to boosting immunity against COVID, top Bahrain doctors say Pfizer-BioNTech shots are key to boosting immunity against COVID, top Bahrain doctors say TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Health Ministry yesterday called on eligible citizens and residents to receive their COVID vaccine shots immediately for the continued success of the National Vaccination Campaign and preserve their health and social safety. Vaccination, the ministry said, will help raise the immunity response of the body and is crucial for those suffering from weak immunity, diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases, cancerous tumours and obesity. The move also comes amid a surge in cases in China that has raised fresh worries as China also abruptly U-turned on COVID controls. France yesterday urged European Union peers to test Chinese travellers for COVID after Paris decided to do so amid an outbreak sweeping the country. Only Italy and Spain also require tests in the 27-nation, largely border-free EU and health officials from across the bloc failed last week to agree on a joint course. Bahrain has recently announced the availability of the newly developed Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine that has proved successful against Coronavirus and its mutations. The newly developed bivalent vaccine, administered as a booster shot, targets the original virus strain and the omicron variant to provide broad protection against COVID-19 and its mutations. The vaccine, Health Ministry said, is available for those above 12 years of age from all primary health care centres. The list of centres is available at https: //healthalert.gov.bh Ministry said those wishing to take the vaccines can go directly to the health centres in the locality, without advance booking. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) announced yesterday that it has partnered with popular student-centric platform Unipal to offer special deals on event tickets, activities and merchandise at The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East. Through its free mobile app, Unipal gives students across the Kingdom access to all kinds of offers and discounts to over 150 establishments across Bahrain using a unique digital ID. BICs collaboration with Unipal thus offers Bahrains youth a series of incredible offers on the various offerings at the circuit, making for significant savings! The partnership was formalised in a signing ceremony attended by BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, BIC Chief Commercial Officer Sherif Al Mahdy, and Unipal Operations Director Ali Alshaer. BIC Chief Commercial Officer Sherif Al Mahdy commented: We are pleased to be launching our partnership with Unipal to be able to deliver to students across Bahrain great deals on the events, activities and merchandise we offer at BIC. Our collaboration gives us a wider reach to the Kingdoms youth, who make up a large portion of our customers and fan base. We look forward to working closely with Unipal for the long term and to further build our relationship for the benefit of both our companies. Amongst BICs deals that are available to students on Unipal is a 10 per cent discount on tickets to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, as well as 10 per cent price reductions on the wide array of on-track activities such as the Orange Media Open Track, the Ebrahim K Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights, the BNI Clio Clio Cup Experience or the Batelco Fitness on Track. Students will also be able to purchase tickets to the first-ever Bahrain Darts Masters, taking place on 12 and 13 January featuring the worlds best players in the PDC World Series of Darts. Furthermore, BIC and Unipal have created a special account catered specifically to Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC), BICs world-class grassroots motorsport facility. With karting being an immensely popular adrenaline-pumping activity amongst Bahrains youth, students can take advantage of the discounted rates and enjoy a thrilling motor racing experience at BIKC. The complete list of offers available to students at BIC and BIKC can be found on the Unipal app. Unipal currently has over 25,000 university students, which is 45 per cent of the student population in Bahrain, who are registered on the app, with an average of around 1,200 more joining every month. For more information, visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000. Agencies | Jerusalem The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Iran was given a stark warning yesterday by Yoav Gallant of Israel soon after taking charge as the countrys new Defence Minister. In a statement to Jerusalem Post, Gallant said that Iran is striving to acquire nuclear weapons and pledge to fight what he described as terrorism. The nuclear efforts, which Iran is leading, the rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, and all of the firings on IDF forces in Jenin have one common goal: to weaken us, to infect us with fear and to witness our destruction. They will not succeed in this purpose! said Gallant. He noted that Iran is pushing hard toward a nuclear weapon alongside repeated declarations of its aspirations to destroy the State of Israel. Iran, its proxies and all anti-Israel terror groups would fail in their mission to destroy Israel. We would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, he said in a ceremony at IDF headquarters. Gallant replaces Benny Gantz as the new Defence minister. He also warned that strict measures will follow to prevent rockets from firing towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. Members of Netanyahus new government have pledged to bolster settlements with development plans, budgets and authorisation of dozens of outposts built without permits. Netanyahu, however, has given no indication of any imminent steps to annex the settlements. Gallant was named defence minister on Wednesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 64-year-old former commander of the southern front is a loyal supporter of Netanyahu. Gallant also held several ministerial positions in the previous governments. Agencies | New Delhi The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Voicing "very deep" concern over the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that India is on the side of peace. He said New Delhi's effort has been to return to dialogue and diplomacy as differences cannot be settled through violence. Jaishankar, who arrived in Vienna from Cyprus on the second leg of his two-nation tour, made the remarks while addressing the members of the Indian diaspora. "This (Ukraine) conflict is really a matter of very, very deep concern Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in September (that) we actually genuinely believe that this is no longer an era of war. You cannot settle differences and issues through violence, Jaishankar said. "So from the very beginning, our effort has been to urge (Russia and Ukraine to) return to dialogue and diplomacyThe Prime Minister himself has spoken on numerous occasions with President (Vladimir) Putin and President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. I myself talked to my colleagues in Russia and Ukraine, he said. We know this is not (an) easily resolvable situation. But it's important that countries who believe (in)...negotiation, speak up clearly in that regard," he said, adding that "we're on the side of peace and a large part of the world thinks like us". India has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue and end their ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Modi has spoken to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on multiple occasions and urged for immediate cessation of hostilities and return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue for the resolution of the conflict. In his bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16, Modi said "today's era is not of war" and nudged him to end the conflict. India has not yet criticised the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue. Jaishankar also said that India and Austria would sign some agreements on Monday and some of them are of interest to Indian diaspora one on migration and mobility for Indians who want to come here as students/professionals and another on 'Working Holiday' programme which will enable Indian students in Austria to work for six months. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with top Austrian leadership in the first diplomatic engagement in 2023 and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Modi to Chancellor Karl Nehammer. This is the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years, and it takes place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023. As the 2023 general elections gather momentum, the spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Daniel Bwala has written off what he described as frivolous claims by Kassim Afegbua, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State. According to Bwala on Monday, Afegbua lied about his claims that 11 governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are working underground for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said as a spokesperson of the presidential campaign, he would rather not join issues with Afegbua who has no role in the APC campaign activities. He also took a swipe at Afegbua, describing him as a mercenary hired and paid stipends by the APC for his nuisance value. Bwala said, I rather not respond to Afegbua owing to the fact that I consider him quite frankly as a mercenary. A mercenary is someone who is contracted with a stipend to perform specific work. Speaking further, he said Afegbua was recently in PDP, where he served as a presidential spokesman but today, where is he now? He is not even a spokesman in the APC presidential campaign. He does not have any designated position. They consider him as a mercenary, they use him for his nuisance value. So, if I a presidential spokesman react to his claims, I will be condescending to his level. We are not on the same level. I will only react to people like Bayo Onanuga, Dele Alake, and Festus Keyamo. These are known spokesmen, not mercenaries like Kassim Afegbua. Bwala also stated that he cant even react to Femi Fani-Kayode. Rather the party will find another person in charge of our social media to react to him. Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has stated how he feels about former President Olusegun Obasanjos decision to endorse Peter Obi. Obasanjo on New Years Day publicly declared support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party to win the 2023 presidential election. Obasanjo made the declaration in an open letter to youths in Nigeria eight weeks before the general polls. He said though other candidates have the capacity to rule, Peter Obi is the needed needle and thread the country needs. Obasanjo urged young Nigerians to exercise their right, take active part in the 2023 elections and defend their votes. But Reno Omokri, an ardent supporter of former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said Obasanjos support for Obi is to heal the wound of the 1966 civil war. According to him, the former President also wanted former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili to become Vice President in 2007 but the late YarAdua insisted on Goodluck Jonathan. President Obasanjo is a good-hearted man. He has always wanted a President from the SE[South East] or close to the SE[South East]as a way to heal the Civil War wounds. In 2007, he wanted Peter Odili, but Yaradua insisted on Governor Jonathan as VP. What Obj [Obasanjo]did wont affect the election! Armed bandits, on Sunday evening, abducted Col. Lawal Rabiu Yandoto (rtd) on his way to Yandoto, his home town in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, from Gusau, the state capital. A source told newsmen that the bandits also kidnapped two of his children and two other people with him. According to him, The bandits ambushed the rtd. Col. at around 6:00 pm on Sunday evening and kidnapped him along with his two children and two other victims. He explained that there were sporadic gunshots very close to Yandoto town, causing the people to flee. He said Yandotos abduction was noticed after the bandits left and his car was found empty. SP Muhammad Shehu, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) could not be reached for comments. Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has asked the federal government to make it mandatory for persons arriving in Nigeria from China to produce negative COVID test results. TheCable had reported that China said it will scrap its quarantine measures for inbound travellers from January 8. Subsequently, countries began to impose travel restrictions on travellers arriving from China, while on December 28, about 50 percent of passengers on two flights arriving Italy from China reportedly tested positive for COVID Amid the development, the federal government had said there was no reason yet to impose restrictions on travellers arriving from China. In a statement on Sunday, Falana warned of the consequences of not adopting preventive measures as other countries, especially in the face of Chinas recent easing of restrictions. He said the rickety state of Nigerias healthcare delivery system makes it a matter of urgency to prevent another COVID outbreak. It is public knowledge that there has been a COVID-19 surge in China in the last few weeks, he said. The Chinese authorities have been reporting about 5,000 cases a day. Some analysts have said that the crisis has been underreported by the Chinese government. The development has compelled many countries to impose restrictions on passengers arriving from China. As usual, the federal government has not adopted any measure to prevent the spread of the dangerous disease through travellers arriving in Nigeria from China. In view of the rickety health care delivery system in the country, the federal government should, as a matter of urgency, make it mandatory for passengers arriving in Nigeria from China to produce a negative COVID-19 test taken not more than two days prior to departure. A stitch in time saves nine, as they say. The government should not wait until the nations healthcare is overwhelmed by the pandemic before taking the necessary scientific steps to prevent another upsurge of coronavirus infection. On Sunday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo formally endorsed Peter Obi, standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), for the office of president. The endorsement was contained in a New Year message to Nigerians. None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge, Obasanjo had said in the message. In August, sources had claimed that the former president was lobbying Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, to throw his weight behind Obi. The former president was said to have been attempting to get Wike on the side of Obi amid the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Meanwhile, ahead of the 2019 presidential election, Obasanjo endorsed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was the standard bearer of the PDP. Abubakar served as Obasanjos deputy between 1999 and 2007. At the time, the former president said Abubakar was better than incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. You surely understand the economy better; you have business experience, which can make your administration business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs, he had said. You have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can translate to better management of foreign affairs. You are more accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the country in many ways. OBASANJO LOST HIS POLLING UNIT TO BUHARI Despite his endorsement of Abubakar, Obasanjo lost his polling unit to Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 polls. Election results from his polling unit in ward 22 in Abeokuta north LGA showed that the current president polled 87 votes to defeat Abubakar who polled 18 votes. The President-General of Obosi Community, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon Ike Okolo has been reportedly shot dead. Okolo was said to have been shot dead in a petrol station in the community by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at about 8 pm, a day after the new year. A video circulating on the internet showed that the community leader was shot right inside his SUV, as he sat in a pool of his own blood, behind the steering of the car. Obosi is one town known to be notorious for cult clashes, a development the President-General is said to have stood against, since he ascended office. As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear who his killers were. A message to the State police commands spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga was yet to be replied. The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has described the endorsement of his counterpart in the Labour Party, Peter Obi, by former president Olusegun Obasanjo as an endorsement of failure. The endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo on Sunday sparked reactions across rival political camps, with the All Progressives Congress describing it as a worthless political move, adding that it would not affect the ambition of its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. The Peoples Democratic Party also shared a similar view. Reacting on Monday via a Facebook post, Sowore described Obasanjo as an overrated Nigerian ruler who fetsihised the rumination of Nigeria. He said rather than an Obasanjos endorsement, he would rather be satisfied by the peoples endorsement. Obasanjos repeated endorsement of @Peter Obi shows once again that the overrated three-time Nigerian ruler fetishises the ruination of Nigeria. Failure endorsing Failure. For us, we crave and are satisfied with the endorsements of the people, the AAC standard bearer said. In his New Year message, Obasanjo had described Obi as his mentee and noted the former Anambra State governor had an edge in the 2023 elections. Obasanjo said, None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge. Others like all of us have what they can collectively contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria. One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost. In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. He has a young and able running mate with a clean track record of achievement both in public and private life. Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani has urged aggrieved politicians to stop attacking former president, Olusegun Obasanjo over his decision to endorse the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for the forthcoming poll. Recall that Obasanjo in his New Year message on Sunday declared that the former Anambra governor has an edge over other candidates vying for the nations top job. Supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP counterpart have been expressing anger over the public endorsement. Reacting to the controversies, Shehu Sani opined that the former president is entitled to his own opinion, stressing that he should not be attacked for the choice he made. In a tweet on his official Twitter handle, Shehu Sani wrote, Obasanjo has made his choice. He is entitled to his opinion. He should not be attacked. Those who cant get his endorsement should seek that of Gowon, IBB or Abdulsallam, they are equally credible former military and political leaders. Ordinary President of Berekete is also available. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Trees that died from salt water intrusion related to land loss are seen in marshland in Chauvin, La., Friday, May 20, 2022. The same forces swallowing up coastal islands are also causing southern Louisianas saltwater marshes to disappear faster than anywhere else in the country. Scientists estimate Louisiana loses one football field worth of ground every 60 to 90 minutes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) LAPORTE COUNTY A Lake Station woman was killed after an intoxicated driver sideswiped the car she was riding in early Sunday morning, Indiana State Police reported. At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, ISP troopers responded to reports of a crash on Interstate 94, about three miles west of the Indiana-Michigan state line. According to ISP, 19-year-old Jordan M. Morrissey was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt westbound in the far-left lane at a high rate of speed. As Morrissey rounded a curve, he crossed into another lane and sideswiped a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado. The impact caused the Colorado to drive off the right side of the road, through a guardrail and down an embankment. Robert J. Hinkle, 47, of Hobart, was driving the Colorado. Both Hinkle and the front seat passenger were treated for life-threatening injuries. Sarah J. Cantrell, 73, was in the back seat of the Colorado and was unresponsive at the scene. ISP said Cantrell died while being treated at South Bend Memorial Hospital. ISP Trooper Joshua Luckey said he smelt alcohol on Morrissey's breath and observed "evidence of recent drug use inside the Cobalt." Morrissey, of Wyoming, Michigan, was taken to the LaPorte County Jail and has been preliminarily charged with a number of offenses, including operating while intoxicated causing death, possession of marijuana and minor consumption of alcoholic beverage. OGDEN DUNES Around 100 people gathered along the shores of Lake Michigan in Odgen Dunes on Sunday for the 25th annual Polar Plunge, but this year, the festivities looked a little different. Because of large amounts of shelf ice lining the shore, the Ogden Dunes Fire Department advised people to stay out of the water and avoid potentially getting stuck. Instead the fire department brought a fire hose and sprayed over the beach, allowing polar plungers to run through the water. "It was awesome," Val Deckard said after running through the water. "I'm so glad the fire department set something up for us to do." Deckard, who is from Bloomington and is visiting family in Northwest Indiana this week, said it was cold, but not as cold as the lake. "We were kind of disappointed we didn't get to go in the water, but we understand why for safety issues," another plunger, Pat Wadley, said. "But it was still fun to do." The event was organized by Elsie Anderson and several of her family members. Anderson called the annual tradition "epic." "It is definitely epic," Anderson said. "We just kind of like it." Anderson explained that she and her brother, Wade Anderson, decided to create the event 25 years ago and have been doing it on New Year's Day ever since. She said the turnout has always been great. "People go nuts for this stuff," Anderson said. "It's fun!" PHOTOS: A new take on the 25th Annual Polar Plunge in Ogden Dunes RIO DELL, Calif The first jolt came days before Christmas, in the middle of the night, shaking residents awake, toppling walls and cracking roads. The town was still recovering from that 6.4-magnitude earthquake when they got another, this time on a sunny, otherwise quiet New Years Day. At 10:35 a.m., a 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern California town again, causing more damage to roads and homes and fraying nerves further. Its a new year, theres no clouds, its not raining. And boom, just when you think youre in recovery, its back to response, Rio Dells mayor, Debra Garnes, said. People were tired, but their generosity was not tapped out, she added: They showed up with mattresses, water and cleaning supplies from the community and across California. Around town, residents were picking up the pieces, again. Everything is on the floor, said Cynthia Dobereiner, who had reordered her house after the first quake less than two weeks ago. This one caused way more damage despite being smaller, she added. She worried about a new crack that had emerged in one of her walls. After days of pounding rain, winds and snow, Californians woke up to sunny skies and waterlogged streets on New Years Day, scrambling to recover during a brief intermission before the next rainstorms that are forecast to hit the region later this week. Northern California bore the brunt of an intense atmospheric river system that brought floods and landslides to parts of the West Coast on Saturday. On Sunday, rescuers were still plucking trapped passengers from submerged vehicles, while bloated rivers and creeks spilled over banks. Streets in downtown San Francisco were still draining after the city nearly broke its record for the most rainfall on a single day. The National Weather Services downtown site recorded 5.46 inches on New Years Eve, 0.08 inch shy of the 1994 record in more than 170 years of record keeping there and 46.8 percent of the monthly rainfall. Agricultural workers in Sacramento County ushered in the New Year by patching up a weakened levee system. Update: Jeremy Renner was run over by a 7-ton snow plow, authorities said. The actor Jeremy Renner was in critical but stable condition after being hospitalized with serious injuries from an accident while plowing snow in Nevada, his representative said in a statement. Mr. Renner had surgery on Monday and had suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries from the accident, the representative, Samantha Mast, said in a statement, adding that Mr. Renner remained in the intensive care unit. The sheriffs office in Washoe County, Nev., said Mr. Renner had suffered a traumatic injury in Reno on Sunday morning. He was the only person involved in the accident and was flown to a nearby hospital, the sheriffs office said. Mr. Renner has a house in the Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe area, according to The Reno-Gazette Journal. Mr. Renner, 51, has played Hawkeye, a member of Marvels Avengers superheroes team, in several movies and a television series. He has also twice been nominated for an Oscar, for his roles in The Hurt Locker (2008) and The Town (2010). Ronald Feldman, who for nearly 50 years oversaw one of New Yorks most consistently political, forward-looking art galleries, died on Dec. 20 at his home in Chappaqua, N.Y. He was 84. His family said the cause was Alzheimers disease. Trained as a lawyer and deeply interested in politics, Mr. Feldman, at his Ronald Feldman Gallery in SoHo, exhibited artists who pushed boundaries with work that almost always had a political slant. The list of celebrated artists to whom he gave first or early New York exhibitions included Hannah Wilke, Joseph Beuys, Chris Burden, Eleanor Antin, Pepon Osorio, Komar and Melamid, Helen and Newton Harrison, Ilya Kabakov, Ida Applebroog, Ed Schlossberg and Arakawa. Before it was fashionable, these artists often focused on womens rights, the environment, totalitarianism, identity and war. The peaceful gathering of Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGO) has been going on for the 22nd day in Karabakh close to the temporary deployment area for Russian peacekeepers near Shusha, Azernews reports. Two Russian peacekeeper supply vehicles have just passed through unhindered on their way from Khankandi to Lachin. Earlier, support vehicles and passenger cars of Russian peacekeepers also passed through the Lachin-Khankandi road without hindrance. Previously, the Armenian media spread the news that the Azerbaijanis [holding a peaceful protest rally near Shusha, close to the peacekeepers post] allegedly blocked the Lachin road and didnt let the supply vehicles through. Non-governmental organization representatives from Azerbaijan have been protesting against the fact that Azerbaijani experts are not allowed on the territory to keep an eye on the illegitimate exploitation of deposits near where the peacekeepers are stationed. To recap, following discussions with the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on December 3 and 7, 2022, Azerbaijani specialists from the Ministries of Economy, Ecology, and Natural Resources, the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were to conduct primary monitoring on illegal exploitation of mineral deposits on Azerbaijani territory. However, the monitoring failed due to the provocation of ethnic Armenians. The enemy inflicted the most serious defeats in this war on us not because of their coolness and talent, but because of our mistakes, he wrote in a post on Telegram. A former Russian paramilitary commander, Igor Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, wrote on Telegram that many hundreds were dead and wounded and that many remained under the rubble. The barracks set up in a vocational school were almost completely destroyed because ammunition stored in the same building detonated in the strike, Girkin said. A report in Russian state media said that active use of cellular phones by the newly arrived servicemen in that unit had helped Ukrainian forces pinpoint their location and launch the assault using HIMARS rocket launchers. The attack came as the war appeared set to grind on, with leaders of Ukraine and Russia vowing in their New Years messages to press on with their military campaigns and prevail. There appears to be little hope for peace negotiations in the near future. Ukraine kills dozens of Russians Ukraine launched a major attack against a building housing Russian soldiers in the Donetsk region on New Years Day. A full picture of the casualties is still emerging. Ukraine claimed that about 400 had died, while Russia said yesterday that 63 service members had been killed. But even with the lower figure, the attack was one of the deadliest strikes against Russian forces in Ukraine since the war began. Mistakes by Russian forces may have contributed to the toll. One Russian military blogger said that ammunition stored in the same building had detonated in the strike. And Russian state media outlets said that the attack had been caused by the soldiers use of cellphones, which helped Ukrainian forces pinpoint their location. In Beijing and cities across China, as many as 2.6 million job applicants, including graduates from the countrys top universities, will report to testing centers in early January to face exceedingly long odds and compete for 37,100 entry-level government jobs. The national exam is an annual rite for young Chinese, some of whom spend thousands of dollars for prep classes and many hours cramming for it. It comes at a fraught time. It was supposed to be given in early December, then was canceled at the last minute. The government cited Covid-19 lockdowns, but the exam was postponed days after protests in more than a dozen cities against Chinas severe pandemic restrictions. Jobs in Chinas vast Civil Service have long been considered prestigious launching pads for a career. They include entry-level roles typical in any economy, like clerks in municipal government, and some that are unique to China, such as assisting in the countrys extensive censorship bureaucracy. But these days the jobs are also coveted out of necessity, because its especially hard for new graduates to find employment at private companies. The alternation is rarely seamless. The first three shots of Edie Falco as General Ardmore are at 48 frames per second, but the fourth shot switches to the standard rate. Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) hugs one child at 48 frames per second and then two children together at 24. Spider (Jack Champion) grabs a fire extinguisher at 24 frames per second, then uses it to smash controls on a panel at 48. When the poacher Scoresby (Brendan Cowell) loses his arm, there are two shots of the severed limb. The first is at 24; the second, the reverse angle, is at 48. You wouldnt want any blur on a flying arm. Shots submerged from beginning to end are in the high frame rate, and in general, the device is less unnerving when the image simply involves water, Navi and tulkun, the whale-like creatures, because were watching visuals heavily augmented with effects. But the format becomes a liability when a human being or any recognizable, real-world object enters the frame. Suddenly the actors-in-costume, documentary effect is back, and it has the paradoxical consequence of making this $600 million movie look cheap. Certain shots during the tulkun hunt resemble a first-person video game partly because some video games adopted high frame rates long ago. Furthermore, whenever the movie downshifts from 48 frames per second to 24, the image to my eyes momentarily looks flickery, almost like a form of slow motion, as if your mind is once again learning how to convert still images into a movie. Those of us who have heard the hype about high frame rates have long wondered whether they constitute progress or gaslighting. If eliminating blur was always a white whale for technicians, for viewers it might be a solution in search of a problem. By toggling between two frame rates, Avatar: The Way of Water implicitly concedes that more isnt always better. Still, if you had talked to the late Douglas Trumbull, who got his start designing photographic effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey, you would get the impression that nearly everyone toying with high frame rates has been doing it wrong. Trumbull was one of the pioneers of the technology; beginning in the 1970s, he developed a format called Showscan that would have played movies at 60 frames per second. In more recent years, he was pushing a system he called Magi, in which movies could run in 3-D at 120 frames per second. When we met for coffee in February 2020, he explained as he had in 2016 how his system differed from those used by the high-frame rate movies that had been released so far. He promised that movies shot with it would look fully cinematic, not like soap operas. I have to show it to people, he said. Im so tired of talking about it and explaining this and being put in this defensive position by Ang Lee and Gemini Man and Billy Lynn. This is true of art in general. The puzzles, paradoxes and mysteries are what keep it alive. A lot of cultural criticism by which I mean not only the considered responses of professionals but the immediate reactions of viewers tacks in the opposite direction. We are eager to find an answer, assign a meaning, take a side. This scene seems to be urging us to do just that, to share Lydias irritation with Max, so shallow in his certainty and so ill-equipped to defend his position. We might also, in the moment and especially when we look back on it, squirm at Lydias self-satisfaction. She treats the master class as an occasion to perform her own brilliance, a temptation that can be fatal to the actual work of teaching, which finally rests on the canceling of ego. The vanity Lydia displays here, which is undeniably seductive, will contribute to her eventual undoing, and we may feel a premonition of that as we watch her pacing and preening, unaware of the puzzlement and indifference in the eyes of her spectators. Really, though, the scene like the movie is much weirder than that. It may seem that Field and Blanchett are collaborating in a topical tale of crime and punishment, which the debate about the relevance of Bachs behavior to his canonical status recapitulates in miniature. Later, we will find Lydia arguing the other side of the question. At lunch in a Berlin restaurant, she reminds a retired maestro that the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once threw a woman down a flight of stairs. Her much older male colleague wonders what that has to do with Schopenhauers thought. The argument, as at Juilliard, reaches an impasse. As will any similar argument about Lydia herself, who is a formidably talented artist and also a narcissistic, amoral monster. But neither her greatness nor her awfulness is what is most interesting about her. Shortly after Tar opened, The Cut published an amusing, much-mocked article by Brooke LaMantia, who claimed to have watched the movie under the impression that Lydia Tar was a real person. Anthony Lane began his review in The New Yorker with the tongue-in-cheek implication that she just might be. More recently, Dan Kois wrote an essay in Slate suggesting that the last part of the film the part that chronicles Lydias professional and personal undoing takes place in her head, which is to say in a reality distinct from the literal, social world in which the rest of the movie is set. I dont really buy that, any more than I believe that anyone really thought there was a real Lydia Tar, but Kois, Lane and LaMantia get at the essential uncanniness of Tar, which seems to call into question the nature of reality itself. And that brings us back to the unseen person whose presence is felt in that tense session: Anna Thorvaldsdottir, an actual living Icelandic composer who may have acquired new fame as Lydia Tars nemesis. The trashing of Thorvaldsdottir occupies much of the scene. Lydia sneers at her au courant trendiness, her hot good looks, a score notation that sounds like Rene Redzepis recipe for reindeer. A conductor performing her music is like a salesman selling a car without an engine. At one point Max meekly notes that Thorvaldsdottir conducted an earlier master class in the same course, and it seems possible that poor Max is an innocent victim in a high-powered music-world beef. The man charged with attacking three police officers with a machete near Times Square on New Years Eve had traveled to New York from his home in Maine to injure the police in an act of Islamic extremism, a senior law enforcement official said on Monday. The man, Trevor Bickford, 19, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of attempted assault, the police announced on Monday. Mr. Bickford may face terrorism charges as well, said the law enforcement official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. Shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday, the police said, Mr. Bickford began swinging the knife without provocation at three officers who were at Eighth Avenue and 52nd Street, just outside the security cordon for the Times Square celebrations. One of the officers, Michael Hanna, shot Mr. Bickford in the shoulder. Officer Paul Cozzolino, who had just graduated from the police academy, suffered a fractured skull in the attack. He has been released from the hospital, as have Officer Hanna and the third officer, Louis Iorio, the police said. Mr. Bickford remained hospitalized in stable condition, the law enforcement official said. When the Covid pandemic began in March 2020, many felt their lives getting smaller. Yet forced sheltering in place didnt keep all of us safer. Rates of domestic violence increased across the world. People joked about being locked up. For Ms. McCarter, this was no joke. On March 2, 2020, she was at home when her estranged husband, James Murray, showed up drunk at her apartment and demanded money to buy liquor. Things went from bad to worse. She said he was so threatening, she grabbed a kitchen knife. A neighbor heard her scream, Get out. Get out. Dont ever come back here again, and later, Dont take my purse. Give me my purse. Dont leave with my bag. I have a knife. And finally, What did you do? Somebody help me! Mr. Murray suffered a stab wound to his upper right chest that pierced his lung and reached his spine. Ms. McCarter called 911. Trained as a nurse, she pressed a towel to his wound. It was chaos when the police arrived. Later on, during the court proceedings, I saw the police-cam footage from that night. A policeman was standing over, questioning her as she was crying and trying to answer his questions. She seemed to have trouble breathing and then she passed out. When she came to, she was in handcuffs and she was shocked. I saw them leading her down the stairs when she could barely walk. The police took her to the emergency room. After that, within 24 hours, she was stripped of her rights and sent to Rikers Island. Ill always remember the first time I stepped into Blipsy Bar on N. Western Avenue, in Los Angeless Koreatown. I felt like a teenager from the 80s, here to escape the humdrum of the Hollywood crowds. I settled into the moody, retro atmosphere, watching people buy cheap drinks and looking nostalgically at the arcade games on offer: Ms. Pac-Man, Gun Fight, Track & Field, Paperboy. The wall was lined with stuffed animals, the bar filled with vintage gadgets and toys. There was a dance floor and a disco light. In a way, the people around me had come here to escape reality, to immerse themselves in a digital alternative and yet it all felt authentic. For me, it was the beginning of a project that would become an obsession. I grabbed my small Leica and began shooting in the darkness with a wide-open aperture. I made a few photographs before the bartender caught me. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. ATLANTA Two days after a gunman killed 10 people at a Colorado grocery store, leaving many Americans on high alert, Rico Marley was arrested as he emerged from the bathroom at a Publix supermarket in Atlanta. He was wearing body armor and carrying six loaded weapons four handguns in his jacket pockets, and in a guitar bag, a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. Moments earlier, an Instacart delivery driver had alerted a store employee after seeing Mr. Marley in the bathroom, along with the AR-15-style rifle, which was propped against a wall. A grand jury indictment later described what had come next: panic, terror and the evacuation of the Publix. Mr. Marley, then 22, was arrested without incident that day in March 2021. His lawyer, Charles Brant, noted that he had not made any threats or fired any shots, and had legally purchased his guns. Mr. Marley did not violate Georgia law, Mr. Brant said; he was just being a person, doing what he had the right to do. WASHINGTON A big factor in Representative Kevin McCarthys favor as he labors to become speaker of the House is that no viable candidate has emerged to challenge him. A group of hard-right lawmakers has pledged to block Mr. McCarthy, Republican of California, in his ascent to the speakership, imperiling his path to the top job. But he was nominated by a lopsided majority of his conference and has remained the only broadly supported candidate for the post. The threat that some of Mr. McCarthys allies have dangled that moderate Republicans could band together with Democrats to elect a Democratic speaker should he fail is highly improbable. But the landscape could quickly change should Mr. McCarthy falter on Tuesday, when the new Congress convenes and lawmakers vote to elect a new speaker. House precedent requires that lawmakers continue voting on ballot after ballot if no one is able to win the gavel. If Mr. McCarthy is unable to quickly win election, Republicans would be under immense pressure to coalesce around an alternative, ending a potentially chaotic and divisive fight on the floor that could taint the start of their majority in the House. Follow for the latest on the battle to choose a speaker in the House of Representatives. WASHINGTON Representative Kevin McCarthys bid to become speaker remained in peril on Monday as he toiled to break through the entrenched opposition of hard-right lawmakers and unite his fractious majority, with just hours to go before Republicans assume control of the House of Representatives. The refusal of ultraconservative lawmakers to embrace Mr. McCarthy, Republican of California, even after he made a key concession that would weaken his power in the top post, threatened a tumultuous start to G.O.P. rule in the House. The standoff underscored Mr. McCarthys precarious position within his conference and all but guaranteed that even if he eked out a victory, he would be a diminished figure beholden to an empowered right flank. In a vote planned for around midday on Tuesday, when the new Congress convenes, Mr. McCarthy would need to win a majority of those present and voting 218 if every member of the House were to attend and cast a vote. But despite a grueling weekslong lobbying effort, he appeared short of the near-unanimity he would need within his ranks to prevail. A group of five Republicans has publicly vowed to vote against him, and more are quietly opposed or on the fence. Republicans are poised to control 222 seats and Democrats are all but certain to oppose him en masse, so Mr. McCarthy could afford to lose only a handful of members of his party. MELBOURNE, Australia Four people died and eight others were injured in a midair collision of two helicopters on Monday in a tourist area in Queensland on the Gold Coast. The accident occurred on the sunny afternoon of a public holiday near Sea World, an ocean-themed amusement park. The area south of Brisbane is a popular vacation destination for Australians and foreign tourists. In a statement, the police in Queensland said the crash appeared to have occurred as one helicopter was landing and the other was taking off. One of the two helicopters, which was carrying six passengers, five of whom suffered minor injuries, successfully landed on a small sand island, the police said. The radical climate activists tried hunger strikes. They glued themselves to famous paintings. They tried to disrupt a classical concert. They confronted lawmakers trying to enter Parliament. They even desecrated an official Christmas tree of the city of Berlin. It took them donning neon vests, walking into traffic at rush hour and gluing themselves to the streets in Berlin and Munich, causing miles-long backups and bringing drivers to murderous rage, to make their protest impossible to ignore. With their actions, carried out with increasing frequency as 2022 drew to a close, they have attracted enormous attention in a country where cars reign supreme, home to BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and the autobahn. But they have also united almost everyone in politics in Berlin, and much of the public, against them. Admont Abbey, a Baroque monastery in Austria, hosts the worlds largest monastic library, which also happens to be a stunning work of art. Dating back to the year 1074 when the Benedictine monks of Salzburg decided to found their own abbey in the town of Admont, Admont Abbey is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region of Styria. And while the entire monastic complex is impressive, the 70-meter-long library is undoubtedly the abbeys main attraction. Featuring flamboyant ceiling frescoes, wooden sculptures, gold busts, gilded bookshelves, and no less than seven frescoes-decorated cupolas, this is definitely one of the worlds most beautiful libraries. Photo: Jorge Royan/Wikimedia Commons Largely regarded as one of the great works of art from the European Late Baroque period, because of the way the architecture, sculptures, and frescoes come together to create a visual spectacle, the Admont Abbey Library truly is a sight to behold. Although the abbey itself is almost one thousand years old, the library itself was designed in 1764 and built in the following years by the Austrian baroque architect Josef Hueber, a follower of the Enlightenment movement, also known as Illuminism. The seven ceiling frescoes that dominate the Admont Abbey Library were created by Bartolomeo Altomonte, who was over 80 years old when he started working on them. Most of the sculptures that can be admired in the library were created by monastery sculptor Josef Stammel. The Admont Abbey Library has been around for hundreds of years, but it was only in the last three that it really became a global attraction, thanks to social media. In 2018, while brainstorming ways to reach a wider audience, the monks decided to go all in on the monasterys online presence. The monasterys website was rebuilt from the ground up, but, most importantly, social media became the main promotional avenue. They had one of the most instagrammable tourist attractions in the world, all they needed was to show it off to the world. And thats exactly what the monks did. Back in 2018, Admont Abbey had a respectable 4,500 followers on Facebook, but the monks managed to boost that to over 160,000 in the four years since. The abbey also has millions of followers across various other social networks and reportedly reaches 25 million people every month, compared to around 10,000, four years ago. With decor reminiscent of Disney animated films like Beauty and the Beast and impressive social media marketing behind it, the Admont Abbey Library is now one of the most visited libraries in the world. Childrens hospitals are dealing with an astronomical number of self-harm presentations, two leading psychiatrists have warned. Dr Mary Cannon, consultant psychiatrist and member of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, described the situation as a hidden epidemic that is being exacerbated by the fact that there are only a handful of adolescent inpatient mental health beds in Dublin. Her colleague, consultant psychiatrist Dr Michele Hill, described the mental health issues among young people, particularly those self-harming, as shocking. Dr Hill told the PA news agency the pressure on the system is ramping up all the time. Despite all the awareness campaigns and all the wellbeing kind of education, the rates of moderate to severe mental health conditions, the rates of self harm and suicidal ideation, are not going down, Dr Hill said. They are going up. Dr Cannon told PA: The emergency departments are bearing the brunt of this. Hospitals are seeing an increase in 16 to 19-year-olds presenting, but the childrens hospitals, theres a real crisis going on there. The amount of presentations with self-harm into the emergency departments of the childrens hospitals, particularly in Dublin, is astronomical. Its going up and up You go into the wards, a high proportion of the beds will be taken up with young people whove had suicide attempts or have psychiatric issues. This is a hidden epidemic. The childrens hospitals are bearing the brunt of this because theyve so few [inpatient mental health] beds for that age group. She added: I dont think parents realise how little is being spent actually on mental health services for their young people. Dr Cannon said a lot of the young people who present at emergency departments will need admission to a mental health bed, which is an issue. The number of beds for adolescents is very small, she added. It is getting smaller because its hard to staff these units. Were talking about a handful of beds in Dublin for adolescents with mental health problems. If a young person, a 16 or 17-year-old presents in crisis, a suicide crisis to emergency department, we may have no option but to admit them to an adult beds because there will be no adolescent bed available. Dr Cannon said the number of psychiatric beds in Ireland has decreased by about tenfold since the 1960s, adding that the numbers of beds continues to go down down. You still need inpatient beds for serious mental health conditions, she said. The numbers are going down all the time, taking no account of the fact that levels of mental health problems [among young people] are rising. Dr Cannon and Dr Hill argue that some young people are falling through the gaps under the current system and that a complete shift in the way the country operates its mental health services for young people is needed. Dr Cannon said at present there is a huge transition gap whereby only about one in 20 children receiving treatment through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) subsequently receives treatment as an adult once they turn 18. Dr Hill and Dr Cannon believe this is unacceptable. They are heading up the newly established Faculty of Youth and Student Psychiatry at the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. What we want to do is educate the next stage of psychiatrists to come through about that particular age group, and we also want to influence the funding goals, Dr Hill said. Dr Cannon added: The Government needs to really admit theres an issue, admit that theres a lack of resources, admit there arent enough beds. There arent enough [medical] teams. And then they they need to just put more resources in. Dr Hill said the overall total spend on mental health in the UK is about 12% of the budget, where as the figure is half that in Ireland. We need additional funding, really because 6% of the health budget is just not adequate, Dr Hill added. Five days after Steven Guilbeault was appointed Canada's environment minister in October 2021, he headed to Scotland for the annual United Nations climate talks being held in Glasgow. eBaums World 04 Jan 2023 New footage has emerged from the inside of one of the helicopters involved in the deadly Gold Coast Sea World collision. Novak Djokovic made a losing return to Australian courts on Monday in a low-scale doubles match with best friend Vasek Pospisil in Adelaide, but the result was ultimately inconsequential. BBC Sport 29 Jan 2023 Liverpool hoped a new year would bring a change in form - but their FA Cup exit at Brighton is another low in a largely miserable.. Four people were killed and dozens injured when Russia launched drone strikes on several Ukrainian cities shortly after the arrival of 2023. DW rounds up the latest. After attacks on emergency workers and fatal accidents, unions are saying that the use of personal fireworks on New Year's Eve should be forbidden. German police have begun preparing to clear Lutzerath village to make way for the expansion of an open-pit coal mine. Activists have said they will try to block the operation. German media has mocked a "tone deaf" video put out by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht. She was slammed for discussing the war in Ukraine as people set off fireworks. A hospital told Sulemana he was 9ft 6in, but nurses couldn't be sure - so the BBC went to find out. The Ukrainian capital has been targeted by Russian air strikes for the fifth consecutive night, with the city's mayor claiming Ukraine shot down 40 drones. Follow DW for the latest. The pope emeritus is lying in state in St. Peters Basilica, where a long line of mourners, including Roman Catholic faithful and tourists, waited to pray and to pay last respects. UK Border Force officers have joined patrols on French beaches for the first time in a bid to stem the flow of migrants crossing the Channel. Thousands of mourners pay their respects to Brazil legend Pele who is lying in state at the stadium of his former club, Santos. Thirty years ago, the United States and Russia agreed to reduce and limit their nuclear weapons and signed the START II treaty. Today, with a war raging in Ukraine, all hopes for disarmament seem to have been shattered. Watch VideoAn ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after.. Newsy 02 Jan 2023 There were many countries that voted against Israel that Israel would consider "friends," yet many ask, "what determines whether a country is a 'friend'?" Phnom Penh (AFP) Jan 2, 2023 Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Monday ordered the creation of conservation zones on the Mekong river to protect critically endangered dolphins, after three were killed by fishing nets and lines last month. The Irrawaddy dolphins, known for their bulging foreheads and short beaks, once swam through much of the mighty Mekong but in recent decades have been limited to a 190-km (118-mile) stretch Police will be out in full force this week and keeping an eye out on dangerous drivers Shepton Mallet Journal 09 Jan 2023 An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences in the US was returned to Egypt after US authorities determined it was looted years ago. Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger expressed his concerns and fears if former United States President Donald Trump is not charged in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot. Here's the latest for Monday January 2nd: More drone attacks reported in Ukraine; Flood damage in Northern California; New York machete attack investigated; Mourners pay respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. In a video address on New Years Eve, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russias missile barrage in Ukraine. Today, this Russian missile attack is not the end of the year, no matter how much the terrorists want it. It's the outcome of Russia's fate, he said. Reacting to the Russian air assault on... Polish regulator UOKiK has accused the Polish unit of T-Mobile of misleading advertising relating to a free mobile data offer, with the company potentially facing a fine of 10% of annual revenue. UOKiK said on Monday that T-Mobile Polska's slogan "1200 GB free for a year" was misleading as 100 GB #warsaw #tomaszchrostny #tmobilepolska #tmobile #polish Thousands of Catholics began paying their respects Monday to former pope Benedict XVI at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state before his funeral. Britain's Prince Harry said his troubled relationship with the royal family "never needed to be this way". The attack was one of the deadliest strikes on the Kremlin's forces since the start of the war 10 months ago. It came as Moscow unleashed a new barrage of multiple exploding drones on Ukraine. Canada Unity, one of the anti-government protest groups behind the protests that headlined much of last year, is calling off its plans to restage the event this February. The prospects for peace, justice, and the advancement of liberty in 2023 may at first seem further away than ever. Washingtons determination to overthrow the Russian government via a proxy war in Ukraine has brought the threat of nuclear war closer than ever in history. The mainstream media is even normalizing the idea... Watch VideoAn ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. The repatriation is part of Egyptian government efforts to stop the trafficking of its stolen antiquities. In... This year is going to be tougher on the global economy than 2022, the International Monetary Funds chief, Kristalina Georgieva, has warned. Why? Because the three big economies, U.S., EU, China, are all slowing down simultaneously, she said in an interview that on the CBS Sunday morning news #spglobal #malaysia #imf #taiwan #turkey #ukraine #kristalinageorgieva #protests #vietnam #facenation Two Britons were among four killed after two helicopters collided mid-air near a marine theme park in the Australian state of Queensland. Sydney Morning Herald 11 Apr 2023 Its beaches are world-renowned, while its nightlife, glitzy malls and theme parks attract huge numbers of visitors, with good.. Religion in ancient Rome involved the worship of many gods, and among them was Janus, god of doors, gates, transitions, and passageways. You may have seen a depiction of him before without realizing who he was. He is portrayed as a head with two faces, each one looking in the opposite direction: one looking to the past and another to the future. Oftentimes Janus also holds a key in his hand, signifying his power over doors and transitions. Janus is a doorkeeper, standing where the past and future meet. It should be no surprise then that the word in Latin for a door is ianua, taken from the name of the god. The Romans also named the first month of the year Mensis Ianuarius, or the month of Janus, from which we get the name of the month of January. The shadow of Janus still hovers over us whenever we begin a new year when we open a door and transition into a new year. Every January 1st, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God this year it falls on a Sunday. This feast at the very beginning of the calendar year reminds us of the central role the Virgin Mary plays in the story of salvation through her yes to the Archangel Gabriel. Saint Paul summarizes salvation history by writing in his letter to the Galatians that, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman so that we might receive adoption as sons. From Mary, the divine person of Jesus took human flesh. She has mysteriously given birth to her creator, becoming the mother of He who created her The saving flesh of Jesus Christ that was nailed to the cross and rose on the third day was given to him by the willing consent of Mary to participate in the Fathers plan of salvation. She provided the flesh for the Messiah, the flesh and blood that has brought salvation to the world. The flesh and blood that was nailed to the cross and then rose from the grave the flesh and blood that Jesus provides for us at the Eucharist to eat every Sunday. The Blessed Mother is the gate through which the author of salvation entered into his creation so that we could be reconciled to God the Father. She is also the gate where the human and divine meet. Saint John Vianney, Patron of Priests, wrote that we cannot go into a house without speaking to the doorkeeper. The Holy Virgin is the doorkeeper of Heaven. The Franciscan Saint Bonaventure said that Mary is called the Gate of Heaven because no one can enter that blessed Kingdom without passing through her. The Virgin Mary is the new gate that opens the doors to eternal life by allowing her Son to enter into the world. The Church has displaced Janus with the Mother of God because the door she opened for God and for us is one that can never be shut again. We celebrate her because through her Yes, God has given every human person a new start. In her there is a marked before and after for all humanity, and she stands at that threshold. Some Christians grow weary when we speak of the Virgin Mary in this way, but the reason we do so, is in virtue of who Jesus is. Because Jesus is God among us, we proclaim her as Mother of God. She is the vessel made worthy by God so that Jesus would enter the world. Saint Maximilian Kolbe reminds us, never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did. When I visited Jerusalem in 2016, I read on a travel guide that the Israel Museum had an exhibit with the oldest surviving Biblical text in the world. There were many other fascinating things to see in the museum, but I couldnt wait to find this text I had read about. I finally made it to the exhibit; it was a very small silver scroll that had been very slowly and carefully unrolled. The scroll had originally been part of a priestly amulet. The scroll read: The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! I stood in front of it in awe, looking at the oldest original surviving record of the Bible: 2,650 years old! It was found in 1979 and it took three years of painstaking work to unroll the scroll without breaking it. I find it providential that the oldest surviving text of Scripture contains words of blessing. It reflects the starting point of Gods dealings with us it begins with Him blessing us by reaching out to us in order to grant us salvation. Why do we hear this reading today, on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God? I believe that the Church has placed this reading today not only because its the start of a new year and we ask God to bless us, but because God has already blessed us not only with his Son, but also with His Mother who is the door through which God has become one of us. May the Blessed Mother pray for us and protect us this new year, and always lead us through the gate so that we can encounter Christ her Son. We have been encouraged to think about how we teach in an era of AI-generated text, and I would be surprised if any educator didnt naturally ask themselves hard questions immediately upon discovering what this technology can do. If youve followed these discussions you can safely skip to the next paragraph. For those who have yet to hear about Chat-GPT3 and may mistakenly think Im talking about a droid with an English accent from Star Wars (thats C-3PO), there is a new automated text generator developed by OpenAI that does an impressive job of producing text in response to a prompt or question. It doesnt do this by reasoning and reflecting as you or I might, but by taking the text available to it on the internet and applying an algorithmic model to determine what is relevant and generate appropriate text in response. It does an impressive job even of being a conversation partner if you chat with it. The question for educators is what jobs students will do in the future if AI can produce social media posts and perhaps even reports, and in the nearer term, what assignments we should give when students can potentially take an essay prompt we give them and ask an AI to generate an answer. Thats a very brief explanation, but really what you need to do is try the technology and then youll understand what were concerned about (and may or may not still be reminded of C-3PO). As I will be starting my semester as the Newell Visiting Scholar at Georgia College and State University in about a weeks time, I have been giving a lot of thought to how to begin the one class I will teach while there. The focus and title of the course is Women in Early Christianity. I had been thinking that I should present two brief popular articles on the subject that represent opposite viewpoints, one arguing or assuming that Jesus and his followers valued and elevated women, the other arguing that the early church was as entrenched in patriarchal values as the rest of society. As these thoughts intersected with the many articles I was reading about AI in general and Chat-GPT3 in particular, I wondered what that chatbot would say if asked to argue each of these two stances. Below are the two prompts I gave it, each one separately, together with the response the AI provided to each. Present the most persuasive argument that early Christianity elevated women and was beneficial to them in their ancient context. Early Christianity was revolutionary in its treatment of women compared to the societal norms of the time. In the ancient world, women were often seen as inferior to men and were denied many rights and opportunities. However, Christianity placed a strong emphasis on the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals, regardless of gender. This is reflected in the teachings of Jesus and the practices of the early Christian community. One of the most significant ways in which early Christianity elevated women was by offering them a place of leadership and influence within the church. Women were able to serve as deacons, prophets, and even bishops in the early Christian church, and were given equal opportunities to share their faith and minister to others. This was a radical departure from the societal norms of the time, which typically relegated women to subservient roles and denied them positions of leadership. In addition to offering women leadership roles, early Christianity also emphasized the importance of mutual love and respect within marriage. This was a marked improvement over the societal norms of the time, which often treated women as property and allowed men to have multiple wives and concubines. Christianity taught that marriage should be a partnership based on mutual love and respect, with both partners having equal standing and value. Overall, early Christianity elevated women and was beneficial to them in their ancient context by offering them leadership roles, emphasizing mutual love and respect in marriage, and affirming their inherent worth and dignity as individuals. These teachings and practices represented a significant departure from the societal norms of the time and helped to bring about significant improvements in the status and treatment of women. Present the most persuasive argument that early Christianity oppressed women and was detrimental to them in their ancient patriarchal context. There is no denying that early Christianity emerged in a patriarchal society, and that the role of women in the early Christian community was often limited by the societal norms and expectations of the time. However, it is also important to recognize that early Christianity offered many opportunities and teachings that were beneficial to women and that challenged the patriarchal norms of the time. With that said, there are several arguments that can be made to support the idea that early Christianity oppressed women and was detrimental to them in their ancient patriarchal context. One argument is that early Christianity perpetuated and reinforced patriarchal gender roles and expectations. While the teachings of Jesus and the practices of the early Christian community often challenged and subverted these norms, they also tended to reinforce traditional gender roles and expectations. For example, the Bible often refers to men as the head of the household and assigns them the role of spiritual leader and provider for their families. This can be seen as oppressive to women, as it reinforces the idea that they are inferior and subservient to men. Another argument is that early Christianity marginalized and silenced the voices of women. While there were some notable exceptions, such as Mary Magdalene and Phoebe, women were often relegated to secondary or subservient roles within the early Christian community. They were not given the same opportunities for leadership and were often excluded from decision-making processes. This marginalization and silencing of womens voices can be seen as oppressive and detrimental to their well-being. Finally, it could be argued that early Christianity contributed to the suppression and oppression of women by promoting and enforcing strict codes of modesty and sexual purity. While these codes were intended to protect women and promote their dignity, they also tended to place a disproportionate burden on women and often resulted in their being ostracized or punished for perceived violations. Overall, while early Christianity offered many teachings and practices that were beneficial to women and challenged the patriarchal norms of the time, it also perpetuated and reinforced patriarchal gender roles and expectations, marginalized and silenced the voices of women, and contributed to the suppression and oppression of women through its promotion of strict codes of modesty and sexual purity. As such, it can be argued that early Christianity was detrimental to women in their ancient patriarchal context. Both are decent answers. What is most striking to me is the way the second one sounds as though the AI is hesitant to make the argument. Does it come across the same way to you? What do you think accounts for that? Something in the content it has access to, the proportion of content arguing each viewpoint, the way I worded my question, Chat-GPT3s awakening sentience and its religious leanings, or something else? My thought is to give students these two perspectives, then tell them what produced them. From there we can explore how this technology works with text that is found online and thus produces derivative content, even if it can produce what we might call highly original derivative content if we get the prompt right. An AI of this sort is not going to discover that all conclusions drawn thus far on a topic require revision based on new evidence or arguments. That is important because it both emphasizes the limits of this technology (which is not a criticismall technology just like all people have their limitations) and what human beings can and indeed must offer in this era of artificial intelligence. This seems like it might be the appropriate way to start off the class. What do you think? At the very least, this seemed an appropriate topic for a first blog post of the year. Happy new year to all those who still read words crafted by a human being whose identity and relevant expertise is known to them! Before ending, let me mention that I am considering including a creative project as an assignment, at least as an option. Can an AI make an engaging infographic or write a song celebrating women leaders of early Christianity? You be the judge. I gave Chat-GPT3 one more prompt Write a song celebrating female leaders in the early church. Verse 1: There were women in the early church Who stood tall and were not deterred Their faith and courage did not wane As they followed Jesus holy name Chorus: Female leaders, shining bright Guided by the Lords pure light Their strength and wisdom did inspire All those who came to know their fire Verse 2: Phoebe, Priscilla, and Mary too Each one played a vital role They preached and taught and led with grace Leaving a legacy in their place Chorus: Female leaders, shining bright Guided by the Lords pure light Their strength and wisdom did inspire All those who came to know their fire Bridge: They faced adversity with strength and grace Never backing down from the challenges they faced Their faith in God gave them the power to rise Leaving a mark that will never die Chorus: Female leaders, shining bright Guided by the Lords pure light Their strength and wisdom did inspire All those who came to know their fire What do you think? Ive heard (and sung) worse lyrics written by humans. The question is whether this is the best an AI can do. A human can, I trust youll agree, do better. I may ask students to do so this semester, and so what Im most interested in hearing from you about is what you think of my ideas for integrating Chat-GPT3 into my course. Please share your thoughts! Finally, it seemed appropriate to get an image to accompany this post using an AI art generator. Here is what I got when I asked NightCafe to provide an image of women in the early church: As part of efforts to make Ghana an exporter of rice, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has appealed to investors in Thailand to come and invest in Ghanas rice sector. He said Ghana has huge potential for rice production which is evident in its favourable climatic conditions, availability of arable lands and open society with a vibrant democracy. Dr. Afriyie Akoto made the appeal when a delegation of investors from Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, paid a courtesy call on him at the ministry on Friday, December 30, 2022. He said Ghana can boast of about 40,000 hectares of land readily available to support large-scale rice production, hence encouraging the Thai investors to take advantage of it and invest in the sector. In addition, he assured the delegation of the government of Ghanas support for investors in the rice industry. Our rice production is seasonal, and, therefore, we want action targeted at planting rice in April, May June, assuring that we will make sure that land is made available to you, he asserted. He said it was his ministrys target to make Ghana self-sufficient in rice production, which has seen some significant gains. However, he added that more needed to be done to bridge the deficit. On this score, Dr. Afriyie Akoto charged the Thai delegation to bring an action programme to his ministry for consideration. He asserted that the intervention by the private sector in the rice industry was very crucial, noting that it will help in the governments vision of commercialising the commodity. While commending Jospong Group of Companies for venturing into rice production, he maintained that he will continue to give Dr. Siaw Agyepong all the encouragement and support in his efforts to help the government address the food security challenge in the country. The delegation from Thailand also visited the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen. According to Mr. Kyerematen, the government was fully committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the Ghana-Thailand rice project. Government is fully on board in terms of providing the enabling environment and policy framework for this project, he said. He praised the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, for venturing into rice production. He was very confident that the project will be productive and inure to the mutual benefit of both Ghana and Thailand. Trade statistics between Ghana and Thailand, he bemoaned, has not been encouraging, but stated that there was much that Ghana could learn from Thailand. Early in 2022, the JGC commenced its integrated rice farming project. And in showing the seriousness JGC attached to the project, a team led by its Executive Chairman, Dr. Siaw Agyepong, visited Thailand to understudy the Thai rice sector in order to replicate their experiences and strategy in Ghana. The object JGC was to partner with major rice industry players in Thailand to provide technical and equipment support for the entire rice value chain in Ghana with the aim of boosting rice production in Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group of old boys of Opoku Ware School, christened the VX+ Group, on Friday donated an amount of GHC 40000 to the school for its 70th anniversary celebrations on the back of an earlier donation of GHC 20000 for the same purpose. This brings the groups contribution to GHC 60000, the highest by any year group. The members of the group, which entered Form One at Opoku Ware School in September 1968 and/or Lower Sixth Form in the school in September 1973, made the presentation at a short ceremony in Accra. In accordance with the schools numbering system for all its students since its inception in 1952, the 1968 entrants were dubbed the V group and entered 6th Form as the X group. Speaking on behalf of the group, its Vice President, Katakyie Daniel Aidoo Mensah (X250), who led the delegation for the presentation, indicated that like other Akatakyie, the group was hugely indebted to the school for the role it had played in members lives through both academic instruction and the discipline the school has provided throughout its 70 years of existence. He stated that the groups decision to top up their earlier donation was in solidarity with their colleague Kat. Nana Joe Mensah (V53) who chaired the schools 70th Anniversary Planning Committee. We are all proud of the excellent anniversary the school delivered under Joe Mensahs leadership, culminating in the grand durbar on Sat. 3rd December 2022 with Otumfuo Asantehene and His Excellency the President in attendance, he said. He further commended the school's board, management, staff, students and all Akatakyie for their respective roles in delivering the event. Kat. Mensah also revealed that during the groups 50th anniversary of completing Opoku Ware School, they provided a complete water system - a deep well with pumps and reservoir - to the school. The headmaster of the school, Rev. Fr. Stephen Owusu Sekyere, in receiving the cheque on behalf of the Planning Committee, thanked the VX Group for their support and indicated that over the years, Akatakyie have been a huge pillar of support for the school. He prayed that other Akatakyie would also extend a hand of support to the school whenever the occasion arose. Present at the ceremony for the VX group were Kat Damien Amoatin (V94), Secretary, Kat. Jackson Berko (X249), Treasurer, Kat. Yaw Appiah Kubi (V91) and Kat Nana Joe Mensah V53, Chairman of the Planning Committee. Also present were Kat. Kwasi Ofori-Kuragu (C10), Chairman of the School Board, and Kat. David Amoo-Osae (AM108), a member of the Planning Committee. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, daughter of late president JJ Rawlings delivered an impassioned speech at the just-ended commemoration of the 31st December revolution in Accra. The medical doctor and Member of Parliaments presentation addressed the National Democratic Congress in part and called out the ruling New Patriotic Party government on issues of corruption. She rallied NDC members to reset their value systems and go back to collect the traits of integrity and accountability which are some of the foundation block of the party her father and other comrades built. She said only loyal and committed supporters could guarantee the NDC electoral success by way of protecting its ultimate interest at the polls. We must have loyal supporters, committed comrades who cannot be bribed and who cannot be bought because when the time comes, those are the people who you need to protect your ballot boxes, the people youll need to protect your pink sheets. Because in this current dispensation, when you find that you are not satisfied with the outcome of an election, when you go to court, you must provide evidence of the wrongdoing and that evidence lies in your pink sheets and in your ability to gather evidence. And only people with commitment, loyalty, integrity, the highest level of integrity can preserve the truth no matter what, he stressed in a speech that some people said evoked the spirit of her father who had addressed close to 40 such gatherings before his death in 2020. She implored NDC members to remember the role comrades played and the foundation they laid and took on the NPP government recklessness in the issue of resource management. This government today that has decided to take advantage of everything that was bequeath to the people of Ghana, he said adding that resources of this country were being taken over by people in their personal capacities. Leadership is about service and sacrifice and reflecting the values that comrades, we must not pay lip service to principles that dont mean anything to us, she added. The 2022 edition of the anniversary of the 31st December revolution was the 41st in the series. It marked the day on which Rawlings staged his second successive coup to depose the Hilla Limann government and constitute the Provisional National Defense Council, PNDC, government. It may be dangerous for leaders to 'stretch patience of Ghanaians too far' - NDC marks 31st December anniversary It may be dangerous for leaders to 'stretch patience of Ghanaians too far' - NDC marks 31st December anniversary https://t.co/mckozwjJig pic.twitter.com/dIB9QcLRc8 GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) December 31, 2022 Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trump still thinks he will get tons of free cable news coverage, but when he held a media availability at Mar-a-Lago, none of the networks showed up. The story: Wow! Trump hosted a "media availability" slot at his annual New Years Eve event at Mar-a-Lago and not a single cable news network showed up. He spoke for less than 5 minutes. Oops. When Trump loses Fox & Newsmax hes got real problems and it looks like he saw it coming. pic.twitter.com/fNNnL8pCRm Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) January 1, 2023 Trump appeared tired last night at Mar-a-Lago when taking limited questions from the press (a total of 2 minutes)as he couldnt even fire back on a question about DeSantis. Instead, he was rendered mute. To make it worse, Newsmax didnt even pick up his remarks. Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) January 1, 2023 As we detailed elsewhere, Trumps New Years message was a total meltdown, and he spent his party complaining about how lousy everything is in the United States. Subscribe To Our Newsletter For More Stories Like This: Trump is so detached from reality that he thought the media would come running if he announced that he would talk to them at his private club. Well, talk to them is not exactly correct. Trump talks at the media. Why would the media rush to cover anything that Trump has to say? He has been telling the same lies for years. His act is stale, and he appears to be a presidential candidate in technicality only. If he ever actually campaigns, Donald Trump will get some coverage, but this isnt 2016 anymore. Trump doesnt move ratings for anyone, including Fox News, and without Fox, it is difficult to see the former president getting any media coverage. Trump, just like Norma Desmond in the 1950 Hollywood classic Sunset Boulevard, is ready for his close-up, but the cameras and public attention have long since departed. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The 1/6 Committee showed the state of mind of Ginni Thomas by releasing text messages that can at best be described as conspiratorial. Thomas texted to Mark Meadows: Lets take a deep breath and slowly read the text from Ginni Thomas. The wife of a sitting Supreme Court justice claimed that Biden, his family, journalists, and others had been arrested and were being detained on military barges outside of GITMO so that they could face a military tribunal for sedition. Get More Stories Like This By Signing Up For Our Newsletter: The problem is that being deranged and believing conspiracy theories is not a crime. None of what Thomas texted was true or based on reality. The only potential sedition being committed was carried about by people like Ginni Thomas who were working to overturn an election that Donald Trump lost. Anyone in the media who takes Ginni Thomas seriously or promotes her as a power player is exposing themselves and their biases. Ginni Thomas sounds like a dangerous crackpot. She is also a symbol of the intellectual rot within the Republican Party. GITMO barges and conspiracy theories have replaced intelligent and principled conservativism. The Republican Party has been overtaken by intellectual root rot. Donald Trump is the most toxic manifestation, but he is not the originator. One of the most important acts that the 1/6 Committee did for the nation was going beyond investigating the Capitol attack to expose the dangerous anti-democratic conspiratorial mentality of Ginni Thomas and other enablers who participated in the attempted destruction of democracy for Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print As the Capitol was under attack, Trump aides like Hope Hicks worried that a coup could hurt their job prospects. The 1/6 Committee released more text messages, and they show what some of Trumps staff was most worried about: And all of us that didnt have jobs lined up will be perpetually unemployed. Im so mad and upset. We all look like domestic terrorists now. Hope Hicks Their concern for the Constitution they swore to uphold is so touching https://t.co/hY7hTE5K8p Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 2, 2023 Hope Hicks wasnt concerned about the country or stopping a domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol. She was worried that Trumps coup would render her unemployable in the future. In political science, we often study how presidents build administrations that reflect their personalities and cultures. Presidents because of the singular power of the office within the US constitutional system create cultures, and the culture that Donald Trump created was selfish and put the duty to govern last. One of the many failings of the Trump administration on 1/6 was the White House had a lot of people in it who, like their boss, didnt care about governing. When Trump launched his coup, an administration that cared about the country and the constitution would have disregarded an out-of-control criminal president and taken action to protect and save lives. Trumps White House put selfishness and loyalty to the then-president ahead of the country. Hope Hickss texts show one of the main reasons why the White House failed to act. People died on 1/6 because staff like Hope Hicks worried more about their employment prospects than protecting the country. On December 28, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Hitlerism for calling for refugees from Ukraine to learn Estonian: "Adolf (Hitler) would be proud of you (Prime Minister of Estonia). Without you, it would be much more difficult to prove the dehumanization of the collective West. Estonia for Estonians, right? Say it, at last, stop wrinkling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with sweaty palms." This statement is misleading. Estonia hosted 64,000 Ukrainian refugees and provided them with housing, employment, health insurance, education, and Estonian language courses. The sharp reaction of the Russian foreign ministry was caused by the statement of the prime minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas. In an interview with the Estonian public Russian-language TV channel ETV+, she said: Estonian language courses are also important. We dont want that in Estonia will appear a new community that doesnt speak Estonian. Even if they return (to Ukraine), and 80% of the refugees say they want to return, why not have a group of people in Ukraine who speak Estonian? There's nothing wrong with that." Estonian language courses are part of the state program to help refugees from Ukraine. The Estonian state supports Ukrainian war refugees so that they could adapt here quickly and cope on their own until they can return home, says the website of the Estonian government. Within the framework of this program, after applying for temporary protection, a refugee receives an Estonian residence permit valid for one year and the same rights as residents of Estonia. They include the right to study and work, receive health insurance, and housing if necessary. Applying for temporary protection, however, is not mandatory. All citizens of Ukraine have the right to stay in Estonia even without applying for temporary protection. Suppose a Ukrainian refugee decides to apply for temporary protection and receives the benefits of an Estonian citizen. In that case, certain requirements are imposed on such a refugee: registration of a place of residence, free adaptation training, and Estonian language lessons. "Knowledge of the Estonian language, at least at a basic level, is essential in order to manage independently in our country and to adapt to the society here," said Piret Hartman, undersecretary for cultural diversity of the Ministry of Culture of Estonia. As of January 1, 2022, the population of Estonia stood at 1,331,796 people, according to the department of statistics. The Estonian National Broadcasting Service (ERR) reported on December 5, 2022, that since the end of February 2022, Estonia had accepted 63,813 refugees from Ukraine, constituting 4.8 percent of Estonia's population. Host country language courses for resettled refugees are the standard approved in the adaptation programs created by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR and governments around the world organize language courses. According to the UNHCR, learning the language of the host country is a prerequisite for the complete adaptation of a refugee: Target language competence is a basic requirement for achieving independence in day-to-day matters such as shopping, banking and obtaining a drivers license, as well as for negotiating systems such as health care and education. Resettled refugees who are able to communicate in the language of the receiving community will have access to a wider range of employment opportunities and are better equipped to participate in further education and training. Language is one of the vehicles through which resettled refugees come to feel part of the receiving community. It enables them to participate in informal interactions in neighborhoods, whilst shopping and in community facilities; and ultimately to form meaningful social connections with others and keep up to date with current events. Vladimir Putin's Russia regularly makes claims related to the language of the countries of the former USSR. Russia partly justified the invasion of Ukraine in 2014 because in Crimea and the east of Ukraine, a significant part of the population wants to speak Russian, and the Ukrainian authorities allegedly interfere with and forbid them from doing this. On June 24, 2014, three months after the illegal annexation of Crimea and two months after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in Donbas, Putin stated: "We will always defend ethnic Russians in Ukraine and that part of the Ukrainian people who feel their inseparable not only ethnic, but also cultural and linguistic ties with Russia, feel themselves part of the broad Russian world. Of course, we will not only closely monitor but also react accordingly." Russian foreign ministry criticism of Estonian language courses for refugees in Estonia is a continuation of Moscows policy to eliminate Estonian identity, culture, and language. Estonia was occupied by the USSR for 48 years: from 1940 to 1941 and 1944 to 1991. At that time, Soviet repression was directed at the intelligentsia and peasantry of Estonia; 80,000 people were deported to Siberia between 1945 and 1953, and Russian-speaking residents of the USSR arrived in their place. Encyclopedia Britannica says, Massive immigration from Russia and other parts of the USSR decreased the indigenous proportion of the population. Before the war ethnic Estonians made up almost 90 percent of the population. By 1990 the proportion had sunk to about 60 percent. As a result of repression and so-called Russification, the number of Estonian speakers declined, and the Russian language was encouraged in all spheres of public and state affairs. Authorities forced the merging of Russian and Estonian cultures into one culture of the Soviet people, based on communist ideology and the Russian language. A candidate forum is being held Thursday, April 13, for the four candidates who will appear on the ballot in North Augustas municipal election later this month. Read moreCandidate forum being held for North Augusta city election Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Ethiopia's national carrier on Monday resumed regular flights to Shire, a second city in Tigray region, in line with a peace agreement that ended the bitter two-year war between the Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) The John Edwards House at 13-15 Meeting St. on the Charleston peninsula was built around 1770. It's named after a prominent politician of the Revolutionary War era who was imprisoned by the British and exiled to St. Augustine. Read morePre-Revolutionary War house sells for $12.6M, highest price in Charleston this year GREENVILLE The Secret Cirkus has managed to successfully live up to its name in Upstate of South Carolina. Tim March, the founder, finds it funny how some people are shocked the troupe exists in Greenville when they see them perform. Thats why were called The Secret Cirkus, March said. Youve probably never heard of us. Even some of the members barely knew they were in a troupe. March has hand-selected the performers over the years, and sometimes he would take months to tell them they had been tapped to join. The troupe has dwindled to a trio, composed of March, MiiMii Beaulieu and Stephanie Klimowych also known as TimTV, Pryzmi and Steffie Po. Each has their own winding tale of how they found themselves in a small-stage, punk-style circus. But the place that connected them was a run-down, four-car garage in the Cherrydale area where, for years, circus practice was held every Sunday. Underground circus practice March, 53, moved from Detroit to Greenville in 2008. He did not have a home, a job or friends, so he filled his time strolling along Main Street, juggling, stilt walking and spinning props. Performing was not new to March. He was in a rock band once and advanced to black belt-levels of karate where he learned about pain endurance, which later benefited his bed of nails and broken glass acts. His initial interaction with a small, DIY-style circus was in New York City with the traveling Bindlestiff Family Circus. He befriended troupe members, including one that told him about an arts and self-expression annual festival out west called Burning Man. After attending his first festival in 2000, March was inspired to assemble Fire Fabulon, a side show and fire group, in Detroit. He performed with them for eight years before relocating to the Upstate. He immediately noticed differences between performing in Michigan versus South Carolina. In Detroit, you have to kind of be bold and fearless, March said. But down here, so many people were just meek and mild and nervous. They would watch me do things, but they would look around like Is he going to get in trouble? Is it OK? March has a permission mindset though, explaining that the more he encouraged people to join him, the more they would. To form his first Upstate troupe, March looked on Facebook and beyond for the right people. Were used to being in hiding," March said "Thats kind of what I found is that the alternative culture here was used to keeping their head down and keeping a low profile. He eventually formed Inner Cirkus, a bookable troupe that rehearsed at the Warehouse Theatre. The spelling differentiation between circus and cirkus is intentional. When spelled circus, it relates to classic big-tops. Cirkus denotes a smaller stage and a burlesque-style performance. March left the group in 2010, turning it over to the other members. About six months after his departure, the group dissolved. Garaj Mahal March experienced homelessness during his early years in Greenville. The family of one of his martial arts students offered him free rent on their fathers former business property if he would fix it up. It was here the Garaj Mahal was born. It was an under-the-radar circus and art-based co-op space decorated with mats and props like hula hoops, staves, juggling objects, a makeshift trapeze and more. Weekly circus practice was by invitation only. About four to five consistently showed up every Sunday. The group would then grow with additional invitees. It was sort of like a Fight Club, MiiMii Beaulieu joked. We were not technically not supposed to talk about it, but the people that do talk about it, theyre like, Hmmm, I feel like this could be a good circus person. When Beaulieu received an invite, she was on the cusp of 20 and navigating chronic depression. The arts have followed Beaulieu most of her life. She picked up drawing as a child and played violin, cello and double bass. When in high school, she was in color guard, theater productions and choir. After she graduated and realized traditional college was not for her, she felt directionless. She began to work through her depression after a few years, diving into activities she hoped would reignite her old self. She attended a swing dancing class and met someone who invited her to a circus practice. As a former color guard member, the actions clicked as she spun colorful props. She felt like a child again when she climbed onto a trapeze for the first time thinking how it had been years since she played on the monkey bars. Little by little, she opened up and somehow it helped her break through to a new set of realizations about what was possible in life," March said. Stephanie Klimowych was already a regular at practice. She moved to Greenville in 2011 and searched to find a circus community. The fire arts were burned into her brain after she saw someone play with ignited props at a backyard party once. Her search was tricky, but she felt herself getting closer after she saw videos of performers at the Warehouse Theatre. Klimowych and her brother worked for a special events decorating company at the time. After finishing one of their jobs, the hosts invited the duo back for the get together later. When they returned, Klimowych rounded a corner and spotted a blue-haired fire spinner. It was March. I was like, Oh my gosh, at last,'" she said. The two hung out most of the night, and March invited her to circus practice. Klimowych is primarily an aerialist and fire performer. She once performed a glass-eating act, admitting it's not the safest. When youre eating glass, you better grind it down pretty good, and you better eat something before and after, she said. She has since retired it, laughing she cared more about her teeth. Eventually, the Garaj Mahal ended. March lived on the familys property for years, working up to paying some rent while still fixing it up. With about 30-days notice, he was told he needed to leave after the family determined they could make more money renting to someone else. March rallied his group, telling them the only way they could keep practice going was if that is what everyone wanted. They crowdfunded and found an old warehouse space at the Victor Mill. The group fixed it up and called it the Ninjaplex 9 million, an experimental art space that could be rearranged to fit the needs of its users. But, the mill sold, and the tenants were evicted. The same story happened a few more times over three and a half years. The group would move and either the owner would sell or something else would fall apart. The group did find a suitable place they stayed in for awhile, but they decided not to resign their lease. March took a break from ringmastering a formal rehearsal space, but he has new ideas for the future. The Secret Cirkus The Secret Cirkus popped up simultaneously as the Garaj Mahal in the early 2010s. March became more selective of members after Inner Cirkus. A lot of times I didnt even tell them they were in the troupe at first, March said. They would just come and do shows with me and then it took about a year for anyone to realize that they were actually in. Klimowych was an early member with Beaulieu joining later. The troupe has grown and shrunk through the years. Today, it is a trio with the occasional guest performer. They perform full-stage shows and can be booked for events, festivals and backyard parties. Each dons a character. March gave Beaulieu the advice that ones character is like a superhero version of your regular self. I definitely say that about Pryzmi, she said. Pryzmi is in-development and inspired by prisms and her internal feeling as somewhat of a shapeshifter. I always have felt Im not just in a box as MiiMii or Pryzmi, Beaulieu said. Im multiple characters, and I can be whoever I want to be at any given time. Steffie Po is goofy and off-the-walls, Klimowych said. She also works under the mysterious, graceful and sultry character Selkie Velveteen when she isnt performing with Secret Cirkus. TimTV, March's performer name since 1995, is based on a cartoon he draws of either a boy in footie pajamas or a man in performance grab, both with televisions for heads. He wants to provide people with a feeling of wonder and awe that hopefully will be able to help them transcend the daily muck and mire of the physical mental reality. Part of what the troupe attempts to accomplish is to let children experience excitement and wonder as they watch grownups who are still held aloft in that sense of joy and delight, so that theyre not always just seeing grownups that have backaches, March said. Another part is for adults themselves to see the options for life. I get to be an old man, so to speak, but still have what I consider to be the best parts of childhoods that I get to keep with me, March said. Thats a great joy. Child-like wonder Support for the circus arts in the Upstate can be shaky. Klimowych said there are a lot of good performers, but its really hard for them to find regular gigs. When people hear what she and her friends do, they are excited, but performers still lack opportunities. Trying to get people, like the public, to continually show up and show interest in wanting to have performers or wanting to attend classes to learn circus arts, its tricky here. March echoed the struggle. When the group advertised public events at their practice spaces, people would show interest but often not attend. It was the exact thing they asked for, and then they wouldnt come out and show up to support it, March said. Beaulieu wants the community to learn more about what she does as a circus performer. We dont really have a very solid community here for circus arts, Beaulieu said. I feel like it would be a good addition to have, especially in the place that I grew up in." Beaulieu currently teaches ground circus arts and aerial classes under the name PhysioMorph Fitness Arts at a rented space in MOTIVE School of Movement on Webb Road in Greenville on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Circus is something that Im trying to fit into the world of fitness so that more of the general public can see it as something thats accessible to them because ultimately, my main interest is trying to get people back into the idea of play. Her end goal would be to have a small space of her own, but she wants to ensure she would have support. She is testing peoples interests with her classes in a way thats inexpensive but also relatively professional. For me, professionalism comes in many different forms, Beaulieu said. You can still be very childish and also professional at the same time. I think a lot of people don't really see the two together very well, but I do. March has been told that he would fit in better at a place like Asheville, N.C. He has spoken at a few conferences to spread the word of alternative culture as a positive subculture rather than a counter culture. As opposed to Greenville just being Asheville Jr., Greenville would have its own unique identity, March said. He thinks Greenville has changed over the years, though. Theyve definitely improved, he said. I think Greenville has always been a bit behind the times for the pulse of the world and culture, but whereas it was much closer to its past when I moved here. Its a bit closer to its future now. Williamsburg Technical College was awarded $31,500 from SC Endeavors to support the Early Childcare and Education Program. SC Endeavors is the professional development system for South Carolinas early childhood workforce. Their goal is to support the continuous growth an improvement of earl Read moreWTC Early Childhood Program Receives $31,500 The Oceanside Collegiate Academy Landsharks have dominated the soccer field this season, working their way up the rankings to the top spot in the nation. The boys varsity soccer teams work has paid off and as of April 6, the team was ranked first in the United States by MaxPreps.com. Read moreOCA boys soccer ranked first in the nation Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, on Monday declared that 2023 would be the year of elections and unification of state institutions, blaming the House of Representatives and the High State Council for being obstacles to elections If South Carolina senators want to demonstrate that they dont support law enforcement and they dont care what voters think, they might have no better opportunity than when they take up two diametrically opposed gun law proposals in the coming days. Read moreEditorial: Do SC senators stand with police or against them? Vote on gun bills will tell. President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how an armoured vehicle gifted to him by former Kano Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, helped him survive a deadly attack in Kaduna State. In a documentary titled Essential Muhammadu Buhari, aired on Sunday, the president described an incident that almost took his life during the 2014 electioneering before winning the election in 2015. Mr Buhari had narrowly escaped fatal bomb blasts that killed dozens in the Kawo area of Kaduna, using the armoured vehicle gifted to him by Mr Kwankwaso, a former Defence Minister and currently the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Over 80 civilians were reported to have died in the twin bomb blasts that Mr Buhari, then a presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC), survived on 23 July, 2014 Before the bomb blasts, Mr Buhari recalled, he had been admonished by Mr Kwankwaso that those who did not want him to get the power might make him a subject of brutal attacks. The president insinuated that he could have lost his life by now if he had not listened to Mr Kwankwaso. I think Kwankwaso was being generous; he gave me an armoured Land Rover vehicle, the president narrated to Nigerians in the documentary. He said I should use it because he believed the competition I was going into involved people who would like to eliminate me. He continued: I was going to Kano from Kaduna in that jeep and a vehicle wanted to overtake us but my escort stopped them and they detonated the bomb. When I looked, I saw pieces of human beings. None of us in the vehicle were injured. But somehow I saw blood on me because of the number of people killed outside by the bomb. In a statement after the incident, however, Mr Buhari declared that it was an assassination attempt and narrated how the suicide bomber tried to carry out the deadly assignment. Mr Buhari contested and lost three presidential elections before finally becoming Nigerias president in 2015 following his victory in that years poll. In the 50 minutes documentary about the life of the ruling president, his nephew, Mamman Daura, claimed that Mr Buhari was pressured to lead the Nigerian government but he resisted many times before he succumbed in 2002. The former head of state will hand over power later this after the forthcoming general elections. He had pledged his support for the presidential candidate of his party, APC, Bola Tinubu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Mamman Daura, a nephew and close confidante to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said the past presidential elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011 were massively rigged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the consistent rigging and lack of trust in the electoral system is one of the reasons that Mr Buhari broke down during his presidential campaign in 2011. He disclosed this in a documentary on the president titled Essential Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Daura was narrating the presidents political journey and his shots at the highest office in the country in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Mr Buhari lost his presidential bid to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, to Umar YarAdua in 2007 and Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. In one of his campaign meetings in 2011, the president said it would be his third and last attempt at the presidency. I will not present myself again for election into the office of the president, he had said wiping tears from his eyes. However in the documentary, Mr Daura said the president did not break down in tears because he was worried about defeat, rather he broke down in pity for the system (electoral) in the country. He alleged that all the three elections were rigged because he had approached Mr Buharis lawyer after the 2007 election to demand the results of some states. He gave me the one for Imo State. I went over the result carefully and I saw PDP, YarAdua 25,000 votes and Buhari 5,000, and so on. All round figures throughout. Even the winner of the election, YarAdua had said the election was faulty. He said knowing that all three elections were rigged prompted Mr Buhari to enter a merger with other political parties in 2013. His comment was corroborated by the president in another part of the documentary where he said the PDP were so confident that nobody could remove them and they were also not careful. He narrated how, his former party, Congress for Progressives Change, convinced political players like Bola Tinubu of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party and Rochas Okorocha from a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to form a merger that resulted in the APC that eventually delivered victory for him in the 2015 general elections. The APC has since ruled the country and the president gears up to leave office in 2023. He has promised to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The PDP Presidential Campaign Council has described the endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the latters personal opinion. The PDP said Mr Obasanjos opinion does not reflect the position of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians across the country because the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is the most acceptable of all the candidates. This was contained in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesperson of the PDP campaign organisation, on Monday. The statement was a reaction to the former presidents New Year message and an open letter to Nigerians, where he said though none of the contestants is a saint, Mr Obi has an edge when character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge and discipline are to be compared. Mr Obi, he said, has the experience and great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today Others like all of us have what they can contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria collectively. One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost, he wrote. Mr Obasanjos letter has since stirred different reactions from supporters of different presidential candidates on social media. The APC Presidential Campaign Council has since dismissed Mr Obis endorsement by the former Nigerian leader, describing it as worthless. It said its candidate, Bola Tinubu, would not lose sleep over the endorsement. Obasanjo supporting an inexperienced candidate Mr Ologbondiyan said Nigerians are surprised that in the face of the challenges facing the nation, which requires a tried and tested hand, Mr Obasanjo is suggesting a candidate that has not had any experience in governance at the national level. Remarkable as Mr Obasanjos opinion might appear, he said, it remains individualistic and cannot redirect Nigerians from their determination to rally with the more experienced, proficient and accepted candidate Atiku. It will be extremely difficult for Nigerians, particularly the youth demography, to accept Chief Obasanjos opinion as the solution to the myriad of challenges facing the nation today because the last candidate he introduced, by his own estimation, failed Nigerians, he said. Atiku remains the most widely accepted candidate, whose choice is not predicated by sectional, tribal, ethnic or religious sentiments or the endorsement of any individual, high or low, but by record of ability and performance, authentic vision, honesty and character; physical and mental capacity; the very indices set by the former President. The PDP campaign council also said every claim by the former president on the success of his administration is a reflection of the performance of Atiku as his vice president and Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC). It urged Nigerians not to be distracted by subjective opinions but remain focused on the resolve to salvage the nation by electing Atiku as the next president of Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has said the odds favour him against the other candidates in the 2023 contest. Mr Tinubu, who spoke from Saudi Arabia in an interview with Freedom Radio Kano, said his opponents are jittery because of the clear signs that he is the favourite. He said as part of the strategies to get at him, the opponents are now spreading fake news against him and quoting him out of context. So far, so good. We are reaching each and every Nigerian. We decided that rallies are not always enough. We need to engage all Nigerians from all parts of the country and across all sectors of our socio-economic life. We have engaged businessmen, farmers, miners, industrialists, entertainers, labour leaders, and so on. By the engagements we are having it is clear that we are going to win this election. As the elections are coming closer the signs are clear and that is why our opponents are jittery. They have now resorted to peddling fake news and quoting some of my statements out of context just to score cheap points, Mr Tinubu said. The former two-term Lagos state governor also spoke about the status of his health and about engaging Nigerians through the local media. What do you mean? Are we not having interview now? I just finished talking to people through town-hall meetings and speaking directly to people. Those saying that are losers and they will lose, he said. Mr Tinubu said people saying he has health challenges are saying nothing but lies and rubbish He said he has performed the ritual of Umra (Muslim lesser pilgrimage) which means he is not sick. I just finished performing the umrah. I did the seven rounds of tawaf, I did the seven trips between safa and Marwa. Can a sick person do that? That is stale news, my brother. People who are making those insinuations have nothing else to say but lies and rubbish. I have moved round, spoke at different platforms and stood for hours to address different audiences. Before they said I could not walk, they said I could not stand, they are shamed. Since the campaign started I have marshalled more original ideas than anyone else. I have demonstrated knowledge, experience and great capacity to be on top of issues in the country, he said. Mr Tinubu said he has the best ideas to govern the country. There has been questions around Mr Tinubus health condition and age. The presidential candidate has also been shying away from attending town hall meetings and debates especially organised by media organizations or other organizations. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG,) Enoch Adeboye, has released his prophecies for 2023. Mr Adeboye, during the Crossover live Service 2022-2023, at the New Arena, Simawa in Ogun State, categorised his prophecies into World, RCCG Members, and Individuals. In his message, the cleric said for the 2023 world prophecies, migration would take a new turn in the new year. Mr Adeboye also said the world would be relatively more peaceful this year. The clergy added that the weather pattern would be more eratic, but it would be nice wherever Gods children were. Regarding individual prophecies, the RCCG general overseer during his proclamation, said peoples biggest challenges of 2022 would lead to their biggest testimonies in 2023. In 2023, the Lord will speak peace to some troubled homes, he said. In 2023, for quite a few people, there would be restoration of lost glories. In what he proclaimed his favorite prophecy for 2023, Mr Adeboye said Many trouble makers will lose the ability to make trouble this year. He further stated that Few balloons will be deflated this year. There will be a bit of wealth transfer. Generally, 2023 is a year of many opportunities; wonderful. A News Agency of Nigeria reporter, who monitored the congregational service, observed that prayers were made to restore the world, Nigeria, communities and families. More prayers were said for the country to overcome its challenges and avert further troubles in its economy and activities. A number of pastors in Nigeria engage in the annual ritual of releasing prophecies for the new year to create the impression that they can see tomorrow. Most of the prophecies are often non-specific and usually contain predictions of events that would most likely occur as a course of nature and societal development and transformation. A number of the clerics have descended into ignominy in the past as their predictions failed to come true. But even that has not dissuaded them from playing Nostradamus, the French astrologer, physician and seer reputed for accurately predicting future events. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A spokesperson of the Atiku Abubkar presidential campaign council, Daniel Bwala, has described Olusegun Obasanjos endorsement of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, as a stylish attempt by the former president of a third term in office by proxy. Mr Obasanjo in a letter to Nigerians on 1 January, endorsed Mr Obi for the February 25 election. Giving the reasons for the endorsement in the letter, Mr Obasanjo had stated: None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge. Others like all of us have what they can contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria collectively. But Mr Bwala appears not to be impressed by the explanations, saying Mr Obasanjo had attacked every president who ruled after him because he believes only himself had done well in office. Mr Bwala said, In his 2014 or 2015 letter, he accused GEJ of training snippers to kill citizens, even though it was proved to be a false allegation, in his 2018 or 2019 letter, he accused Buhari of trying to divide nigeria and cause secession, and today he is writing another letter to accuse two other candidates whom he has vowed would never ascend to the nations loftiest seat, even though he made a u-turn and supported Atiku in 2019 because of hatred for Buhari whom he played a role in bringing him to power. So its all about him. To him his wishes and will equals the wishes and will of the nation. Mr Bwala said the 2023 election will be decided by Nigerians not on the basis of a letter by a man seeking a third term by proxy, but by their own assessment of who amongst the candidates presents the case they believe warrant their votes. The letter is not new, the contents are not surprising, but it seems his legacy betrays his assertion in the letter. Baba OBJ, Nigeria has moved on, please allow our democracy to grow and respect the will and wishes of the Nigerian people. Mr Bwala challenged Mr Obasanjo to follow Mr Obi to his campaign rallies and town hall meetings if the former president truly believes in his personal popularity. Read the statement below. OBASANJO; IN SEARCH OF AN IMPOSSIBLE THIRD TERM Happy new year fellow citizens and best wishes for the future. In Nigeria today, we have at least 5 former presidents of Nigeria who are alive and minding their businesses whilst playing the role of fathers of the nation, peace-builders etc, non is so domineering, controlling and meddling with the affairs of the nation like Obasanjo. For the records, Obsanjo also referred to as OBJ has served two terms as a democratically elected president from 1999-2007. The traditional posture and role of former presidents has been that of statesmanship, one who guides, promotes and nurture democratic growth and nation building through strengthening of institutions, educating and enlightening citizens, promoting citizens participation in government, but OBJ is the one man who believes his role also includes choosing and imposing presidents per time, as if we run a monarchical system of government. He believes he is the only former leader who knows what is right for Nigeria, who has the celestial powers to predict the future of Nigeria and the leadership. He believes it is only his administration that has done well and hence the authority to choose next leader or president. His way of choosing the next president is either to blackmail the incumbent or denigrate candidates in favour of his choices. He does that often times vide a letter he would release as though its an epistle to the Nigeria about the almighty direction of the country. He seem to think we are under under military rule. In his 2014 or 2015 letter he accused GEJ of training snippers to kill citizens, even though it was proved to be a false allegation, in his 2018 or 2019 letter, he accused Buhari of trying to divide nigeria and cause secession, and today he is writing another letter to accuse two other candidates whom he has vowed would never ascend to the nations loftiest seat, even though he made a u-turn and supported Atiku in 2019 because of hatred for Buhari whom he played a role in bringing him to power. So its all about him. To him his wishes and will equals the wishes and will of the nation. A cursory look at his letter released on this day 1st day of January 2023, one cant help but draw a deduction of a man who beliefs so much in himself. His entire letter is riddled with me, my and I. Even when he made references to candidates, he assumed he is the source of their relevance and notoriety. First of all, history is replete with his bad decisions which time would not permit us to layout in this article, but suffice to say that his records and official acts were and still are antithetical to democratic ideals. The democracy we practice recognizes participation of people in government and electioneering processes. He has the constitutional right to choose whoever he likes and support the candidacy of the person, but the right he doesnt have is one that threatens, intimidates or harasses citizens to support any candidate as the only means to avert danger., secesssion or disintegration Someone may need to remind him that Nigeria has actually made progress from his days of imposition, manipulation and intimidation, to a popular participation of people in government and affairs of their country. The 2023 election is the election of the people and not of the big personalities. There is nothing about his administration of 1999-2007 that gives him the celestial powers to dictate our future or the outcome of an election yet to be conducted. He should have humbled himself and followed peter Obi to rallies to test his own popularity; thats what popular people do. He should move with Peter obi to town halls, campaigns and canvass for votes for him to show he believes in democratic process of election. We do not vote based upon a threat from a letter. When was the last time we saw him visiting victims of natural disaster? Or playing the role needed of a father of the nation that he so passionately claims? One fact is clear, Nigerians would decide, and this they would do, not on the basis of a letter by a man seeking a third term by proxy, but by their own assessment of who amongst the candidates presents the case they believe warrant their votes. The letter is not new, the content are not surprising, but it seems his legacy betrays his assertion in the letter. Baba OBJ Nigeria has moved on, please allow our democracy to grow and respect the will and wishes of the Nigerian people. Dr Daniel Bwala Spokesman Atiku/Okowa Presidential campaign Writes from London 01, January 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The remains of the couple assassinated in the early hours of New Years day in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have been interred. Kehinde and Oluwabukunola Fatinoye were murdered early Sunday morning at their Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibara, Abeokuta residence after returning from a crossover to New Years church service. Their killers also set their corpses on fire and abducted their son and housemaid. The burial service took place at Christ Anglican Church, Iporo-Ake area of the town on Tuesday. It was conducted by S.K Oyewale and was attended by family members and a large number of sympathisers. The congregation took up the entire church and premises. The Chairman, Editorial Board of Penpushing Media, Funke Fadugba, led some members of the organisation to the service and also paid a condolence visit to a member of the family, Ambrose Somide, who is the General Manager Radio Services of Daar Communications. The deceased families and sympathisers could not hold back tears at the burial service and during interment, as many rained curses on their yet unknown killers. Mr Fatinoye was an ex-staffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria and his wife worked with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB). Their son is also suspected to have been murdered and his body thrown into a river in the Adigbe-Obada axis of the state capital, but the body was yet to be recovered as of the time of filing this report. The remains of the couple, put in separate white caskets, were after the church service taken in a white colour hearse to a cemetery in the Lantoro area of Abeokuta, where they were committed to mother earth. READ ALSO: The officiating minister called for justice over their murder. Mr Oyewale took his Bible reading from 1: Thessalonians 4: 13-18, while the hymns include Forever with the Lord, Who are the like stars appearing and On the resurrection Morning The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police have arrested a suspect, adding that investigation was ongoing. The incident happened after 12 in the morning. It is true that a couple was killed and set ablaze at their residence in Abeokuta, shortly after they returned from Cross over Service. This is a clear case of assassination and we are not leaving any stone unturned to unravel those behind the killings. One person has been arrested by our operatives in connection to the incident. We will get to the root of the matter, as investigation has since begun, Mr Oyeyemi said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. It was a great time to celebrate excellence and relive old memories on Sunday when scholars, associates, friends, and accomplished professionals converged in honour of the renowned historian, Toyin Falola. The occasion was an evening of tributes attended by academics, politicians, university administrators, technocrats, newspaper editors, associates, friends, family, and mentees of Mr Falola who clocked 70 on Sunday. The virtual event, beamed on various social media platforms including Zoom and YouTube, featured tributes from eminent Nigerians including former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Dosumu Awolowo, Richard Joseph, Kayode Fayemi, Bisi Fayemi, Michael Vickers, among others. Born in Ibadan in 1953, Mr Falola is a globally recognized historian and professor of African Studies. He earned his BA and PhD (1981) in history at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Nigeria. He is a Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1991. Among young researchers, Mr Falola is widely regarded as an outstanding mentor committed to nurturing young scholars by facilitating their professional viability and growth. He has received several awards for his teaching commitment to African studies, including the 2010 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Texas Exes Teaching Award. Septuagenarian Induction Speaking at the event, Mr Obasanjo, who was a special guest of honour, inducted Mr Falola into the septuagenarian circle. The former president, renowned for his letter-writing exploits, explained that he had a hard time choosing how best to deliver his speech before settling for letter writing. As someone who had gone ahead of you in chronological time-span, let me welcome you to the septuagenarian circle, Mr Obasanjo said. I sincerely thank God for granting you the grace and favor to get this far. Getting to this biblical age is not an easy journey. Our existential challenges as humans, and more critically as Nigerians, are many, and even all the more so, for someone like you who shoulders many responsibilities as a scholar, a custodian of culture, an elder in your own right, a statesman, and a public intellectual. I must say that I deeply appreciate your unrelenting interventions in Nigerias unraveling as a nation. Nigeria needs her intellectuals, professionals and patriots; those who can quarrel with her to instigate the progress that seems to have eluded us for so long. And you have successfully situated yourself in that best tradition of patriotic interrogation. Mr Obasanjo, who described 70 as the age of reckoning, explained that Nigeria means a lot to him, at a level that most people still fail to understand. He added that it is clear to him, from the series of interventions Mr Falola has made, that the nation means a lot to the celebrated historian too. He said: I know it takes courage to step into the churning waters of national discourse in this great country of ours. It also takes lots of wisdom to be able to get a clear grasp of and be able to adroitly unravel the thorny issues we have been struggling with for many years. I thank you for making that decision not to remain silent and just bask in the glory of your well-deserved achievements as a global scholar and celebrated intellectual. You keep yourself in the water cold or warm. Mr Obasanjo noted that Mr Falola has gotten to the phase where, in cultural and spiritual terms, the hoary head becomes an exemplar of values. We are both at a point where our sociocultural value frames are almost becoming a relic in the context of the revaluation of values the present generation champions, he said. The former president expressed his heartfelt wishes to Mr Falola, adding that may we both finish strong and finish well by witnessing the goodness of God to make Nigeria great in our lifetime. On her part, Bisola Falola, daughter of the revered historian, told beautiful stories of how Mr Falola, whom she described as grandprof or grandpa, helped in selecting the names for his four grandchildren and presided over their naming ceremonies, and others in the larger family. Indeed as mere newborns, the grandchildren were already getting a history education as he carried them around the house, going upstairs and back down, narrating the art, their origins, and stories they told, she said. And then as they grew he would take them on contemplative walks around the neighborhood, and he became convinced that they were picking up his wisdom and ideologies. Speaking about Mr Falolas incredible work ethic, she said that the grandchildren often express concerns about his busy schedule. She said: Sometimes they ask, does grandpa sleep in his office? Because they know he is always in there working, and they ask, as we all do, but when does he sleep? When?! Encomiums In his tributes, Mr Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, said he considers himself an indirect student of the historian because he (Falola) taught his wife, Mrs Fayemi. He described Mr Falola as someone who is always keen to mentor and assist young scholars, adding that he was never judgemental maybe in that truest tradition of being a Yoruba exemplar because he believes everybody has something to offer. For Ayo Banjo, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Mr Falola is a model for young Nigerians, who enjoys being in the company of younger academics. He is just doing his part and not putting on any airs, he noted. READ ALSO: Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, a former Nigerian ambassador to The Netherlands, recalled how Mr Falola supported her works when she served as the nations ambassador at The Hague. I believe Falola is one of the individuals that will help to fix this country one day, she said. Mrs Fayemi, immediate past first lady of Ekiti State, on her part described Mr Falola as a mentor and teacher who has been a source of inspiration to her and many other mentees and students. As you continue your role as an elder in our community and beyond, we will continue to look up to you for guidance, she said. In his intervention, Akinjide Osuntokun, an emeritus professor, described Mr Falola as a humble person who cares about others. I have never seen any historian as fecund, deep, profound and fertile as Toyin is, he said, adding that Mr Falola makes every other person looks ordinary. Toyin is just totally incomparable in terms of scholarship, he added. He added that his works deserve a Nobel prize because there is no reason why (Falolas) writings about Africa should not qualify him for a Nobel Laureate. More Tributes Olu Obafemipoet, playwright, author and Professor of English and Dramatic Literaturedescribed Mr Falola as a universal intellectual who writes about literature in a way more versatile than many literary critics. He has a capacity to celebrate intellect, knowledge distribution, knowledge production Toyin is a very rare gift to humanity, he added. Other eminent scholars and professionals who spoke glowingly about Mr Falola include Olabode Popoola, Ajibola Ogunsola, Evelyn Hauwa Yusuf, Moses Ochonu, among others. In his reaction, Mr Falola said he refused birthday celebrations in the past because of the perilous state of affairs in Nigeria and parts of the African continent. He wondered whats there to celebrate if the people across countryand indeed the continentare not making progress. If our country is not successful, we should not exaggerate our own individual successes, he said. But despite the state of affairs, the historian noted that Nigeria can still harness its human resources to engender inclusive growth and development. He called on patriots not to look down on or denigrate the people as they remain key to ensuring that the nation fulfills its potential. We can be disappointed in leadership; but we should not be disappointed in our communities, he said, adding that nothing is wrong with our people. The historian also used the occasion to encourage young scholars to dream big and refrain from being minimalists in the pursuit of their goals. In a note, Jibrin Ibrahim described Mr Falola as Master of networking, and for so many of us, a valued friend. In these difficult times, he added, Mr Falola stands as a loud voice that is always uplifting Africa on the global stage and seeking pathways to rebuilding institutions. In her vote of thanks, Abimbola Adelakun, who teaches in the African and African Diaspora Studies Department of the University of Texas at Austin, expressed gratitude to the invited guests for honoring the revered scholar. She also expressed appreciation to members of the organizing committee, dubbed coup plotters, including PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, for putting the event together. The event also featured an Oriki session in which a Yoruba chanter, Halimat, serenaded Mr Falola and the guests with deep, emotive panegyrics. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The governorship candidate of the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State, Aminu Bande, on Monday, flagged off his campaign with a promise to handle security better than his main rival, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Nasiru Idris. Mr Bande, a retired major general of the Nigerian Army, sm claimed his rival is incapable of securing the state because he was a lowly Grade 2 teacher. Mr Idris, a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), was elected the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in May. How can you compare a retired major general with a grade two classroom teacher? I have the capacity going by my training to collaborate with the federal government in bringing security to Kebbi state (if elected) How do you compare, a retired military major general with someone who does not have exposure from any other party, no candidate has the requisite experience than me, Mr Bande said while being hailed by thousands of supporters who attended the campaign flagging. My people in Kebbi, I promise to be fair to all groups in Kebbi, I will provide the needed fertiliser before the rainy season at a subsidised price if elected governor in the forthcoming coming election, Mr Mande added. Mr Bande added that education is among his priorities. Our teeming youths are wandering without employment, why its this so? We must redesign our educational system to be functional, where people can acquire skills instead of theoretical degrees. We will revive our vocational training schools that were abandoned. Be peaceful, anyone who lured you with money, collect it, its yours, but dont vote for that person. I will be fair and safeguard the resources and money of the people of Kebbi State. I will do everything possible to ensure the security of lives and properties in Kebbi. I will do my best in salvaging the people of Kebbi state, all the candidates that emerged under the PDP are committed people who are ready to serve the people, Mr Bande said. The flag-off ceremony was attended by a former governor of the state, Adamu Aleiro, and former majority leader of the Senate, Abdullahi Yahaya both men are sitting senators who defected from the APC to the PDP following the crisis that broke out in the states chapter of the APC. Well not allow rigging Aleiro In his remarks, the former governor, Mr Aleiro, charged the constituents to vote for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, whom he claimed has the initiative to tackle the insecurity in Kebbi. The worsening security situations across the country made people agitate for change and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is determined to bring change, and vote for him so that we can get out of the woods, Mr Aleiro said. He said the people of Kebbi will not allow their votes to be stolen in the forthcoming general elections. On election day, dont just vote and leave, you must stay behind and ensure that our votes count. This is important because there are politicians who dont have anything to campaign on, they are waiting for election day to steal your votes. Dont give them the chance to steal your votes. In Kebbi state, we will tolerate ringing. We will provide all the necessary assistance in Kebbi state to ensure free and fair elections, Mr Aleiro said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The current presidential election presents a unique situation we have many options but fewer ideas and values to chose from. Ordinarily, the assumption is that as the number of options increases, so will citizens utility in voting also increase. But this is not true. We may have four contenders for the presidency; however, it is clear that the options that we have are of personalities and not ideologies, value propositions or ideas on how to solve Nigerias hydra-headed challenges. 2023 for Nigerians is about choice and with choice comes consequences. We face critical decisions on many issues that will define our future as a country and as citizens. The most obvious and consequential of these choices and their effects will be in the coming general elections. We will be voting at various levels and in different constituencies to elect leaders that will pilot the affairs of the country and its units over the next four years. The presidential election is the zenith of these elections, and its significance has far-reaching consequences for the country. On its face value, unlike earlier presidential elections in which we had two real options, Nigerians have a number of options in the incoming election, comparable only to the 1979 presidential race, when we had to choose from five candidates. On a closer look, one will see the practical application of American psychologist, Barry Schwartzs paradox of choice theory. This paradox of choice stipulates that while we might believe that being presented with multiple options makes it easier to choose one that we are happy with and thus increases citizens satisfaction, having an abundance of possibilities requires more effort to decide, and can leave us feeling unsatisfied with our choice ultimately. Many citizens think the options before us make us more frustrated and less happy overall. Three or four of the presidential candidates are of note, depending on ones perspective and depth of understanding of the political landscape. Each possesses unique attributes, as well as shortcomings. The candidates may only embody some of our aspirations and reflect some of the values we want to see in our countrys future president. However, it is still our responsibility to analyse all the information presented to us and chose a candidate we are convinced will lead Nigeria for the next four years and set us on the course to economic, social, and political growth. The choice before Nigerians by February and March is not essentially about the candidates only but also in terms of the outcomes of the socio-political and economic realities that we like to see following the elections. The contest is between the unity of citizens as against the triumph of regionalism or ethnicity; security versus insecurity; and unbridled corruption versus good governance, etc. Each presidential candidate represents a shade of this contests, but none embodies all the positives. There lies our dilemma. We have historical antecedents to rely on to unravel this dilemma. History provides a few lessons that shed light on how we dealt with similar situations, what outcomes we had, and how they affected our past and present. In the 1979 elections, which best represented multi-party elections, each presidential candidate embodied a distinct offering. Shagari was pro-establishment, nationalist and an advocate of the free-enterprise economy. Awolowo was a symbol of the welfare state or socio-democrats who believed that government should do the greatest good to the greatest number of citizens, through pursuits such as free education and free healthcare for all, etc. Azikiwe was a nationalist who believed in free enterprise. Aminu Kano was pro-masses and pan-socialist. Waziri was also a man who believed in free enterprise. Nigerians voted in Shehu Shagari as president and lived with the consequences of that choice. Over the years, many choices of presidential and gubernatorial candidates have not necessarily translated into the best outcomes. We are living in unprecedented times in our history, in which we are facing an economic crisis of a magnitude never seen before, with an embarrassing rate of unemployment, an all-time high tension among different ethnic groups, and alarming insecurity. The world is watching whether we will fall off the cliff or we would triumph. This unique era makes it imperative that we are deliberate in getting citizens to understand the importance of our choices in 2023. Subsequent presidential elections in 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015 followed the binary option, where we had two dominant candidates to chose from. However, these options were only binary in the sense of having two different candidates but not in terms of contesting ideologies or leadership approaches to solving our socio-economic challenges. In all these cases, the options before Nigerians had nothing to do with policies or ideas but were about personalities. The current presidential election presents a unique situation we have many options but fewer ideas and values to chose from. Ordinarily, the assumption is that as the number of options increases, so will citizens utility in voting also increase. But this is not true. We may have four contenders for the presidency; however, it is clear that the options that we have are of personalities and not ideologies, value propositions or ideas on how to solve Nigerias hydra-headed challenges. Tinubu and Atiku represent pro-business, pro-establishment tendencies, with strings of promises to inject fresh ideas into building a better country. Peter Obi and Kwankwaso, on the other hand, represent different shades of anti-establishment, pro-masses, and social democratic tendencies, with a commitment to disrupting the existing system. Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are products of the establishment and beneficiaries of the present pseudo-capitalist order, having served as governors in the past and as prominent members of the PDP and APC. In running their campaigns now on how bad the two dominant parties are and how they have destroyed Nigeria, they portray themselves as repentant former members of PDP and APC who have seen the light and adopted a messianic triumphalism towards rescuing Nigeria from the Satanic claws of PDP and APC. This situation sounds hypocritical but it resonates with some citizens who are discontented and disgruntled with the existing orthodoxy. Peter Obi seems to have successfully appropriated the masses, who are dissatisfied with the two political parties due to past failures, and he has taken advantage of the youth anger against a system they feel has a stranglehold on their necks. We know that by February ending, either an establishment presidential candidate or an anti-establishment one will emerge winner. However, no matter who wins, his job is cut out to transform Nigeria. We are living in unprecedented times in our history, in which we are facing an economic crisis of a magnitude never seen before, with an embarrassing rate of unemployment, an all-time high tension among different ethnic groups, and alarming insecurity. The world is watching whether we will fall off the cliff or we would triumph. This unique era makes it imperative that we are deliberate in getting citizens to understand the importance of our choices in 2023. If we get it wrong, we will move from a socioeconomic purgatory to socioeconomic limbo in a relatively short period. It is time we examine and interrogate the policies, projects and activities that candidates have in their manifestos, the character and personality of each candidate, and his professional experiences, to ensure that the chosen candidate fits the specification for the presidency of Nigeria. It is time we do not allow parochial religiosity, ethnicity, and the politics of financial gratification to influence the candidate that we choose. The consequences of doing business as usual are dire even to contemplate. The dilemma over choice is not peculiar to the presidential election. The quality of National Assembly members and governors at the subnational level is also essential. A critical factor that determines economic growth in a democracy is the competence, capacity and commitment of elected representatives. Somehow, the quality of our representatives seems to be degenerating with each cycle of election. This juncture is critical and constitutes an elite dilemma. Nigerians need to watch out for red flags among the candidates and they should allow their knowledge of the candidates to determine their voting choice. If a candidate does not have a track record of outstanding performance in his previous work or profession, he remain the same when elected president. The broadly unenlightened masses all share the same concern: mass poverty, discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, and hunger. Unfortunately, some citizens do not care about the long-term outcomes of the electoral process and are bent on jeopardising the whole process. It is the duty of enlightened and patriotic citizens to engage continuously, so that ordinary citizens will appreciate that there are consequences for whatever choice we make this year. The dilemma over choice is not peculiar to the presidential election. The quality of National Assembly members and governors at the subnational level is also essential. A critical factor that determines economic growth in a democracy is the competence, capacity and commitment of elected representatives. Somehow, the quality of our representatives seems to be degenerating with each cycle of election. In this forthcoming election, we have multiple options but which are not essentially better options. Citizens must vote for candidates with the knowledge and passion for serving in the Assembly, rather than turn the legislature into a retirement home for ex-governors and retiring politicians. More worrisome is also the calibre of persons elected at the sub-national level as governors. The bulk of citizens lives is best improved at the state level. States are closer to the people and have consequential decision-making powers on crucial development issues that affect the poor. From infrastructure, electricity, education, healthcare, and land administration to agriculture. States, which have tremendous influence on local government administration, are responsible for the expenditure of a lot of the national revenue. In practice, states combined with the local governments, account for almost half of all federal revenue expenditure (the current revenue formula is: the federal government 52.68%, and state and local governments 47.32%). The import is that the quality of governance in the states significantly impacts national development. We are experiencing stunted growth because of the poor quality of government at the state level, which is getting worse with each new election cycle. At this subnational level, the serial failure of governance, which is a product of mediocre leadership, has led to poor socioeconomic outcomes, widespread poverty, weak healthcare and educational system, insecurity, and the lack of trust in governance. Our choice in this election will determine the quality of service at the state level, alongside the strength, unity and prosperity of our country going forward. Happy new year to all Nigerians and may 2023 offer us the best in leadership for the good of our country. Dakuku Peterside is a policy and leadership expert. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In the best sense of Yoruba cultural understanding, TF is a gbajumo of a most distinguished sort. His larger-than-life stature is a function of many illustrious credentials, from the academic and the intellectual to the sociocultural. This makes it very difficult to arrive at a template that will capture the multidimensionality of his being and contribution. But let me create my own template, however insufficient, with what I consider an apt description: TF knows books and knows people. TF, as Professor Toyin Falola, is known all over the world, has gracefully been inducted into the exalted and hoary circle of the septuagenarians. And strangely, his self-effacing self would not acknowledge nor celebrate this momentous occasion with at least a seminal offering, as we are wont to. Sometimes in November, 2022, I raised the issue of the approaching 70th birthday with him. What should we be expecting?, I asked. I had in mind the type of elaborate intellectual celebration that heralded his 65th birthday in 2018. TF replied immediately to my query, It will be in May 2023. I was momentarily confused. But going by how disorganised and absent-minded I could be sometimes, I took the statement for a kind of mix up on my part, hoping to get back to the conversation in earnest. But then, when I got the invitation a few days ago to chair this birthday event slated for 1 January, it immediately became clear to me that TFs response to me was the usual diversionary and evasive tactic to shift attention away from a celebration of his immense self. Well, thank God it has not worked! Didnt Ralph W. Sockman, the famous American Protestant radio pastor, say that, True humility is intelligent self-respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be. The truth is that TF is the type of person who would not want to put himself ahead of others. And this is all the more so if the circumstances and occasions are not auspicious. His sense of self necessarily reflects on his understanding of and care for others. This is the sense projected in the Yoruba proverb: Aifinipeni, aifeeyan-peeyan, lara oko-o fi nsan ibante wolu (A lack of proper regard for others, a lack of proper regard for people, is what emboldens the country bumpkin to venture into town clad only in a loincloth). In other words, TF is not one to discard others in the service of self-glory or self-positioning. And yet, the truth is that while tragedies, setbacks and disturbing circumstances will always be part of us, crossing the 70-year mark, and especially for a well-regarded icon, will never happen twice. And neither will the challenging times ever justify our not counting the days of the deserving, so we could order our feet unto wisdom, as the scripture enjoins us. In the best sense of Yoruba cultural understanding, TF is a gbajumo of a most distinguished sort. His larger-than-life stature is a function of many illustrious credentials, from the academic and the intellectual to the sociocultural. This makes it very difficult to arrive at a template that will capture the multidimensionality of his being and contribution. But let me create my own template, however insufficient, with what I consider an apt description: TF knows books and knows people. Being born in Ibadan comes with a lot of cultural endowment that connect TF not only to tradition and heritage but also to people. One needs to read the two pieces of autobiographical narration A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt and Counting the Tigers Teeth to understand the historical trajectories of an Ibadan boy who grew within the ambit of a culture that places value on people as clothes that wrap a person with iyi (prestige) and eye (honour). When the Yoruba say that Eni ti o lowo a leeyan (whoever lacks money will be rich in people), they speak about a robust dynamic of social relations that connects a man solidly to his immediate and extended family, friends and colleagues, community members, and practically the whole of humanity. This is the framework of TFs investment in people. That investment connects mentoring to a sacrificial proclivity to bear the burdens of others. TF is a provoking and provocative agent (agent provocateur) in the original and literal sense of that word. You needed to have either encountered him on the USA-Africa Dialogue listserv that brings thousands of intellectuals and scholars together from across the globe, or be in conversation with him over several instances. The breath of his insights is just too vast to track. And so, one does not need to wonder why books after books, and keynotes upon lectures keep coming off the mind of a master of ideation. This is how one understands the grueling regimen of travels, hospitality, care and attention that focuses TFs attention on people. TF traverses various continents of the world for the sake of his commitment to others. This is the point where one must salute the courage of the woman Yeye Bisi Falola who dared to marry a man like TF. I suspect she is the only woman who could have stayed with TF for these many years. Thus, behind and beside every successful man is a woman. But then, Bisi Falola is not just any woman; and TF goes beyond being just a successful man! And TFs investment in people also translates into a huge investment in ideas and discourses. Indeed, every encounter with people is an intellectual exercise. Let me throw a question: What stands TF out as an intellectual and a scholar? And what sustains his superhuman energy and productivity? Like the trajectories of his life, this question will also generate different responses. Permit me to privilege mine. And there are three I see. First, TF is a provoking and provocative agent (agent provocateur) in the original and literal sense of that word. You needed to have either encountered him on the USA-Africa Dialogue listserv that brings thousands of intellectuals and scholars together from across the globe, or be in conversation with him over several instances. The breath of his insights is just too vast to track. And so, one does not need to wonder why books after books, and keynotes upon lectures keep coming off the mind of a master of ideation. And this brings me to my second point the transformation of a historian to a scholar who roams the vastness of the humanities. Of course, the discipline of History possesses the credentials to provide the baseline for launching into other disciplines. What discipline does not possess a historical trajectory? This is what his professorial endowment, as the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, recognises a scholar whose restlessness cannot be contained by the disciplinary limitation of History. From African Studies to gender to Yoruba Studies, to governance, development and politics, and from history to education to the study of religion, TF has laid a foundation of humanities scholarship in Africa that translates into an intellectual legacy already. And the worry and delight are that he has not laid down his pen. This is a scholar who has a reputation for not sleeping! When you have a restless scholar who does not sleep, and takes the whole of the humanities as his space, what you have is a humongous contribution to the corpus of thought itself. And then the last point. TF stands as the centerpiece of a number of networks, platforms, and communities of thought that push ideas and insights into the service of mankind and the rehabilitation of the African continent. TF is a master organiser. From rallying friends to the assistance of others in needs, to putting together conferences, he pushes the conjuncture of discourses and community, and of theory and practice. The paradigm of Africanising knowledge goes beyond just the imperatives of decoloniality and pluriversalism; it also involves recalling the benefits of cultural values for managing the stress of modernity. With TF, scholarship is a form of activism, from the individual to the nation and then the development of the continent. Being a public intellectual is not just a mere designation; it is a responsibility for him to, for instance, keep speaking truth to power. And scholarship is much more about building the minds of others, and about legacies of all sort. How, for instance, would Yoruba Studies not have a journal that attend to that imperative? Professor Oluwatoyin Omoyeni Falola will be remembered as an exemplar, a pioneer at the rugged frontier of knowledge production and intellectual mentoring. Even though this generation of Nigerian youth is one he is trying so hard to understand, and the one he is so against in terms of value dislocation, he still remains a reference in terms of values that have gone to the dogs in the eyes of the so-called millennials and Gen. Z. Professor Oluwatoyin Omoyeni Falola will be remembered as an exemplar, a pioneer at the rugged frontier of knowledge production and intellectual mentoring. Even though this generation of Nigerian youth is one he is trying so hard to understand, and the one he is so against in terms of value dislocation, he still remains a reference in terms of values that have gone to the dogs in the eyes of the so-called millennials and Gen. Z. TF represents a cultural framework of values that cannot be wished away in the face of normlessness. He is the very sense of an omoluwabi who the youths are forced to confront and engage with in the ongoing cultural war around the imperative of moral values as the foundation of the postcolonial Nigerian predicaments. TF is now a septuagenarian. For those who know him, like I think I do, that reality cannot be a frightening one for him, nor should it be for us too. This is because for Toyin Falola, every new phase of life is the opportunity for some new beginnings some new books to write; some new ideas and insights to push; some new series to develop; some more people to mentor into prominence; some good deeds to throw into the humanity space; and so on. So, with TF, seventy is a new phase of natality. But there are dimensions to every mans being that belongs somewhere else. It is written that whereas the horse can be prepared for the place of battle, but victory is of God. And as selflessness, which TF epitomises, is the mark of the gods, I stand on every faith that I have, and provoke grace from On-High to sustain you, for encouragement, and for abundant life, in health and all-round prosperity, so that for you Oluwatoyin Omoyeni Falola, the glory of your latter will glow so much that you will not finish until you have finished your mission on this part of existence. Ase Edumare! Let me then end this piece with a quote from T. S. Eliot: What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. As one phase ends today and another begins, may there be many more beginnings with the imprimatur of TF stamped on them! Tunji Olaopa, a retired federal permanent secretary, is a professor at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State. Email: tolaopa2003@gmail.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print May this your new age, my dear professor, brother and friend, be accompanied with health and wealth and many good and great things. And may we both finish strong and finish well by witnessing the goodness of God to make Nigeria great in our life time. Congratulations and many happy returns of this day. I will be with you again when you are 80 and it will be in a Nigeria we all want. My dear professor, brother and friend, Toyin Falola, A big congratulation to you on your 70th birthday today. As someone who had gone ahead of you in chronological time-span, let me welcome you to the septuagenarian circle. I sincerely thank God for granting you the grace and favour to get this far. Getting to this biblical age is not an easy journey. Our existential challenges as humans, and more critically as Nigerians, are many, and even all the more so, for someone like you who shoulders many responsibilities as a scholar, a custodian of culture, an elder in your own right, a statesman, and a public intellectual. I must say that I deeply appreciate your unrelenting interventions in Nigerias unraveling as a nation. Nigeria needs her intellectuals, professionals and patriots; those who can quarrel with her to instigate the progress that seems to have eluded us for so long. And you have successfully situated yourself in that best tradition of patriotic interrogation. Nigeria means a lot to me, at a level that most people still fail to understand. And it is clear to me, from the series of interventions you have made, that the country means a lot to you too. I know it takes courage to step into the churning waters of national discourse in this great country of ours. It also takes lots of wisdom to be able to get a clear grasp of and be able to adroitly unravel the thorny issues we have been struggling with for many years. I thank you for making that decision not to remain silent and just bask in the glory of your well-deserved achievements as a global scholar and celebrated intellectual. You keep yourself in the water, cold or warm. I doubt that, being already a venerable elder, there is much that I can really tell you. But permit me to hint to you clearly that the 70-year mark is an age of reckoning. It is a phase that brings issues into stark relief what had been, what could have been and what could not be. It is a moment to take stock of where one is coming from and what lies ahead. This is the phase where, in cultural and spiritual terms, the hoary head becomes an exemplar of values. We are both at a point where our sociocultural value frames are almost becoming a relic in the context of the revaluation of values the present generation champions. And so, we come to the point of those Jewish elders, in the Book of Ezra, lamenting the foundation of the new temple from their perspective of the beauty and majesty of Solomons temple. And yet, as our people say, Agba ki i wa loja, kori omo tuntun wo. May this your new age, my dear professor, brother and friend, be accompanied with health and wealth and many good and great things. And may we both finish strong and finish well by witnessing the goodness of God to make Nigeria great in our life time. Congratulations and many happy returns of this day. I will be with you again when you are 80 and it will be in a Nigeria we all want. Cheers. Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) is a former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print WikkiTimes, an investigative and data journalism outlet, is launching an accountability reporting fellowship. Named after Professor Umaru Pate, the current Vice Chancellor, Federal University Kashere, the fellowship will offer six months paid-internship to young graduates in investigative, data and fact-checking journalism. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of Journalism, the fellowship will be launched on 4 January 2023 to mark the professors 59th birthday. A well-credentialled scholar and academic of international repute, Mr Pate is the pioneer dean of the Faculty of Communication, at Bayero University Kano. As a professor of media and society and an advocate of investigative journalism, Mr Pate has won several international grants for the Faculty of Communications at Bayero University. Mr Pates contribution includes the modification of the Nigerian Journalism curriculum to address emerging trends in the industry. Commenting on the fellowship, WikkiTimes publisher, Haruna Mohammed Salisu said, Umaru Pate is one of Nigerias finest media scholars who has mentored and selflessly supported hundreds of journalists in Nigeria and beyond. He has tutored media scholars and has been at the forefront in advancing the frontiers of media scholarship. Inspired by his continuous service to humanity, we are kickstarting a graduate fellowship program where we intend to train graduates who have a demonstrable interest in accountability journalism. For us at WikkiTimes, there is no better way to celebrate Professor Pate than to launch this kind of programme; because we believe that doing so will advance the very principles and values Professor Pate stood for years, Mr Haruna said. The publisher added that in the first year of the fellowship, WikkiTimes will recruit six graduates in total, who have completed the compulsory one-year national service and will be mentored by experienced data journalists and fact-checkers for six months. The idea is to help the fellows access the best mentoring opportunities to enable them to hold power to account in line with the creeds for which Professor Pate stands throughout his career, Mr Haruna added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun State, Idowu Korede, is dead. Sources said Mr Korede died in Lagos on Saturday night, a few hours to the new year, from an illness. The sources said Mr Korede had been battling the undisclosed illness for some time. The late politician hailed from Ilesa East Local Government Area of the state and served as commissioner during the second term of former governor and now Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. Mr Korede had also served chairman of Ilesa East Local Government. Mr Korede was a prominent member of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a group in the All Progressives Congress in Osun loyal to Mr Aregbesola. The group had a running battle with Mr Aregbesolas successor, Gboyega Oyetola, until the party lost the governorship election in the state last year. The internal crisis in the APC was considered one of the factors that doomed the re-election bid of Mr Oyetola. Timothy Owoeye, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who is also a member of the APC, confirmed Mr Koredes transition. Mr Owoeye commiserated with the deceaseds family, the people of Ilesa and members of the APC. The speaker in a statement by his Media Aide, Kunle Alabi, described the death as a big blow to the progressive family in the state. The death of Korede Idowu is a big loss to Ilesa, Osun, as well as the entire progressive family. Idowus contributions to the growth of Ilesa and Osun will be missed, he said. Idowus death is sudden and shocking but with submission to the will of God which can not be questioned by we mortals, he added. I commiserate with the Idowu family, Ilesa East Local Government and Ijesa South Federal constituency at large. I pray that God Almighty will receive the soul of the departed leader and comfort his family. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print REVOLUTIONARY ONLINE TRADING FUNDING PLATFORM OFFERS USERS NEW BENEFITS AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apex Trader Funding, an innovative online trader funding company offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost and highest contract plans, announced today their complete list of benefits to their trader funding platform including: The ability to keep the first 25k per account based on the payout schedule, then 90/10 split after that Only trade evaluation accounts for seven days instead of ten to qualify for a PA account Traders can now get paid twice a month Access multiple trading accounts with one login Trade full-sized contracts in evaluations or funded accounts No Scaling or Failing by going over contract limits No daily drawdown Trade on holidays Trade your normal day to day strategy or system during the news No total cap on maximum payout One-step evaluation process Qualify in as little as 10 days Real-time data included Simple risk management rules Trade with multiple accounts New accounts will have updated mini to micro ratios. For all new PA accounts, you'll have the option to pay monthly or choose to pay a one-time fee. You can make this choice per each account so you can mix and match payment options. Apex Trader Funding has surpassed just over $5,000,000 in payments to traders Tweet this Last year, Apex Trader Funding announced updated benefits to their funding platform in response to feedback they received from traders. Apex Trader Funding has surpassed just over $5,000,000 in payments to traders, more than any other trader funding company. "The complete benefits we offer to retail traders show our commitment to providing them the easiest and flexible funding platform," said Darrell Martin, Founder and CEO of Apex Trader Funding. "We will continue to look for new ways to build upon these benefits and thank our community for the tremendous success Apex Trader Funding has seen since launch." About Apex Trader Funding Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Apex Trader Funding is a community of traders offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost, highest contract funding plans. Founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin, Apex Trader Funding is a thriving community of traders including more than 25,000 members in 150 countries. SOURCE Apex Trader Funding Jeyhun Bayramov, the foreign minister of Azerbaijan, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, spoke on the phone, Azernews reports, citing the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. The parties talked about potential futures for relations and noted the high level of relations between the two nations on bilateral and international platforms. The ministers expressed optimism for the continued growth of cooperation relations in 2023 in the areas of politics, economics, trade, and other areas. Azerbaijan carried out restoration and construction work in the post-conflict period, following the 2020 Second Karabakh War, and Bayramov informed his colleague about the situation in the area. In addition, other bilateral and regional issues of interest to both parties were discussed during the conversation. The liquid biopsy has been developed by Datar Cancer Genetics to help diagnose brain tumors where a conventional biopsy is not possible. A prospective, blinded study by a research team at the Imperial College, London showed very high accuracy in detecting malignant brain tumors. Datar Cancer Genetics now has three Breakthrough Designations granted by the USFDA, including liquid biopsies for breast and prostate cancer detection. RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Datar Cancer Genetics Inc announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 'Breakthrough Device Designation' for its 'TriNetra-Glio', a blood test to help in the diagnosis of brain tumors. This is the third test from the Company to have received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the US FDA. The Company's early-stage breast and prostate cancer detection tests became the first liquid biopsies to receive the Breakthrough Device Designation. Blood Test to Help Diagnose Inaccessible Brain Tumors (PRNewsfoto/Datar Cancer Genetics) In the United States, brain cancer is the 9th most lethal cancer, and each year, more than 18,000 adults die due to the disease. Diagnosis of brain tumors is risk-prone and brain biopsies are impossible to perform in almost 40% of advanced cases. Presently, no blood test is available for diagnosing brain cancers, and doctors have to rely on complex surgical procedures to obtain tumor tissue for histopathological evaluation. The TriNetra-Glio liquid biopsy is intended to detect the cells released in the blood from the brain tumor; these cells are extremely rare and hard to detect. A prospective, blinded study by a research team at the Imperial College, London, showed the test to be highly accurate. The test requires 15 ml blood and is indicated for patients where a brain biopsy, although necessary, cannot be performed or has been unsuccessful. "In my opinion, a non-invasive blood test that detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) would help to address many of the problems associated with complex brain tumor diagnosis. As a surgeon working on other technologies to define the tumor and functional boundary during surgery to a molecular level of accuracy and to shorten the diagnostic pathway that would inform surgeons, I find this technology of significant interest. In particular, the intended indication to provide a liquid biopsy diagnosis from a simple blood test where tumors are deemed inoperable or inaccessible will truly address an unmet clinical need. I have found this test to be highly sensitive and specific. This breakthrough technology has true diagnostic utility by detecting cells rather than picking up molecular indicators of disease, which until now liquid biopsies have been based upon," said Dr. Kevin O'Neill, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Chairman of the Brain Tumor Research Campaign and Principal Investigator for the Brain Tumor Research Charity's Centre of Excellence working at the Imperial College, London, who led the blinded study to evaluate the test. "The breakthrough designation is a recognition of the potential benefits of TriNetra-Glio in the clinical setting. The test can help individuals where a brain biopsy or surgical resection of the tumor is not possible due to the location of the tumor or other constraints. With our proprietary CTC-enrichment and detection technology, a diagnosis of inaccessible tumors will become possible through a risk-free and patient-friendly blood test," said Dr Vineet Datta, Executive Director of the Company. The test has previously received CE certification and is already available to patients as 'Trublood-CNS'. The Breakthrough Designation is granted by the FDA after rigorous evaluation indicating a reasonable expectation of analytical and clinical success for devices that demonstrate a potential for more effective diagnosis of life-threatening diseases such as cancer. The Breakthrough Devices Program intends to provide patients and healthcare providers with timely access to medical tests and devices granted such designation by prioritized review to expedite development and assessment. About Datar Cancer Genetics With its newly set up facility in Raleigh, North Carolina, Datar will undertake necessary studies for market authorization by the FDA for TriNetra-Glio. The Company is also pursuing cutting-edge research for validating multi-analyte approach-based precision treatment options and Circulating Tumor Cell research for early detection of cancer, non-invasive diagnostics, and therapy management. Datar is validating several diagnostic, theranostic and early detection assays, which will be offered as Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) in early 2023. Datar serves cancer patients and suspected cases in the UK, European Union, GCC, and India. The Company already has advanced research and testing facility at Guildford, UK, and Nasik, India. Datar's state-of-the-art facilities have national and international accreditations from quality certifying bodies. Contact: Dr Vineet Datta [email protected] Website: datarpgx.com Press kit: https://datarpgx.com/presskit_trinetra-glio/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976068/TriNetra_Glio.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1572835/Datar_Cancer_Genetics_Logo.jpg SOURCE Datar Cancer Genetics SAN DIEGO, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blacksmith Medicines, Inc. (Blacksmith), and Forge Therapeutics (Forge), announce today that the companies have signed a definitive merger agreement to leverage their combined chemistry platforms, creating a leading biopharma dedicated to discovering and developing medicines targeting a large class of proteins called metalloenzymes, with initial focus on oncology and infection. "We are excited to unveil the merger of Blacksmith and Forge, which we believe will be transformational for both companies. Prospects are very bright for the new Blacksmith, as we are now able to expand our metalloenzyme platform, advance our internal and partnered programs, and create increased value for our shareholders by discovering first-in-class and best-in-class medicines," said Zachary Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Blacksmith. "Our target strategy is to focus on metalloenzymes of significant unmet need and high pharma interest, targets with validated biology that have been challenging to drug due to chemistry limitations that we can solve with our platform." The Blacksmith platform has been validated through multiple pharmaceutical partnerships, including deals with Roche, Eli Lilly, and Basilea, which have the potential to earn over $800M in milestone payments plus royalties. Furthermore, the company currently has earned non-dilutive federal awards of up to $25.3M to fully fund its infectious disease programs to the end of Phase 1. Blacksmith also has emerging precision oncology programs focused on novel synthetic lethality targets involved in the DNA Damage Response. Blacksmith investors include Evotec A.G., MagnaSci Ventures, MP Healthcare Partners, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Eli Lilly. About metalloenzymes and the Blacksmith platform Metalloenzymes utilize a metal ion cofactor in the enzyme active site to perform essential biological functions. This diverse class of targets has historically been difficult to drug due to small molecule chemistry limitations that have plagued the industry. The Blacksmith metalloenzyme platform has solved this problem by leveraging the following: A large proprietary fragment library of metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs); A comprehensive database containing a full characterization of the metalloenzyme genome including functions, metal cofactors, and associations to disease; A first-of-its-kind metallo-CRISPR library of custom single guide RNAs; An industry-leading metalloenzyme computational toolkit for docking, modeling and structure-based drug design; and A robust and blocking intellectual property estate covering bioinorganic, medicinal, and computational chemistry approaches for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines. About Blacksmith Medicines At Blacksmith Medicines, we are developing medicines targeting metal-dependent enzymes. Over 30% of known enzymes are metalloenzymes, covering all major enzyme classes: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. Metal ions, including magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese and copper, are the essential ingredient in these metalloenzymes. We recognized a large unmet need for new chemical matter and innovative approaches to drug this important class of enzymes. Our purpose-built platform for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines combines, for the first time in industry, a focused library of metal-binding pharmacophores with proprietary computational modeling approaches to rapidly and rationally design small molecule inhibitors that interact with key metal ions in the enzyme's active site. Our comprehensive knowledge of the metal environment and key active site interactions enables Blacksmith to rapidly build potent and selective inhibitors in a stepwise and predictable manner. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.BlacksmithMedicines.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Blacksmith Media Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] 858-366-3243 SOURCE Blacksmith Medicines America's Top-Rated Home Warranty Provider Continues to Leverage Technology for Partner and Customer Support NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Home Guard (https://www.libertyhomeguard.com/), a leading provider of home warranties and service contracts, recently launched a comprehensive digital portal to assist its partnered technicians across the United States. Verified technicians can now view and accept jobs and work orders, submit claims diagnoses, request authorizations, remit invoices, and communicate with customers all through a single digital interface. Liberty Home Guard's new proprietary software also allows technicians to accumulate and review data that can inform business efficiency and budgetary decisions. Liberty Home Guard had previously deployed a digital customer portal to streamline the warranty experience for American homeowners. The new technician portal speaks to the company's commitment to investing in its collaborators just as it does its customers. This steadfast support is the primary driver of Liberty Home Guard's success in building one of the most impressive national networks of licensed technicians in the entire home warranty industry. Since its founding, Liberty Home Guard has grown at a remarkable pace. The company currently serves homeowners in 48 states and Washington, D.C., and plans for continued expansion. Customers and consumer advocacy groups routinely rank Liberty Home Guard as the number one home warranty provider in the United States. Cofounders and CEOs David B. Moreno and Benjamin Joseph credit their company's success in large part to their investment in technology to increase efficiency in their business operations. Like the existing customer portal, the new technician portal will increase communication among key stakeholders in the business, expedite customer service, reduce financial expenditures, and simplify day-to-day tasks for core staff and partners. These benefits all directly contribute to an improved customer experience. The Liberty Home Guard team has expressed excitement about future initiatives. The company continues to innovate, bringing fresh ideas to the home warranty industry that empower homeowners across America. SOURCE Liberty Home Guard BOSTON, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When people think of the 'Star Wars' franchise, nothing comes better to mind than the iconic lightsaber. A shining blade of pure energy and light, the lightsaber has captivated the attention of millions of fans all around the world. Although once seen as novelty, nowadays, real life lightsabers are readily available at low prices. DynamicSabers, a lightsaber retailer, is one of the companies that has contributed to this availability. A realistic lightsaber sold by DynamicSabers DynamicSabers (also styled as "Dynamic Sabers") was founded with the intention of bringing the fantasies of fans to life. Their high-end lightsabers are a result of their passion and work ethic, which has seen their business grow in popularity. DynamicSabers boasts a product lineup of dozens of different lightsabers, which also includes many that are based on the ones wielded by popular characters in the movies. The remainder of the company's lightsabers are custom-made designs. This extensive lineup has made it a popular choice for fans of the franchise. The variety adds to the excitement of lightsaber collecting and dueling. Product variety aside, the lightsabers sold by DynamicSabers are about as realistic as they get. The company utilizes both RGB baselit and neopixel electronics in their lightsabers to produce realistic effects. RGB baselit sabers are lit using a light in the hilt (or handle) of the lightsaber. Neopixel sabers, on the other hand, are the company's premium option, which uses LED strips inside the blade for even illumination and a nearly infinite number of effects. Both of these different electronics, however, add to the realistic appeal of these lightsabers. Using them, the company's sabers are able to change color and soundfont, as well as produce visual and sound effects while dueling. Speaking of dueling, all of the lightsabers sold by DynamicSabers use polycarbonate blades, which allows for heavy dueling. The extensive product lineup of DynamicSabers is unmatched by any other, and as a result, the company is popular among lightsaber fans. As time progresses, DynamicSabers seeks to produce more and more lightsaber designs to cater to their many fans. Those looking to learn more and browse their products can do so at https://dynamicsabers.com/. Media contact: Howard Lee [email protected] (857) 301-9048 SOURCE DynamicSabers Water-themed naming opportunities draw campaign support from Griffin, Lauder and Koch families WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cox Science Center and Aquarium (CSCA) is starting 2023 with momentum for a newly increased capital campaign goal of $85 million. On the heels of a pre-holiday gift of $8 million from Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, leadership for CSCA announced two additional $5 million gifts from Leonard Lauder and the David H. Koch Foundation. Rendering of the Center's aquarium that's slated to open in 2026. The exterior of the Cox Science Center and Aquarium upon its grand opening. "Just one year ago we launched a hugely significant campaign for the Science Center," said Lew Crampton, CSCA board chairman and capital campaign chairman, "and thanks to tremendous support, we are confident in expanding our original plans with a new goal of $85 million. We know Palm Beach County deserves a new, cutting-edge science center and our supporters agree." According to donors, the CSCA's clear vision, focused leadership and creative ideas were key to their support. Momentum for the expansion campaign has already generated more than $62 million of its $85 million total goal in just over one year's time. Whether inspired by education opportunities or their grandchildren's love of the Science Center, all three of the most significant recent gifts reflect a love of water. Known for his catalytic giving across a range of areas including education and STEM initiatives, Griffin's gift was among the first major gifts to follow the Cox donation. His funding is earmarked for the CSCA's new aquarium, featuring 200,000 gallons to take visitors through the Everglades, Florida's inland rivers and Gulf Stream waters. With a focus on sharing the South Florida native's love of the ocean, Griffin's funding will also improve interactive experiences in Florida's fifth largest aquarium impacting nearly 500,000 students annually, 70 percent of whom attend Title 1 schools. Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estee Lauder Companies' $5 million in funding will support the Coral Reefs exhibit in the new Aquarium showcasing the colorful beauty of reef fish alongside propagated coral "frags," which will tell the story of avant-garde coral research happening in Palm Beach County. "When I was a young boy, I went to museums after school," said Lauder. "Stepping into a museum was like entering another world, and I just loved it! I learned so much about art and history from those afternoons. When I look at the creative ways the Cox Science Center engages young people, I'm absolutely thrilled. Imagine learning about coral reefs at the new Aquarium. Experiences like that can be life-changing and, equally important, fun!" A $5 million gift from the David H. Koch Foundation will honor Julia Koch's late husband's philanthropy around science, education and the cultural arts with an interactive fountain to greet visitors. An artistic representation of "STEAM" science, technology, engineering, arts and math the fountain will set the tone as guests enter the new state-of-the-art space for the expanded aquarium, permanent and traveling exhibitions, and upgraded observatory. "As a trained chemical engineer, David was passionate about enhancing research and education in science," said Julia Koch. "I can think of no better way to honor his memory in this community than with this new fountain bearing his name. Its double-helix design accentuates the importance of the arts in STEAM education to the Cox Science Center's nearly 1 million annual visitors." The Lauder and Koch families are life-long friends and their joint support of this STEAM-focused campaign will impact millions of learners for generations. Kate Arrizza, President and CEO for CSCA said, "Our strategic planning process has considered the projected growth of Palm Beach and surrounding counties among the fastest in the nation. The expanded campaign goal will allow us to grow our attendance capabilities to serve nearly 1 million guests annually." New additions to CSCA's expanded plans include: An interactive extended reality experience, which will be an immersive space featuring 40-foot-tall projections on all four walls, displaying signature programs from rocket launches to deep sea exploration. Visitors will be able to directly interact with the projections using touch screens. An expanded traveling exhibit designed to host more megahit exhibitions. A Digital Arts Studio, which will expand to provide more skill set training such as software programming that aligns with high-demand jobs. An outreach program in partnership with Florida Atlantic University will digitize and nationally distribute the Center's current video programs. will digitize and nationally distribute the Center's current video programs. An indoor/outdoor exhibit area designed for early learners ages 6 and under. Expanded programming in the Dekelboum Planetarium and Observatory. An immersive learning lab that will serve as home base for FIRST LEGO League Teams and competitions. An expanded biology lab that consolidates the Center's preferred provider status to all medical magnet schools in Palm Beach County . Currently, the Center provides 30,000 frog/squid/shark/pig dissections annually, which could be doubled in the new space. . Currently, the Center provides 30,000 frog/squid/shark/pig dissections annually, which could be doubled in the new space. Expansion of the existing STEM Education Center that houses a state-of-the-art 3D printing program, coding instruction, and the Palm Beach Florida Chess Club. The Center's educational partnership with the Palm Beach County School District (the 10 th largest district in the nation) will grow, doubling schools served to over 200, including 70 percent of Title I schools to serve English and Spanish speaking students. School District (the 10 largest district in the nation) will grow, doubling schools served to over 200, including 70 percent of Title I schools to serve English and Spanish speaking students. GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) program and other distance learning programs will be expanded. Naming and support opportunities are available for the expanded offerings. A groundbreaking is expected in spring 2023 with a targeted completion set for early 2026. To participate in the campaign or to learn more about CSCA's offerings, contact Melinda Grenz 561-370-7723, [email protected] or visit www.coxsciencecenter.org/support-us. CSCA is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach, FL. CONTACT: KELLY HUSAK OR LAUREN EISSEY [email protected] OR 561.278.0850 SOURCE Cox Science Center and Aquarium VANCOUVER, B.C., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The structural health monitoring market size reached USD 1.87 Billion in 2021 and is expected to register a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period, according to latest analysis by Emergen Research. Increase in number of infrastructure projects due to rise in investments, growing vigilance on existing civil infrastructure to prevent accidents are some of the key factors driving market revenue growth. There has been a significant rise in infrastructure projects globally which has led to increasing demand for structural health monitoring systems. According to a recent World Bank report, India would need to make investments totaling USD 840 billion over the next 15 years. Government of developing countries like India are investing heavily on large scale infrastructure projects. Currently, in India just 5% of the infrastructure requirements of Indian cities are being funded by private sources and over 75% of municipal infrastructure is currently funded by the federal and state governments, with urban local bodies (ULBs) contributing the remaining 15% of the cost out of their own surplus funds. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is being used more frequently in recent years and refer to a variety of systems installed on large-scale civil infrastructures that help and inform operators about the suitability of structures under gradual or abrupt changes to their state, or load and response mechanisms. This is expected to drive revenue growth of the market. Request Free Sample Copy (To Understand the Complete Structure of this Report [Summary + TOC]) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/1072 Drivers: Increasing number of accidents associated with buildings and other infrastructure and growing vigilance on existing civil infrastructure to prevent accidents, therefore, drive the revenue growth of the market. Houses and buildings accounted for the majority of deaths caused by structural failure of all the structural collapses, including bridges, dams, and damaged houses and buildings. This is expected to increase the demand for structural health monitoring systems and hence is expected to drive revenue growth of the market. Restraints: The high cost of installing and monitoring sensors, as well as problems with accessibility and environmental conditions when placing sensors, are limiting the market growth in terms of revenue. Additionally slower adoption of structural health monitoring systems is major restraint in the revenue growth of the market. Growth Projections: The structural health monitoring market is expected to register a CAGR of 14.3% over the forecast period and revenue is projected to increase from USD 1.87 Billion in 2021 to USD 6.19 Billion in 2030. Increasing number of accidents associated with buildings and other infrastructure is expected increase to the demand for structural monitoring systems and therefore support revenue growth of the market. Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + [email protected] https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/structural-health-monitoring-market Current Trends and Innovations: Increasing number of accidents associated with buildings and other infrastructure has led to the introduction of innovative monitoring systems for structures. It is imperative to create cutting-edge early warning systems (EWS), structural health monitoring (SHM), and structural health monitoring and reinforcement (SHMR) systems in order to stop the occurrence of potentially dangerous events on engineering projects, in structures, and in the environment. By utilizing new sensor technology, which enables ubiquitous, affordable monitoring at the higher spatial and temporal resolution, their effectiveness can be increased. This has led to growing demand for structural monitoring and therefore drive the revenue growth of the market. Strategic Initiatives: Major companies included in the market report are Nova Ventures, Geokon, Campbell Scientific, Inc., Structural Monitoring Systems plc., CGG SA, Acellent Technologies, Inc., Sixense, Xylem Inc., SGS S.A., and Digitexx Data Systems, Inc. On April 30, 2020 , Campbell Scientific developed GRANITE series which is a modular DAQ that can be centralized and is guaranteed to work for years thereby reducing total cost of ownership and operation. The new GRANITE series from Campbell Scientific provides the most recent and cutting-edge technologies without compromising its renowned dependability. Emergen Research is Offering Limited Time Discount (Grab a Copy at Discounted Price Now) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-discount/1072 Scope of Research Report Details Outcome Market Size in 2021 USD 1.87 Billion CAGR (20222030) 14.3 % Size Forecast to 2030 USD 6.19 Billion Base Year for Estimation 2021 Historical Data 20192020 Forecast Period 20222030 Quantitative Units Revenue in USD Billion, and CAGR in % from 2022 to 2030 Report Coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Segments Covered Offering, technology, end use, and region Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, U.K., France, Spain, BENELUX, Rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of APAC, Brazil, Rest of LATAM, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled Nova Ventures, Geokon, Campbell Scientific, Inc., Structural Monitoring Systems plc, CGG SA, Acellent Technologies, Inc., Sixense, Xylem Inc., SGS S.A., and Digitexx Data Systems, Inc. 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Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/1072 Emergen Research has segmented structural health monitoring market on the basis of offering, technology, end-use, and region: Offering Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 20192030) Hardware Software Services Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 20192030) Wired Wireless End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 20192030) Civil Infrastructure Aerospace and Defense Energy Mining Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2019 - 2030) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan South Korea India Australia Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of LATAM Middle East & Africa & UAE Saudi Arabia Africa Rest of Middle East Latest Research Reports Published by Emergen Research: Transportation Management System Market By Component (Solutions, Services), By Transportation Mode, By Deployment Type (On-Premises, Cloud), By Vertical (Retail, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing), By Region Forecast to 2030 Healthcare Facility Management Market, By Product Type (Waste Management, Security Services, Other Products), By End-use (Hospitals & Clinics, Others), By Region Forecast to 2030 Breast Reconstruction Market, By Product (Breast Implant, Tissue Expander, and Acellular Dermal Matrix), By Procedure (Immediate and Delayed), By Type (Unilateral Breast Reconstruction) By End-use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Electrophysiology Market, By Product (EP Laboratory Devices, and EP Ablation Catheters), By Indication (Atrial Flutter, WPW, AVNRT, and Others), By End-Use (Hospitals & Cardiac Centers and Others), and By Region Forecast to 2030 Endoscope Reprocessing Market, By Product Type (High-Level Disinfectants And Test Strips, Detergents & Wipes, and Automated Endoscope Reprocessors), By End-Use, By Region Forecast to 2030 Lateral Flow Assay Components Market, By Product Type (Pads, Membranes, and Others), By Technique (Sandwich Assays, Multiplex Detection Assays, and Others), By Application, By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Market, By Drug Type (Clotrimazole, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, and Others), By Route of Administration (Oral, Topical, and Others), By Distribution Channel, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Bio Based Elastopan Polyurethane Market, By Type (Flexible Foam, Rigid Foam, Coatings, and Adhesives & Sealants), By Application (Automotive, Footwear, Consumer Goods, and Packaging), and By Region Forecast to 2030 About Emergen Research Emergen Research is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target, and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries, and help clients make smarter business decisions. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Touch Points, Chemicals, Types, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware of the latest trend's existent in the market. Emergen Research has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Our industry experience and ability to develop a concrete solution to any research problems provides our clients with the ability to secure an edge over their respective competitors. Contact Us: Eric Lee Corporate Sales Specialist Emergen Research | Web: www.emergenresearch.com Direct Line: +1 (604) 757-9756 E-mail: [email protected] Emergen Research Media Citations: https://www.emergenresearch.com/media-citations Visit for More Insights: https://www.emergenresearch.com/insights Explore Our Custom Intelligence services | Growth Consulting Services Read our Press Release @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/press-release/global-structural-health-monitoring-market Trending Titles Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment Market | Soft Tissue Repair Market Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579538/Emergen_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Emergen Research HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), a nationally recognized leader in suicide awareness and prevention, announced recent additions to their Online Professional Development Library to enhance their virtual offerings. The Jason Foundation averages more than 140,000 educator trainings on the platform each year. The Library contains multiple two-hour trainings that extensively delve into aspects of youth suicide and one-hour modules that discuss how different topics relate to youth suicide. The training modules are suitable for school personnel, youth workers, first responders, parents, and any adults who interact with young people. JFI has added three new training modules to the Professional Development Series and are now available. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10 24 in our country. The new modules allow users to join noted suicide prevention experts Dr. Scott Poland and Rich Lieberman for a closer look at suicide, how it affects our communities, and how to become more involved in prevention. Suicide Prevention in Schools: Contemporary Issues - This module features Clark Flatt , Founder and President of The Jason Foundation, along with Dr. Scott Poland and Richard Lieberman . COVID's impact on youth risk factors, trends in youth suicide, safe messaging, and contemporary issues in suicide prevention are discussed. - This module features , Founder and President of The Jason Foundation, along with Dr. and . COVID's impact on youth risk factors, trends in youth suicide, safe messaging, and contemporary issues in suicide prevention are discussed. Developing a Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Protocol for Elementary Schools - This training module aims to provide a blueprint for suicide prevention in elementary schools, specifically for students in K-6. Safe messaging, depression incidence among elementary-aged children and protocol suggestions are discussed. - This training module aims to provide a blueprint for suicide prevention in elementary schools, specifically for students in K-6. Safe messaging, depression incidence among elementary-aged children and protocol suggestions are discussed. Tools of Suicide Prevention for School Professionals - This module highlights the responsibility of all school personnel to address suicidal ideation and behavior among students. Several tools are introduced to school professionals for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. About the Organization The Jason Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting the "silent epidemic" of youth and young adult suicide through educational programs for young people, educators, parents, and other community groups. Since their inception, The Jason Foundation has never charged a school, family, or community for use of their programs or materials. For more information or to find the closest JFI Affiliate Office, visit JFI's website. www.jasonfoundation.com SOURCE The Jason Foundation, Inc. Invite-Only Experience Highlights Portfolio's Latest Music, Multimedia, Education, Hearable, and Creator Content Tech Innovations LAS VEGAS, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Creator technology accelerator Triple G Ventures will highlight its latest portfolio brand innovations at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, January 5-8, at the Venetian Las Vegas. The award-winning global accelerator and venture studio has been recognized for building and scaling emerging creative tech brands. "Those visiting our hospitality suite will get to experience first-hand some of the latest and most exciting advancements in the creator space," says Gregg Stein, Founder of Triple G, "Each are backed by Triple G Ventures' expertise, partner network, pragmatic, strategic and substantive growth engine." Those visiting Triple G's hospitality suite will meet portfolio clients' founders and get to learn about their latest advancements in music, audio, video, ed tech, hearables and content platform technology including: Tripe G Ventures brings 'creator economy tech' to CES 2023 with an exclusive VIP suite experience Artiphon designs smart instruments for the next billion musicians by combining hardware, software, and shareable content that anyone can play. Artiphon's newest musical instrument, Orba 2 is the first musical device that packs an entire studio into the palm of your hand. This means you can play instruments like electric guitars and upright pianos and more adventurous sounds like vocals, found sounds, custom artist songs, and more. Imagine conducting an orchestra in the parkno strings attached and no screens required. Paul Mitchell, award winning British audio specialist and professional producer/musician, is leading the way in delivring premium yet accessible and affordable hi-fi audio experiences with innovative new true wireless audio systems, speakers and turntables. Ekwe creates a digital playground for music-making by blurring the gap between playing and learning music. It is a seamless and enjoyable way for users to find joy through the exploration of over 150 authentic musical and contemporary electronic instruments sampled from around the world. An app that turns any TV screen into a multimedia powerhouse, letting you share content from multiple sources all at the same time, to any TV in the world. Portable and wireless, Skoog 2.0 makes music-making easy. Play, jam, and create music right out of the box. Skoog 2.0 clips straight onto your iPad, iPhone, and iOS device, so within minutes you have a compact, accessible piece of tech that you can use to create music anytime, anywhere. ASI Audio x Sensaphonics has created the 3DME In-Ear Monitors, a fundamentally different approach to the in-ear audio monitoring. 3DME combines built-in microphones to personalize your audio mix via the intuitive ASI Audio app, creating a system equally useful for amplified and acoustic monitoring for musicians and concertgoers alike. The John Lennon Educational Tour Buses are state-of-the-art non-profit mobile production studios, outfitted with the latest audio and video technology and musical instruments. Since 1998, the Lennon Buses have impacted millions of students while delivering unique experiential programs. Each Bus has a crew of 3 producers/educators who live onboard and provide events and services designed for small, medium and large groups. Bridging Education & Art Together. Inclusive, accessible arts education rooted in Hip Hop culture. Through programming, clinical research, and professional development, Boots N Cats champion Hip Hop as a dynamic tool for improving physical and mental well-being. Triple G Ventures is an award-winning, global venture studio accelerator, scaling "creative" brands. With a proven track record across IoT, AI, Machine Learning, Consumer Tech, IT, Audio/Video Tech, EdTech, FinTech, and more; Triple G Ventures architects, delivers and executes transformative strategies for sustainable business success. Triple G is an active member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), and a two-time International Stevie Business Award, "Company of the Year" winner. For more information on Triple G Ventures' business growth and transformational management consulting services and expertise visit www.triplegventures.com . To request an invitation to the suite at CES, or for more information on Triple G or listed portfolio companies, please email [email protected] Contact: Ben Roc, 323-251-4333, [email protected] SOURCE Triple G Ventures The liquid biopsy has been developed by Datar Cancer Genetics to help diagnose brain tumors where a conventional biopsy is not possible. A prospective, blinded study by a research team at the Imperial College, London showed very high accuracy in detecting malignant brain tumors. Datar Cancer Genetics now has three Breakthrough Designations granted by the USFDA, including liquid biopsies for breast and prostate cancer detection. LONDON, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Datar Cancer Genetics Inc announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 'Breakthrough Device Designation' for its 'TriNetra-Glio', a blood test to help in the diagnosis of brain tumors. This is the third test from the Company to have received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the US FDA. The Company's early-stage breast and prostate cancer detection tests became the first liquid biopsies to receive the Breakthrough Device Designation. Blood Test to Help Diagnose Inaccessible Brain Tumors Worldwide, brain cancer is the 12th most lethal cancer, and each year, more than 250,000 adults die due to the disease. Diagnosis of brain tumors is resource-intensive, risk-prone and brain biopsies are impossible to perform in almost 40% of advanced cases. Presently, no blood test is available for diagnosing brain cancers, and doctors have to rely on complex surgical procedures to obtain tumor tissue for histopathological evaluation. The TriNetra-Glio liquid biopsy is intended to detect the cells released in the blood from the brain tumor; these cells are extremely rare and hard to detect. A prospective, blinded study by a research team at the Imperial College, London, showed the test to be highly accurate. The test requires 15 ml blood and is indicated for patients where a brain biopsy, although necessary, cannot be performed or has been unsuccessful. "In my opinion, a non-invasive blood test that detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) would help to address many of the problems associated with complex brain tumor diagnosis. As a surgeon working on other technologies to define the tumor and functional boundary during surgery to a molecular level of accuracy and to shorten the diagnostic pathway that would inform surgeons, I find this technology of significant interest. In particular, the intended indication to provide a liquid biopsy diagnosis from a simple blood test where tumors are deemed inoperable or inaccessible will truly address an unmet clinical need. I have found this test to be highly sensitive and specific. This breakthrough technology has true diagnostic utility by detecting cells rather than picking up molecular indicators of disease, which until now liquid biopsies have been based upon," said Dr. Kevin O'Neill, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Chairman of the Brain Tumor Research Campaign and Principal Investigator for the Brain Tumor Research Charity's Centre of Excellence working at the Imperial College, London, who led the blinded study to evaluate the test. "The breakthrough designation is a recognition of the potential benefits of TriNetra-Glio in the clinical setting. The test can help individuals where a brain biopsy or surgical resection of the tumor is not possible due to the location of the tumor or other constraints. With our proprietary CTC-enrichment and detection technology, a diagnosis of inaccessible tumors will become possible through a risk-free and patient-friendly blood test," said Dr. Vineet Datta, Executive Director of the Company. The test has previously received CE certification and is already available to patients as 'Trublood-CNS'. The Breakthrough Designation is granted by the FDA after rigorous evaluation indicating a reasonable expectation of analytical and clinical success for devices that demonstrate a potential for more effective diagnosis of life-threatening diseases such as cancer. The Breakthrough Devices Program intends to provide patients and healthcare providers with timely access to medical tests and devices granted such designation by prioritized review to expedite development and assessment. About Datar Cancer Genetics Datar Cancer Genetics is a global oncology research and applications company that is spearheading the development of non-invasive technologies for improved detection, treatment and management of cancer. The Company's state-of-the-art cancer research centre is NABL, ISO, CAP and CLIA accredited. The Company serves cancer patients and suspected cases in the UK, European Union, United States, GCC, and India. The Company has modern cancer research facilities in the US, UK, and India. Contact: Dr Vineet Datta [email protected] Website: datarpgx.com Press kit: https://datarpgx.com/presskit_trinetra-glio_worldwide/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976068/TriNetra_Glio.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1572835/Datar_Cancer_Genetics_Logo.jpg SOURCE Datar Cancer Genetics INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Commissioning Agents Inc. (CAI) announced that Wesley Vestal has been named CAI's Chief People Officer. In this role, Wesley will be responsible for leading CAI's global human resources team, utilizing his background in leadership development, strategic workforce planning, and systems implementation to transform clients' human performance strategies to mitigate risk and promote operational excellence. Mr. Vestal brings over two decades of experience creating simple, pragmatic, and effective people programs, ranging from small startups to large public companies both in the US and abroad, where he partnered with the executive teams to solve challenging issues and achieve optimal outcomes through innovative human capital solutions. "I'm pleased and eager to serve the hundreds of employee-owners of CAI across the globe, working tirelessly with our clients to live up to our purpose: To build a better working world and improve the human experience," said Mr. Vestal. "I look forward to building on the amazing legacy built by our current and past leaders to drive engagement, enhance our capabilities, and keep CAI as an employer of choice." Mr. Vestal was most recently the SVP of Growth & Executive Consultant at Elsmere Education Inc., where he built a pipeline for scaling the organization and oversaw the new program launch stage gate process. Previously, he served as Weatherford Inc.'s VP of the Global Talent Center of Excellence and Corporate Human Resources, where he led a 52-person Center of Excellence supporting talent acquisition, talent management, technical development, and leadership development programs company-wide for 20,000 employees. At Weatherford, he was a pioneer in orchestrating an optimal HR response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the conversion of technical and sales training to online delivery in 2 weeks, a full roll-out of remote work best practices, and the development of back-to-office protocols. Mr. Vestal's expertise in operational leadership continues outside of his professional accomplishments. He is a corporate fellow at the University of Houston Downtown, Marilyn Davies College of Business MBA Program. He holds a patent on Drilling Rig Activity Accounting and Visualization, is the author of the books Knowledge Mapping: The Essentials for Success , and Communities of Practice and Associations as well as other pieces on talent management, leadership development, knowledge management, and process improvement. "I'm excited to have Wes on board and for the official establishment of a Chief People officer role," stated Mike Martin, CEO of CAI. "I see this role as a natural evolution of CAI's growth and our focus on people, an integral part of our culture. Wes's experience and vision are a great fit for this role, and I look forward to working closely with him to deliver for our employee-owners." About CAI Since CAI's founding in 1996, we have delivered nearly a billion dollars in services for hundreds of clients across thousands of projects globally. With offices in the US, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, UK, Korea, Switzerland, India, Ireland, Italy, China, and Singapore, we have built an international team of over 800 professionals providing local support from a global company. Our engineering, technical, and consulting services are fashioned to deliver mission-critical facilities with a high level of performance and reliability. When operational readiness and startup are critical, CAI delivers to a higher standard. Contact: David Shenberger +13177219847 [email protected] SOURCE CAI LOS ANGELES, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent assessment of trends in Young Adult publishing, Toni Fitzgerald writes that "T he most successful and relatable YA authors grasp the essential emotions of being a teen. The writers tackle wildly varied subjects... but at the base of it all, feelings drive YA literature..." Paula Paul's novel Colors of Truth examines the parallel lives of two teenaged girls in small-town Texas in the 1950s. A Goodreads reviewer writes, "I loved the characters and reading about Caroline's awakening to the evil in her community and country. Her sense of outrage as she realizes the happenings in the war and sees the racism in her own community propels her to act in ways that she never thought possible." A self-help guide written by Laya Saul for adolescents, You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way is recommended by the Teens Read Too blog "for a young adult looking for a handbook to get through the tough times of adolescence". LibraryBub, an industry first, was established in 2015. Dedicated to making strong, mutual connections between indie and small-press authors and an extensive network of libraries, it works in conjunction with all major libraries. The core commitment of the LibraryBub service is to help librarians to identify acclaimed books from the independent publishing sector. LibraryBub introduces thousands of librarians to bestselling and award-winning books from the independent publishing sector. These books hold immense potential for enhancing the lives of their readers. Novelist Haruki Murakami explains the role of libraries in his process of researching the fiction he writes. "I'd been trying to write about the war, but it wasn't easy for me I went to the library every day, reading books, mostly history books. They have a good collection of books about what happened... Most people go to a place to research before writing the book, but I did the opposite." He depended on what others had written. "Imagination is the most important asset of mine, so I didn't spoil my imagination by going there." Librarians enable writers to make that kind of difference to people's lives, and LibraryBub CEO Alinka Rutkowska considers it a privilege to support them in that role. Below is this month's selection by category. FICTION Literature & Fiction Send Down the Master in Person: reflections on Adolf Eichmann by A. Keith Carreiro ISBN: 978-0997382730 Silent Screams by L.J. Crawford ISBN: 978-1941749531 Mystery & Thriller Amish Accident (Book Six of the Covert Police Detectives Unit series)by Ashley Emma ISBN: 979-8417433276 Romance Abraham and Sarah's Amish Baby (Book One of the Amish Bible Story series) by Ashley Emma ISBN: 979-8767031887 Science Fiction & Fantasy The Power of Three (Book One of the Power Rising series) by Cathy Parker ISBN: 978-1950282906 Young Adult Colors of Truth by Paula Paul ISBN: 978-1098384722 Children's Top Secret: Diary #1 (Book One of the Confessions of a Nerdy Girl Diaries series) by Linda Rey ISBN: 978-0999312025 NON-FICTION Business Finding the Speaker's Edge by Michael D. Butler ISBN:978-1637921739 Leading Positive Organizational Change: Energize Redesign Gel by Bart Tkaczyk ISBN: 978-0367608767 The Lean Recruiting Toolkit by Craig E. Brown ISBN: 978-1730966057 Politics & Social Sciences Adoration and Pilgrimage: James Dean and Fairmount by James F. Hopgood ISBN: 979-8886790108 Religion & Spirituality Back to God, Away from Religion by Gopi Menon ISBN: 979-8522234980 Be Strong and Courageous: Joshua Showed Us How by Walter Albritton ISBN: 978-1662861574 Songs in the Night: how God transforms our pain to praise by Michael A. Milton ISBN: 978-1596382213 Self-Help Coming of Age: our journey into adulthood by Cate LeSourd ISBN:978-1737766803 Confessions of an Ironman by David Solyomi ISBN: 978-1637351079 Debt-Free ASAP! by John Nicholas ISBN: 978-1736158708 There Is Greatness within You: quotations and principles to succeed by John Paul Carinci ISBN: 978-1665713351 Wealth Simplified: the secrets of everyday people who retire richer, happier and earlier by Robert F. Roby ISBN: 978-1637351567 Young Adult You Don't Have To Learn Everything the Hard Way by Laya Saul ISBN: 978-0972322973 "The LibraryBub system is not only unique, but is one of the best forms of advertising." That's the experience of Canadian author John Murray. "Where else," he wonders, "could I have reached hundreds of people whose job it is to buy books?" It is true that we await to see the ultimate result, but the economics is beyond question." Librarians are invited to sign up for LibraryBub at http://librarybub.com/ Independent publishers can visit http://librarybub.com/authors/ to submit their books for consideration. Media Contact: Alinka Rutkowska [email protected] www.leaderspress.com SOURCE LibraryBub San Francisco, Jan 2 : After acquiring classical music service Primephonic, Apple had said that it planned to release a "dedicated" classical music application in 2022, but the year has now ended without the application launching. The iPhone maker acquired Primephonic in August of 2021, reports MacRumors. "Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic's classical user interface that fans have grown to love with more added features," Apple had said in 2021. Since then, the tech giant has not commented on the plans in public, thus it is still unclear if the app will be published in 2023. When Primephonic shut down in September 2021, users received free access to Apple Music for six months, the report said. In September 2021, it was reported that the iPhone maker was preparing to launch a standalone classical music app that would be available along with its flagship 'Apple Music' application. Users were likely to get the standalone classical music app in the iOS 16 update that was planned before the end of last year. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, Jan 2 : New Zealand pacer Adam Milne has been withdrawn from the Blackcaps white-ball squads for the upcoming series in Pakistan and India due to concerns about his preparation. The right-arm pace bowler finished the recent home series against India with a tight hamstring and subsequently had his return delayed for the Wellington Firebirds, missing two Ford Trophy matches in December. Despite playing the first two games of the Dream11 Super Smash season for the Firebirds, the prospect of six ODIs in 16 days across Pakistan and India was considered too big of a risk. A decision was therefore made, by mutual agreement, to replace Milne with Central Stags pace bowler Blair Tickner, who is already over in Pakistan with the Test team. Blackcaps selector Gavin Larsen said the decision wasn't an easy one. "Adam was very up front with us about his concerns around the lack of one-day bowling loading for the upcoming tours," Larsen said in a statement on Monday. "After chatting to him, we agreed his preparation leading into the tour wouldn't be sufficient for him to cope with the demands of back-to-back, three-game ODI series. "We appreciate his honesty and his genuine desire not to let the team down." Milne will continue to play for the Wellington Firebirds when available for the remainder of the home summer. Larsen said Tickner, who has six ODIs to his name, was a ready-made replacement. "Blair's skills at bowling through the middle and his ability to hit the pitch hard make him a similar prospect to what Adam offered us. "The fact he's already in Pakistan experiencing the conditions is an added bonus." The Blackcaps ODI players depart New Zealand for Pakistan on January 4. Ramnagar, : Jan 2 (IANS) A man in Karnataka's Ramnagar district shot himself dead and in his suicide note, he named a BJP MLA and five others, officials said on Monday. The victim was identified as 47-year-old Pradeep, a resident of Amalipura near HSR Layout in Bengaluru. The names in the suicide note are Arvind Limbavali, a former Minister and BJP MLA from the Mahadevapura constituency; G. Ramesh Reddy, K. Gopi, Dr. Jayaram Reddy, Raghav Bhat and Somaiah. He had mentioned the name of Mahadevapura constituency BJP MLA and former minister Arvind Limbavali and five others in his death note. Pradeep had shot himself in the head in his car, the police said, adding that he had gone to a resort near Nettagere in Ramnagar, a neighboring town of Bengaluru, with his family to celebrate New Year's day on Sunday. In between, he returned to Bengaluru residence and and wrote the suicide. After he came back to the resort, he committed suicide in his car. The five named in the note are all said to be influential people. In the note, he urged the police to initiate action against the five persons and hold them responsible for his death. The deceased also mentioned their mobile numbers The note mentioned that the accused took Rs 1.50 crore from the deceased in connection with opening a resort and had promised to make him a partner in the business. "The partners have betrayed me. I was supposed to get Rs 2.50 crore. BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali attempted to compromise and I got only Rs 9 lakhs. After that, MLA Arvind Limbavali also did not help me," the death note says. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Ratan Tata on Monday paid glowing tributes to his former close associate R.K. Krishna Kumar who passed away here on New Year Day. "Words cannot describe the deep sense of loss I feel on the passing of my friend and colleague R.K. Krishna Kumar. I will always fondly remember the camaraderie we shared both within the Group and personally," said Ratan Tata. He described Krishna Kumar as "a true veteran of the Tata Group and the Tata Trusts and will be dearly missed by all". The funeral rites of the former Tata Group top executive R.K. Krishna Kumar shall be performed here on Monday afternoon, according to an announcement. The cremation will take place at the Chandanwadi Crematorium in Marine Lines around 4.30 p.m. Krishna Kumar, former Director of Tata Sons and ex-Vice-Chairman of IHCL and other companies, passed away here on Sunday, aged 84. The Tata Group companies, the corporate world and others have paid homage on his passing and recalled his services to the Indian business community. Sydney, Jan 2 : World No. 9 Taylor Fritz fired Team United States into a 1-0 lead against Team Germany at the United Cup when he moved past World No. 12 Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4, here. In a dominant display on Ken Rosewall Arena, Fritz produced a strong serving performance, winning 96 per cent (26/27) of points behind his first delivery. He outmanoeuvred Zverev with his accurate ballstriking, pulling the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion around the court throughout the 64-minute clash. The 25-year-old raced out of the blocks, winning the first five games as he stepped inside the baseline to ruthlessly finish points. He then kept up his intensity in the second set to defeat Zverev, who was competing for just the second time since June when he tore three ligaments in his right ankle during his Roland Garros semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal. With his victory, the 2022 Indian Wells champion Fritz has improved to 3-4 in his ATP Head2Head series against Zverev. Fritz also holds a 2-0 record on the new season, after defeating Jiri Lehecka in his opening match. Madison Keys will look to double her nation's lead when she plays Jule Niemeier in the second match of the Group C tie. The United States is looking to earn its second win at the mixed-teams event and advance to the City Final, having downed Team Czech Republic 4-1. Germany lost its opening tie against Czech Republic 2-3. If USA defeats Germany or loses 2-3 to Germany, USA will qualify for the City Final. Kathmandu, Jan 2 : The newly-built Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third international airport in Nepal, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at a special ceremony. A Buddha Air flight carrying Dahal was saluted with water cannon when it landed at the new airport on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. "With this airport, Pokhara has become the centre of connectivity with many countries," Prachanda said at the inauguration ceremony which attracted hundreds of thousands of audience. Pokhara is a popular tourist destination in central Nepal. "Nobody will dispute the contribution of Pokhara International Airport to the economic development of the district, the metropolitan city and the whole nation, because of the enhanced connectivity established by this airport," Prachanda said. Buddha Air, Shree Airlines, Yeti Airlines, and Guna Air have started conducting daily flights to and from the newly-built international airport. Meanwhile, Himalaya Airlines performed a successful demonstration flight at the airport, becoming the first airline to land Airbus A320-214 in Pokhara. The China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd was entrusted with the contract to build PRIA as a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative cooperation in May 2014. Construction work of the airport started in July 2017 at an estimated cost of 22 billion NPR. Lucknow, Jan 2 : Preparations are on for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) in Uttar Pradesh, which will enter the state on January 3 and cover a distance of 120 kilometres before crossing over to Haryana on January 5. The Congress leaders are confident that the yatra will galvanise the party's workers and make the masses aware of the 'misrule' of the BJP government at the Centre and the state. The yatra, which is currently on a winter break, will resume from the Hanuman Mandir in Delhi's Kashmiri Gate on January 3 and enter Ghaziabad around noon. It will make a night halt in Mavikala village in Baghpat. The yatra will pass through Shamli district on January 4 and enter Haryana though Sanauli in Panipat in the evening of January 5, the party leaders said. The party's Baghpat district unit president Yunus Chowdhary said the yatris will be received at the Dundahera checkpost and the march will halt for the night at Mavikala village on January 3 where Rahul Gandhi will stay at a farm house. Arrangements for the stay of about 2,000-2,500 people are being made, he added. "The enthusiasm seen in the Congress members all through the yatra was remarkable. The effort is to ensure that the party workers from all the 75 districts of the state come for the yatra," said P.L. Punia, former MP and member of the administration coordination committee of the yatra. He further said, "People who have been asked to come are all those from the organisation as the aim is not just to gather crowds. Lists have been sought from block presidents and passes are being made with their photographs. Special arrangements are on for their stay and other needs." Amid reports of prominent non-Congress leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Jayant Chaudhary not showing any inclination to join the yatra, Punia said it is a non-political event with a clear message to end the hatred prevailing in the country and unite it. State Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh recently said that party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would be present in the Uttar Pradesh leg of the march that set off from Kanyakumari on September 7 last year and would end in Jammu and Kashmir. Anshu Awasthi, who is also a spokesperson of the state unit of the party and also in-charge of media management during the yatra, said, "The yatra route has not been decided keeping in mind political gains or losses." Leaders of the party, however, believe that the event has brought the Congress into discussions up to the village level. Former Union minister and yatra coordinator in Uttar Pradesh Salman Khurshid, state Congress president Brijlal Khabri and others toured villages in several districts to mobilise support for the march. The yatra will be welcomed at various points and a number of delegations will also meet them on the way. Gandhi will address 'nukkad sabhas' as well. In the course of the yatra in Baghpat, Rahul Gandhi and fellow participants will take lunch at a Shiva temple in the district. Tents would be pitched for the participants of the yatra to halt for the night, the Baghpat district Congress chief said. Sangeeta Garg, a functionary of the All India Mahila Congress, is camping in Loni to monitor preparations for the yatra. Ghaziabad district president of the Congress Bijendra Yadav said that in the last four days, more than 400 street corner meetings were organised by the Congress to mobilise support for the yatra. Posters, banners and hoardings have been installed at important intersections. Congress general secretary of Amethi and party spokesman Anil Singh said more than 400 people from the district would travel in a dozen buses to join the yatra at Loni border. Raichur, : Jan 2 (IANS) Police in Karnataka have arrested a 24-year-old in Raichur district for raping a cow calf, officials said on Monday. The police said that the accused, identified as Imtiyaz Hussain Miya, was caught red handed while committing the crime. He had tied the calf to a tree in an agricultural field near a mosque. The owner of the calf had left it to graze along with other cows in the field. The people who saw the act had questioned the accused. The owner had lodged a complaint with the police regarding the incident. The police said the accused confessed to the crime during preliminary investigations. Kashmir Valley : Icicles that were formed from the water leaked from a supply pipeline along Srinagar-Gulmarg road during the 'Chillai Kalan' in Kashmir Valley on Jan 17, 2016. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Jan 2 : The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known as 'Chillai Kalan' tightened its grip on Kashmir on Monday as night temperatures dropped further. Water taps in most parts of Srinagar city had frozen in the morning and people were seen lighting small fires around the water pipes to de-freeze them. "Cold, dry weather is expected to continue in J&K during the next 24 hours as the night temperatures dropped further in the Valley on Monday," said an official of the Meteorological (MeT) department. Srinagar had minus 5.4, Pahalgam minus 9.6 and Gulmarg minus 10 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature. In Ladakh region, Kargil had minus 15.5 and Leh minus 15.4 as the minimum temperature. Jammu had 4.2, Katra 5.5, Batote minus 1.5, Banihal minus 2 and Bhaderwah minus 2.4 as the minimum temperature. Brentford, Jan 2 : Darwin Nunez has blistering pace, tremendous industry and the ability to stretch any defence he faces, but there is scope for technical improvement in the Liverpool striker's game ahead of facing Brentford. The Uruguayan has scored five Premier League goals from nine starts in his debut Premier League season, at a rate of one every 156.8 minutes, reports premierleague.com. As a standalone stat this is a decent return, but Nunez will know that his goal tally should have been considerably higher by the turn of the year. Liverpool have not had any difficulty creating quality opportunities for their summer signing. Tirelessly working hard to evade his markers, Nunez gets on the end of more big chances per 90 minutes than anyone else who has scored at least five times. Even the division's top scorer, Manchester City's Erling Haaland (1.91), does not have as many clear-cut chances as Nunez. "Unfortunately for Nunez, he has spurned 14 of his 18 big chances. That 22 per cent success rate is way behind the likes of Haaland and Harry Kane -- who have converted 61.4 per cent and 62.5 per cent of their easiest opportunities respectively. "Sometimes guilty of rushing his shot, Nunez's composure in key moments is an area to work on. While Nunez's finishing should be more clinical than it is, he also has a right to feel highly encouraged by the positions he is taking up inside the box. The 23-year-old is averaging 5.97 shots per 90 minutes, with 4.47 of those coming from inside the box. He is second in the division for Expected Goals," it said. Right across the division, Nunez leads the way in both categories and is second only to Gabriel Jesus for the most touches inside the opposition box. "A 9.62 per cent conversion rate will disappoint him but the sheer weight of opportunities he enjoys brings with it great promise. He leads the way in the Premier League for total shots and shots in the penalty area. Liverpool scored three times in both encounters against Brentford last season, but had to settle for a 3-3 draw on their last visit to the Gtech Community Stadium. Thomas Frank is a smart tactician, who will likely set his team up a little deeper than usual to contain the pace of Nunez and Mohamed Salah. Nunez is the second quickest player in the top-flight, clocked at 36.53km/hr, just behind Everton's Anthony Gordon." He demonstrated this remarkable speed in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Anfield on Friday, twice leaving Leicester City's defenders in his wake to firstly set up Mohamed Salah for an excellent chance, before himself hitting a post in the move that led to the Reds' winning goal. From a defensive standpoint, Frank's side have not been the most robust this term. Despite sitting 10th, Brentford have faced more shots from open play than any other Premier League team other than Everton this term. "This will provide Nunez with added encouragement, and optimism that more chances will fall his way in this fixture. Liverpool's number 27 never hides when he has missed an opportunity. He was unfortunate not to score last time out against Leicester and that strong mentality will hold him good stead," it added. Brasilia, Jan 2 : Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil -- a third time he has held the country's highest office. The inauguration of Lula da Silva and his Vice President Geraldo Alckmin took place at 3 p.m. pm Sunday during a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, reports Xinhua news agency. This is Lula da Silva's third presidential term and his return to power comes after having spent more than a year in prison between 2018 and 2019, due to a controversial sentence that was later annulled by the Supreme Court. In October, he was elected president with 60.3 million votes, or 50.9 per cent of the vote, while then President Jair Bolsonaro obtained 58.2 million votes or 49.1 per cent. Lula da Silva returns to the presidency with an agenda focused on strong social programs aimed at fighting poverty, under the motto "union and reconstruction". A sea of Lula supporters had gathered in front of Congress since early Sunday morning, decked out in the red colour of his Workers' Party. More than 60 artists, including Samba legend Martinho da Vila, were booked to perform on two giant stages decorated in the national flag as part of a music festival dubbed "Lulapalooza". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text San Francisco, Jan 2 : At least one person was killed as a historic storm swept the San Francisco Bay Area, said authorities. Many roads in the region remained closed due to the storm-induced flooding, while nearly 15,000 Bay Area residents were without power due to storm activity, Xinhua news agency quoted the Pacific Gas and Electric Company as saying on Sunday. The weekend storm nearly broke San Francisco's one-day precipitation record, just 8 hundredths of an inch shy of the all-time mark of 5.54 inches set in 1994. The National Weather Service reported it as the second wettest day in more than 170 years of record-keeping. The historic rain storm has caused road closures, mudslides and widespread flooding. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh shared a loved-up video with his girlfriend Tina Thadani as he celebrated the New Year with her. He took to Instagram, where he is seen singing 'Meri jaan' for her in the video. Sharing the video with Tina on Instagram, Honey Singh wrote: "Happy New Year to all the lovers!! Its lover's season not hater's season #yoyo @tinathadani #yoyohoneysingh." In the clip, he is seen in a black tee with a locket of his name as an accessory. Tina, who featured in his music video 'Paris Ka Trip', grooves behind him and gives a kiss on his nose as he sings 'Meri Jaan' for her. Yo Yo Honey Singh confirmed his relationship with Tina a month ago at an event in Delhi. Los Angeles, Jan 2 : Gangsta Boo, a rapper and former member of hip-hop group 'Three 6 Mafia', passed away. She was 43. Her death was reported by Fox 13 Memphis and WREG Memphis. According to Fox 13, Boo - whose birth name was Lola Mitchell - was found dead around 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. WREG reported that Boo's death was confirmed by a representative. The cause of her death has not been disclosed, reports Variety. A product of the Dirty South school of hip-hop in the 1990s, Boo's edgy raps and frank sexuality made her an energetic Memphis counterpart to Philadelphia rapper Eve, Brooklyn's Lil Kim and Miami's Trina. Like those female rappers, Boo's start came with a prominent regional crew - 'Three 6 Mafia', founded by DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous - with whom she recorded a handful of studio albums until her departure in 2002. But, along with a prominent solo career starting with 1998's 'Enquiring Minds' and its signature single, 'Where Dem Dollas At,' Boo guested on tracks with Eminem, Gucci Mane, Run the Jewels, OutKast, Lil Wayne, Blood Orange, Latto and more. Born in the Whitehaven neighbourhood of Memphis, Tennesse. on August 7, 1979, Boo began rapping in her early teens. When Three 6 Mafia formed in 1991, they enlisted Boo early on, recording the group's 1995 debut album, 'Mystic Stylez,' with her as one of its featured rappers. "Being in Three 6 Mafia did give me a lot of confidence," Gangsta Boo had told Vibe in 2016. "I started noticing that not only am I hot, but that I'm talented. But you'd be surprised at how many motherfuckers don't know that I was in Three 6 Mafia." While Gangsta Boo stayed as part of Three 6 Mafia though 2001's 'Choices: The Album', she left the hip-hop unit in 2002 to pursue her solo career to the fullest - just several years shy of T6M's platinum success with its 'Most Known Unknown' album, and its 2006 Academy Award win for best original song with 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' from the film 'Hustle & Flow'. Along with recording solo albums such as 'Both Worlds *69' (2001), 'Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera' (2003) and 'The Memphis Queen Is Back' (2007) and mixtapes such as 'It's Game Involved' (2013) and 'Candy, Diamonds & Pills' (2016), Boo made her mark by lending her tart raps and taut flow to other artists. Before she left Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo recorded on Foxy Brown's 1999 'Chyna Doll' album and 2000's 'Stankonia' from OutKast. After 2002, Gangsta Boo dropped feature verses on Lil Jon's 'Crunk Juice' (2004), Yelawolf's 'Radioactive' album in duet with Eminem on 'Throw It Up', the Jeezy/T.I./Lil Wayne trio album 'Prime Time Players' (2013) and on Run the Jewels' song 'Walking in the Snow' from 'RTJ4' (2020). In 2022, Boo appeared on WEtv's 'Marriage Boot Camp: The Hip Hop Edition' with her boyfriend, Emmet Flores. In December, she and GloRilla teamed up with Latto for the track 'Fuck the Club Up', the video for which was just released two weeks ago. Members of the rap community took to social media to pay tribute to Boo including DJ Paul, who posted a photo of her DJing without a caption. In response to that post, fellow rappers such as 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, Ludacris, Outkast's Big Boi, Cypress Hill's B-Real, and Lil Jon chimed in with their own tributes on Paul's Instagram. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on the last day of 2022 received a series of messages on its official Twitter account regarding a bomb threat, however, it later turned out to be a hoax message. Soon after the messages were received from 8.39 a.m. to 10.40 a.m. on December 31, 2022, concerned airport authorities were alerted and the alleged account was then continuously monitored. However, in the last message at 10.40 a.m., the unidentified person wrote: "To be honest, I am really sorry." According to an FIR, the complainant, who handles the social media accounts of the Delhi airport, stated that his shift starts at 8 a.m and on December 31, he observed there were multiple direct messages from a Twitter account on the IGI's official handle. "On opening the messages, I read them and found that all the messages were pertaining to a bomb threat at the Delhi airport," stated the FIR. The complainant demanded legal action against the said Twitter account as it created a situation of ruckus and public nuisance in the airport. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 182 (False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person), 211 (False charge of offence made with intent to injure) and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. Earlier on December 21, 2022, a precautionary security drill was carried out at the airport after agencies were informed of a post on a social media website, which said that the writer planned to "bomb and eliminate" the facility. Kolkata, Jan 2 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled for a single-day visit to West Bengal this month during which he will attend two political rallies. State BJP sources said that the Union Minister is slated to reach Kolkata either on January 17 morning or the night before. On January 17, he is slated to attend the two rallies, the first at Arambagh in Hooghly district and the second at Mathurapur in South 24 Parganas. Political observers feel that Shah coming to West Bengal in two consecutive months confirms how seriously the central leadership of BJP is taking the panchayat elections in the state this year as a preparatory exercise for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On December 17, 2022, Shah was in Kolkata to attend the Eastern Zonal Council meeting at the West Bengal state secretariat of Nabanna. Shah aad arrived in Kolkata on the night of December 16 shortly after which he attended a meeting with the top leadership of state BJP at the party's state headquarters. In the meeting, he reportedly cautioned the state leaders about the slow resurgence of the Left's popularity in West Bengal during the last one year. "However, this time his tour is purely political in nature and that is why Hooghly and South 24 Parganas have been chosen as the districts where he will hold rallies, considering that our organisational network is still weak in these two districts," said a state committee leader of BJP. He also said that besides Shah, the state leadership of the party is also keen on bringing the party's national president, J.P. Nadda to the state and address some rallies here. "Last month when the Union Home Minister had a meeting with us, he said that he will come to the state often. The state leadership also apprised him of the ongoing tension and violence going on in the state," he added. New Delhi, Jan 2 : After the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the demonetisation exercise of the government, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the dissent part of the judgement points out irregularities. Chidambaram in a statement said, "Once the Hon'ble Supreme Court has declared the law, we are obliged to accept it. However, it is necessary to point out that the majority has not upheld the wisdom of the decision; nor has the majority concluded that the stated objectives were achieved. In fact, the majority has steered clear of the question whether the objectives were achieved at all." "We are happy that the minority judgement has pointed out the illegality and the irregularities in the Demonetisation. It may be only a slap on the wrist of the government, but a welcome slap on the wrist," he added. He said the dissenting judgement "will rank among the famous dissents recorded in the history of the Hon'ble Supreme Court". The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the Central government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S.A. Nazeer and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, V. Ramasubramanian, and B.V. Nagarathna pronounced the judgment on a clutch of petitions challenging the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations. Pronouncing the majority judgment, Justice Gavai said that the decision-making process cannot be faulted merely because the proposal emanated from the Central government. The bench said there has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy and the court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive with its wisdom. Justice Nagarathna differed from the majority view, and delivered a dissenting judgment. -IANS miz/dpb Saudi Arabia, Jan 2 : It was certainly a good day for the riders of the Monster Energy Honda Team! Special stage number one at the Dakar Rally 2023 brought 369 km of action throughout sandy and stony tracks, with start point and arrival at the Sea Camp bivouac -- close to Yanbu (South Arabia). American Ricky Brabec was the stage winner on a day where all team riders were in the spotlight. With this result, Brabec -- the 2020 Dakar winner -- gets into first position in the overall standings. Pablo Quintanilla (Chile) was seventh, Adrien Van Beveren (France) was ranked ninth and Jose Ignacio Cornejo - who had the hard mission to open the stage - finished in 10th place in this first stage. On Tuesday the second stage from this year's Dakar Rally will leave the Sea Camp in the direction of Al-Ula. This special stage will have 430 kilometers of closed tracks demanding great handling skills, so riders will get mainly dirt tracks (59%), stones (26%) and just a little taste of sand (14% sand tracks and one percent of dunes). Besides this competitive section, there is also another 159 kilometers of liaison. Navigation will be key as participants reach the splendid canyons and beautiful landscapes near the finish. According to the ASO organisation, the stage will be decided on the dunes, with some of the majestic Nabataean temples visible on the landscape. Ruben Faria, General Manager, said, "I know we are just starting, but I have to say I feel really proud of our team. All riders performed incredibly well and the results are there. All the team is feeling good and are doing the right steps. We have been here before and will continue to fight for consistency in the days to come. Ricky Brabec said, "Goal number one was not to open the stage. I feel quite well and confident after today, but I will just try to go day by day, keep pace and stay in the Top 10. It's going to be hard to be out of the lead - like we saw today - but we have to see how it goes until the rest day. Today was fairly simple, no stress, it was a great day!" Ahmedabad, Jan 2 : Three members of a family died in a fire on Monday that broke out on the first floor of a house in Ahmedabad, police said, adding that a probe is underway. Ahmedabad's Divisional Fire Officer Om Jadeja told IANS that the fire control had received a call at around 5 a.m. about a fire in the house in New H Colony. "Uur team rescued three persons and were rushed to the nearest hospital, where they were declared dead," he said. The deceased are identified as Jayesh Vaghela (40), his wife Hansa (35) and their son Rehan (8). The officer said that on reaching the accident site, two teams were formed, one was dousing the blaze and the other started rescue. In the bedroom on the first flood, they found three persons in unconscious condition and rushed them the hospital. According to Jadeja, the possibility of the fire erupting due to a short circuit was low as the blaze was limited to the bedroom and did not spread. He said the fire might have started from a heater that the family was using which came in contact with a highly inflammable product like hand sanitiser. The officer also said that it may be a case of suicide, which will be established only by a forensic probe. Chennai, Jan 2 : The opposition AIADMK, which is heading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, has settled the issues with the state BJP and has commenced focusing to highlight the flaws of the ruling DMK government. The BJP and AIADMK were in a war of words in the state after the AIADMK leader and former minister, CVe Shanmughan in a public programme has said in a public programme that the DMK would forgo all its present allies and enter into a political alliance with the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections. This evoked a sharp response from the Tamil Nadu BJP and many leaders took to social media handles against this statement from the AIADMK leader. However, in another public programme, AIADMK interim general secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the AIADMK and BJP alliance was intact and that there should not be any public opinion from the AIADMK leaders or cadres against the BJP. The BJP also directed its leaders and cadres not to attack the AIADMK leaders in public or through social media platforms. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls approaching, the AIADMK has now commenced focusing on the flaws of the DMK government in the state and the failure to keep its promises. AIADMK leader and former minister Sellur K. Raju in a public programme on Sunday said that if the DMK government of Stalin had kept its promise, the women in the state would have been richer by Rs 22,000. He was rebuking the promise made by the DMK before the 2021 Assembly elections that if the party was elected to power it would provide Rs 1,000 per month to women voters. The DMK came to power in May 2021 and if the promise was kept each woman would have gotten Rs 22,000 taking into consideration Rs 1,000 per month for the past 22 months. The former minister also said that except for the Rs 1,000 as Pongal gifts, the DMK government has not been able to provide anything to the people of the state. AIADMK also is highlighting the fact that even sugarcane was included in the Pongal gift hamper after the party had taken a strong stand for the sugarcane farmers. The AIADMK interim general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) said that the DMK government was bent on destroying the Pongal gift scheme envisaged and executed by the legend of Tamil Nadu politics, former Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). The AIADMK leader has also demanded Rs 5,000 as the Pongal gift amount and said that when the DMK was in opposition, it had promised that the Pongal gift money would be enhanced to Rs 5,000 if the party gets power. According to sources in the AIADMK, the party would be highlighting the issues of the flaws of the DMK government, including unkept promises across the state. The party is also planning a door-to-door campaign against the DMK government as part of its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Chennai, Jan 2 : The year 2022 has been one of the best years for the Indian general insurance industry. As per the trends, the industry is expected to double its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 10.2 per cent by the end of 2022 from its slowest growth of the decade at five per cent from 2021, said a top official of Shriram General Insurance Company Ltd. He also said that with the new regulations ushered in, there will be more players entering the field and may result in mergers and acquisitions. The Rs 1,756 crore gross premium Shriram General is a joint venture between Shriram Capital Ltd., the holding company for the financial services business of the Shriram Group, and Sanlam Limited, a leading pan-African Financial Services Group with headquarters in South Africa. "We have sourced Rs 1,400 crore in the current FY 22-23 till November 2022. The FY-22-23 has been another wonderful year for Shriram General Insurance as we are growing by approximately 26 per cent this year," Anil Kumar Aggarwal, Managing Director & CEO, told IANS in an interview. Excerpts are as below: IANS: Looking back at 2022 for the general insurance sector, your views? Aggarwal: India's insurance industry is witnessing tremendous growth due to growing income, increasing awareness, and the new technological developments happening in the industry. The year 2022 has been one of the best years for the general insurance industry. As per the trends, India's general insurance industry is expected to double its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 10.2 per cent by the end of 2022 from its slowest growth of the decade at 5 per cent from 2021. IANS: What were the high and low points for the sector and also for your company during 2022? Aggarwal: Our company is growing by approximately 26 per cent this year. As on 31st March 2022, the Company holds an industry-leading solvency margin ratio of 4.62. As of March 31, 2022, Shriram General Insurance is amongst the most profitable insurers having returned 8X of the capital invested in dividends to the promoters. IANS: How has Covid-19 impacted the sector and your company? Aggarwal: Covid-19 has taken over the whole world by storm and affected human life like never before. The pandemic has influenced every sector including the health, automobile, and eventually the motor insurance industry. The auto industry was impacted badly and faced the worst time which ultimately affected the motor insurance industry in several ways. As much as 95 per cent of our company's revenue comes from the auto sector and sales of automotive vehicles were disrupted during this time. The Indian insurance industry has seen several changes in consumer behaviour and attitude towards insurance during that period. Post Covid-19, customers are expecting improved digital experience from insurers. Unlike the pre-Covid times when people preferred physical applications, the insurers are opting for e-policies now. There is a rise in demand for health insurance, propelled by covid as they see this as a fundamental protection tool from any mishaps. Also, there is a growing demand among the millennials for cyber insurance. Insurtechs are also playing an important role in the increase of demand for commercial insurance. Post pandemic the insurance industry has redefined its working standards to cope with the current market situation. Motor insurance premium is showing an increasing trend after the pandemic and industry is expecting a growth of around 10 to 15 per cent. IANS: What are the major regulatory measures taken during 2022? What will be their impact on the industry and your company? Aggarwal: The recent measures announced by the IRDAI have the potential to fasten the new business growth for companies and deepen the insurance penetration in India The IRDAI's decisions this year to increase the maximum number of tie-up limits for corporate agents and insurance marketing firms has created a positive wave aiming at the overall sectoral growth. This has laid a smooth path for insurance companies, corporate agents and insurance marketing firms and provides the choices to policyholders. It will encourage more tie-ups in the industry and insurers along with corporate agents and insurance marketing firms can have a mutual integration to standardise the policies and conceptualise customer-centric strategies. A framework like Regulatory Sandbox/Use and File will also provide us the space to test our innovative products in a controlled manner. The increased experimentation period from six months to 36 months will help us in improving test results. IANS: What was the industry trend you noticed during 2022? How did your company respond to that? Aggarwal: The insurance industry is witnessing several changes in consumer behaviour and demands and they are expecting better digital experience from insurers. The InsureTechs are leveraging technologies such as the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the processes in the insurance world which is creating a big change. The environment is becoming dynamic and we are strengthening our IT capabilities to keep abreast with the new changes and maintain the data sanctity by implementing a strong and healthy framework for data security and privacy. The recently approved one-stop solution Bima Sugam platform will provide unbiased comparisons to customers and will likely change the insurance buying patterns in the coming future. It will be a big game changer for the end user and companies will also get the advantage. Post-pandemic the insurance industry is completely redefining its working standards in order to cope with the current market situation. Shriram General Insurance is leading the technological wagon by completely revamping the website insurance journey for private car and two-wheeler insurance. With this update buying two-wheeler and private car insurance online is possible within three minutes. New journeys are equipped with advanced API's that enable customers to buy insurance by entering their vehicle registration number, verifying the prefilled values filled by advance integrations, making payment and downloading the policy document instantly. The user journey form while purchasing a bike/car insurance policy from our website now has an intuitive user interface providing a state of the art customer experience. IANS: What is your take on the mergers and acquisitions in the sector in 2022 and 2023? Aggarwal:India's insurance landscape is huge and there are tremendous opportunities and volume for insurers to co-exist in the space. Early this year the US based KKR, a leading global investment firm acquired a 9.9 per cent stake in Shriram General Insurance for around Rs 1,800 crore. This will position Shriram General Insurance for continued growth in India's fast-growing general insurance industry. Insurance penetration in India is increasing and the sector has significant potential for development. As we know that 2022 brought certain game-changing regulations and proposals in this sector, the new environment will invite more and more companies to enter the sector and more mergers and acquisitions may take place in the industry in the coming future. IANS: Looking forward to the next fiscal, how do you expect FY 2023-24 to pan out? The business is expanding both digitally and physically. This phygital approach will decide future growth. In FY23, we are looking at an aggressive growth for Shriram General Insurance standalone of 25 per cent to 28 per cent. To attain this growth our main focus is to have a major expansion in our manpower portfolio for which we have already recruited 700-plus employees and intend to recruit 300 more by March 2023. We have also opened 30 plus new branches and intend to open 20 more by year-end, taking the employee count to 3,460 from 2,766. We are in the process of rolling out an aggressive campaign in developing the non-motor business by creating a connect in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment. We are driving this initiative by providing value added services to our clients like the Risk management services. As we are operating in challenging and disruptive market conditions, our team is actively planning and implementing new verticals by expanding our business. EV is the most targeted vertical for everyone these days andwe are actively expanding our business by focusing the EV vertical on a larger scale from almost zero base to Rs 32 crore in the first half. We have strengthened our retail broking vertical keeping abreast with the market trends. The year 2022 could be said as a watershed year. The IRDAI has revamped many regulations and the Central government has proposed to amend the two insurance laws in a major way. Your views on the proposed amendments to the insurance laws. The year 2022 has undoubtedly been a year of drastic changes in the insurance industry. The Indian government has proposed changes to the two insurance laws - Insurance Act 1938 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. It proposes to eliminate the provision of the Insurance Act that mentions the minimum capital of Rs 100 crore for life, general, and health insurance companies and Rs 200 crore for reinsurance businesses. The removal of the minimum capital requirement will invite a lot of micro and regional insurers to make entry into the insurance sector. Another proposal is to provide a composite license to the insurers that will allow life insurance companies to sell non-life products and vice versa. It will help companies to sell a combination of products catering to the customers' needs and innovating new products. The challenge here is combining the different skill sets required to handle entirely different portfolios. The government has also proposed that insurers should be allowed to sell other financial products which should be looked upon as an opportunity for the insurance agents to become a single point of connection for the customers seeking financial products as well as a measure securing them from unforeseen risks. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Ahmedabad, Jan 2 : Police in Ahmedabad have arrested a woman who killed her three-month-old baby girl by throwing the infant from the third floor of a hospital. According to the complaint lodged by Asifmiya Shaikh, his wife Farzanabanu gave birth on October 5, 2022, at a hospital in Uttarsanda of Anand district. On Sunday morning, Farzanbanu informed her husband that the baby had gone missing. Shaikh along with staff of the hospital searched for the baby and even informed the police. While checking the CCTV footage of the hospital corridors, at around 4 a.m. Farzanabanu can be seen coming out of the ward with the baby in his arms, she stands near a pillar for a while, later she returns to the ward empty handed, Asifmiya said in the complaint. During police interrogation, the accused said that she was fed up of the infant's illness and pain which led her to take the drastic step. When the hospital security staff checked, they found the body of the baby. Post birth, the baby was admitted to Vadodara government hospital for 15 days, then on December 14, the family noticed intestine enlargement when it surfaced on the stomach and on Nadiad doctor's recommendation, the infant was admitted at the government hospital in Ahmedabad. Police Inspector K.D. Jadeja said the complainant is also being questioned. New Delhi, Jan 2 : IPO-bound car search platform CarDekho Group on Monday said it registered 81 per cent growth in consolidated revenue from operations, increasing to Rs 1,598 crore in FY22 from Rs 884 crore in 2021. A $1.2 billion unicorn, the company said it narrowed its losses by 28 per cent, to Rs 246 crore in FY22 from Rs 341 crore in FY21. The company informed that it has Rs 1,000 crore in net cash and has a clear path to achieve profitability by FY24. "The stellar business growth is a testament to the trust reposed in CarDekho Group by over 50 million visitors, over 5,000 used car loan agent partners, more than 50,000 insurance partners in over 1,300 cities and more than 3,500 used car dealers as at March 2022," said Amit Jain, Co-founder and CEO, CarDekho Group. The group has multiple brands such as CarDekho, BikeDekho, InsuranceDekho, Rupyy and Zigwheels, etc. "We are confident that our homegrown insuretech and fintech solutions, InsuranceDekho and Rupyy, will remain strong growth engines contributing to a significant profit pool," Jain added. In November last year, CarDekho said it aims to infuse $100 million in its fintech entity called Rupyy in a mix of debt and equity. To date, the group has helped issue 16 lakh insurance policies and facilitated disbursal of over 1 lakh auto loans in FY22. The company added that its current international operations, spread across Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, is gaining significant traction "The group continues to focus on driving profitable growth coming from the benefits of operating leverage, continuous focus on improving unit economics across all our business lines and implementing technology-led innovations across the platforms," said Mayank Gupta, Group Chief Financial Officer. On the IPO plans, Gupta said that public listing will be one of the key milestones in the company's journey. "We are definitely evaluating it subject to requisite approvals and conducive market conditions," said Gupta. New Delhi, Jan 2 : There is no escaping outdoor pollution. Especially for people living in a country that has been repeatedly ranked as one of the most polluted in the world in recent years. Not only during winters and the infamous smog in its metro cities, through all seasons, and in fact right through the year and in most parts of the country, people are continuously and directly exposed to some of the most harmful air pollutants present in the environment. As a result and it is no surprise that people are perpetually susceptible to a range of airway conditions including asthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis. However, people don't need to continue to suffer. At a time when state-of-the-art smart technologies are turning out smart healthcare products on a regular basis, there are devices to be picked out and choices to be made. Airway diseases affect the tubes While each airway disease is different in nature, implications, and the treatment regimen required for it, they all have some common symptoms. However, most notably, they typically involve and affect the tubes or airways that carry oxygen and other gases into and out of the lungs.(1) These diseases usually occur as a result of the narrowing or obstructing of the airways which in turn leads to airflow limitation, airway inflammation, and even hyperresponsiveness of the airways.(2) Pollution causes as well as aggravates airway diseases There is enough research available to show that air pollution doesn't only induce the onset but also exacerbates airway diseases which may lead to an increase in respiratory morbidity and in some cases even respiratory mortality. Air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and ozone along with biological pathogens such as viruses and bacteria can enter the airway and through it reach the bloodstream posing a mortal threat to the life of the person. So, while air pollution has been known to induce the onset of asthma, it aggravates the conditions of COPD and bronchiectasis patients.(3) The enormous burden of airway diseases According to an estimate by Lancet, India has over 9 crore people who suffer from obstructive airway diseases today.(4) According to another survey, of the total global disability-adjusted life years or DALYs due to chronic respiratory diseases in 2016, a whopping 32% had occurred in India.(5) In another disturbing statistic, while India has 12% of the global asthma burden, a shockingly disproportionate 42% of asthma deaths in the world occur in the country.(6) Modern smart devices ward off and contain the airway diseases Keeping in mind the inevitability of the pollution that we all have to face particularly in terms of obstructing airways and the resultant conditions, there are sophisticated devices available today that address issues directly related to the airways. For instance, there is a first-of-its-kind vitalizer device, essentially a processor that employs a patent-protected process - replicating the natural principle of photosynthesis - and transforms the low-energy and polluted ambient atmosphere into clean, high-energy breathing air. The device releases air which is highly charged with oxygen molecules in its simplest and highly reactive ionic form something which our body is able to absorb in no time. With just 20-30 minutes of a breathing session, not only does the blockage of airways gets resolved instantly, the body gets replenished with a fresh and ample amount of oxygen or energy. Furthermore, given the connection between obstruction or clearing of air passage and the strength of our respiratory muscles, there is another smart respiratory muscle training device that seeks to strengthen our respiratory muscles. Similar to how we train the regular upper and lower limb muscles in the gym, the device using resistance wheels exposes the diaphragm and other breathing muscles to adjustable but restricted airflow which effectively gives resistance training to the breathing muscles and thereby strengthens them. Then there is a range of other devices fixing airway issues including endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) devices to High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) and Oral High-Frequency Oscillation (OHFO) devices to Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation (IPV) devices. Given the connection between airway disorders and cardio-pulmonary conditions, there is a device that even helps with the constant monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias, an extremely dangerous heart condition. Therefore, if we can't avoid pollution, we can definitely alleviate its ill effects. And since most of these devices are 'smart' and networked offering personalized assistance, we could become smart users! (1) https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000066.htm (2) https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/28/2/264 (30 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740163/; https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/1/1702557 (4) https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/spreading-awareness-is-essential-to-curb-the-increasing-incidence-of-obstructive-airway-disease-oad-in-india-experts/87916438 (5) https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(18)30409-1/fulltext (6) https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/spreading-awareness-is-essential-to-curb-the-increasing-incidence-of-obstructive-airway-disease-oad-in-india-experts/87916438 (Pankaj Balwani is the Founder & CEO of Xplore Lifestyle) (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Islamabad, Jan 2 : Reacting to Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's statement about targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistn (TTP) hideouts inside Afghanistan, the Taliban government in Kabul said that it would not allow anyone to attack the Islamic Emirate. The Minister, in an interview with a Pakistani news channel, had said Islamabad may target the TTP in Afghanistan if Kabul does not take action to dismantle them, Geo News reported. "When these problems arise, we first ask Afghanistan, our Islamic brother nation, to eliminate these hideouts and handover these individuals to us, but if that doesn't happen, what you mentioned is possible," Sanaullah had said. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorism incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, during the past couple of months after the TTP announced to end ceasefire with Pakistan. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto had also hinted at direct action against militants if the Afghan government fails to rein in TTP. Responding to Sanaullah, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said, they would not allow anyone to attack Afghanistan, Geo News reported The spokesperson stated that Afghanistan wants to have good relations with Pakistan and that its officials should use caution when speaking. "No country has the right to attack another nation's territory. There is no legislation in the world that permits such a transgression. If anyone has any worries, they should share them with the Islamic Emirate since it has sufficient forces and can take action," Mujahid added Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Taliban's Ministry of Defence said that the remarks of the Pakistani official are baseless and provocative and that any problem or dispute should be resolved through dialogue, Geo News reported. According to the statistics released by an Islamabad-based independent think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the number of militant attacks increased by 44 per cent in December 2022 compared to the previous month. In December, the militants carried out 49 attacks in which 56 people were killed including 32 security forces personnel and 17 civilians. In these attacks, 81 people also got injured including 31 security forces personnel and 50 civilians. The report added that December saw the highest number of militant attacks in a single month in 2022. Islamabad, Jan 2 : Responding to Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's statement about the possibilities of a military operation to target the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistn (TTP) hideouts inside Afghanistan, the Taliban government in Kabul said that it would not allow anyone to attack the Islamic Emirate and give a befitting response if any such misadventure is considered by Islamabad. The Taliban has advised Pakistan to refrain from such statements and instead share its concerns with Kabul. In a statement, the Defence Ministry in Kabul said that "claims by Pakistan's Interior Minister that there are hideouts of TTP inside Afghanistan are false and provocative". "In the past, such provocative statements and claims have damaged the relationship between the two countries. We call on Pakistan to share its concerns with the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA) and resolve the matter through dialogue," read the statement issued by the IEA's interim Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoub. "Afghanistan is not ownerless or without any heirs and like always, is ready to defend its country and the territorial security and its freedom" "Any attempt of aggression perpetrated towards Afghanistan will be responded to befittingly. We are well prepared to respond to any offensive," the statement added. The Minister, in an interview with a Pakistani news channel, had said Islamabad may target the TTP in Afghanistan if Kabul does not take action to dismantle them. "When these problems arise, we first ask Afghanistan, our Islamic brother nation, to eliminate these hideouts and handover these individuals to us, but if that doesn't happen, what you mentioned is possible," Sanaullah had said. The statement of Afghanistan is also important because it also comes at a time when Pakistan's top civil and military brass are joining heads for the second round of the all important National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Monday, where final approvals for a fresh military offensive will be undertaken to tackle the fast spreading wave of terror. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorism incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as well as the border areas of the two nations, during the past couple of months after the TTP announced to end ceasefire with Pakistan. Targeted killings, attacks, improvised blasts and suicide attacks have been carried against security personnel and military installations. Terror groups including the TTP, IS-K, IS and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have claimed these attacks. Pakistan alleges that terror elements operating inside its territory are getting facilitations and support from inside Afghanistan and using the porous border to carry out attacks and for terrorist infiltration into the countryn. Also responding to Sanaullah's remark, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said they would not allow anyone to attack Afghanistan. The spokesperson stated that Afghanistan wants to have good relations with Pakistan and that its officials should use caution when speaking. "No country has the right to attack another nation's territory. There is no legislation in the world that permits such a transgression. If anyone has any worries, they should share them with the Islamic Emirate since it has sufficient forces and can take action," Mujahid added. According to the statistics released by an Islamabad-based independent think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the number of militant attacks increased by 44 per cent in December 2022 compared to the previous month. In December, the militants carried out 49 attacks in which 56 people were killed including 32 security forces personnel and 17 civilians. In these attacks, 81 people also got injured including 31 security forces personnel and 50 civilians. The report added that December saw the highest number of militant attacks in a single month in 2022. San Francisco, Jan 2 : Meta is reportedly preparing to announce whether it will allow former US President Donald Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram. The company had previously said it will decide whether to allow the former president to return by January 7. However, that decision is now expected to be announced later in the month, reports the Financial Times, citing sources. The company has established a working group to focus on the matter that will include staff from the public policy and communications teams, as well as the content policy team and security and key information, chaired by Monica Bickert, head of global policy management at Facebook, and the safety and integrity teams led by the Chief Information Security Officer Guy Rosen, said the report. This comes after Twitter Boss Elon Musk revoked a permanent ban on Trump in November last year on the social media platform. In 2021, Facebook (now Meta) suspended Trump's accounts for two years, the maximum penalty under a newly revealed set of rules for suspending public figures, from its former indefinite ban set on January 7. "We are today announcing new enforcement protocols to be applied in exceptional cases such as this, and we are confirming the time-bound penalty consistent with those protocols which we are applying to Mr Trump's accounts... We believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols," Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Facebook, said in an announcement. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : Karnataka police have nabbed an IIT-Kharagpur dropout for attempting to purchase a Point of Sales (POS) machine in the name of a restaurant, fraudulently to siphon off money, police said on Monday. The accused is identified as 34-year-old Navneet Pandey from Uttar Pradesh. The police recovered 110 debit cards, 110 credit cards, three laptops, six cell phones, fake seals, cheque books and passbooks of different banks from the residence of the accused. According to police, the accused stayed at Banashankari Second Stage in Bengaluru. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the accused made an attempt at cybercrimes. Police explain that he collected debit cards and credits from persons known to him and made an attempt to purchase a POS machine claiming himself as the owner of Kidambis Kitchen Restaurant of Banashankari. The fraud came to light after the bank staffer went to inspect the restaurant before issuing the POS machine. The owner of the restaurant K.A. Vivek filed a police complaint in this regard. Subsequently, Navneet was arrested from his flat by the Banashankari police. The cops are ascertaining the intention behind financial fraud by the accused. Investigation is on. Raipur, Jan 2 : After the completion of four years in governance, the Bhupesh Baghel-led government in Chhattisgarh has established itself as an innovative government. Baghel faced several problems during this period, but his biggest objection has been against the neglecting attitude of the Central government towards the state. In an email interview with IANS, Baghel talked about the changing picture of the state and the Centre's attitude. IANS: You have completed four years of your term as the Chief Minister. What have been your government's major achievements so far and what remains to be done? What do you plan to work on this year? Baghel: The neglected Chhattisgarhi culture has been re-established, respect for our forefathers has increased. We have promoted Teej festivals and our culture, and have been fulfilling every promise made to the people. Farmers' debt waiver, irrigation tax waiver, fair price to farmers' produce through Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, half electricity bill, purchase of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at sustainable price, value addition of MFP. Our government has been providing financial assistance through Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhumihin Majdur Nyay Yojana and protection of cattle through Godhan Nyay Yojana. Rural Industrial Park scheme (RIPA) has been initiated in the state to develop Gothans as Rural Industrial parks. Our government realised the importance of Gram Swaraj (village self-governance), advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. The villagers' increasing trust in the government is our biggest achievement. IANS: Unemployment is a rising concern in the country, how has Chhattisgarh been successful in containing it? Baghel: It is a major challenge for any government to strengthen employment and the economy. I observed that the villagers were shifting to using products made in the city and were moving away from traditional agricultural and forest products, which led to a decrease in their employment and a weaker village economy. We took the initiative to create proper markets for the rural products, to strengthen the rural economy. As a result of the government's decision to speed up industrial development, 2,307 new industries were established in the state in about four years, with an investment of more than Rs 22,081 crore and employment of 40,906 people. Rs 423 crore fixed capital investment subsidy and Rs 141 crore interest subsidy have been provided to industrial units in four years. The Chief Minister Employment Generation Scheme (CMEGP) is available for the unemployed youth in the state for setting up their own business or industry, wherein money margin grant is given for financial assistance. 486 units based on agriculture and food processing have been established in the state, with a capital investment of Rs 931 crore. It is the result of the efforts made by our government that except for October, 2022, the unemployment rate has been recorded as 0.1 per cent since September, 2022. IANS: How did the idea of purchasing cow dung and Godhan scheme get materialised? How have the farmers benefitted from it? Baghel: Stray cattle have always posed a problem for the country. We observed that people kept milch cows at their homes and fed them, but left old cattle out in the open, which led to many problems. To ensure accommodation and food for the old cattle, we decided to buy the cow dung which would lead people to care for them as well. Our idea worked, we now buy cow dung at Rs 2 per kg and cow urine at Rs 2 per litre. IANS: The prevalent Maoist problem has affected the state's development, what has been your strategy to prevent youth from becoming a part of the problem? Baghel: We have been moving forward on the policy of trust, development and security in the affected areas. Our government has won the trust of the people through its policies and work. It is the result of such positive efforts that the schools destroyed by Maoists were started again after years. Several initiatives were taken to connect youth with employment in the Maoist affected areas, like Bastar. IANS: What are the challenges that will arise in implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS)? Baghel: Unfortunately, by the implementation of New Pension Scheme, lakhs of officers and employees were thrown into an uncertain future, amidst the turbulence in the market. Our government, on the other hand, decided to provide a secure future to the officers and employees and implemented the OPS for the same, which was welcomed by the people. After its restoration, the officers and employees will get fixed pensions after retirement. We have been continuously demanding the Centre to return the money deposited by the employees in NPS, but have not received any positive response. IANS: Is the state government getting the kind of cooperation that it expects from the Centre? If not, how has it impacted the state? Baghel: Chhattisgarh is being continuously neglected by the Central Government since the last four years. We promised farmers that paddy would be bought for Rs 2500, which was halted by the Centre. The provision of gunny bags at the time of paddy procurement was also neglected. The state is yet to receive crores of rupees from the Centre, including Rs 17,240 crore in contributory pension, Rs 1,875 crore in GST compensation, Rs 4,140 crore in coal royalty, Rs 1,288 crore in the state's adjusted expenditure on Central forces, Rs 313 crore in the state's expenditure on four special India Reserves deployed in the state. Rs 249 crore under the Government of India's reimbursement of Security related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme and Rs 906.43 crore for paddy transportation for custom milling have not been received. IANS: How many districts have you reached with your 'Bhent-Mulaqat Abhiyan'? What problems and changes have come to the light? Baghel: It is usually revealed that the government's plans are not implemented at the ground level, which is why I have started the campaign to get a clear idea of the implementation of the government schemes. During the campaign from May 4, 2022, we visited all districts of Surguja and Bastar division, along with Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur. I met people of more than 50 Assembly constituencies in 25 districts of the state, wherein efforts to know about the ground reality were made by establishing direct dialogue. IANS: Rajasthan announced to provide gas cylinders at Rs 500 from April, is your government also considering such kind of concession? Baghel: Our government has been providing direct help to people from all sections of the society since the very beginning. I started fulfilling the promises made by our government, soon after assuming power. The compensation for agricultural land has been quadrupled. Rs 25,000 is provided for the marriage of girls belonging to poor families. Scholarships, along with free education is made available to the children whose parents died in the pandemic. We have been running several schemes for the welfare of labour. Our government will never back down from helping the weaker sections of the society. IANS: Along with the news of controversy in the state Congress, discussions of destabilising the government have also been heard, is BJP preparing for horse-trading in the state? Baghel: Attempts to destabilise the elected governments have been seen in many states. I hope that people's trust and support remains with us in the coming days as well, like earlier. IANS: Will Congress benefit politically from Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra? Baghel: People have been participating in the Yatra voluntarily, which is a sign of success. The opposition comes up with new excuses to stop the Yatra. IANS: How are the actions taken by the Income Tax and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)impacting your image and how will they affect you politically? Baghel: These are just attempts to intimidate the state government, but we are in a strong position and the people have faith in us. Our schemes continue to be appreciated at the national level. Chhattisgarh is one of the states with the lowest unemployment rate. The Central agencies fail to see the scams of the previous governments in the state, which is why I say that there is politics behind their actions. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Family members and supporters protested outside the Sultanpuri Police station on Monday following the tragic death of a 20-year-old woman, who was dragged for a few kilometres by a car. The incident happened on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The family members of the woman, who used to work as an event planner for weddings, suspect foul play in the incident. The family members said that she had left home around 6.30 p.m. on December 31 and her phone was found to be switched off around 10 p.m. "I had a conversation with her at around 9 p.m., she said she will return around 3-4 a.m. We were informed by the police in the morning about her accident. I was taken to the police station and was made to wait," said the deceased's mother. Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Monday also asked police to clarify if the woman was sexually harassed and if the accused had a criminal history. The woman died a painful death after her scooty met with an accident and her clothes got entangled in the wheel of a car due to which she was dragged for a few kilometers in Outer Delhi's Sultanpuri area. The woman's clothes were torn in the incident, and later her naked body was found by the police. The police said that they have arrested five persons, who were in the car. They were identified as Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mitthu and Manoj Mittal. A five-member team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Rohini will examine the spot where the body of the woman was found and also the offending vehicle. According to a senior police official, the forensic experts have also been involved to examine the scene of crime, vehicles involved and collect all the relevant physical, biological and other evidence which will ensure successful prosecution. Chennai, Jan 2 : A Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight was grounded in Coimbatore on Monday after two eagles hit the left engine of the aircraft just before take off. The flight was taxing through the runway when the birds hit the engine. All 164 passengers were alighted from the plane and of the two eagles, one died after hitting the engine blade. On an average, there are three bird hits on aircraft taking off from Coimbatore but this is for the first time that all the passengers were alighted from the aircraft to check the damages inflicted to the plane in the last seven years. Addressing the media, Coimbatore Airport director, S. Senthil Valavan said that to control bird hits, control measures were being taken including the use of bird care guns, employing bird chasers, and also using herbicides to control plant growth. The height of the grass is maintained at a minimal level as birds generally use it as a breeding ground. Sources in the Coimbatore Airport told IANS that dumping waste near the airport has been strictly banned as birds usually reach dumping sites. Coimbatore airport authorities are planning to implement more bird control measures and research institutions have been deployed to study the menace. Toronto, Jan 2 : A community vigil was held in Canada for a 22-year-old Indian cyclist from Hyderabad who died last month after his bike collided with a snowplow. Javed Musharraf's bike collided with a front-end loader clearing snow on December 15, 2022 near Mission Street and Plinguet Street at St Boniface in the city of Winnipeg, police said. Musharraf, a student of automotive technology at Red River College Polytechnic, came to Winnipeg about two years ago. He was a "really kind, really supportive guy", Abdul Ahad, who attended the vigil at the University of Manitoba, told CBC News. Ahad added that none of Musharraf's family members were able to attend his funeral at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque. "We pray that he's in a better place," he told the channel. Police had said two off-duty officers came across the collision and gave Musharraf emergency aid until paramedics arrived and announced him dead on the spot. No charges have been announced against the driver so far. In November last year, 20 year-old Kartik Saini from Haryana was hit and dragged by a pickup truck while he was crossing a pedestrian crosswalk on a cycle in Toronto. Hyderabad, Jan 2 : Telangana Congress president A. Revanth Reddy was arrested by the police here on Monday as he was heading for a planned protest over the problems faced by sarpanches and lack of funds for panchayats. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president, who was under house arrest since morning, tried to leave but was stopped by the police. He questioned the action by the police officers and had an argument with them. As Revanth Reddy tried to proceed towards Indira Park, he was arrested and shifted to the Bolarum police station. Congress workers staged a protest at the police station demanding his immediate release. Reddy slammed the action of the state government in denying permission for the dharna under the aegis of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan. He said the government was indifferent to suicides by sarpanches. TPCC vice-president Mallu Ravi, Jeevan Reddy and other leaders were either placed under house arrest or were arrested while proceeding to Hyderabad. Tension also prevailed at Gandhi Bhavan, the TPCC headquarters, as Congress leaders were stopped by the police by locking the gates. Some leaders and workers tried to leave the premises by climbing the gate. Police used force to push them inside. Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy has called for statewide protests against what he calls undemocratic attitude of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. He asked the party cadres to organise protests in district and mandal headquarters. "The police storming into our houses like KCR's private army and lifting is a proof of the rowdy state in Telangana which we have fought for with a lot of aspirations," said the TPCC chief. Police personnel were deployed outside his residence in Jubilee Hills since morning to prevent him from leaving for Indira Park for leading the dharna as police had denied permission for the same. Revanth Reddy took to Twitter to slam Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and said: "CM doesn't come out of Pragati Bhavan nor common man has access to it. If we question,we face cases & house arrests. Police surrounded my house & all important leaders to prevent from a dharna against the plight of Sarpanchs in the state. Democracy, where are you!?" The Congress has already announced that it would go ahead with the dharna despite denial of permission by the police. Earlier, Mallu Ravi decried the decision of police not to give permission for the dharna. He said this was shocking as the party had not sought permission for rasta roko or laying siege to the Assembly. "We wanted to hold a peaceful dharna at a designated place," he said and pointed out that Dharna Chowk at Indira Park was established for the very purpose of democratic protests by people. The Congress leader alleged that the state government is denying funds to panchayats and this is affecting the development of villages. He had appealed to sarpanches across the state to converge at the dharna site to express their resentment against the government's callous attitude in providing funds meant for villages. The Congress party said it had been protesting to highlight the problems in 12,750 panchayats of Telangana and the unfair treatment to elected sarpanches. Sarpanches, who mostly owe allegiance to ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have been expressing concern over not receiving government funds for a year. Dozens of them have come forward to submit their resignations. Udupi, : Jan 2 (IANS) Fifteen students and three teachers were injured after a private bus, in which they were travelling for a tour programme, turned turtle in Nalluru village near Karkala town in Udupi district of Karnataka on Monday According to police, the students of Basaveshwara High School in Kottur of Vijayanagara district were travelling in the bus for the tour programme. Among the 15 injured, the condition of two students is serious. Three teachers have also suffered major injuries. The bus had overturned on the Dharmasthala-Karkala state highway. The trip was organised in a private bus. The police are investigating what is the exact cause for the toppling of the bus. Karkala Rural police are investigating the case. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident. Brisbane, Jan 2 : Four people were killed and three others are currently in critical condition after two helicopters on Monday collided at the Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland, authorities have confirmed. "At about 2 p.m. today, police and emergency services were called to a two-helicopter midair collision just opposite Sea World in the Broadwater. Those two aircraft then collided, have crashed and landed on the sandbank just out from Sea World resort," Queensland Police South Eastern Regional Duty Officer Gary Worrell told reporters. According to the office, one airframe had its windscreen removed and landed safely on the island, while the other crashed and turned upside down, reports Xinhua news agency. "Four people have lost their lives today and we have three others who are critical in hospital," he said, adding that the investigation is still ongoing and there will be a report for police by the coroner. Jayney Shearman, senior operations supervisor at the Queensland Ambulance Service, said that they identified 13 people in total from the two helicopters. There were also six other people suffering minor injuries mainly from glass shrapnel, according to her. Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell announced in a statement that the bureau has commenced a transport safety investigation into the fatal mid-air collision. "The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report detailing basic information gathered during the investigation's evidence collection phase in approximately 6-8 weeks," Mitchell said. Meanwhile, the state's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expressed her condolences on her social media, regarding the crash as "an unthinkable tragedy". "My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," the state premier wrote. Kolkata, Jan 2 : Keeping the ensuing polls for the three- tier panchayat system in West Bengal in mind, the state's ruling party Trinamool Congress on Monday unveiled 'Didir Suraksha Kavach' (Elder Sister's Protective Shield), a new scheme of the party's public relations exercise in the rural pockets of the state. Announcing the scheme at the party's working committee meeting here on Monday, Trinamool Congress's national general secretary and party MP, Abhishek Banerjee said that under the public relations exercise three lakh volunteers of the party will reach out to every house in the rural pockets, interact with them, apprise them of the different welfare schemes and note down their grievances. "After that interaction we will upload their findings in a particular app specially designed for the purpose. The top leadership of the party will then examine the findings and give suggestions accordingly. These volunteers will be addressed as Didir Doot (Elder Sister's Messenger)," said Banerjee. Before that, according to the party's national general secretary, 300 state level leaders will move around in different pockets of the state and spend their nights in the villages for ten consecutive days. A senior party leader said that despite having the majority of the three tiers of the state under control, there are frequent complaints from the rural pockets about irregularity and corruption in the disbursements of the facilities under the different welfare scheme. "So, these communication exercises will help the leadership in having a clear idea of the existing deficiencies," he said. Lucknow, Jan 2 : Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has sent his good wishes for the Bharat Jodo Yatra after receiving an invite to join Rahul Gandhi's mega walkathon. In a letter, Akhilesh thanked the senior Congress leader for the invitation and said: "Dear Rahul ji, thank you for the invitation to Bharat Jodo Yatra and best wishes for the success of the campaign. India is more than a geographical expanse, in which love, non-violence, compassion, cooperation and harmony is the positive element that unites India. "Hope this yatra achieves its goal of preserving this inclusive culture of our country." Till now, Akhilesh Yadav had been denying having received any invite for the yatra. He had even said that the BJP and the Congress were on the same page on several issues. Panaji, Jan 2 : The Congress unit in Goa has demanded to hold a special Assembly session to discuss the Mhadei river issue and also a white paper on it. The party held a meeting of its office bearers on Monday and resolved to demand for a special session. After Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the Centre has cleared the much disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project in his state, oppositions in Goa has criticised BJP government alleging it has failed to protect interest of the coastal state. "Mhadei is the lifeline of Goa. Congress always fought for the Mhadei and protected the interest of Goa. We are committed to protect and safeguard interest of Goa," Amit Patkar, Congress chief in Goa, said after the meeting. "Congress demands a special Assembly session to discuss about Mhadei issue. The government should provide all papers pertaining to Mhadei diversion dispute to all elected representatives and also release a white paper," Patkar said, reading out resolutions taken by his party. He said that one sub-committee, headed by former Union Minister Ramakant Khalap, has been appointed to make people aware and support the movement to save Mhadei. He alleged that BJP has compromised the river for politics. "People will have to unite and take this movement ahead. We will support everyone who will take this movement forward to save Mhadei," Patkar said. Goa and Karnataka have been battling out a dispute over the Kalsa-Bhanduri dam project across the waters of the Mhadei river at a central tribunal. Mhadei originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji. While the river traverses 28.8 km in Karnataka, it has a length of 81.2 km in Goa. Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the waters into its water-starved Malaprabha basin Bengaluru, Jan 2 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated that BJP will come back to power based on 'governance and good work'. He was answering to reporters after visiting Venkateshwara temple in Bengaluru on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi festival on Monday. When asked if he prayed for BJP's victory, Bommai said generally he will not pray for such things. "I have confidence. According to me, people are gods. What is on their mind is going to happen. The governance and good work by BJP will help the party to attain power," the Chief Minister said. Bommai opined that Congress is fighting for survival and BJP is fighting for development. The Congress always pursued politics for power and his party is in politics for people. He further explained that today is the most sacred day in the Hindu religion and it has been the practice to have the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. As it is not possible to go to Tirupati, he came to Vyalikaval Venkateswara Temple of TTD and prayed for the welfare of the people. "There will be a blessing from Lord Venkateswara in the current year. Venkateswara means development and prosperity. The state of Karnataka will witness unprecedented development in the new year," he said. On the health conditions of the Siddeshwara Seer, Bommai said the seer identified him but was unable to talk. Apart from this, all his body parameters are functioning normally. He recognised the voice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had called to enquire about his health condition. "I am in regular touch with the concerned and getting the health updates regularly. No need for panicking. The seer has a special inner power with which he will win over the ill health and will remain with us for a long time," he said. Adelaide, Jan 2 : Australia's Alexei Popyrin on Monday registered the third Top-10 win of his career, beating World No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-4, 7-6(5) to progress to the second round of the Adelaide International 1. The World No. 120, who has also earned victories against Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas, will next face American Marcos Giron. Popyrin struck 11 aces and rallied from 1-4 in the second set, holding his nerve in the second-set tie-break to advance after one hour and 53 minutes in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against Auger-Aliassime. "I would say so. Yeah, for me, obviously he's one of the in-form players that we have on the tour right now," Popyrin said after the match. "So yeah, if we go by ranking and by performance, then yeah, it's probably one of the better wins of my career." "A really good win for me, especially coming off last season where I only had five wins on the circuit," ATP Tour quoted Popyrin saying. "For me it's a very, very important win. I know I have the level to play against guys like that, and today just proved it. I'm happy. I'm not surprised, to be honest, but I'm happy with it." Felix, who held a 60-27 record in 2022, winning four tour-level titles, however, was unable to find his best level, misfiring at key moments in his first match of the year. In other matches, Holger Rune too suffered a first-round exit, falling against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. The 27-year-old Japanese, currently at a career-high No. 36 in the ATP Rankings, rallied to upset the fifth seed 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes. Nishioka will next take on American Mackenzie McDonald. Rune, who was making his second appearance at the ATP 250 event, had a standout 2022 season. He won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Paris and cracked the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time. Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia started the new year with a win, overcoming Australian Christopher O'Connell 6-4, 6-4. The Serbian could play Daniil Medvedev, who begins his campaign against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, in the second round. Mumbai, Jan 2 : The Committee of Creditors (COC) of Reliance Capital is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the Resolution plans of the Torrent Group and Hinduja Group. The legal Advisors to the Administrator and COC, AZB & Partners and Luthtra & Luthra will present legal compliance of both plans. In addition, Financial Advisors Deloitte to Administrator and KPMG to CoC will present evaluation plans of both bidders In an e-auction conducted under the Challenge Mechanism, Torrent had presented a resolution plan for RCAP with an NPV of Rs 8,640 crore, while Hinduja's NPV in Challenge Mechanism for RCAP was Rs 8,110 crore. After the e-auction was over, Hinduja presented a revised resolution plan with an NPV of Rs 9,000 crore and it has offered 100 per cent cash upfront for the entire Rs 9,000 crore. On the other hand, Torrent has offered only Rs 3,750 crore as upfront cash, which is 54 per cent lower than the Hinduja offer. The balance Rs 4,890 crore will be paid by Torrent in five years. According to the sources, CoC is in favour of Hinduja's offer as the lenders will be able to recover the entire money upfront. The COC may even ask Torrent to match Hinduja's offer of Rs 9, 000 Cr, before engaging again with both bidders to increase the value further. The NCLT deadline of March 31, 2023 for the completion of RCAP resolution is unlikely to be met. The resolution has already been delayed by over a year. Chennai, Jan 2 : A 22-year-old student pursuing medical education at Qiqihar Medical University, China died due to a brief illness on Sunday. The family of deceased S. Sheikh Abdulla has petitioned Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to help bring the body back to his native Pudukottai for the last rites. According to the family members, Sheikh Abdulla had been pursuing medicine in China since 2017 and during Covid-19 he came back to India and continued his education online. The university later granted him an opportunity to do internship at the university after his course was completed. The university also directed him to reach the university in person and to continue the internship. Abdulla left on December 11 and was quarantined following the advent of the new Covid-19 variant. Later, the family was informed that the 22-year-old had fallen ill and was admitted to the hospital attached to the medical university. The family had also to shell out huge money for his treatment in China but on Sunday, the hospital authorities informed Sheikh Abdulla's father, Syed that his son had passed away due to illness and that his liver and kidney were damaged. The family has appealed to the Chief Minister and state health minister for suitable compensation. The family informed the state government that the university was requesting a huge amount to bring the body back. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Rohini court on Monday sent the five accused in the brutal death of a 20-year-old woman, who was killed after being dragged by a car for several kilometres in Sultanpuri, to a three-day police remand. The five men identified as Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mitthu and Manoj Mittal were arrested on Sunday. The Delhi Police had requested for five days custody, but the court however, allowed only a three-day remand for further investigation in the case. The incident took place in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday in the Kanjhawala area after the victim's scooty was hit by the car and her clothes had gotten entangled in one of the wheels, which led to her being dragged. A five-member team of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, has also left for Sultanpuri to inspect the spot where the body of the woman was found as well as the vehicle. Vienna, Jan 2 : To further cement India and Austria relationship, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hoped more Indians will get Austria's Red Card-White-Card that allows its holders to stay and work in the country for a period of upto two years. "The Red-White-Red cards, we hope, will be given in larger numbers to qualified and deserving Indians, who I am sure, will help to build the reputation of this country and strengthen our relationship," Jaishankar said addressing the Indian community in Vienna on Sunday. A Red-White-Red Card is a work permit and residence permit that is issued for a period of 24 months to highly-skilled individuals from other countries who wish to work in Austria. This will come under the Working Holiday Programme agreement, which will be signed between the two nations shortly, and will enable Indian students in Austria to work for six months. "It is for us, I would say, a novel experiment. If it works well in Austria, (it) is something which we would like to take forward in other countries," Jaishankar said. He added that this is the first time India is signing such an agreement with any country. Jaishankar, who is on his three-day maiden visit to Austria, will be signing a total of five agreements, including the Migration and Mobility pact. "It (the agreement) will make it easier for people who want to work here (Austria), who want to come here for business, who want to come here as students, who want to come here as professionals," Jaishankar said. India recently signed a similar agreement with Germany, and before that with a host of other European countries, including the UK, France, Portugal and Denmark. Describing the Indian diaspora as a "community of great standing and reputation", the Minister said that he is "pleased" and glad to interact with them. "When people think of India, they don't think of a country, they think of a person. They relate to an Indian and the experience they had with that Indian. If that experience with that Indian is good their impression of India flows from there. For me, all the diplomacy I do is nothing compared to the image and the sentiment that you create. So, keep doing what you are doing here,a he said. Inviting applause from the Indian community, Jaishankar said: "I would sincerely want to thank all of you because if India-Austria relationship is so good that it didn't need the Foreign Minister for 27 years, then a lot of credit really goes to all of you." Jaishankar's trip is the first India-Austria Foreign Minister-level visit in the last 27 years, which is taking place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic relations. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on demonetisation, the CPI(M) said on Monday that the verdict of the five-member Constitution bench cannot be interpreted as 'upholding' this move. "In the majority judgment, the Supreme Court has exclusively dealt with the legal right of the Central government to take such a decision and that it does not violate Section 26(2) of RBI Act 1934. The dissenting opinion of one of the honourable judges maintained that this Section of the RBI Act says that the RBI must recommend to the government to initiate demonetisation. "In this case the decision was taken by the Central government which sought the opinion of the RBI. Hence, the approval of Parliament should have been taken before this decision was executed," said the Politburo of the CPI(M) in a statement. The majority judgement noted that demonetisation had "reasonable nexus" with the objectives it sought to achieve and that it is "not relevant whether the objective was achieved or not," the party said. The party said that this majority verdict while upholding the government's legal right to take such a decision says nothing about the impact of such a decision. Demonetisation resulted in the destruction of India's informal economy that employs crores of people. It paralysed the small-scale industrial sector, the MSMEs, destroying crores of livelihoods. Reports noted that in one month since the decision in 2016, 82 people lost their lives, it added. "Further, none of the objectives justifying this disastrous decision of unearthing black money and bringing this back from foreign banks; ending counterfeit currency; ending terror funding, corruption and reducing cash flows in the economy have been achieved. On the contrary, according to RBI, currency with the public has gone up from Rs 17.7 lakh crore, on the eve of demonetisation to Rs 30.88 lakh crore now, i.e., an increase of 71.84 per cent," said the CPI(M). The CPI(M) said that the Supreme Court's majority judgement merely upholds the right of the government to take such a decision and in no way endorses the consequences of such a decision. Mumbai, Jan 2 : National Award-winning film director Ananth Mahadevan has announced his next venture "Veterans Of War - The India Story". Mahadevan stated: "This is India's biggest march of pride...the veterans of the armed forces who are the sentinels of the nation. A salute to our nation's 'kavach'!" Written and directed by Mahadevan and produced by Ashvin Gidwani of AGP World, the 75-minute documentary film that celebrates 75 years of Indian Independence will feature real life stories and interviews of 20 Indian armed forces Gallantry awardees. Veterans Day is commemorated every year on January 14, and this parade that is due to take place on January 8 this year, will be the final shoot and scene for this epic docu-film. In collaboration with the Navy Foundation Mumbai Chapter (NFMC), this documentary has been created. It will feature living legends of war, where retired, top-ranking military personnel and Mahavir Chakra awardees have shared their true-life experiences. Aside from the first-person accounts and true narratives, Mahadevan is also expected to shoot and document the proceedings from the second edition of Veterans Day Parade 2023 that will witness over 700 veterans marching in unison from Nariman Point to Marine Drive on January 8, 2023. The parade will be led by Cdr Vijay Vadhera, a 1971 war veteran and President of NFMC, and will feature retired wheelchair-bound senior veterans, nearly 90 years of age, viz. Wing Cdr J. Nath, MVC & Bar (93 yrs), Cmde Satish Bhalla, AVSM, NM (G) (89 yrs), Capt Raj Mohindra (87 yrs) and LCdr Gopal Singh (92 yrs), Gallantry awardees and finally Navy, Army and Air Force veterans' platoon. Federal Bank and Transworld Group have come forward to support this unique initiative of national pride. Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President, NFMC said: "The objective of celebrating Veterans Day on 14th January every year since 2017 is to bring about compassion, empathy and respect for the veterans from the masses. It is a unique initiative of the Indian Defence Services to acknowledge and honour the selfless devotion and sacrifice by our veterans who even after retiring, are always in search of opportunities to serve the nation." "Military veterans often receive special treatment in their respective countries, due to the sacrifices they made during wars. Many countries have longstanding traditions, ceremonies and holidays to honour their veterans." Ashvin Gidwani, Founder, AGP World said: "'Veterans Of War' is a passionate endeavour to bring to light valiant stories of Unsung Heroes who have fought heroically for their country. To memorialise their unconditional contribution, we consented to produce the film." Ramesh S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman, Transworld Group said: "We are honoured to be associated with this project, which is a recognition and an act of gratitude for the selfless and courageous acts of valour by our heroes of armed forces. This is a humble offering from Transworld." Shyam Srinivasan, MD & CEO, Federal Bank said: "We are proud to be associated with this esteemed project, which is a tribute to the legends who have acted beyond their call of duty and exhibited selfless devotion for the country. Their dedication and commitment to the ideals of our democracy are an inspiration. May we all work together to aspire to those ideals as a way to honour their service and sacrifice!" Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA said: "It is an honour and privilege that the armed forces have chosen the NCPA to hold their Veterans Day function in gratitude for their valiant defence of our beloved India." Bengaluru, Jan 2 : In a shocking incident, a jilted lover stabbed an engineering student to death in the college premises on Monday for rejecting his romantic proposal, police said. The deceased was identified as Layasmitha, while the accused, Pavan Kalyan also stabbed himself after the crime. He had been rushed to the hospital, where his condition is said to be serious. The incident occurred at the Presidency University College in Itgalur near Rajankunte. Layasmitha had flatly refused Pawan Kalyan's proposal, and the enraged youth barged into the college campus and attacked her with a knife, stabbing her in the neck. After this, he turned the knife on himself, police said. Rajanukunte police have rushed to the spot and launched investigations. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Once, Beijing's state media mocked nations such as India that incinerated corpses of pandemic victims in town squares. Now the regime is so crippled by Covid that sons must burn the bodies of their fathers outside blocks of flats in its leading cities, according to a media report. Such is the pitiful state of today's China, the country that gave birth to the pandemic just over three years ago, but which has long boasted of its supposedly world-beating ability to contain this cruel disease, Daily Mail reported. Astonishing leaked figures from Chinese health authorities estimate that 250 million people - almost one in five citizens - caught Covid in the first 20 days of last month after Preident Xi Jinping abruptly dismantled rigid restrictions imposed since 2020. Having enforced the world's strictest controls with ruthless lockdowns, relentless testing and rigid mass quarantines, Xi was panicked into making a humiliating about-turn on December 7 after a spate of protests. With a fragile health system and inadequate vaccination rates, the impact was instant and predictable. One hospital in Shanghai warned that half the 26 million residents of the country's most populous city will be infected by now and urged staff to prepare for a "tragic battle" in the coming weeks, Daily Mail reported. Other cities are being hit just as hard. "I can name 20 people I know from different cities who have been infected over the past two weeks," said a journalist in Shanghai, who has caught Covid along with his partner. "It's spreading like wildfire." Videos shared on social media that evade strict censorship show deserted streets and desperate patients in over-crowded hospitals, which are so overwhelmed that the elderly are treated in beds outside in car parks. They expose hospital morgues flooded with corpses, warehouses overflowing with coffins, crematoria unable to cope with demand despite burning huge numbers of bodies each day and pharmacies with shelves swept clean of drugs, Daily Mail reported. The consequences of President Xi's imperious actions and China's immense Covid outbreak are alarming - for the health of its citizens, for the prosperity of the global economy and for the future of this lethal pandemic. Yet typically - in keeping with the Communist dictatorship's deceitful behaviour ever since this strange new virus emerged within its borders - officials claim to be focused on protecting lives as they pump out ludicrous data downplaying a tide of fatalities, Daily Mail reported. So last Wednesday, for instance, there was just one new Covid death across China and then one more on each of the next two days, according to Beijing's claims. Yet one person in Chengdu, a city of more than 16 million people, went to a crematorium after their grandmother died only to discover "hearses stacked with bodies" lined up in front. Many had been there for days. "They cremate more than 1,000 bodies every day lately. "Funeral ceremonies have all been cancelled because there's not enough time," said the bereaved citizen. A funeral home worker in the south-western city estimated there had been a five-fold surge in cremations since the government lifted Covid restrictions. "We're so busy we don't even have time to eat," he added, Daily Mail reported. Staff at a big funeral home in Beijing said their incinerators were running full-time but there was still a three-week backlog. Fees have doubled. At least 2,700 people died from Covid in the capital on a single day before Christmas, according to one report. "There is no more cold storage space for bodies," disclosed another crematorium worker in a third major city, Daily Mail reported. Jaipur, Jan 2 : BJP national general secretary and state in-charge Arun Singh on Monday said that the government will be formed in Rajasthan in 2023 with a three-fourth majority under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to the media, Singh said that the saffron party shall win with a majority. Answering a question on change in leadership in the state, he said, "BJP state president Satish Poonia is doing a good job and he will continue to lead the organisation." Singh further said that there should not be any question coming on the performance of Poonia as he is doing a commendable work and so will continue to lead the organisation in the state, rest the Central leadership will decide, he added. Satish Poonia is working hard to strengthen BJP in the state, in fact, good work of the organisation is going on under his leadership, Arun Singh stated. Commercial photo satellites have been providing the public with regularly updated photos since 2005 when Google Earth was introduced. This free service demonstrated the usefulness of commercial satellite photos but also had some unwanted side effects. The most common problem was the use of Google Earth by criminals and terrorists. Now the problem of unwanted side effects has shown up with a new generation of commercial satellite services that use radar to provide a more abstract but more detailed image of what is on the ground. The two Sentinel radar satellites provide updated data on what is down there about once every 36 hours. Its growing number of users can filter the data in many ways to obtain a result that suits their needs which includes resource (crops, forests) monitoring and tracking forest fires and other natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the like. Sentinel also became popular with users who just wanted to see all that the system could do. Thats when it was discovered that Sentinel could, using the right filters, detect Patriot air defense system radars night or day and in any weather. In hindsight, this sort of side effect was to be expected because this sort of thing has happened before with ground or aircraft based electronic transmitters. Military equipment that depends on electronic devices has increasingly run into unexpected, and sometimes fatal, problems. This problem was first widely reported during the 1990 campaign to liberate Kuwait. It was discovered that certain combinations of airborne jammer frequencies could trigger an involuntary launch of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles as well as less catastrophic but equally unexpected events. Investigation of these incidents revealed something electronic warfare experts have been warning of for a long time. With so much exotic new gear, capable of putting out so many different signals, and in a huge number of combinations which create even more new electronic signals, there was no way to know what kind of impact this would have on existing military, and civilian, electronics. Throughout the 1990s, the problem only got worse. This became obvious as there were increased incidents of military electronics tests trashing, or playing with, nearby civilian electronic devices, especially ones that used remote control like garage door openers. The military continues seeking solutions, because it's important for military equipment, especially communications and control systems, not to suffer electronic interference. The 2003 Iraq War saw rapid development of electronic jammers to shut down wireless detonators for roadside bombs. This brought about more unanticipated disruption of friendly electronics. Iraqi civilians are well aware of this problem, as they quickly learned that their cell phone service tended to disappear when an American military convoy approached. Other wireless gadgets went haywire in identifiable patterns. The list of items affected grew as the American jammer (mainly the Warlock series) added more frequencies to its repertoire. Warlock jammed some military equipment, including radios. This was not good. Efforts to come up with practical solutions, but none were particularly promising. As a result, the most likely source of "hostile" jamming is the force with the greatest number of transmitters. With Sentinel, those transmissions can be monitored on a global scale and future incidents of electronic unintended side effects can be more quickly measured and monitored worldwide. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Allahabad High Court order, which convicted former UP lawmaker Mukhtar Ansari and and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for threatening a jailer and pointing a pistol at him in 2003. Ansari is currently lodged in Banda jail. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Vikram Nath issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government as it stayed the high court order. Ansari, a gangster-politician, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the high court convicting him.A In September last year, the high court had set aside a trial court order, which acquitted Ansari in the case. It held that the trial court had completely ignored the evidence of the jailor given in examination-in-chief and had only considered his cross examination as it found Ansari guilty under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The high court had sentenced Ansari to two years rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 10,000 for offences under Section 353 and two years in jail and a fine of Rs 2,000 for offences under Section 504; and, also sentenced him to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for offences under Section 506. It had said that the trial court's approach was palpably erroneous and the judgment and order passed by the trial court was unsustainable. In 2003, the Lucknow district prison jailer lodged an FIR alleging that he was threatened for ordering frisking of people who had come to meet Ansari. The jailer also claimed that Ansari had pointed a pistol at him. The state government moved the high court after Ansari was acquitted by the trial court. Chennai, Jan 2 : Tamil Nadu's main opposition party, the AIADMK on Monday come out strongly against the Tamil Nadu government's move to terminate services of nurses who were posted during the Covid pandemic. The nurses were appointed on an ad-hoc basis in 2020 to manage Covid-19 pandemic. The AIADMK's interim General Secretary and former Chief Minister, K. Palaniswami in a statement on Monday lashed out against the government decision to terminate the services of these nurses. Noting that the DMK, during the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, assured that the services of doctors and nurses who were posted on an ad-hoc basis would be regularised if it comes to power, he said that the doctors were first terminated and now the nurses are being terminated. The former Chief Minister demanded the state government to withdraw the order regarding the termination of the services of these nurses. He also called upon the state government to give preference to these nurses when vacancies for nurses are to be filled by tests conducted through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB). The AIADMK leader said that the party would conduct a series of agitations against the state government terminating the services of the nurses who were a pillar of strength during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Internet sensation Uorfi Javed, who has been accused of indulging in nudity by a politician, said that unless her "nipples and vagina" are seen, she cannot be jailed. This comment from her came as a response to politician Chitra Kishor Wagh's accusation of "indulging in nudity on the streets of Mumbai." Chitra tweeted: "What's happening in Mumbai? Does the Mumbai Police have any IPC/CRPC sections to stop this woman who is openly indulging in nudity on the streets of Mumbai? Arrest her as soon as possible." Uorfi wrote in her Tweet: "Started my new year with another police complaint from another Politician! Bas Asli kaam nahi hai inn politicians k Paas? Are these politicians, and lawyers dumb? There is literally no article in the constitution that can be put on person to person." "Unless my nipples and vagina are seen, you can't send me to jail. These people are only doing this for media attention. I got against human trafficking and sex trafficking in Mumbai which is still very much there. How about shutting those illegal dance Bars and pr*stitution which again exists everywhere in Mumbai."She added: "I don't even want a trial or that bullshit, I'm ready to go to jail right now if you disclose your and your family member's assets. Tell the world how much a politician earns and from where. Also from time to time multiple men in your party have been accused of harassment etc never.." Currently, Uorfi is seen in the dating-based reality show , 'Splitsvilla X4'. She has posted several pictures on her social media from her New Year celebration. -- Syndicated from IANS New Delhi, Jan 2 : Sources in the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) claimed on Monday that after inspecting the Banelo car, which reportedly dragged a 20-year-old womam for around 12 km, causing her death in the Kanjhawala area in the early hours of Sunday, the FSL officials didn't find any blood stain inside the car or on its seats. The sources said that FSL tean foubd traces of blood only on the tyre of the car, which indicates that victim was not inside the car. The FSL team also visited the crime scene where the body of the girl was found and collected samples from the spot. "When the FSL team inspected car, there was no blood inside or on the car's seats. They only found the blood on the tyre," said the source. Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Monday remanded the five accused arrested in the Kanjhawala case to three-day police custody. The police had earlier written to the authorities concerned to form a three-member panel of dcotors to conduct the post-mortem. After getting the autopsy report, the police will decide the future course of action and take a call on adding more IPC sections in the FIR. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday wherein the 20-year-old woman was killed after her Scooty was hit by a car, and she was dragged by the same vehicle for several kilometres after her clothes got entangled in the wheel of the car. One CCTV footage accessed by the police shows a silver Maruti Baleno car making a U-turn in the Kanjhawala area, with the body of the woman visible under it on the left side. Her Scooty was found around 12 km from the spot where the body was found. The arrested persons were identified as Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mitthu and Manoj Mittal. The family members of the woman, who used to work as an event planner for weddings, suspect foul play. Hyderabad, Jan 2 : The Telangana High Court on Monday dismissed an appeal by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) challenging order of a special ACB court which had aside a memo to array BJP national General Secretary B.L. Santhosh and three others as accused in the MLAs' poaching case. The ACB special court had last month rejected the memo and the SIT had challenged this in the High Court. The ACB special court had observed neither police nor SIT is competent to investigate the offences relating to the Prevention of Corruption Act and only the Special Police Establishment/Anti-Corruption Bureau is the competent authority to do so. Arguing in the High Court, Advocate General B.S. Prasad had submitted that the ACB court crossed its limits with the order rejecting the memo. He submitted to the court that the SIT decided to add Santhosh, Kerala politician Tushar Vellapally, Kerala-based doctor Jaggu Swamy, and lawyer B. Srinivas as accused in the case on the basis of evidence found against them during the course of investigation. Three alleged agents of the BJP were arrested by the Cyberabad police from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad on the night of October 26 when they were allegedly trying to lure four MLAs of BRS with offers of huge money. Cyberabad police conducted the raid on a tip-off by Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the MLAs. He alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three others. The SIT headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand had served notices to Santhosh, and the others for questioning. The High Court on December 1 granted bail to three accused in the case. On the petitions by the accused, the High Court on December 26 transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation and set aside the Government Order constituting the SIT. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : In a shocking incident, a jilted lover stabbed an engineering student to death in the college premises on Monday for rejecting his romantic proposal, police said. The incident occurred at the Presidency University College in Itgalur near Rajankunte. The deceased was identified as Layasmitha, 19, in the first year of Btech. Accused Pavan Kalyan, 21, a BCA student in the Nrupatunga University, also stabbed himself after the crime. He had been rushed to the hospital, where his condition is said to be serious. Layasmitha had flatly refused Pawan Kalyan's proposal, and the enraged youth barged into the college campus and attacked her with a knife, and then, turned the knife on himself, police said. Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural, Mallikarjuna Baladandi said that after getting entry into the college, the youth had gone to the classroom and called out the victim. "Both were talking in the corridor for about 15 minutes. "Suddenly, accused Pavan Kalyan took out a knife from his bag and started stabbing her. The girl had been stabbed in the chest, abdomen, neck, and hand. "The girl was declared dead, while the boy had been shifted to the hospital," he said. Police sources stated that the boy and girl hailed from the same village - Kachipura village near Mulbagal town in Kolar district. Eye witnesses have told police that Pavan Kalyan, after stabbing Layasmitha, started to stab himself with a knife multiple times. The development has shocked the students and Presidency University has been slammed for slack security. Rajanukunte police rushed to the spot and launched investigations. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Actor Vaarun Bhagat shared his experience of shooting for the show, 'Aar Ya Paar', what prompted him to accept the offer, and how it was to work with the cast of the series. Talking about what made him choose this show, Vaarun said: "Working with this incredible group of creative people was a wonderful experience. I consider it a great privilege and luck that I was able to collaborate with talented people like Shilpa Shukla and Ashish Vidyarthi. For me, it was a fantastic opportunity to learn. Additionally, the show was filmed in unique locations that were visually stunning." Vaarun is known for his roles in 'Undekhi', 'Inside Edge', 'Dulha Wanted' and many more. Apart from acting he is also a trained boxer and can speak multiple languages. The actor further shared how his role is different from the previous ones and what he liked about it. In the web series, he is shown to be a person, who is born in a powerful and affluent family and never supports the decision by his family members. "It was a change for me to play such a character who lives under the shadow of powerful people and how it affects him. He struggles to have a voice. I had never played a role like this one before, therefore I was quite excited about this character." "So, this was the key factor in my decision to accept the web series. Plus, this was a pretty big chance for me because I had never done something similar. I had no reason to turn down the web series because the writing of the story was excellent," he concluded. 'Aar Ya Paar' streams on Disney+ Hotstar. Mumbai, Jan 2 : Arrested actor Sheezan Khan's family and legal team on Monday hit back at the allegations made by late actress Tunisha's mom Vanita Sharma, saying that they "never compelled her to embrace Islam" while revealing details about the alleged rocky relations of the mother-daughter. Khan's family - sisters Falaq and Shafaz, mother Parveen, and lawyer Shailendra Mishra - rubbished Vanita Sharma's claims made on December 30, that they were pressuring her to convert to Islam, and that she had started sporting a 'hijab' against her wishes. They also denied ever taking her to a 'dargah' or making her wear a hijab, as claimed by Vanita Sharma and her uncle Pawan Sharma. The Khans pointed out that the viral photo of Tunisha sporting a 'hijab' was actually from the shoots of her show, "Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul", currently being shot in Vasai, where she (Tunisha) was found dead on December 24. Addressing the media, the Khan family said that on the contrary, Vanita Sharma was forcing Tunisha to work though she was suffering depression. "Tunisha was suffering from depression due to a childhood trauma.. She was made to sign up for two music videos though she was not interested... If her mother had not forced her to work and given her professional mental treatment on time, she would have been alive today," said Shafaq Khan. They further claimed that Tunisha's relations with her mom were strained and Vanita Sharma had allegedly once tried to strangle her daughter and even smashed her mobile phone. "Tunisha never wanted to act. She wanted to study and travel, see the world, but her family never allowed her out. First time she went to a beach with us, that poor girl," said Falaq. The siblings said that Tunisha always regarded them as their elder sister and they always were concerned for her, and recounted an instance when she suffered 104 degree fever on the sets and Vanita Sharma requested the Khans to take care of her as she was out of town. On the alleged break-up, the Khans said that it was their mutual decision as they both decided to first concentrate on their acting careers and take a call later, "and Vanita was the happiest at this break-up". Lawyer Mishra said Tunisha had 2 previous relations which broke and she emerged from it, and did not break down, and the Palghar police are probing all these angles. "The police have arrested Sheezan under pressure from the media-trial. The Khan family is in no way connected with her death. Nothing will emerge from the police probe as Sheezan has done nothing wrong," he said. The family questioned Vanita Sharma's accusations and asked her to provide solid evidence on the 'dargah trips' or Sheezan slapping Tunisha. They also pointed out that Vanita Sharma's claim of the Khans giving a dog to Tunisha was false as that German Shepherd dog actually belonged to her uncle Sanjeev Kaushal, the photo of that dog was taken in Chandigarh, though Tunisha desperately wanted a pet which could love her owing to her delicate mental status. The sisters said on December 16, Tunisha suffered a panic attack on the sets, was crying and Sheezan offered to take her to hospital, but she declined and went on her own to a Borivali hospital. When the Khan sisters asked her what was wrong, Vanita Sharma said it was stress, but was more concerned about her next day's shoot than her daughter's health status. The family accused Vanita Sharma of not giving enough money to her daughter, "controlling" her finances, even as the Khans tried to "help rebuild" the mother-daughter's strained relations. Mishra said Tunisha and Sheezan were good friends and co-actors, but her family never gave her any love and "she was looking for love outside" since she was deprived of it by her own people. "We are very happy that for five months, we made her feel very happy... we took her for outings, but her mom used to harass her with constant phone-calls even on the shooting sets. Wish we had come in contact with that child earlier and we could have given her more joy," said Shafaz. On the alleged incidents on December 24, Mishra said that police have acquired the full CCTV footage of the incidents, all the witnesses after she was found, and the 'truth will emerge' soon, and the family has applied for Sheezan's bail. Tunisha reportedly commited suicide on December 24, on the teleserial sets and the following day, her co-star and former boyfriend Sheezan was nabbed for allegedly abetting her suicide. London, Jan 2 : Russia has suffered its deadliest day of the war so far after Ukraine launched a massive strike during Putin's New Year's Eve speech, media reported. Hundreds of mobilised troops reportedly died in the Ukrainian strike on a barracks in the Donbas region just before the clock struck midnight. The deadly strike was 115 miles from where Putin "pre-recorded" his New Year's message with dozens of troops in Russia's Rostov region, The Sun UK reported. During his speech, he claimed the West was "cynically using Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia". Russia attempted to hide the toll of soldiers lost in the strike - but Ukraine's military puts the number of Russian deaths at 400, with 300 others wounded. Moscow did confirm a "significant loss of life", signalling a grievous blow to the already exhausted Russian troops. According to reports on the Telegram channel of General SVR, Putin has lost more than 1,000 FSB secret service officers in the war in Ukraine - bringing Russia's death toll to 145,000 in 10 months, The Sun UK reported. Thought to be a Kremlin insider, the report suggests the losses in Putin's regular army alone to 104,186, with another 33,902 in private military companies - like Wagner Group - which are fighting for the Kremlin in the war. Losses in the Russian National Guard amount to 5,941, it is claimed. A viral video showed a family watching Putin's speech before eating a traditional New Year's meal in their home. A woman on the balcony began screaming in the video as the attack began on the Russian barracks, The Sun UK reported. Another video showed a Ukrainian soldier in a holiday hat as a missile launches behind him - at the same time as the strike on Makiivka. Russian pro-war sources say two HIMARS missile strikes hit the barracks in Makiivka, killing Russian commanders alongside their soldiers. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Shimla, Jan 2 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday announced her would contribute his first salary to the Chief Minister Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh as a part of his social responsibility. It is a step towards humanity and serving those who are deprived of getting higher education. It would also give them a way to lead a respectable and a life of dignity, he said, This relief fund was constituted on the first day of New Year by the state government, with an aim to help needy students and destitute women to get their higher education. The amount received under this fund would be spent in providing quality higher education to the destitute women and students. The Chief Minister said a specific amount would be given to these students and women which would help them in acquiring desired higher education. He said this fund would provide new dimensions to those who are capable but deprived of quality education due to financial constrains. Apart from this, the students would also get an opportunity to ensure their contribution in the progress and prosperity of the country and society at large. Sukhu said this step is not compassion, but a right of every person. Kolkata, Jan 2 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday submitted a report to the Calcutta High Court, wherein it linked the name of Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's Birbhum district president, with the Bogtui carnage that took place in the same district in March last year. In March last year, the murder a local Trinamool Congress leader, Bhadu Sheikh, had triggered violence in Bogtui in Birbhum district that led to the death of nine persons after several houses were set on fire. Lalan Sheikh, one of the prime accused in the case and known to be colse to Bhadu Sheikh, was found hanging from a shower stand in a toilet of a temporary CBI office at Rampurhat in Birbhum district on December 12. In the report submiited to the court in the form of an affidavit, the CBI claimed that on March 21 last year, the day of the carnage, there was a telephonic conversation at around 8.50 p.m. between Mondal and Anarul Haque, another prime accused in the case. Incidentally, the hearing on the bail petition of Mondal in connection with his alleged involvement in the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam is scheduled before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The CBI has filed its affidavit objecting the bail plea, referring to the conversation between Haque and Mondal. After the Bogtui incident last year, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to carry out two parallel investigations into Vadu Sheikh's murder and the Bogtui carnage. Recently, the CBI submitted a charge-sheet in the Bogtui case, which named Anarul Haque as the prime accused. However, the latter has claimed innocence in the matter, saying that a conspiracy has been hatched to frame him. "My residence is 5 km away from the place where the carnage took place. I have been falsely implicated and I will name all the conspirators at the right time," he said. Chennai, Jan 2 : The genome sequencing report of the six international passengers who had landed at various international airports in Tamil Nadu has reported no BF.7 variant of Omicron. Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma Subramanian said that the two China-returned passengers, who tested Covid-19 positive, were affected by BA5.2. One passenger each from Muscat, Kuwait, and Bangkok was identified with BA.2 strain of Omicron. Another passenger, who arrived from Muscat and tested positive has the XBB.1 strain of Omicron. The state has already analyzed 93 samples so far and of this 98 percent had tested either BA.2 or BA.5 while the remaining two per cent tested for the Delta variant. The Health Minister also said that all the patients are recovering well after being in home isolation. With the Omicron BF.7 strain being prominent in countries like China, Japan, and Hongkong, the Central government had made random testing mandatory in international airports. Mumbai, Jan 2 : The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by Malegaon 2008 bomb blast prime accused Lt Col Prasad S. Purohit, seeking his discharge from the case, observing that carrying out a bomb blast which killed 6 people and injured over 100 was not part of his official duty. A division bench of Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice Prakash D. Naik also upheld the verdict of a lower court and rejected Purohit's claim that a sanction was required to prosecute him in the case. "Even otherwise, indulging into an activity of a bomb explosion causing the death of six persons is not an act done by the appellant in his official duty. It has nothing to do or related in any manner with the discharge of the official duty... there is no reasonable connection between the offence alleged and his official duty and was not committed in discharge of his official duty," the bench observed. Granted bail in August 2017 by the Supreme Court, Purohit had contended that he was merely performing his official duty and gathering information regarding the 'Abhinav Bharat' to which the court asked why he did not avert the bomb blast in the civilian locality of Malegaon. Purohit was arrested in 2008 under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other offences, in the sensational case that has other accused like Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Singh Thakur and five others, after which the term 'Hindu terror' was coined. Among other points, Purohit argued that there was no sanction from the Indian Army to prosecute him and sought a discharge, but the National Investigation Agency said no sanction was required since his actions were not in discharge of his official duties. The case involved an explosion triggered by a bomb placed in a scooter that belonged to Thakur in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and though being an army officer, Purohit had floated the Abhinav Bharat in 2007 with the aim to make India a 'Hindu Rashtra'. The NIA charge sheet said that "they wanted to form a government in exile, they were dissatisfied with the Constitution of India and had wanted to prepare their own Constitution", they had discussed a bomb blast in one of their meetings and Purohit was responsible for arranging the RDX from Kashmir. The high court upheld the Special NIA court's order of December 2017, rejecting Purohit's plea to discharge him from the Malegaon 2008 blast case, owing to lack of sanction as he was a public servant. "The trial court has not committed any error while taking cognisance of the offence alleged against (Purohit) and rejected his application for discharge on that ground," the bench ruled. Earlier, Thakur and another co-accused Sameer Kulkarni, who had sought discharge from the case, had withdrawn their applications, and though Purohit had withdrawn other petitions, he pursued the discharge plea based on lack of sanction. Purohit was charged with murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, criminal conspiracy, under various sections of the UAPA, the Arms Act and the Indian Explosive Substances Act. Chandigarh, Jan 2 : Haryana's Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday said the change in month and year is not bringing any relief to the people as the state continues to be number one in unemployment in the country. Reacting to the latest unemployment data from the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the former Chief Minister said Haryana had once again touched the highest unemployment figure of 37.4 per cent in the country. "This is 4.5 times more than the national average. Last month, Haryana had 30.6 per cent unemployment rate and it seems that Haryana breaks its own record every time in terms of unemployment," he noted. The Congress leader said while on one hand, employment opportunities are plummeting to new lows every month, the BJP-JJP coalition government is constantly playing with the future of unemployed youth. "About two lakh posts are lying vacant in the government departments of Haryana. Instead of making permanent recruitment against these posts, the government is promoting the practice of hiring contract employees through Skill Employment Corporation. Government departments and posts are being abolished continuously," he said, expressing his concern over the unemployment crisis. "Taking one more step forward in this direction, the government has issued an order to shut down Hisar Doordarshan, which was created for informative discussions on farmers and contemporary issues, and telecast of state news and cultural programmes. Due to this decision, dozens of employees working in the channel will become unemployed and the infrastructure worth crores of rupees will become useless," he said. He added that Haryanvi artists and other experts associated with Doordarshan will not be able to showcase their art and or share their expertise with the people. The former Chief Minister demanded that the government should withdraw the decision to close the channel or shift it. Hooda said every step of the present government is being taken to crush the interests of unemployed, poor and farmers. "The government has converted the family identity card into a weapon which is being used to cut the pensions of the elderly and ration cards of poor families," he said. "The government has so far cut the pension of about 5 lakh elderly people and the yellow ration cards of 10 lakh BPL families. Poor families are being deprived of welfare schemes by showing exaggerated income. The needy families were earlier deprived of edible oils, pulses, salt etc. Now apart from old-age pension and ration, the poor would also be deprived of benefits under Ayushman Bharat, Vivah Shagun or any welfare scheme, including grant for the house," he added. Panaji, Jan 2 : The Goa government on Monday decided to issue notice to Karnataka for allegedly taking water from the wildlife sanctuaries of the state. The decision was taken during the special Cabinet meeting convened to discuss Mhadei diversion issue over Central government's approval to Karnataka's Detailed Project Report for the disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project. "They can't divert the water. Notice will be issued under the Wildlife protection act. We have started the process to issue notice," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said after the meeting. "My government is serious about Mhadei. Allegations made by the opposition are baseless. I reiterate that we will not compromise on Mhadei. Fight for Mhadei will continue. As per time and need, we will meet and fight with the Centre and will take decisions," he added. Opposition parties in Goa had alleged that the BJP government is compromising on Mhadei, so the Karnataka BJP can derive political dividends during the coming Assembly elections there. Sawant said that his government has not received an official DPR copy. "We have demanded it. We have made a strategy where we can lodge our objections. There is no need to make this strategy public," he said, adding they will demand that the Centre withdraw the approval given to the DPR. "We will not allow to take water from 'Out of the basin', although the tribunal has permitted Karnataka to take 3.9 TMC water, we have challenged it in the Supreme Court," he said. "We will issue notice to Karnataka for taking water from wildlife sanctuaries. They can't divert the water. Notice will be issued under the Wildlife protection act," he added. Sawant said that the government will stress on demanding to form a 'Water Management Authority' so that Karnataka can be stopped from illegally diverting water. "... also DPR can go to the Water Management Authority. So they can decide on it. Authority is needed to inspect the projects from where the water is illegally taken to Karnataka," he said. Sawant said that he will lead an all legislative party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. According to Sawant, wildlife sanctuaries of Goa are dependent on Mhadei water and hence they will not compromise on Mhadei. "Water from Mhadei is also used for potable purposes," he said. He urged all to come together to fight for Mhadei with unity. He said that though Karnataka has got approval for DPR, they can't start work immediately as they need other mandatory approvals like environment. Panaji, Jan 2 : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday arrived in Goa to hold an all-India coordination meet. According to sources, the meeting will be held at Nageshi-Ponda in South-Goa, where heavy police force has been deployed. "There will be around 30 to 40 national executives and others for the meeting. He will have meetings also with Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other organisations," an RSS member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed. "Mohan Bhagwatji will also meet the local RSS volunteers on January 7. We will get an opportunity to discuss several issues with him," he said. Kolkata, Jan 2 : Trinamool Congress's South 24 Parganas municipal councillor Kuheli Ghosh, whose name appeared in the list of 952 optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets allegedly tampered with to appoint ineligible candidates as teachers in state-run schools, as published by the West Bengal School Service Commission, on Monday filed a defamation case at the Calcutta High Court. Besides being councillor from Ward No 18 of Rajpur-Sonarpur municipality in South 24 Parganas, Ghosh is also employed as a secondary teacher of history in Sonarpur Chowhati High School, which comes under her ward. Her name is in the 474th position in the list of 952 tampered OMR sheets published by the Commission. On Monday, she said that she had filed the defamation suit before the single-judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who is mainly hearing the matter related to the multi-crore teachers' scam in the state. She has claimed that she secured her post by qualifying in the recruitment examination and hence, her name figuring in the list of tampered OMR sheets has resulted into a loss in her social prestige. "I came to know on December 23 that my name is there in the list. I do not understand why my name figured in the list. I have completed both my masters and bachelor of education. I was a primary teacher in a state-run school before I got this job as a secondary teacher. I was never informed of the marks I scored in the written examination and in the interview. I was just shown as qualified. Still, I do not understand why my name appeared in the list," Ghosh said. Ghosh also said that, if necessary, she is also ready to face a CBI probe in the matter. "Let the truth be revealed. I have full faith in the judicial system," she said. Kolkata, Jan 2 : Will India be invited by Nepal to help promote tourism by operating flights to the Pokhara International Airport? The airport, built with a $215.96 million soft loan from China's ExIm Bank, was inaugurated by Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a.k.a. Prachanda, on Sunday. However, commercial operations will start at a later date. The main concern for India is whether Nepal will be able to repay China, failing which there may be a repeat of the Hambantota Port fiasco. The Hambantota Port is in Sri Lanka and was built with financial support from China. In 2018, after failing to repay the loan, Sri Lanka was forced to lease out nearly 70 per cent control of the port to Chinese companies. Today, Chinese vessels, including warships and submarines of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), berth at Hambantota regularly, ostensibly to refuel or pick up supplies. What bothers India is that the port is uncomfortably close to the country's coast. "Pokhara is also very close to India, particularly cities in Uttar Pradesh like Gorakhpur and Lucknow. It is also not all that far from the strategic Siliguri corridor. What if Nepal fails to repay the loan and is forced to lease out the airport to the Chinese? What if the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) then starts using the airport as a support base, just as the PLAN has done in Hambantota? We are monitoring the situation. China has said that the airport will promote tourism from there to Nepal. However, the airport can't be sustained with that traffic. Questions have already started being raised in Nepal," a source in the Ministry of External Affairs said. Pokhara is Nepal's third international airport after Kathmandu and Bhairahawa. The Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa hasn't done too well in attracting international carriers since its opening in May 2022. While Pokhara has an advantage as it is the entry point to the Annapurna trekking route and several other attractions in the Himalayas, even those in Nepal know that the international airport there can't become financially viable without regular flights from India. A civil aviation official from Nepal conceded that the airport has its disadvantages. "Weather conditions play a major role. Even our Prime Minister's flight was delayed on the day of the inauguration due to bad weather and poor visibility. Small chartered flights, carrying mountaineers and trekkers, will not help sustain this airport. We will need larger players in the field of aviation for financial viability. We need to start talks with India on this," he said. The MEA source believes that this is just part of China's efforts to entice countries like Nepal into a debt trap and then gain a strong foothold there. "Countries like Nepal are going through an economic crisis. How can they even think of paying back China? Locals in Pokhara, whose lands were acquired, believe that the international airport there will result in economic growth and there was a lot of pressure to inaugurate the airport without proper planning. It is now upon the Nepal government to make the next move," the source said. New Delhi, Jan 2 : A recently published article in the journal Renewable Energy makes a case for Delhi to transition away from fossil fuels by as early as 2050. In a first-of-its-kind research, the study speaks to the technical feasibility and economic viability of 100 per cent renewable energy systems for a global megacity like Delhi within the northern Indian grid region. According to the study, batteries, prosumers and utility scale solar meet most of the demand in Delhi by 2050 as fossil fuels are phased out by then. The energy system taken into consideration includes the power, heat, transport and desalination sectors. Given Delhi's limitations in terms of land availability, it continues to get its power from the northern region, which comprises eight states. It is expected that these states -- Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh), Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are interconnected with optimised transmission networks. Delhi's power demands shot up to over 7GW in July 2022. Further it is expected that the demand will go up from 2,000 TWh in 2030 to around 4.400 TWh by 2050. The adjoining states emerge as new exporters of low-cost renewable electricity which can economically boost the states and also create much needed jobs. A recent announcement by the Delhi Pollution Control Board indicated that starting January 1, no coal will be permitted for use in 2023 although this does not cover thermal power plants. This was mainly with the intention to curb air pollution. The Delhi government also recently announced its intention to become the rooftop capital for the country by 2030 and achieve 50 per cent solar rooftops towards this. "While this is encouraging and in the right direction, our study shows that the government needs to be more ambitious given the potential and the co-benefits in terms of reduced costs, GHG emissions, reduced air pollution that the capital has been grappling with for over a decade and a higher number of jobs. This is the time for transformative change and Delhi has the opportunity to drive the energy transition across North India," said Manish Ram, one of the authors of the study. Previous studies have considered urban energy systems for megacities such as Beijing, Vancouver, Cape Town, and Helsinki but remain limited in the details. Urbanisation has been on the rise and it is expected that half the world's population will reside in cities by 2050. According to UN Habitat, cities consume 78 per cent of the world's energy and produce more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. "Cities are already facing the heat of locked-in climate impacts, faced with an increased urban growth and resource challenge, cities would need to be at the forefront of accelerated climate action. Data-driven climate action plans provide a strategic basis for cities to develop roadmaps to holistically mainstream climate action in long-term economic and urban planning," said Shruti Narayan, Regional Director, C40. New Delhi, Jan 2 : A retired Pakistani military officer and YouTuber has alleged that some actresses were used as 'honey traps' by the country's powerful establishment, according to media report. Pakistani actress Sajal Aly has responded to social media posts tarnishing her character after the ex-military man apparently levelled vile allegations against her and some other female actors, Samaa TV reported. Sajal has been under fire since the retired military official, Major Adil Raja, who runs a YouTube channel named 'Soldier Speaks' which has more than 290,000 subscribers, released a vlog. In it, he alleged that some actresses were used as 'honey trap' by the country's powerful establishment, Samaa TV reported. Although he did not take the name of any actor, he used their initials. As soon as the video went viral, people comprehended the initials to be of the actors who had worked in the dramas produced by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Samaa TV reported. Sajal Aly was among them too. Several debasing trolls were then posted on social media and Sajal finally responded to them, condemning the trend. In a tweet, she said, "It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin." In April last year, there were reports that retired army officer Adil Raja, who had reportedly gone missing from Islamabad, has "safely" reached his family in the United Kingdom, Dawn reported. Raja is an active political commentator on Twitter and an ardent supporter of former premier Imran Khan. He had also criticised the ouster of Khan and his government and called for the re-election of the PTI chief as Prime Minister in one of his tweets on April 10, Dawn reported. According to his profile on Twitter, he is a war veteran and currently a columnist. The ex-army officer has also been very critical of the new government - the Sharif family in particular - and has sporadically called them out for their alleged corruption. The day Shehbaz Sharif had taken oath as the Prime Minister, Raja had tweeted: "Appointment of the new Crime Minister is an indication of our System Failure", Dawn reported. Patna, Jan 2 : Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha on Monday urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the liquor prohibition act, and rising crime and corruption of the state rather than going for another Yatra. "Nitish Kumar did 13 yatras in the past and he did the 'terahwi' (13th day mourning ceremonies after death) of Bihar. The people of Bihar know when the terahwi happens. After the terahwi, he has planned to do another Yatra. People of Bihar know it's all over. "A leader of his alliance already said that his previous 13 Yatras have had no result. If they would have been effective, another Yatra would not be required for him. Hence, don't go for a picnic in the name of a Yatra," Sinha said. Nitish Kumar is going for the Yatra in Bihar from January 5 to make people aware about the benefits of liquor ban, its social benefits and health. He will also concentrate on benefit schemes and policies of the state governments. Sinha, however, said that the Chief Minister should instead review the current situation, especially how liquor mafias are flourishing in Bihar with the help of local police. Chennai, Jan 2 : Tiruchi Corporation in Tamil Nadu is all set to deploy robotic technology for the underground drainage systems in a bid to prevent manual scavenging in the corporation. The corporation will be implanting the technology this month itself to identify the blockades in the underground sewage systems. The corporation will use robotic technology after the underground drainage network got clogged with non-biodegradable waste. A senior official with the Tiruchi corporation told IANS that the corporation has already had discussions with a private company for the supply of robots to the corporation. According to the official, these robots will spot the blockages in the underground drainage systems and Tiruchi will be the first corporation in the state to use the services of robots to monitor underground drainage systems. The official also said that deploying robots would help in cleaning the blocks at a much faster pace and the usage of the latest technology will aid in monitoring the blockades also. It may be noted that recently three people lost their lives while cleaning underground sewage in a flat complex in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu. Several organisations have been at the forefront of agitations for the government to intervene and prevent manual scavenging. With the Tiruchi corporation deploying robots and robotic technology to remove the blockades in underground drainage systems, there are possibilities of other corporations deploying these services in their respective corporation limits. Chennai, Jan 2 : The unions in the government-owned general insurance companies and General Insurance Corporation of India Ltd (GIC Re) on Monday called off their January 4 strike, said an union leader. The strike has been called off following an agreement reached with the management of the companies at the conciliation meeting called by the Chief Labour Commissioner, Central. "Various arguments took place in the meeting from both sides and finally, the CLC advised the managements to give proper bilateral opportunity for discussion with the Associations within 15 days and take the suggestions," Trilok Singh, Convenor-North Zone, Joint Forum of Trade Unions and Association (JFTU), told IANS. He said the CLC had further advised that the managements should consider the suggestions of the associations positively. "Managements agreed to meet the Associations within 15 days for the same. In the light of these instructions from the CLC's office and the managements' decision, we have decided to defer the strike till further advices," Singh said. At the conciliation meeting, the management representative said since 2016 it has been a matter of existence for the insurers. They said even after infusion of capital by the government, the companies are struggling to survive. The companies have to maintain solvency ratio and for that, they have to cost effective. The representative of the Department of Financial Services also maintained that the insurers have to improve their performance. The strike notice was given by Girish Khurana, National Convenor, JFTY protesting against the unilateral implementation of the EY recommendations on rejigging the five reinsurers. The CLC had called the Chairman-cum-Managing Directors of the five companies, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Khurana for a conciliation meeting. The unions have been demanding the copy of the EY report for a long time. The management had given them a copy of the power point presentation made to them about the EY report. "Bullet points contained in PPT (powerpoint presentation) reveal no details and we are unable to submit our view-points and suggestions in the matter," Khurana said in a letter to Suchita Gupta, Chairperson GIPSA and Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Insurance earlier. Kolkata, Jan 2 : Trinamool Congress' West Bengal General Secretary and party spokesman Kunal Ghosh has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to travel abroad. Having spent over two years behind the bars following his alleged connection with the Saradha chit fund scam and currently released on bail, he has approached a division bench of Justice Jaymalya Bagchi and Justice Ajay Gupta seeking permission to travel to Singapore. The matter was heard by the division bench, but it could not come to a decision, since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a probe in the multi- crore Ponzi scam, has sought eight days time to give its opinion in the matter. The matter is likely to come up again on January 10. Ghosh got the bail in the case way back in 2016. There were initial restrictions on him from travelling outside the state. However, later those were relaxed and the restriction was on overseas travels. Asked why he is making this appeal after so many years since he got bail, Ghosh said that since there was no requirement for him to travel abroad during the period, he did not make any appeal. "Now I have received an invitation for which I need to travel abroad. So, I have made the application to the court," he said. Ghosh was arrested by special investigation team (SIT) of the state police probing the Saradha chit fund scam on November 24, 2013 after his surfaced in the multi-crore Ponzi scam. At that time his relationship with the party deteriorated and the party leadership even suspended him. However, things started mending after his release on bail and in June 2021, he was appointed the state General Secretary. Lahore, Jan 2 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he once told then Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa that he had been a playboy in the past, media reports said. Revealing details of his last meeting with Gen Bajwa in an interaction with media persons at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, Imran Khan said: "General Bajwa called me a playboy, and in reply I said to him 'Yes, I had been a playboy'. Bajwa was stabbing us in the back and also showing sympathy," The News reported. The PTI Chairman further claimed that ex-COAS Bajwa's "set-up is still working in the establishment". Without taking the name of the army chief, he said: "In Pakistan, the establishment is the name of one person." The former Premier, who was removed from power through a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly in April last year, said Bajwa did not want accountability in the country, hence, their relations worsened. Responding to a question, Imran said Bajwa was expressing solidarity with him after stabbing him in the back. The former army chief was against the rule of law in the country, he claimed. The former Prime Minister accused Bajwa of hiring the services of Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former Ambassador to the US, for lobbying in the US. Haqqani was accused of seeking US action against Pakistan's military through the so-called memo months after the US raid in Abbottabad in 2011 on Osama Bin Laden's compound amid an increasing rift between the civilian and military leadership. He was accused of issuing visas to Americans without due process, bypassing relevant authorities, and embezzling funds, The News reported. The deposed prime minister also said Haqqani launched a campaign against him and had been promoting the former army chief in the US. Turning his guns towards former President and ex-Army chief Pervez Musharraf, Imran Khan said he made dollars by "selling terrorism". Amaravati, Jan 2 : Kapu leader and former Andhra Pradesh minister Chegondi Harirama Jogaiah on Monday called off his indefinite hunger strike for 5 per cent reservation for the community following an appeal by actor-politician Pawan Kalyan. Pawan Kalyan, who leads the Jana Sena Party (JSP), spoke to Jogaiah over phone and urged the octogenarian leader to end the hunger strike considering his health condition. Jogaiah had gone on hunger strike at the government hospital in Eluru, after the police forcibly shifted him from his residence in Palakol of West Godavari district late on Sunday night. The 85-year-old founder of Kapu Sena refused to take food and medical aid. This had caused concern to his supporters and leaders of various Kapu organisations. Some of them were arrested by the police when they tried to reach Eluru hospital to meet the fasting leader. It was at the intervention of Pawan Kalyan that Jogaiah finally relented. The JSP leader reportedly assured him that the issue of Kapu reservation would be taken up in some other form. Police were making arrangements to drop Jogaiah at his residence in Palakol. He was forcibly shifted to Eluru by the police late Sunday night as he was preparing to launch the indefinite fast at his residence from Monday. Jogaiah is demanding 5 per cent reservation for the Kapu community under the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) quota. The former minister alleged that the state government did not respond to his demand. He had written to the government seeking categorical assurance on the provision of reservation to Kapus on or before December 31. Jogaiah had said that he was ready to lay down his life for the cause of Kapu reservation. Meanwhile, JSP slammed the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government for the delay in providing quota to Kapus. The party recalled that the previous government had passed a resolution in this regard and sent it to the Centre. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was then the leader of opposition, had backed the resolution, pointed out JSP spokesman P. Mahesh. Chandrapur : , Jan 2 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party President J.P. Nadda on Monday went to pray at the famed dargah of Hazrat Qibla Syed Behabtullah Shah in Maharashtra's Chandrapur, and was accorded a warm welcome by the shrine authorities. Nadda, on a day's visit to the state in preparation for the 2014 elections, visited the dargah, with his head covered, and offered a 'chadar' with folded hands, with help from the dargah's servitors and officials. A large number of BJP activists also accompanied him in the small dargah premises. The BJP chief also went to the nearby renowned Aradhya Devi's Mahakali Temple and prayed there with the temple authorities giving him a rousing reception, before departing for Aurangabad. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Union Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Monday asked the Congress not to "misinform" people after its senior leader P. Chidambaram commented about the Supreme Court's decision on demonitisation. "Please do not misinform our citizens," Rijiju tweeted. Chidambaram, in his tweet, said that even though we are "obliged" to accept the law, "it is necessary to point out that the majority has not upheld the wisdom of the decision; nor has the majority concluded that the stated objectives were achieved. In fact, the majority has steered clear of the question whether the objectives were achieved at all". In response, Rijiju said that the Congress attempt "to twist the issue and misinform the people is exposed". "Their malicious efforts to undo the legitimate action of an elected Govt won't succeed and P. Chidambaram fails again," he posted. "We are happy that the minority judgment has pointed out the illegality and the irregularities in the Demonetisation. It may be only a slap on the wrist of the government, but a welcome slap on the wrist," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets. Chidambaram, in his tweet, was referring to Justice B.V. Nagarathna who, among the five-judge committee, was the only one to speak against the note ban in 2016, terming the the move by the Narendra Modi government "unlawful". "The dissenting judgment will rank among the famous dissents recorded in the history of the Hon'ble Supreme Court," Chidambaram tweeted. Chidambaram went on to say that the minority judgment brings out the profound distinction between the plenary legislative power of Parliament and the limited power of the executive Government. "We are happy that the minority judgment has emphasised the important role of Parliament in a democracy. We hope that in future an unbridled Executive will not thrust disastrous decisions on Parliament and the people," he tweeted. Rijiju, however, claimed that Chidambaram knows he's making a political argument when he states that the objectives were not met, as neither the majority judgment nor even the minority judgment has accepted the said contention. He said that the Supreme Court never examines the impact of a decision like demonetisation. "That question could never have been raised for consideration of the Supreme Court as it is essentially for the executive," Rijiju tweeted. "However, the positive impact of demonetisation like increase in income tax, curbing black money which disrupted terror finance, disclosure of bogus companies & direct transfer of benefits to the needy are for all in the public domain," he said. "Our citizens know this and showed that trust through the ballot towards PM Narendra Modi," he tweeted. The government's 2016 decision to demonetise the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes was maintained by the Supreme Court on Monday in a 4:1 majority judgment, stating that the decision-making process was not defective. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The sticker of an IVF centre has led to the arrest of two persons accused of stealing cash from a gurdwara in West Delhi's Khayala area. West Delhi DCP Ghanshyam Bansal said the accused have been identified as Gurmeet Singh and Trilok Singh, while three of their associates are still at large. A sticker of Baby Joy IVF centre pasted on an auto-rickshaw helped the police track down the culprits. "We traced them by a sticker of Baby Joy IVF centre pasted on the auto-rickshaw of accused Gurmeet. He was traced and interrogated during which he broke down and confessed that he was involved in the incident. At his instace, the co-accused was held from Meerut. Cash to the tune of Rs 86,356 was recovered from Gurmeet, while Rs 38,330 was seized from Trilok," Bansal said. The police team relied mainly on CCTV footages from the crime spot in which five men could be seen coming to the gurdwara in an auto-rickshaw, breaking the lock and after stealing the cash, fleeing towards Vikas Puri. The IVF sticker on the auto-rickshaw gave clue to the police. During investigation, the police found that Gurmeet had stolen the auto from Dhaula Kuan, tempered the number plate and was running it with a fake number plate. Efforts are on to trace the original owner of the auto, as well as arrest the remaining accused. New Delhi, Jan 2 : A special CBI court in Visakhapatnam has awarded different jail terms to 10 persons, including two officials of IDBI Bank, in connection with a bank loan fraud case worth Rs 201.17 lakh. The court awarded two-year rigorous imprisonment to Surendranath Datti, then Assistant General Manager at IDBI Bank, Visakhapatnam, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, and Dwibhashyam Karthik, then Assistant Manager at IDBI Bank, along with fine of Rs 30,000. Apart from them, eight private persons were awarded one-year rigorous imprisonment each by the court. The CBI said that Datti and Karthik, in connivance with the borrowers, direct sales associates, panel valuers and engineers, had sanctioned and disbursed loans to ineligible borrowers by accepting fake income tax returns, ignoring adverse CIBIL reports, violating the laid down procedures and norms of IDBI Bank and failing to ensure property security. The accused caused a total loss to the tune of Rs 201.17 lakh to IDBI Bank. Taha International Industrial Services has signed a deal with Indian aluminium giant Runaya Group allowing it to use Taha's patented technology for processing aluminium slag. The agreement also stipulates the provision of two advanced industrial units to Runaya. Taha International Company and Runaya Group signed this agreement in Bahrain, where Taha is headquartered. The signing ceremony took place under the patronage and in the presence of the Bahraini Minister of Industry and Commerce, Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Piyush Srivastava, Indias Ambassador to Bahrain, Safa Sharif Abdulkhaliq, Chief Executive Officer, Export Bahrain. Patrick Pollmann, Group CEO of Taha International, said his company continues to be a global leader when it comes to the processing of aluminium slag. He reiterated Tahas determination to innovate in this area, employ the finest talent and set global trends for the promotion of aluminium metal, which has emerged as the metal of the future. New perspectives Aluminium slag processing technology will help provide sustainable and distinctive solutions and present new perspectives in the Indian aluminium industry. Furthermore, the creation of methods devoid of hazardous and toxic industrial waste will support sustainable global economic growth, said Pollmann. Pollmann emphasised Taha's dedication to environmental and climate issues, through fulfilling sustainable development goals, shifting towards a green economy, reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the sustainability of resources for future generations. As part of the event, Pollmann participated in a panel discussion with several senior executives representing international industrial companies. The focus of the discussion was on the pivotal concepts and probable outcomes that this technology will have for the aluminium sector. The panelists agreed upon the importance of increasing patent rates and developing new technologies in order to improve environmental sustainability.-- TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, Jan 2 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' will end in Srinagar on January 30 with hoisting of the national flag after it resumes on January 3 after covering 9 states and a Union Territory in its first leg, party leaders said on Monday. The Bharat Jodo Yatra has covered 3,122 km so far from Gandhi Mandapam in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari to the Red Fort in Delhi. Over 108 days, it has covered 49 districts in 9 states and a Union Territory - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Congress General Secretary, in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said: "Rahul Gandhi and the Bharat Yatris have been meeting, interacting, and conveying the message of Bharat Jodo to tens of thousands of people every single day. This Yatra is truly a Yatra for listening to the people of India. The Yatra listens to people through large numbers of meetings." "There have been 87 sitting interactions of 30-40 minutes with various groups, usually of 20-30 people. These groups raise various issues of the localities and states we are walking through. There have been over 200 planned walks with smaller groups of 4-5 people, from celebrities to intellectuals to activists to ex-servicemen to local children. "To convey the message of the Yatra, there have been 95 corner meetings, where Rahul Gandhi makes a short speech about the message of the Yatra at the end of the day. In addition, 10 large public meetings have been held, to which lakhs of people have attended. There have also been 9 press conferences, one in each state, where media, especially local media, have freely asked questions," Ramesh added "The spirit of Bharat Jodo has also been celebrated with visits to several important religious and spiritual centres, interactions and performances by numerous artistes, and two Bharat Jodo concerts," he said. The Congress said through these range of mass contact efforts, the Yatra is a significant milestone in the Congress's rich tradition of representing the voice of all Indians. Resuming from Delhi on Tuesday, it will enter Uttar Pradesh on the same day, and move till there till January 5, will be in Haryana from January 6 to 10, in Punjab from January 11 to 20, and also spending a day in Himachal Pradesh on January 19. The Yatra will enter Jammu and Kashmir on the evening of January 20. "The message of Bharat Jodo is not limited only to the 12 states and 2 Union Territories through which the Yatra passes. Several state-level Yatras have already been announced, and the upcoming Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan will take the message of Bharat Jodo to the door step of every Indian," Ramesh said. Kolkata, Jan 2 : A court in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Monday issued arrest warrants against four Trinamool Congress leaders in connection with a post-poll violence probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the murder of BJP worker Debabrata Das at Nandigram in the district. The warrants issued by the Haldia sub-division court include the name of Sheikh Sufian, who was the election agent of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the high- profile "battle for Nandigram" in the 2021 Assembly elections. In that high- profile battle, she ultimately got defeated by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, who is currently the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly. The other three against whom the arrest warrant has been issued include Abu Taher, Sheikh Amanulla and Sheikh Kushobi. It is learnt that CBI has recently filed a supplementary charge sheet in the case that was registered at Nandigram police station. In that charge sheet, the central agency sleuths besides the four also mentioned the names of two other persons, namely Sheikh Saiyam Kazi and Sheikh Samsuddoah. They are charged under Sections 147 and 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The CBI informed the court that though Kazi and Samsuddoah were cooperating in the course of investigation, the remaining four were in total non-cooperation mode and hence, an arrest warrant be issued against them. The CBI has already arrested 12 persons in connection with the investigation, which include the son-in-law of Sheikh Sufian as well. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday will deliver its verdict on whether restrictions can be imposed on the right to freedom of speech and expression of a public functionary. A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice S.A. Nazeer and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, V. Ramasubramanian, and B.V. Nagarathna, would deliver the verdict. According to the cause list uploaded on the top court's website, two separate judgments will be pronounced by Justice Ramasubramanian and Justice Nagarathna. The top court had reserved the judgment in the matter on November 15. The case originated from a statement made by Azam Khan, then Uttar Pradesh minister, about gang rape case victims. The top court was hearing a plea filed by a man whose wife and daughter were allegedly gang-raped in July 2016 on a highway near Bulandshahr seeking transfer of the case to Delhi. The plea also sought lodging of a case against Khan in connection with his controversial statement that the gang-rape case was a "political conspiracy". The Supreme Court, while reserving the judgment, had observed that there is an unwritten rule that people holding public office must impose self-restriction and ensure they do not make disparaging remarks, and this must be inculcated into the political and civic life. In October 2017, a three-judge bench referred the matter to the constitution bench to decide various issues, which included whether a public functionary or a minister can claim freedom of speech while expressing views on sensitive matters. During the hearing in the matter, the bench had queried, is there no constitutional culture in our country that is inherently applicable to those in public office? "There is an unwritten rule that we impose a self-restriction towards making disparaging remarks," it said, adding that this must be inculcated in our political and civic life. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended that the issue is more of an academic question whether a writ can be filed citing Article 21 for action against a particular statement. Attorney General R. Venkataramani cited the top court's judgments in Tehseen Poonawalla and Amish Devgan cases and emphasized that sufficient guidelines exist. He added that as a matter of constitutional principle, any additions or modifications of restrictions to fundamental rights have to come from the Parliament. Justice Nagarathna remarked that the reason why there is no law all this while is because there has always been an inherent self-imposed code on those in public life. She added that now the impression is that such restrictions are being relaxed, leading to hurtful speeches being made and no checks are being made, allowing them to get away, especially those in high office including public servants. New Delhi, Jan 2 : A panel of 3 doctors on Monday conducted the post-mortem examination of the 20 year-old girl, who was killed in an horrific accident on Delhi's outskirts on late Saturday, being dragged 10 to 12 km from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala under the vehicle. The autopsy was conducted by the panel at Maulana Azad Medical College on Monday evening and the sources said that the report will come on Tuesday. Earlier, addressing a press conference here, Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Sagar Preet Hooda, said that a medical board had been constituted to conduct the post-mortem and fresh charges could be added against the five accused as per the autopsy report. Karachi, Jan 2 : Opener Devon Conway struck his fourth career century for New Zealand in the second and final Test against Pakistan here on Monday only for the Black Caps to squander the advantage and end the opening day at 309/6. Conway scored 122 off 191 balls, hitting 16 boundaries and one six and raised a partnership of 134 runs for the opening wicket with Tom Latham (71) to give New Zealand a great start after electing to bat first. However, from a position of strength at 226-1 at tea, New Zealand slumped to 279-6 before wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (batting on 30) and Ish Sodhi (batting on 11) took the to 309/6 at stumps on Day 1. Latham and Conway started confidently and attacked leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed early and didn't let him settle into a rhythm. Latham completed his half-century off 70 balls as New Zealand raced to 100 runs in 24.1 overs. Latham fell soon after, caught before wicket by Naseem Shah for 71. Former skipper Kane Williamson, who scored a double hundred in the drawn first Test, then joined Conway at the crease and they stayed together for almost 30 overs, taking New Zealand past 200 when Conway departed, caught by keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed off Agha Salman. Williamson (36) was back in the pavilion within a few minutes with a score at 240/3 and New Zealand, who at tea looked on track to take a dominant position, squandered the opportunity. New Zealand lost Henry Nicholls (26), Daryl Michell (3) and Michael Bracewell (0) as Pakistan came roaring back leaving the contest tantalizingly poised. Part-time spinner Agha Salman was the best bowler for Pakistan on the day with 3-55 while seamer Naseem Shah claimed 2-44. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed could manage only one wicket for 101 runs off 24 overs. Brief scores: New Zealand 309/6 in 90 overs (Devon Conway 122, Tom Latham 71; Agha Salman 3-55, Naseem Shah 2-44) v Pakistan. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Monday that it has attached immovable assets worth Rs 20.31 crore belonging to Mada Subrahmanyam, Mada Srinivasa Rao, Ganduri Mallikharjuna Rao, Eluri Prasada Rao, their family members and firms in a case related to fraudulent loans obtained from the IDBI Bank's Guntur branch in Andhra Pradesh. The ED had initiated probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of four FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the aforesaid persons and others for fraudulently availing Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans from IDBI Bank for fish farming. The investigation revealed that the accused conspired with Chandra Sekhar Harish Chennappagari, the then manager of the IDBI Bank's Guntur branch, to commit the fraud. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the said aggregators fraudulently availed Kisan Credit Card loans totaling to Rs 57.10 crore from IDBI Bank for fish farming in the names of 247 borrowers, who were their family members, employees and persons known to them, by giving their properties as collateral securities and misappropriated the loans sanctioned to the borrowers. The ED also learnt that part of the proceeds of crime (loan amounts sanctioned to the borrowers) was utilised by the accused for purchasing several immovable properties in their names and in the names of other persons known to them. "A total of 47 immovable properties having a market value of Rs 20.31 crore, which were acquired by the accused and the then bank Manager using the proceeds of crime, have been attached under PMLA," said an ED official. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The Supreme Court on Monday stayed criminal proceedings against senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid for allegedly trespassing into the Delhi Public School (DPS) Society office here. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Khurshid, contended before a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Vikram Nath that he is open to mediation and it will be an ideal situation. Khurshid had moved the apex court against an order passed by the Delhi High Court in November 2019 in the incident connected with the dispute related to the leadership of the society. The top court, in its order, said: "Leave granted. It is clarified that the stay of the proceedings is only in the case pertaining to the present petition." The bench also noted that Khurshid is a responsible and reputed person. Khurshid has challenged various Delhi High Court orders, which dismissed his plea for quashing the criminal proceedings against him and others in a case was registered for unauthorised entry into the society's office. In December 2019, the apex court had issued notice on Khurshid's plea against the high court's order and asked the parties to explore the option of mediation and also stayed further proceedings in the case till then. According to police, in March 2015, the DPS Society had alleged that Khurshid, along with Sharda Nayak, trespassed into the society's office. The high court in 2018, allowed Khurshid's petition to quash trial court order, passed in January 2018, summoning him as an accused for allegedly trespassing into an office of the DPS Society in south Delhi. Panaji, Jan 2 : Seven opposition MLAs boycotted the meeting called by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over Mhadei issue on Monday, on the grounds that there was no scope to discuss anything as the latter had decided everything in the cabinet meeting. "It is shocking to see that the Chief Minister, after a cabinet meeting (in the afternoon), announced certain things over Mhadei. It is completely undemocratic. Why were we invited for the meeting (at 4 p.m.), if you were going to discuss everything in the cabinet? We condemn his attitude," Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said at a press conference. Alemao along with Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, AAP's Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Revolutionary Goan Party's Viresh Borkar, Congress MLAs Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Altone D'Costa, boycotted the meeting. "Goa's existence depends on Mhadei. Our flora and fauna, our nature and rich natural diversity all are dependent on Mhadei. This government is hand in glove with the Central government and Karnataka. The (Sawan) government was aware of all the things happening with Mhadei and Detailed Project Report (of Karnataka), to which the Central government has given approval," he said. Alemao said that it is shocking that all 33 MLAs in ruling are silent, because they may have got some "fatwa" to keep mum over the issue. The BJP has its own 28 MLAs, and support of two MLAs of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and three Independent MLAs. Alemao said that that Sawant should make sure that within a week's time after the government delegation meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the DPR should be withdrawn, failing which he should resign on moral grounds. Reacting to the boycott, Sawant in the evening said that opposition MLAs remained absent as they wanted to do politics over the issue. "They want to do politics over Mhadei. We will fight legally and technically for Mhadei," he said. "Karnataka can't divert the water. Notice will be issued under the Wildlife protection act. We have started the process to issue notice. My government is serious about Mhadei. Allegations made by the opposition are baseless. I reiterate that we will not compromise on Mhadei. Fight for Mhadei will continue. As per time and need, we will meet and fight with the Centre and will take decisions," he had said after the cabinet meeting. Sawant said that his government has not received an official DPR copy. "We have demanded it. We have made a strategy where we can lodge our objections. There is no need to make this strategy public," he said, adding they will demand that the Centre withdraw the approval given to the DPR. "We will not allow to take water from 'Out of the basin', although the tribunal has permitted Karnataka to take 3.9 TMC water, we have challenged it in the Supreme Court," he said. Sawant said that the government will stress on demanding to form a 'Water Management Authority' so that Karnataka can be stopped from illegally diverting water. Guwahati, Jan 2 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reached the Mohanbari airport at Dibrugarh for a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. On Tuesday, Singh will visit Boleng in Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh where he will inaugurate the strategically-important Siyom bridge. Singh will also virtually inaugurate 27 other projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) along with the release of the BRO Vision and New Tech Handbook. Following that, he will interact with the locals. Notably, the BRO has constructed a total of 3,097 km of roads in Arunachal Pradesh in the last five years, the government informed the Parliament during the recently-held winter session. This will be the first visit of the Defence Minister to Arunachal Pradesh after the recent clash in the Tawang sector between the Indian and Chinese security forces. New Delhi, Jan 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke on the need to make the 'Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya' popular among the youth by organising competitions about its content in colleges and universities across the country. The Prime Minister said this while presiding over the annual general meeting of the NMML Society, in his capacity as its President, at his residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. In his remarks, the Prime Minister underlined the need for widening the scope of research on modern Indian history both in terms of individuals, institutions and themes, so as to create better awareness among the people about India's past. The Prime Minister also emphasised the need for institutions in the country in general to create their well-audited and researched recorded memory for the benefit of the present as well as future generations. Expressing satisfaction over the design and content of the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, Modi underlined the important fact that this museum is truly objective and nation-centric, not person-centric, and that it suffers neither from undue influence nor from unwarranted absence of any required facts. In order to take the message of the Sangrahalaya highlighting the achievements and contributions of all the Prime Ministers of India to the people, Modi spoke on the need to make it popular among the youth by organising competitions about its content in colleges and universities across the country. He also expressed hope that in the near future, the Sangrahalaya would emerge as a central attraction for visitors to Delhi from different parts of India as well as the world. Mentioning that the year 2024 will mark the 200th birth anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, Modi called upon the academic and cultural institutions across the country to produce well-researched knowledge about the contributions of the great visionary and social reformer to the country as well as about the Arya Samaj, which is going to complete 150 years of its existence in 2025. The chairman of the executive council of Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), Nripendra Misra, spoke on the current working of the society as well as outlining the vision for the future. In particular, he highlighted the plans for the library, which is a leading institution in the field of modern and contemporary Indian history, as well as for the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya opened in April last year. Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addresses the inauguration ceremony for Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara, Nepal, Jan. 1, 2023. As Pokhara International Airport, a national pride project of Nepal, was inaugurated on Sunday, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal laid emphasis on its contribution to national and regional development. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) KATHMANDU, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- As Pokhara International Airport, a national pride project of Nepal, was inaugurated on Sunday, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal laid emphasis on its contribution to national and regional development. A Buddha Air flight carrying the prime minister, also known as Prachanda, was saluted with water cannon when it landed at the new airport. "With this airport, Pokhara has become the center of connectivity with many countries," Prachanda said at the inauguration ceremony which attracted hundreds of thousands of audience. Pokhara is a popular tourist destination in central Nepal. "Nobody will dispute the contribution of Pokhara International Airport to the economic development of the district, the metropolitan city and the whole nation, because of the enhanced connectivity established by this airport," Prachanda said. The Pokhara airport, a 4D-standard facility, was contracted with loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) by China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd., a company directly affiliated with China National Machinery Industry Corporation which ranks among the top 500 enterprises in the world. The construction started in July 2017. "We also know the airport is vital for economic activities, social economic development and disaster relief," remarked Tao Ma, regional director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia and Pacific Office. "The successful completion of the airport project is a great achievement of close cooperation between China and Nepal," said Liu Shengcheng, vice president of China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. "It is the day of realization of a dream for the people of Pokhara," noted Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel, the outgoing chief minister of the Gandaki Province, where the new airport lies. The new airport in Pokhara, the third international airport in Nepal, was designed and built on Chinese and ICAO standards, and it is a good example of China and Nepal working together under the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang Xin, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. Wang described the project as one that has displayed China's pursuit of quality in project construction and marked Nepal's national pride. Referring to the inauguration of the new airport, the recent border reopening between Nepal and China and the start of the survey work on the cross-border railway, Prachanda said, "Big projects are being initiated with Chinese support." Pokhara International Airport is pictured in Pokhara, Nepal, Dec. 31, 2022. As Pokhara International Airport, a national pride project of Nepal, was inaugurated on Sunday, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal laid emphasis on its contribution to national and regional development. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) A Buddha Air flight is saluted with water cannon when it lands at Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara, Nepal, Jan. 1, 2023. As Pokhara International Airport, a national pride project of Nepal, was inaugurated on Sunday, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal laid emphasis on its contribution to national and regional development. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) Sodik Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan, met with Yusuf al-Utaibi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Azernews reports citing Uzdaily. During the meeting, the present condition and prospects of relations between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as topics of strengthening inter-parliamentary connections and expanding educational cooperation, were discussed. The historic visit of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Saudi Arabia, as well as the agreements made as a result of it, as well as the signed accords, elevated mutually beneficial ties to a qualitatively and meaningfully high level. The importance of inter-parliamentary interactions in bilateral cooperation relations, as well as both parties' willingness in increasing the scope of contacts in this regard, were emphasized. The parties discussed how to strengthen inter-parliamentary friendship groups and organize mutual visits of leaders and members of parliaments. In addition, the emphasis was on educational collaboration, with emphasis on the growth of cooperative initiatives in this area. Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the national oil company for Oman, has partnered with the French startup Spare Parts 3D (SP3D), to assess the 3D printability of 150,000 unique spare parts. In six months, the team processed 150,000 coded spare parts to define a 3D printing adoption matrix based on technical feasibility and economical attractiveness. This was made possible thanks to SP3D data-driven funnel approach methodology, its unique machine-learning based software DigiPART, the availability of material coding information records and the commitment of a multidisciplinary PDO team. Agile decision-making tool PDO now has an agile decision-making tool to enable its 3D printing deployment roadmap, speeding up Additive Manufacturing (AM) deployment by an estimated two years, and helping the company to remain at the forefront of innovation in the Middle East. Partial data not a blocking point Despite having extensive master data records, PDO did not have the ideal set of data available containing all technical and economic data points, technical drawings, 3D files in one place and readily accessible. For example, it was a challenge to scope the AM journey given that circa 80% of the parts lacked dimension and weight information. The information provided was extracted from PDO ERP (Inventory management; Purchase Orders and Material Coding) limiting the time required to collect data on such a large number of parts. Thanks to DigiPARTs semantic recognition algorithms combined with extensive AM databases the team optimised the original data set to allow running the algorithm to identify printability. After having selected non-suitable parts, ourselves, we contracted SP3D for their ability to enrich our partial dataset. This helped to select the right spare parts to focus on for PDOs AM journey, - Mohammed Yahyai 3D Scoping workstream Lead, Lead Rotating Equipment Engineer. Funnel approach To efficiently sift through 150,000 coded parts, DigiPART runs a number of algorithms among which is the Semantic Recognition Algorithm (SRA). The SRA reads through the parts descriptions and identifies part names that are earmarked for further printability analysis. In parallel, DigiPART precisely defines the functional specifications of a part. For example, having recognised an Impeller, DigiPART automatically associated more than 10 functional specifications relevant to PDOs equipment and operating environment for a particular application (e.g. operating temperature, fluid service, corrosion levels, pressure, wear, resistance, etc.). This level of automation and precision is the key to efficiently identify the right AM material and print method like Selective Laser Melting (SLM), rapid casting or material deposition on large amount of data. This iterative funnel approach resulted in a first 200 opportunity list. PDO then asked warehousing teams to verify the assumptions made during the Identification stage, which is manageable for 200 parts. The data-driven outputs for these opportunities will support the 3D printing deployment roadmap. PDO now has access to an agile decision tool covering over 60,000 spare parts. Customised business cases filters enable PDO to select the most relevant parts to print and install or switch from physical to digital inventory, Commented Paul Guillaumot, CEO of Spare Parts 3D. In-Country Value initiative An important benefit of the analysis is the ability for PDO to understand the potential to print in Oman. SP3D regrouped the outcome to show the AM solutions and materials combinations with most potential to increase local added value, including expected annual demand in US dollars. This enables PDO to provide input to local investment decisions and support the localisation strategy based on facts, not estimates. The ability to provide valorisation on AM potential is a first in Oman and of great support to accelerate In-Country Value initiatives and build our Industry 4.0 ecosystem in the sultanate, said Sulaiman Ruqaishi, PDO In-Country Value Business Development Lead. The partnership allows PDO to accelerate its AM journey based on an extensive and comprehensive analysis. Enriching PDOs existing data via the use of algorithms enabled the creation of a 3D printing parts selection matrix including both technical and commercial feasibility considerations. Our fundamental issue was to logically and quickly screen and identify 3D printing candidates to define PDO AM scope and move forward. With the support of our partner SP3D PDO is now able to make informed decisions, accelerate deployment and support stakeholders, said Philippe Dupont, Head of Material Procurement & Inventory Management, PDO.-- TradeArabia News Service Patna, Jan 2 : While the Grand Alliance government in Bihar nearly completes 5 months, the first major rift emerged on Monday when JD-U parliamentary board President Upendra Kushwaha asked Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, of the RJD, to control his MLA Sudhakar Singh. Kushwaha also asked him to remember the era of the Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi governments and how a man like Chief Minister Nitish Kumar redeemed the situation after he came to power. He also asked Tejashwi Yadav to control his MLA Sudhakar Singh or it would not turn out well for him. Sudhakar Singh has been attacking Nitish Kumar ever since he resigned as Agriculture Minister. He recently compared Nitish Kumar to the Mahabharata's "Shikandi" which created outrage among the JD-U leaders. "Tejashwi Yadav ji, please listen to the statement of one of your MLAs carefully and inform him about the importance of dignity while making the statement. He is using the word 'Shikandi' for that person who showed masculinity and managed to salvage from the creepy situation at a time when no one dared to speak anything against them (Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi)," Kushwaha said. The JD-U leader, who is very close to Nitish Kumar, did not use the word 'Jungle Raj' in his series of tweets but still openly gave a strong statement on social media platforms. "The statement of Sudhakar Singh has hurt crores of JD-U supporters who are associated with Nitish Kumar from the formation of Samata Party which later transformed into Janata Dal-United. You (Tejashwi Yadav) should inform Sudhakar Singh that Nitish Kumar will be remembered for taking Bihar out of a creepy situation," Kushwaha said. "With the blessing of people, Nitish Kumar has made a record of becoming Chief Minister of Bihar for the highest number of times and if anyone is saying 'night guard' for such a big leaders, it is actually an insult to the people of Bihar. It will be better for you (Tejashwi Yadav) and for the alliance to stop making such a statement," Kushwaha said. New Delhi, Jan 2 : The family members of a 20-year-old woman, who died a painful death after being dragged by a car for about 12 km in the early hours of Sunday, questioned on Monday as to why not a single piece of cloth was found on the deceased person's body. "She was wearing so many clothes, but not a single piece of cloth was there on her dead body. What kind of accident was it? The police are not showing us her body properly. I want justice for my daughter," said the mother of the victim, who was killed in the horrific incident on the outskirts Delhi when she was dragged for about 12 km, from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala, after her clothes got entangled in the wheel of the car which hit the Scooty she was driving. "It was not an accident. They did something to her," the mother said. The police have arrested five persons, who were in the car when the incident took place. They have been identified as Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mitthu and Manoj Mittal. Amit (25) works with SBI Cards in Uttam Nagar, Krishan (27) works at the Spanish Culture Centre, Mithun (26) is a hairdresser at Naraina, while Manoj Mittal (27) is a ration dealer in Sultanpuri who is also a BJP worker. On Monday, the family members and others staged a protest outside the Sultanpuri police station. They also pelted stones on a poster of Mittal, pasted on a pole next to the police station, which the protesters tore down. The victim was the sole bread-earner for her family and supported her ailing mother, four sisters and two younger brothers. After her father died last year, she supported her family and paid for her mother's dialysis by working part-time at an event management company. On Saturday too, she had left her home for work in the evening, telling her mother that she should be back by 2-3 a.m. But what happened at that fateful night scarred her family forever. "I spoke to her at around 9 p.m., and she had told me that she would be late. Then her phone was switched off after 10 p.m.," said the victim's mother. According to the FIR, the incident took place at around 2 a.m. on Sunday. Two of the five accused persons, Deepak Khanna and Amit Khanna, had taken the car from their friend Ashutosh at around 7 p.m. on Saturday (December 31). At around 5 a.m. on Sunday (January 1, 2023), they left the vehicle at Ashutosh's residence in a damaged state. Amit and Deepak told Ashutosh that they were drunk and had met with an accident with a Scooty in the Krishan Vihar area following which they fled towards Kanjhawala. After fleeing from the accident spot, they stopped the car near Jaunti village on Kanjhawala road, where they found the victim woman's body stuck under the car. Deepak told the police that he was driving the vehicle while Manoj Mittal was sitting next to him. Mithun, Krishan and Amit were sitting on the rear seat. After seeing the body, they got scared and left the victim there. Later, they went to Ashutosh's home, parked the car and proceeded towards their respective residences, the FIR said. The police found the Scooty in Krishan Vihar, around 12 km from the spot where the body was found. As per the FIR, three PCR calls were received at the Kanjhawala police station informing about the naked body of a woman found near the Hanuman temple in Jaunti village. The sub-inspector at Kanjhawala police station then contacted the caller and it was revealed that a silver Maruti Baleno car was involved in the incident. After the police traced the owner of the car, Lokesh, in Budh Vihar Phase-1, he told the police that his car was with his brother-in-law, Ashutosh, a resident of Rohini Sector-1. Later, all the accused persons were nabbed by the police on Sunday. On Monday, the police said that the woman was dragged for around 12 km following the accident and a medical team has conducted the post-mortem, the report of which is expected on Tuesday. Massive protests had erupted in Sultanpuri on Monday with locals accusing the police of trying to cover up a 'rape' case by terming it as an 'accident'. Meanwhile, an eyewitness named Deepak claimed that when he spotted the car and the woman under it, he immediately called the police and chased it for several kilometres on his bike. Another eyewitness, Vikas, who works as a delivery boy for Zomato, said that the people in the car took a U-turn after they saw police barricades on Kanjhawala road. Blood samples of all the five accused persons have been sent to the forensic science laboratory (FSL) to determine if they had consumed alcohol. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sought a report from Delhi Police in the matter. Special Commissioner of Police (law and order), Sagar Preet Hooda, said on Monday that fresh charges could be added to the FIR depending on the findings of the autopsy report. A video purportedly showing the woman's body without clothes and broken legs has surfaced on social media. The footage also led to claims that the victim was 'raped' and killed, but the police are maintaining that it was a case of accident. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has asked the police to clarify if the woman was sexually assaulted and if the accused have any criminal history. Bengaluru, Jan 2 : The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Karnataka unit on Monday demanded arrest of senior BJP MLA and former minister Arvind Limbavali in connection with the suicide of an industrialist. AAP state campaign committee President Mukhyamantri Chandru demanded the immediate arrest of Limbavali after industrialist S. Pradeep shot himself in the head and held six influential persons, including the BJP leader, responsible for his death. Addressing a press conference at the party's state office, Chandru said: "Pradeep named six people including BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali as the people responsible for his death. "We still remember what happened in the (contractor) Santosh Patil suicide case. The police, without even interrogating former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, gave a clean chit although his name figured in the death note. "Now, the BJP wants to induct the same minister back in the cabinet. We do not want Limbavali also to be let go without an investigation in the same way. We demand immediate arrest of all the accused including Limbavali in the suicide case." The AAP leader said that when a common man's name figures in a death note, the police take cognisance and arrest the accused immediately. "What should have been the same law for everyone... (but) it looks as though the police on the behest of the party in power does not deem it fit to arrest the accused." "If Aravind Limbavali is not arrested, there is every chance of him destroying the evidence against him. All the other people named in the suicide note have to be arrested and interrogated as well. Pradeep's family should get justice. The case has to be thoroughly investigated and truth should come out in the public," Chandru said. "The BJP government in the state indulges in many irregularities for which honest people face harassment and at times, end up resorting to committing suicide. "Only a few days ago, T.N. Prasad, a contractor from Tumakuru, had committed suicide. The 40 per cent commission racket by the BJP is the sole reason for such suicides. The BJP government misuses power unabashedly and ensures their leaders and their friends are not indicted," he alleged. New Delhi, Jan 3 : A man, who had beaten his friend for refusing to give money for purchasing liquor, was killed in a fit of rage in east Delhi's Ghazipur. Police have now nabbed three persons, including a juvenile, in connection with the murder case while the fourth accused is on the run. DCP of East Delhi, Amrutha Guguloth said that the deceased Vikash had once beaten his friend Himanshu for refusing to give money for purchasing liquor. Himanshu, along with his friends, killed Vikash to take revenge for the insult. The official said that on January 1, the police got a PCR call regarding a body which was lying in a vacant land near DDA paper market in Khora Colony. After receiving the PCR call a team was sent to the spot. The police team found a body of a male whose face was brutally smashed. The police said that the deceased was later on identified as Vikash Yadav alias Praveen Pradhan (20) a resident of Ghaziabad. The police lodged a case of murder and formed a team to solve the case. The team scanned over hundred CCTV footages and spoke to a number of people in the area. Later they learnt that the deceased was seen with Himanshu alias Makoi, Nitin and one minor boy who live in the area. The police conducted a raid and nabbed Himanshu. "He disclosed that Vikash had once demanded money from him to buy liquor. When he refused, the deceased brutally thrashed him. After this, he had decided to teach Vikash a lesson. On January 1, he along with his friends was having liquor at DDA plot when Vikash reached over there. They had an argument with Vikash and they killed him," the police said. At the instance of Himanshu, Nitin was also arrested from his residence. Later, a juvenile was also apprehended from his residence. "The accused persons have no previous involvements. Efforts are on to arrest fourth associate who is absconding," said the police. Seoul, Jan 3 : South Korea has started Covid-19 testing for arrivals from China at Incheon International Airport. Under the new restrictions which came into effect from Monday, all arrivals from China are obliged to undergo a PCR test within the first day of their entry, Yonhap news agency reported. They must also remain in separate facilities here until their test results are confirmed, while South Korean nationals and foreigners with residency status returning here from visiting China have to quarantine at their residence after a PCR test. As of 5 p.m., 13 people coming from China had tested positive for Covid-19, according to health authorities. All of them were asymptomatic. Beginning Monday morning, Incheon airport authorities handed out red name tags to all short-term visitors from China to identify them from travellers from other countries. Soldiers wearing blue protective clothing then escorted them to the PCR testing centre located at Terminal 1. As there was no separated route for them, some travellers arriving from Singapore were mistakenly given the red name tags after standing in wrong lines. Foreigners who underwent the PCR test were asked to stay in a waiting room on the first floor of the nearby Transportation Center until their test results came out. The centre where benches and simple refreshments are prepared can accommodate about 300 people at the same time. Government authorities, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jee Young-mee, conducted an on-site inspection of how the new measure was being carried out. The officials visited areas designated for travelers taking PCR tests and waiting for the results and inspected anti-virus measures at the scene, according to Han's office. A Chinese national who was waiting for her friend arriving from China complained that it is frustrating to have to wait at the airport for more than six hours on Monday. She also said her friend was significantly inconvenienced by the suspended issuance of short-term visas for Chinese nationals. A Beijing-based South Korean employee of a South Korean company who landed at Incheon airport Monday morning voiced dissatisfaction at the sudden quarantine policy change, saying his business trip schedule in Seoul has been messed up, as he has to quarantine after a PCR test. "The tougher restrictions may be necessary due to serious Covid-19 situations in China, but it is regrettable that the (South Korean) government has not given prior notice sufficiently in advance," the employee said. Tehran, Jan 3 : Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that Iran sees no problem with building relations with Egypt. At a weekly press conference, Kanaani hailed the talks between the Iranian Foreign Minister and his Egyptian counterpart on the sidelines of a recent regional conference in Jordan's capital Amman as "positive", Xinhua news agency reported. More talks are being held to resolve consular issues between the two countries, he added. Speaking of the Iraqi prime minister's recent proposal to facilitate talks between Iran and Egypt, Kanaani said Iran "welcomes any positive steps taken for Iran-Egypt relations", reaffirming Tehran's rapprochement regional policy. In recent years, Iran has announced readiness to mend ties with Egypt by settling differences on certain issues. The success SunButter has had with Walmart is due to a continued partnership to bring healthier product choices to the Walmart consumer. SunButter, the brand innovating mighty delicious, mighty healthy, better butters made from sunflower seeds, has expanded its retail partnership with Walmart, which now carries SunButter Chocolate in 800 Walmart locations and on Walmart.com. SunButter first launched its retail partnership with Walmart in 2009 with its top-selling Natural variety and has since grown to also include all sunflower butter varieties on Walmarts website. The success SunButter has had with Walmart is due to a continued partnership to bring healthier product choices to the Walmart consumer, said Paul Martin, National Sales Manager for SunButter. SunButter Chocolate contains 80% less sugar and 3x more protein than the leading chocolate spread, and were grateful that Walmart supports our mission to offer todays families better-for-you food and snack options. SunButter Chocolate is a deliciously creamy blend of rich cocoa and savory sunflower butter thats sweetly satisfying and nutritious. A more mindful indulgence, each serving is packed with 6g of plant-based protein and only 4g of sugar, and is free of the top food allergens and sustainably made. SunButter Chocolate also contains more healthy fats, vitamins and minerals than most nut butters, is palm oil-free and dairy-free, and is certified non-GMO, gluten-free and kosher. Consumers can continue to find the brands top-selling SunButter Natural, a simple and delicious sunflower butter that contains 7g of plant-based protein per serving, on Walmart shelves and Walmart.com. In addition, SunButters Creamy, Natural Crunch, No Sugar Added, and Organic jarred varieties are available online. Prices vary by Walmart location for a 16oz. jar of SunButter Chocolate. Visit http://www.sunbutter.com and http://www.walmart.com for more information. About SunButter: SunButter is committed to spreading pure, uncomplicated goodness with sunflower seed butters that are healthier, tastier, safer and more sustainable for our families and our planet. SunButter combines a few simple ingredients for wholesome, good-for- you sunflower butters with a unique sweet and savory taste. Packed with satisfying plant-based protein and free from the top allergens, SunButter products contain less sugar and more vitamins and minerals than most nut butters. The company is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, where all SunButter products are sustainably produced in a top allergen-free facility. SunButter can be found in major retailers, specialty stores and nut-free schools across the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.sunbutter.com or connect on Facebook; Instagram; Youtube; TikTok; Twitter; Pinterest; and LinkedIn to #spreadsomesun. My Gospel is all about what I have been through in life and how much my Father in heaven has helped me through Author Kenneth Todd Swanson seeks to encourage others with his testimony, My Gospel($10.99, paperback, 9781498416528; $4.99, e-book, 9781498416535). My Gospel is all about what I have been through in life and how much my Father in heaven has helped me through, said Swanson. Kenneth Todd Swanson was born in Wisconsin and raised in San Jose, California. He has a strong prophetic ministry and is married to and inspired by a beautiful and kind Filipina, Sheryl Swanson. Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. My Gospel is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. Financially-motivated and state-backed threat actors have targeted governments, hospitals, cryptocurrency firms and many other organisations with impunity in 2022. The cost of a data breach now stands at nearly $4.4 million and as long as threat actors continue to achieve successes like those below, we can expect it to rise even higher for 2023, writes Phil Muncaster, guest writer at ESET, a firm specialising in cybersecurity. Here are 10 of the worst cyber-incidents of the year, be it for the damage they wrought, level of sophistication or geopolitical fallout. The list is in no particular order, but it makes sense to open it with malicious cyber-operations that took aim at Ukraine and immediately raised concerns about their wider ramifications and associated cyber-risks faced by the wider world. Ukraine under (cyber) attack: Ukraines critical infrastructure has found itself, yet again, in the crosshairs of threat actors. Early into Russias invasion, ESET researchers worked closely with CERT-UA on remediating an attack that targeted the countrys grid and involved destructive malware that Sandworm had attempted to deploy against high-voltage electrical substations. The malware which ESET named Industroyer2 after an infamous piece of malware used by the group to cut power in Ukraine in 2016 was used in combination with a new version of the destructive CaddyWiper variant, most likely to hide the groups tracks, slow down incident response and prevent operators of the energy company from regaining control of the ICS consoles. More wipers: CaddyWiper was far from the only destructive data wiper discovered in Ukraine just before or in the first few weeks of Russias invasion. On February 23rd, ESET telemetry picked up HermeticWiper on hundreds of machines in several organisations in Ukraine. The following day, a second destructive, data-wiping attack against a Ukrainian governmental network started, this time delivering IsaacWiper. Internet down: Barely an hour before the invasion, a major cyberattack against commercial satellite internet company Viasat disrupted broadband internet service for thousands of people in Ukraine and even elsewhere in Europe, leaving behind thousands of bricked modems. The attack, which exploited a misconfigured VPN device to gain access to the satellite networks management section, is believed to have been intended to impair the communication capabilities of the Ukrainian command during the first hours of the invasion. Its effects were felt far beyond Ukraines borders, however. Conti in Costa Rica: A major player on the cybercrime underground this year was ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group Conti. Once of its most audacious raids was against the small South American nation of Costa Rica, where a national emergency was declared after the government branded a crippling attack an act of cyber terrorism. The group has since disappeared, although its members are likely to simply have moved on to other projects or rebranded wholesale, as RaaS outfits generally due to avoid scrutiny from law enforcers and governments. Other ransomware actors were also in action in 2022. A CISA alert from September explained that Iran-affiliated threat actors compromised a US municipal government and an aerospace company, among other targets, by exploiting the infamous Log4Shell bug for ransomware campaigns, which isnt all that common for state-backed entities. Also intriguing was a US government compromise in November that was also blamed on Iran. An unnamed Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) organisation was breached and cryptomining malware deployed. Ronin Network was created by Vietnamese blockchain game developer Sky Mavis to function as an Ethereum sidechain for its Axie Infinity game. In March it emerged that hackers managed to use hijacked private keys to forge withdrawals to the tune of 173,600 Ethereum ($592 million) and $25.5 million from the Ronin bridge, in two transactions. The resulting $618 million theft, at March prices, was the largest ever from a crypto firm. Infamous North Korean group Lazarus has since been linked to the raid. The hermit nation has been traced in the past to thefts worth billions of dollars, used to fund its nuclear and missile programmes. Lapsus$ burst onto the scene during 2022, as an extortion group using high-profile data thefts to force payment from its corporate victims. These have included Microsoft, Samsung, Nvidia, Ubisoft, Okta and Vodafone. Among its many methods are bribery of insiders at firms and their contractors. Although the group had been relatively silent for a while, it re-emerged at the end of the year after hacking Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games. Several alleged members of the group have been arrested in the UK and Brazil. International Red Cross (ICRC): In January, the ICRC reported a major breach that compromised the personal details of over 515,000 highly vulnerable victims. Stolen from a Swiss contractor, the data included details of individuals separated from their families due to conflict, migration and disaster, missing persons and their families, and people in detention. It was subsequently blamed on an unnamed nation state and occurred when an unpatched system was exploited. Uber: the ride-hailing giant was famously breached back in 2016 when details on 57 million users were stolen. In September it was reported that a hacker, potentially a member of Lapsus$, had compromised email and cloud systems, code repositories, an internal Slack account and HackerOne tickets. The actor targeted an Uber external contractor, most likely grabbing their corporate password from the dark web. Medibank: All of the Australian health insurance giants four million customers has personal data accessed by ransomware actors in an attack which may end up costing the firm $35 million. Those responsible are believed to be linked to infamous ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) outfit REvil (aka Sodinokibi) with compromised privileged credentials responsible for initial access. Those impacted now face a potential barrage of follow-on identity fraud attempts. Whatever happens in 2023, some of the cautionary tales from these 10 major incidents should stand everybody, including CISOs, in good stead. Get your cybersecurity processes and operations right, organise cybersecurity awareness trainings for all employees, and partner with reputable security companies whose solutions can stand up to the complex methods deployed by threat actors.-- TradeArabia News Service TLC By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/02/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Molly Hopkins has insisted she's "not concerned with any negativity" surrounding the demise of her friendship with her former : Pillow Talk co-star, Cynthia Decker."Molly is focused on doing her right now and doesn't have the energy or time to discuss the fallout with Cynthia," Molly's representative Dominique Enchinton of Dominton Talent House told In Touch Weekly in a statement."She is immersed in her business and charity work and wants to remain centered on her goals."Dominique continued, "This Christmas she has put her whole heart and energy into helping 12 families, most of which are battling cancer, to help give them a wonderful Christmas."Molly's statement makes it clear that she does not plan on slamming or arguing with Cynthia in the press."She is not interested in speaking ill about anyone," Dominique said."Molly knows who she is and what's in her heart. She is concentrating on the positive and all the amazing things the future holds."Cynthia reportedly convinced Molly to sign up for to begin with after Molly met her ex-husband Luis Mendez during a girls' trip to the Dominican Republic.Molly and Luis, 32, starred on Season 5 of , and Cynthia often appeared on the show as Molly's best friend and confidant.Luis ultimately moved to the United States and married Molly, but they had a nasty breakup on Season 3 of : Happily Ever After?. The pair filed for divorce in January 2018, and the divorce paperwork was finalized in June 2018.Molly and Cynthia then appeared on Season 2 of : Pillow Talk in November 2019, according to In Touch.The women seemed closer than ever and got a few laughs, but then Molly suddenly started filming the commentary spinoff with her boyfriend Kelly Brown, prompting fans to assume she and Cynthia were on the outs.Molly had met Kelly while filming Season 1 of 90 Day: The Single Life, which was released in 2021.Not only have Molly and Cynthia appeared on the franchise together, but they also co-founded their business, LiviRae Lingerie, together in 2006.Cynthia's Instagram bio still reads that Cynthia is an owner and co-founder of LiviRae Lingerie, but the business's official Instagram page seemingly addressed the women's falling out last month."Livi Rae Lingerie is undergoing several structural changes, as do many businesses," the statement read in December 2022, according to the magazine."Please note regardless of internal changes, we are still very much in business and our doors are open and we are operating as normal."The message concluded, "It's been an absolute pleasure and one of my biggest blessings running Livi Rae Lingerie for ongoing 15+ years now and this journey is NOT coming to an end as there are still so many we wish to serve. Will love always, Molly Hopkins ."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! New Delhi, Jan 2(UNI) Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings against Congress leader, and Sr lawyer, Salman Khurshid in DPS Society trespass case. A two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice BR Gavai and also comprising Justice Vikram Nath granted an interim stay on proceedings against Khurshid in relation to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Amar Colony Police Station in Delhi. According to the FIR registered against Khurshid and two others, they have been accused by the DPS Society of trespassing into their office premises situated in south Delhi. The Senior Adovcate was once the President of the DPS Society, and is an alumnus of DPS Mathura Road. In 2008, he was expelled from its membership for allegedly indulging in anti-DPS activities by critising the society's fee collection policies. The Apex court passed the order, after hearing an appeal filed by Khurshid, who moved the SC challenging against a June 2018 Delhi High Court's ruling, that had refused to stay his expulsion. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for Khurshid, before the Supreme Court and sought relief from it. UNI SM RKM Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. To the editor: In the Jan. 3 Reformer, Dan Yates bid farewell to his place at Brattleboro Savings and Loan ("Farewell, Brattleboro Savings &am Cruise lines ordered to pay more than $400 million for trafficking in confiscated property in Cuba Women across Afghanistan continue to oppose recent bans by the Taliban on education and employment opportunities for females. Male professors and university students have also protested against the increased restrictions on women in higher education. Despite international condemnation, the Taliban does not seem willing to reverse the bans. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has launched an investigation into the online appearance of a video on social media purporting to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The SBU announced the probe on April 12 as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blasted Russian forces as "beasts" over the video of the alleged decapitation. It has not been independently verified. The Kremlin called the video "horrible," but added that its authenticity needed to be studied as "we live in a world of fakes." "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill...we won't forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers" Zelensky said in a video message posted on Twitter on April 12. The SBU said the investigation would try to determine whether there had been a violation of the rules of war that say prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. "We will find these inhumane...they will definitely be punished for what they did," the head of the countrys Security Service, Vasyl Malyuk, was quoted as saying. Earlier, Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Zelenskiy, said on Telegram that there will be an accountability for everything. According to CNN, a video posted on social media on April 8 appeared to show the beheading of corpses of two Ukrainian soldiers lying next to a destroyed military vehicle. The video was purportedly filmed by members of the private Russian mercenary group Wagner. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Reports on Russian social media claimed the video was shot near the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been devastated by weeks of heavy fighting. Another video posted on social media on April 11 appeared to show Russian forces torturing a Ukrainian prisoner and cutting off his head. RFE/RL could not independently verify the footage. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "this is terrible footage, and first you need to check the authenticity. "If it is confirmed, then we need to find where and by whom," the action was committed, he said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was "absurd" that Russia currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council while "Russian terrorists" have invaded Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was "appalled" by the particularly gruesome videos. For its part, the EU said it remains committed to holding war criminals accountable. We don't have more information on the veracity of the video. Having said that, if confirmed, this is yet another brutal reminder about the inhumane nature of the Russian aggression," EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said. Since its troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been accused of committing various war crimes, accusations it denies. Last month, the United Nations expressed deep concern over what it says were summary executions of prisoners of war (POWs) by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. Earlier in April, the United Nations Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of extending and expanding the mandate of an investigative body probing possible war crimes in Ukraine. The Geneva Convention, the international law regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, says any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. With reporting by AFP Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a temporary military barracks in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region after the Kremlin, in a rare battlefield admission, acknowledged that scores of its soldiers had been killed at a site in the city of Makiyivka. "On December 31in the settlement of Makiyivka, Donetsk region, up to 10 units of enemy military equipment of various types were destroyed and damaged," Ukraine's General Staff said on January 2 in a Facebook post. "The losses of the occupiers' personnel are being clarified," it added. The statement came shortly after the Russian military said 63 of its soldiers had been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on temporary barracks near the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk after the Ukrainian Army and several posts by pro-Russian social media suggested hundreds had been killed. The Russian Defense Ministry said on January 2 that "as a result of a strike on a temporary-deployment point by four missiles with a high-explosive warhead, 63 Russian servicemen were killed." "All necessary assistance and support will be given to relatives and loved ones of the deceased servicemen," the ministry said. Russia has rarely acknowledged casualties during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. Hours earlier, the Ukrainian military, without initially acknowledging the attack itself, had suggested that hundreds of recently mobilized Russian troops died at a makeshift barracks in Makiyivka, a suburb about 15 kilometers outside of the occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. If such a scale of casualties is confirmed, it could represent one of the deadliest single incidents for the Russian side since the all-out invasion began 10 months ago and another potential rallying point for Ukraine and its international supporters in the conflict. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. RFE/RL is unable to corroborate battlefield accounts in areas of the heaviest fighting. But expressions of shock and anger by Russians online about the incident and the apparent failure of the Russian military to guard an occupied vocational school where the purported recruits were gathered suggested that even normally pro-Kremlin Telegram groups were acknowledging a setback. Some of the Russian groups suggested the shelling was the result of an attack by Ukraine with a high-precision HIMARS rocket. The Strategic Communications Department of Ukraine's military said via Telegram on January 1 that an attack by "Santa" had resulted in "about 400 corpses" at an occupied vocational school called PTU-19 in the town of Makiyivka. It said there were also 300 enemy troops wounded at Makiyivka. It said the explosion was "a result of 'careless handling of heating devices,' neglecting security measures, and smoking in an unspecified place." The Ukrainian side has routinely invoked such language after major events to suggest its defenders' responsibility without any outright claim. The Russian Telegram channel Unofficial Beznosov 'Z' said the "strike was delivered at exactly 00:01 our time" on January 1 and expressed hope that Russian military commanders who decided to use the facility in question to gather troops "will be punished." The Russian pro-military channel Tsargrad cited "hundreds" of dead, and the unofficial Operational Reports channel said 500 troops were dead. Others called the casualties suffered by the Russian side "substantial." A song by Tajik rapper Suhrob Soliev about a Tajik man sent to fight in Ukraine with the Russian Army has become popular on social media. The song by Soliev, AKA Master Sura, was based on a conversation with a real Tajik soldier who contacted the rapper from a hospital. The injured soldier was later killed after returning to the front line. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021 in a lightning military insurrection that toppled Afghanistans internationally recognized government, the country immediately fell into diplomatic isolation. Two of Kabuls neighbors to the north, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, chose a different route, putting the hard-line groups fractious history with the former Soviet Central Asian republics aside and prioritizing engagement over criticism and pressure. But a giant canal project in Afghanistan now taking shape that the Taliban is pursuing at a rapid pace is giving the two water-stressed countries doubts about whether strategic patience with the Islamic fundamentalist group will yield rewards. If you look at other projects that have involved Afghanistan and Central Asia somehow, there has often been a win-win element, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh, told RFE/RL. But the Qosh Tepa Irrigation Canal, which will divert large volumes of water from the dwindling transboundary Amu Darya River, is a very different case. This is very much zero sum, because water is a finite good and there dont seem to be any benefits for Afghanistans neighbors here, said Murtazashvili, adding that she expects the Central Asian countries to pursue a lot of quiet diplomacy on the project that will add to the pressures faced by outsized agricultural sectors already battling climate change and historical mismanagement. But the Taliban will be probing to see how far it can go, Murtazashvili said, something she suggested its downstream neighbors will have to get used to. If the first Taliban [regime that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001] was weighed down by insurgency and in some ways never really behaved like a state, Taliban 2.0 seems to really like the idea of projecting state power, Murtazashvili said. Old Project With New Momentum The stated dimensions of the irrigation canal that workers started digging last spring are enough to understand why the downstream countries have concerns. With a length of 285 kilometers and a width of some 100 meters, experts believe it could draw a significant portion of the Amu Daryas flow while irrigating 550,000 hectares of land. An Afghan civil servant with knowledge of the project told RFE/RLs Uzbek Service that work on the second of three stages of the project that began in the spring of 2022 is expected to begin in the coming months, with more than 100 kilometers already dug and visible from space. The plan to irrigate land in northern Afghanistan is not new. Farid Azim, an official at the National Development Company overseeing its construction, pointed out last year that Afghanistans first president, Mohammad Daud Khan, had a similar vision in the 1970s. The project was most recently pursued by the U.S.-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani -- which the Taliban overthrew less than two years ago. A press release issued by the United States Agency for International Development from 2018 marking the launch of a Washington-funded feasibility study for Qosh Tepa described a 200 kilometer-long canal serving a cultivated catchment area of 500,000 hectares. Developing Afghanistans agriculture sector provides great potential for employment and economic growth, then-U.S. Ambassador John R. Bass said in the release. But the project was not a pressing concern for neighbors, primarily because political infighting and chronic instability in northern Afghanistan had made it impractical. Bismellah Alizada, a researcher at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies, told RFE/RL that Rashid Dostum, who was the Afghan first vice president from 2014 to 2020, was among the influential politicians with concerns about the project. One of those concerns was that it would be used to benefit and resettle members of the politically dominant Pashtun group to which President Ashraf Ghani belonged, Alizada said. Dostum -- an ethnic Uzbek warlord -- long enjoyed strong ties to the regime in Uzbekistan and was even reported to have fled there when the Taliban captured Mazar-e Sharif, overwhelming forces jointly under his command before the group advanced on Kabul. Members of Dostums exiled Junbish-e Milli party have reiterated these concerns more recently, but the reality is that the Taliban has no opponents capable of preventing it from forging ahead with giant public works projects, Alizada said. More obvious obstacles are technical capacity and cash, with billions of dollars in funds belonging to Afghanistans central bank frozen after the Taliban takeover. That would make it hard for the cash-strapped Taliban to finance a project whose first phase cost nearly $100 million, according to reports. But Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Taliban has a strong political will to finish off projects begun by the former government with Qosh Tepa the biggest that the group has revived so far. With their very limited resources, the Taliban have prioritized [Qosh Tepa], said Smith, expressing skepticism that the Islamic fundamentalist group would pay attention to its neighbors concerns. The Taliban is a nationalist movement intensely focused on their domestic constituencies, Smith said. I think its fair to assume they will continue governing with a strong focus on issues inside the country and less regard for concerns outside, he told RFE/RL. Games Of Leverage Taciturn Turkmenistan has so far said nothing about the canal project. But a Turkmenistan-based hydrologist speaking in March to RFE/RLs Turkmen Service on condition of anonymity called the project not a problem, but a disaster. RFE/RL correspondents in the closed authoritarian country reported this year about severe water shortages in Turkmenistans Soviet-built Karakum Canal, which is four times the length of the one the Taliban is seeking to complete. The World Resources Institute in 2019 ranked Turkmenistan as one of 17 countries in the world with extremely high water stress. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were placed in the next highest category. Central Asia as a whole depends on rivers that rise in mountains, where many glacier stocks are being depleted by climate change. Tashkent, whose own Moscow-imposed, cotton-growing legacy is one of the chief causes of the Amu Daryas demise, has been more proactive on Qosh Tepa. According to the Talibans deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the topic was among those broached by Uzbek presidential envoy and former Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov when he was in Kabul last month for talks on economic cooperation. Komilov was cited by Baradars office as saying that Uzbekistan was ready to work with the Islamic emirate (the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan) through technical teams in order to maximize the benefits of the Qosh Tepa canal project. Uzbekistan provided no comment to that effect in its release on the talks, but President Shavkat Mirziyoev -- in a national address in December -- flagged Qosh Tepa as a concern as he touched on the problem of desertification. At the moment, we consider it necessary to conduct practical talks on the construction of a new canal in the Amu Darya basin with the interim government of neighboring Afghanistan and the international community based on international standards and taking into account the interests of all countries in the region, he said. We believe that this approach will be supported by our neighbors. Mirziyoevs preference for dialogue over threats on transboundary water use has been welcomed by the neighborhood since predecessor Islam Karimov passed away in 2016. This appears to have worked with upstream Kyrgyzstan, where successful border negotiations saw Uzbekistan granted de facto control of a strategic reservoir located inside Kyrgyz territory, albeit not without a rash of political discontent in Kyrgyzstan. And although authoritarian Karimov virulently opposed the construction of giant hydroelectric dams in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Mirziyoev has given both his blessing, with Tashkent even attaching itself to Kyrgyzstans Kambar-Ata-1 project as a partner -- a move that will give it a hand in upstream management. Qosh Tepa, however, is becoming a source of public anxiety in Uzbekistan. With the volume of the Amu Darya water [already] decreasing, Afghans will take a quarter of its water through this canal, complained Uzbek academic and outspoken government critic Khidirnazar Allakulov in an interview with RFE/RLs Uzbek Service. Instead of solving the problem, the Uzbek government takes the Taliban to Samarkand, dressing them and presenting them with gifts. The government bows to Afghanistan.. Not only the current generation, but also future [Uzbek] generations can be endangered by the water problem, Allakulov said. Regular exchanges between the Turkmen and Uzbek governments and the Taliban predated the fall of the Ghani government, and Turkmenistan was among the first countries in the world to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador. But in line with the international community as a whole, neither has recognized the new regime in Kabul. This only complicates what Alizada calls the legal lacuna between Afghanistan and its former communist neighbors, since Kabul had not previously signed treaties with them on transboundary management. And while Afghanistan is keen for more trade opportunities and relies on its northern neighbors for supplies of electricity for several provinces, there are other areas of these bilateral relations where the Taliban feels it has real leverage, Alizada argued. For the Central Asian countries, I think the number one concern is hard security, especially with the regions history with transnational extremist groups. The Taliban will continue to use assurances on security in negotiations with these countries going forward. After a career in academic philosophy in the 1970s and 1980s, Slavoj Zizek began to write widely in English, publishing what many consider to be his masterpiece work, The Sublime Object Of Ideology. Once referred to as a "celebrity philosopher" by Foreign Policy magazine, Zizek is known for his chaotic delivery, stream of consciousness speech, and controversial rhetoric. Although he has previously identified as a communist, he said he would vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Zizek is currently the international director of the Birkbeck Institute for Humanities at the University of London. He spoke to Vazha Tavberidze from RFE/RL's Georgian Service. RFE/RL: Before we talk about Ukraine and the war, I would like to ask you about Russia itself. Is Russia still an empire? Or a remnant of one? Or a country that would like to be one? The Tavberidize Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here. Slavoj Zizek: It's a very interesting question. I think it would like to be one, but I think, as it were, the "origin of evil" is also the way the West reacted to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. [By the way], I am totally anti-Putin. What I mean is that, in the 1990s, in the era of [Russian President Boris] Yeltsinthe implicit silent pact between Russia and the West was that Russia is formally recognized as a superpower on the condition that it doesn't really act as one. Like, we treat you as a great power, but let's face it, you are not one, and Putin then broke this rule. I also think that the way the West influenced the Russian economy in the 1990s wasn't very constructive in [the midst of the] economic decay in the Yeltsin years. Economic decay, distrust in democracy, corruption -- [all] created the conditions for Putin. But to avoid any doubt, Putin is a global catastrophe. But we [the West] are not blameless there. RFE/RL: Where do Russian imperial ambitions end? And what do they include? Is it the Soviet Union? Is it Russia from the time of Peter the Great? Where do we draw the line and the boundaries? Zizek: As it is with all imperial powers, they probably themselves don't have a precise plan. They just try to push it on and on and on. In the case of Ukraine, they mentioned the Russian minority, but do you remember the short war in Georgia? RFE/RL: I am Georgian, so I have to. Zizek: Russia took the southern part of Ossetia [in the war]. But Ossetians are not a Russian minority. Some people claim that all this big imperial rhetoric and all this idea of a Russian third way, all these fantasies of [Kremlin-connected far-right ideologue Aleksandr] Dugin, are just rhetoric and, in reality, Russia just wants to grab some land in Ukraine. I unfortunately don't believe in this. As a kind of leftist Marxist, I think that rhetoric is never just words. Ideology is a terrible material force; dont underestimate it. Oh, they are just talking[but] what they are talking about is horrible. You know that Putin in one of his speeches included not just the Baltic states, but even Finland and, with some hints, even Sweden. In Russia, they are dangerously approaching a new version of Nazism. What worries me also is the situation in [Bosnia-Herzegovina] and northern Kosovo. As I pointed out in some of my texts, some Serbian politicians already talk Putin's language, claiming that Kosovo should also be denazified. And now the ideology is approaching madness. Did you notice that now they don't only talk about denazification, but already about de-Satanization? Putin was proclaimed chief exorcist not only of Ukraine but basically the entire Western Europe. And here things get really worrying for me. Did you notice during the last visit of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskiy to Washington, but already before, a strong resistance from the extreme right, some Trump supporters, and so on. This deep solidarity of the Western new populist right with Putin. We should never forget -- although I am against any racist Eurocentrism -- that Europe is something unique today. And I'm saying this as a leftist, my God! A vision of a corporation of states in a global emergency situation based on basic social democratic values, even if there are conservatives in power, global health care, solidarity, free education, and so on. That's why, did you notice how Europe annoys everybody today? From Latin American leftists to the American right, to Russians, to third-world fake anti-colonizers and so on. Now I will try to be as open as possible understanding the Russian view. Yes, there are some neofascist tendencies in Europe here and there. I know the situation in Ukraine very well and [neo-Nazism], it's marginal and so on. But I will draw a distinction here between fascism and Nazism. Fascism is horrible. But remember, regimes like [Italian dictator Benito] Mussolini till 1938, [Portuguese dictator Antonio de Oliveira] Salazar, and [Spanish dictator Francisco] Franco. They were not this explosive, expensive fascism. They just tried to maintain order in their own land, while Nazism was something different. Hitler needed that war, constant tension and so on. So, I agree with the goal of denazification, but I think it should begin at home, in Russia. In Russia, they are dangerously approaching a new version of Nazism. RFE/RL: Speaking of ideology, let me ask you this. When we talk about the imperial mindset, is it just Putin? Or is empire something ingrained in the Russian subconscious? Zizek: It's a very interesting question. Many friends of Russia and admirers of Russian culture like to say, "Oh, this is just the present elite, Putin and so on. One shouldn't confuse this with Russian culture." I think it's always [been] more complex. One strand, one direction of Russian culture has this imperial ambition built in. For example -- and I know what I'm saying here because I think his danger is vastly underestimated but he's overestimated as a writer [Fyodor] Dostoyevsky. Dostoevsky was, as far as I know, the first who formulated this idea of Russia as the eternal victim of Europe. Russia saved Europe from Napoleon first and so on. Well, if we may engage in some crazy retroactive speculation, I think that if Napoleon were to win, with a miracle, and control Europe, maybe it would have been a much better Europe, incidentally. OK, [it would be] absolutism, but more enlightened absolutism, based, nonetheless, on the values of the French Revolution, freedoms and so on. I think there is no ethnic cleansing and violence without poetry. So, we have this idea, which was the ultimate idea of the fascist third way. This idea [where] the Far East, Asia is totalitarian, the West is individualist, and Russia, Russian Orthodoxy, is the right way in the middle. Only a united Eurasia can save us. I think that Eurasia is the Russian term for neofascism and it can even be empirically proven. The father of all of this is, as we all know but is not emphasized enough, Ivan Ilyn, a Russian political philosopher thrown out by Lenin. Already then, in the 1920s, [when Ilyn] emigrated to Italy, then to Germany, he was sympathetic to fascism. But, very interestingly, he claimed that Western Europeans, they are already too marked by Western dynamics: industrial, individualist, even Nazism, fascism. [He thought that] only Russian Orthodoxy, with its unity of secular and spiritual power, can provide the original Russian fascism. I think that line is returning today. RFE/RL: Russian exceptionalism? Zizek: Yeah. But exceptionalismin the sense that we are the exception that can provide the right balance between individualism and collectivism. This is an old fascist idea. Almost every power tries to present itself as somewhere in the middle. [According to] the idea of fascism, "we have communist totalitarianism, no private property, no freedom, and then we have Western liberalism [with] too much individualism. [But] we are in the middle, [we] fascists, [we] are the only real balanced power." I take these things very seriously. What [is happening] today in the United States with Trumpian neoconservatives is that they are now also moving into this revolutionary phase. It will remain, I hope, a cultural civil war. But did you notice that recently Trump said in an interview that to return to true trust, democracy, [the cancellation of the] Biden election and so on, we are allowed even to violate the constitution, [to] delegitimize the entire system. So, I think that the nightmare that I see, is a silent pact between Western alt-right neoconservatives, aggressive populists from France to England to Germany, [and] the United States and Russia. They have, they say, a vision of new sovereign state multiculturalism. You remember when the Taliban won in Afghanistan (as the United States completed its troop withdrawal in 2021), the Taliban and China immediately made a pact, which brutally made sense: "We leave you alone to do whatever you want, terrorizing women, and so on. You leave us alone to do what we want with our own Muslims, Uyghurs, and so on." This is the new world vision, and they even call it the new decentralization, multiculturalism, which means you can cut women's clitorises, be against LGBT, whatever you want. You do it there. We do it here, whatever we want. This is the new vision of sovereign neofascist states and the whole world is at least on one level moving in this direction. Now, I will say something to provoke our listeners. Maybe even you. I think there is no ethnic cleansing and violence without poetry. I don't dismiss all poetry. But a certain poetry was always ready to justify a nationalist, racist, totalitarian regime. Let's look at [American poet] Ezra Pound, a great modernist. [He] was in Italy working for fascism during World War II. T.S. Eliot was also on the edge, not to mention my own country, Yugoslavia. It is deeply significant that Radovan Karadzic, the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, was a poet. But wait a minute, I'm not dismissing poetry. Poetry can be an authentic voice, but nonetheless, we should take now from today's experience with Russia a deeper look into the past and analyze the root of it all. You know where I see one of the ideological roots?... Already in the late 1970s, [the KGB] clearly saw something: that Russia is losing [a] serious ideological war. That was the explosion of Western popular culture, rock music, and so on. So how to counter it?.... I remember they consciously began to build links with the Orthodox Church and Russian conservatives, which were, of course, till that point, oppressed. Because they knew that the only thing [that] could really oppose theindividualist, hedonist West was traditional Russian culture. This link, it's not just Putin and the patriarch, who is now the boss of the Russian Orthodox Church. This link has a deeper meaning. There is a pact between the darkest forces of the ex-KGB and a certain strand, again, in Russian Orthodox tradition. RFE/RL: With all the points you have made, professor, I think the central point, the gist of the question, still remains unanswered. Because what I asked was, is it an ideology that is imposed by the Kremlin leadership? Or is it an ideology that is embraced by the nation? Because that leads us then to another question of collective guilt and the question of whose war is it that is now happening in Ukraine? Is it Russia's war or Putin's war? Zizek: Maybe I'm even too optimistic here. I would like to find, maybea middle way. First, don't underestimate, even among ordinary Russians, this idea that we were a great power, with the Soviet [Union] and all that. This is a popular trend. But I nonetheless think thatRussia is deeply divided. The majority is neutral, but neutral in a cynical way. It will happen in the same [way] as with Milosevic in Serbia. He lost power, not because of his terrible politics of ethnic cleansing, but because he lost the war. If Putin will succeed, this will make him genuinely more popular. If not, then of course, he will be proclaimed a dictator who misused Russia and so on. So, I am not readyto blame Russian people as such, to brand them totalitarian, fascist and so on. They are somewhere in between, as most people are, but their tradition, the Orthodox Church, is, I claim, dangerous. There are tremendous achievements of Russian culture. For example, if you ask me, the three greatest writers of the 20th century, I think they are [Irish novelist and playwright] Samuel Beckett, not [Irish writer James] Joyce -- he's pretentious, Finnegans Wake? Who wants to read that? -- [German-speaking Bohemian novelist] Franz Kafka, and [Soviet writer] Andrei Platonov. [Platonov was] a faithful communist -- he was fighting for the Red Army. But in his[novel], The Foundation Pit, they dig a big hole for a new socialist building, [and] all that remains is a hole. It's so fascinating [that] even before Stalinism, he saw the nihilistic dimension of the Bolshevik project. So, as every culture, Russian culture is deeply divided. The struggle is going on, which is where I don't agree with my Ukrainian friends when they say let's boycott Russian culture as such, and so on and so on. Aren't we leaving them to Putin, by allowing him to present himself as the inheritor of Russian culture?. So, Russia is in deep conflict with itself. That would be my answer. We simply cannot say [whether] they are terrorizing the majority or [if it] has some roots also in the broad mass of people. RFE/RL: You did say that the relationship of the Russian people with Putin will depend on whether he wins this war or not. And there's another particular interesting quote of yours. You swipe against those who advocate that the West should not support Ukraine, and they should put more pressure to negotiate -- their reasoning is that Ukraine simply cannot win a war against Russia. And then to my surprise, when you write about this, you do agree with that assessment. You say: "true, but I see this exactly as the greatness of the Ukrainian resistance. They risked the impossible, defying pragmatic calculations, and the least we owe them is full support." Now if you don't think Ukraine can win this, then how far does this assistance and support go? Zizek: No, I wasn't precise enough there. [Ukraine] cannot win without very strong Western help. That's what I meant. My pessimistic assessment. Do you remember the beginning of the war? Although we nominally supported Ukraine, secretly, so many people from the left and the right admitted to me that the bad surprise was that Ukraine defended itself. They wanted the war to be over quickly. Because then, yeah, we will condemn Russia. After a couple of years of playing this boycott game, we will accept a new reality and so on and so on. I think that at the deepest subconscious level, this was the bad surprise for us -- not the attack, but the Ukrainian will to resist. Instead of being afraid of this -- my God, will they push Russia too far? -- shouldn't we, especially the leftists, be glad of this? This is one of the few examples [of] authentic popular resistance -- they did the impossible, every leftist should be glad. And I don't get my leftist friends who nonetheless perceive Russia as some kind of successor of the Soviet Union. RFE/RL: That was exactly the question I was going to ask you next. What's the root of this fascination with Russia, or let's call it obsession, of the leftists in the West, including very prominent thinkers like Noam Chomsky or Jeffrey Sachs. What's the root of this fascination with Russia, even Putin's Russia? Zizek: I read a recent statement by Sahra Wagenknecht, the German leftist [parliamentary deputy] of Die Linke (The Left party), and she quite openly says: Why should we lose energy, money, and so on, putting ourselves in danger, fighting for some war far awayendangering our welfare, the welfare, as she puts it, of our working people? So here, her idea is basically: Let Ukraine perish so that we don't have to pay higher prices for electricity or whatever. And this is pure egotism. Beneath there is still deep distrust of -- more than the United States NATO. The dogma of the left is, whoever you are, no matter how brutal the dictatorship, if NATO is against you, there must be ultimately something not totally bad in you. NATO is the automatic opponent. And I find all this reasoning so stupid. This is exactly the abstract pacifism that German propaganda was playing on in Europe just before World War II -- they [called] itanti-imperialism. French, English, American imperialism tries to dominate Europe, we will provide Europe [with] autonomy, we will save Europe and so on and so on. And the paradox is that Chomsky, who proclaims himself politically an anarchist, ended up not supporting Russia. The popular term today is "understanding Russia." And what de facto happens iswhile still helping Ukraine hopefully, we are putting pressure on Ukraine, [saying] don't provoke Russia too much. What I find so sad here is that the pacifists are not even ready to admit one thing now, the pacificists say, the front is more or less stabilized, let's push for peace negotiations, give Russia part of Ukraine. But are these pacifists aware that we arrived at this stage of relative stabilization of the front precisely because of the immense Western help in Ukraine?.... That's the paradox that they are not ready to accept, that the Western intervention [has] opened up the chance for peace. Without Western intervention helping Ukraine, [the country] would probably be occupied and then you can probably go on, to Moldova, the Baltic states, pressure on Finland and so on and so on. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Corky Smith, a former mayor and elder statesman of San Marcos, died Saturday, Jan. 26, at age 88. Smith served on the San Marcos City Council for more than a quarter-century, first as a council member for 14 years, starting in 1980, and then for three mayoral terms, until 2006. During that time, he was instrumental in transforming the city from a rural community to a prosperous center of business and education. He was very dedicated to the city of San Marcos and really turned it from a dirt road down Mission Road to a vibrant, destination city, said his son, Dan Smith. Advertisement San Marcos leaders who followed him credited Smith with lobbying to bring a California State University to the city, establishing the current civic center, and maintaining solid city finances. Corky definitely left his mark on San Marcos, said Mayor Rebecca Jones. We have the gym thats named after him. One of the reasons that San Marcos is in such great financial shape... and people want to live here, is because many (earlier) councils contributed so much, and he was part of that. Although former Mayor Jim Desmond ultimately unseated Smith in the 2006 election, he said he was grateful for Smiths role before him. Corky was a great man, and a real strong civil servant, and served the citizens of San Marcos very well, said Desmond, now a San Diego County supervisor. He served on the city council for many years, and during his term or tenure, he was a leader who brought about Cal State San Marcos, and many of our new neighborhoods that weve come to enjoy and have since matured, Desmond said. He set a good tone for the city of San Marcos, so Im grateful for the shape that he left the city in when I became mayor, and leaving me a strong foundation to work from. Former City Manager Rick Gittings, who served under Smith for nearly all of his term in office, described him as a low-key civic leader who was dedicated to the citys youngest and oldest residents. He was very down-to-Earth, and very interested in supporting San Marcos youth and San Marcos seniors, because he thought everyone else could figure it out for themselves, Gittings said. Smith was instrumental in negotiations to build Cal State San Marcos, as well as construction of the civic center, he said. The city had had a couple of false starts trying to work with some partners, and Corky said lets just make it work and pay for itself through lease revenue, Gittings said. When the council made the choice to site the civic center at its current location at San Marcos Boulevard and Mission Road, it moved the citys previous recreation center, the Williams Square dancing barn, to its current site at Walnut Grove Park. Smith pressed for the relocation for both historic and sentimental reasons, Gittings said. He and his wife had their first date at the Williams Square dancing barn, Gittings said. He was not about to let the city tear it down. Smith was born in Shamrock, Texas, on April 15, 1930, the son of a sharecropper and the youngest of 11 children, his son Dan said. Christened Finies Henry Smith, he got the name Corky from a character in a comic strip, Gasoline Alley, his son said. Smith hated his given name, so the nickname stuck and he went by F.H. Corky Smith thereafter. He served in the Navy, and then as a civil service plumber, before running for City Council, Dan Smith said. During his time in office, he cut a well-known figure in his signature car, his son said. He had a red, 1969 Ford Ranchero, which was all he ever drove, and everybody recognized that Ranchero, Dan Smith said. Once out of office, he devoted himself quietly to his church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Escondido, and his hobby of pigeon breeding and flying. His wife, Ethel, died in 2016, and he is survived by his son and three stepchildren. Beyond the major developments and civic institutions Smith helped establish, his most important legacy was one of service, his former colleagues and son said. He was what you call the public servant, Dan Smith said. He wasnt a ruler type, he was a servant. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan Imperial Beach is leasing a parking lot on Seacoast Drive and Elkwood Avenue and waiving the fee so people can park for free. Just in time for the summer, Imperial Beach is giving away free parking across the street from the beach. The city, which pays $5,000 annually to lease the 40-car lot on Seacoast Drive and Elkwood Avenue from the Port of San Diego, will waive the current $2 parking charge on June 1. It is a very rare opportunity for the City Council to have a chance to take a parking lot and make it free, said City Manager Andy Hall. Advertisement Even though parking will be free, there are some rules. The lot is opened from 5 a.m. to midnight, so no overnight parking, and large trailers and RVs are not allowed, Hall added. Because the lot costs money, it is underused. Locals who live nearby would rather park on the street for free even if it means having to find parking a couple of blocks away. With that lot costing $2 and parking in the neighborhood being free, people tend to drive around for half an hour to find a free spot and not pay the two bucks, said Councilman Edward Spriggs. We are trying to eliminate that dynamic. Imperial Beach hopes waiving the parking fee will ease traffic congestion and bring more people to the beach. With the anticipated opening of a brewery nearby and more seaside restaurants, they hope to get more tourists this summer. The lot costs the city monthly lease payments of $417. The lease lasts at least two years. The city is happy to spend the money if it means more people will enjoy their coastline, according to the mayor. For us, I think its really important to make sure that were providing ample access to the coast, said Mayor Serge Dedina. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter South Korean Vietnam War veterans stand beside a comfort women statue during their rally in front of Japanese embassy on May 23, 2013 in Seoul, South Korea. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a review of a controversial case seeking the removal of a comfort women memorial statue recognizing the 200,000 women forced into sexual slavery during Imperial Japans World War II occupation of countries including Korea, China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The decision ends a tense three-year debate over a suit filed by Glendale residents Michiko Shiota Gingery and Koichi Mera, in conjunction with the Global Alliance for Historical Truth-US Corp., a nonprofit group whose stated goal is to defend the honor of Japan. Last month, the Japanese government even filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit. The 1,100-pound bronze statue is located in Glendale and depicts a stoic Korean girl sitting next to an empty chair a replica of the "peace monument in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The installation of comfort women statues in Australia and South Korea have tested Japanese foreign diplomacy. The memorial was erected in Glendale Central Park in 2013, shortly after Osaka Mayor Toshio Hashimoto made the controversial argument that World War II-era comfort women were necessary to maintain discipline in the army." The memorial notes that the statue was erected to memorialize the thousands of women forced into sexual slavery by Imperial Japanese forces between the years 1932 and 1945. The statue was also a celebration of the passing of a House resolution adopted in 2007, which urged the Japanese government to accept historical responsibility for war-era crimes. The Japanese government officially issued an apology in 2015, and offered an $8.3 million contribution to South Korea for a comfort women victims fund. The lawsuit put forth by the plaintiffs argued that the memorial would cause irreparable injury from feelings of exclusion, discomfort, and anger to local Japanese-Americans by expressing disapproval of Japan and the Japanese people." The plaintiffs argued that the mere erection of the memorial exceeds the power of Glendale, infringes upon the federal government's power to exclusively conduct the foreign affairs of the United States and violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution. The claims made by the plaintiffs echo the sentiments of those who protested the memorial statue in 2013 when it was originally erected those who argued that the comfort women of World War II were prostitutes of free will. Around 100 protestors gathered at the Glendale City Council meeting in July 2013, accusing the comfort women of being liars. Some Japanese Twitter users were outraged overseas. No shame! If we installed a monument in America to memorialize the atomic bombs, the firebombing of Tokyo, the Vietnam war, the Muslim victims of the Iraq war, will you have any complaints about that? Thats why Japan doesnt have an atomic bomb memorial installed in America. The victims of the atomic bombs are in the thousands, or even more, but thats all in the past and if we are going to continue to have relations with Korea, we have to look and think forward. But to say that there were over ten million comfort women? Probably only a fraction of that. Please don't make me laugh. When the lawsuit was originally introduced in 2014, it ignited a firestorm in the legal community. Los Angeles criminal attorney Ken White wrote a scathing blog post, skewering the suit as vague, unprincipled and endlessly malleable. He asked, If a case like this succeeds, what will the courts say to a Holocaust denier who argues that a memorial is too harsh in condemning Germany, a nation with whom we have dicey relations? Supporters of the statue didnt back down either. Organizations such as the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese American Bar Association and the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress supported the statue. Phyllis Kim, the executive director of the Korean American Forum of California, the organization that worked to erect the memorial, said earlier last month at a small rally in Glendale Central Park, this is a very important piece of history that a lot Westerners are not aware of. Other supporters at last months rally included former Rep. Mike Honda and former Monterey Park Mayor Betty Chu. The U.S. Supreme Court decision officially puts the case to rest, allowing the memorial to continue to remind residents of Glendale about the horrors of war but the pursuit for more recognition continues. As Julie Tang, a retired judge of the Superior Court of San Francisco, told NBC News earlier this week, the Supreme Courts decision could be interpreted as a green light for 'comfort women' peace memorials to be built anywhere in the U.S. A memorial is expected to be erected in San Francisco later this year, making the city the first major American city to install a comfort women statue. Twitter: @anthonyberteaux Police arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of arson Monday in connection with a small brush fire in Tierrasanta. The fire, which burned about a quarter-acre of brush, was spotted around 6:50 p.m. near Antigua Boulevard and Robusto Road. Thomas Zamora, who lives in the area, was arrested in the canyon by a fire investigator within an hour of the fire breaking out, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque said. Advertisement Zamora was being held in county jail on $75,000 bail. He also was facing charges of being drunk in public and obstructing a public officer, according to jail records. It wasnt much of a fire, but they did make an arrest, Luque said. AMERICAS Colombia Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will hold its quarterly meeting on Colombia. The Council is also likely to vote on a draft resolution expanding the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to verify the implementation of the chapter on comprehensive rural reform and the ethnic chapter of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace between the government of Colombia and the former rebel group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP). The verification missions mandate expires on 31 October 2023. Key Recent Developments In the last quarter of 2022, the administration of Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego continued to advance its policy of total peace, which entails furthering the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement alongside the promotion of dialogue with non-signatory armed groups. As part of efforts to tackle the violence in conflict-affected regions, the Colombian government has been establishing unified command posts for lifeinter-institutional mechanisms to coordinate preventive responses that involve state entities, local authorities, and civil society. A 25 November 2022 statement by Colombias Ministry of Interior noted that 197 such command posts had been installed across the country. The statement also announced the establishment of the first Unified Command Post for the Life of Women, which is dedicated to the prevention of violence against women, in the city of Quibdo in the Choco department, which has long experienced high levels of violence. On 13 December 2022, Petro convened a meeting of the National Commission on Security Guarantees, which is charged under the 2016 peace agreement with developing a public policy for dismantling criminal organisations and their support networks. This was the second meeting of the commission since the president assumed office in August 2022, the first having taken place on 2 October 2022. On the same day in October, Petro presided over a meeting of the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI), the main forum for dialogue between the parties on the implementation of the peace agreement. Since then, the CSIVI has been convoked at least four times, with the latest meeting taking place on 22 December 2022. These two mechanisms, which play an important role in advancing various aspects of the 2016 agreement, were convened infrequently during the administration of former president Ivan Duque. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP)the judicial component of the Comprehensive System for Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition established by the 2016 agreementhas made important progress in the last quarter of 2022. It issued its first concluding resolutions, which determine whether individuals implicated in crimes committed during the conflict have acknowledged their responsibility and provided the complete truth about their role. Pursuant to the 2016 agreement, those who acknowledged their crimes will carry out sentences that will be imposed by the SJP, which can include up to eight years of confinement to one municipality to carry out work that counts as reparations for victims. Those who refuse to acknowledge their responsibility are subject to the Colombian penal code and could face up to 20 years of imprisonment. The SJP issued two separate sets of concluding resolutions in case 03 (on murders and forced disappearances misrepresented as combat casualties by state agents), regarding 11 implicated individuals and 12 other defendants, on 21 October 2022 and on 9 December 2022, respectively. On 24 November 2022, the SJP issued its first concluding resolutions in case 01 (on hostage-taking and other concurrent crimes committed by the former FARC-EP), regarding seven former members of the former FARC-EP secretariat. All the above-mentioned individuals were deemed eligible to carry out the sentences to be imposed by the SJP. The SJP has six months after the issuance of each set of concluding resolutions to issue corresponding sentences, which the accused can then appeal. The Petro administration has also advanced negotiations with the armed group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) as part of its total peace policy. Between 22 November and 12 December 2022, representatives of the government and the ELN held their first round of peace talks in Caracas, Venezuela. Although this round did not yield a ceasefire agreement, the sides pledged in a communique issued on the last day to implement a partial agreement for emergency care, which will begin in January 2023 in certain areas of the western Valle del Cauca and Choco departments. Mexico, which agreed to serve as a guarantor country, will host the next round of talks, scheduled to take place in January 2023. The government has also contacted armed groups that, unlike the ELN, do not have a political agenda, in order to discuss possible agreements through which these illegal actors cease violence in exchange for legal benefits. In October 2022, the Colombian Catholic church brokered a truce between the Shotas and the Espartanostwo rival gangs in the Pacific port city of Buenaventura in the Valle del Cauca departmentafter both gangs indicated their desire to take part in the total peace policy. As at 7 December 2022, the city had reported more than 90 days without violent incidents. Before the truce, fighting between the two gangs reportedly led to the deaths of at least 250 people in Buenaventura in the past year and a half alone. On 19 December 2022, the ELN announced that it will observe a unilateral ceasefire from 24 December 2022 to 2 January 2023. In a 24 December 2022 tweet, Petro said that other groupsincluding dissident groups of the FARC-EP and armed groups in Buenaventurahave also initiated a unilateral ceasefire until 2 January 2023. In another tweet on the same day, the president said: [t]he armed organizations that have effectively demonstrated their willingness to de-escalate violent acts should go on to select their spokespersons for the start of peace negotiations. The Security Council most recently renewed the verification missions mandate for a period of one year through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2655 on 27 October 2022. Ahead of the mandate renewal negotiations, Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alvaro Leyva Duran asked the Council in a 17 October 2022 letter to expand the missions mandate to include monitoring the implementation of the 2016 peace agreements chapter on comprehensive rural reform and the accords ethnic chapter. In resolution 2655, the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit within 45 days recommendations on the potential expansion of the missions mandate and expressed its intention to consider these recommendations swiftly. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 27 October 2022.) The Secretary-General submitted his recommendations in a 9 December 2022 letter, in which he recommended that the Council authorise the expansion of the verification missions mandate. He emphasised that the 2016 agreements comprehensive rural reform and ethnic chapters are critical to consolidating peace by addressing deep-rooted patterns of inequality and exclusion of rural regions and ethnic peoples. The letter says that verification capacities may require modest reinforcement for the mission to perform the additional tasks, while noting that this would not require any change to the currently authorised strength of unarmed international observers, which totals 120. Key Issues and Options A key priority for the Council is to consider the verification missions mandate expansion. It may choose to implement the recommendations outlined in the Secretary-Generals 9 December 2022 letter. Council members might wish to interact with local actors, such as representatives of the former FARC-EP, civil society organisations, and the Special High-Level Instance for Ethnic Groups (IEANPE)which was created by the 2016 agreement to monitor the implementation of provisions related to the ethnic chapterto hear their views about the possible expansion of the missions mandate. In the past two years, Council members have initiated fresh opportunities for diplomats to interact with former FARC-EP members and Colombian civil society representatives. Former elected members Ireland, Mexico, and Norway, which all ended their Council terms in 2022, have done so by organising virtual informal meetings for Council experts in New York and by facilitating periodic meetings at their embassies in Bogota to discuss the findings of the Secretary-Generals quarterly Colombia reports. Council members may wish to continue holding such informal meetings to hear a broad array of voices address various aspects of the implementation of the agreement. Several countriesincluding the UK, the US, and former members Ireland and Mexicohave been joining meetings of the CSIVI in Bogota as observers. Other Council members, including the five incoming elected members (Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland), that have embassies in Colombia can request to join these meetings as observers, to gain a more in-depth understanding of outstanding issues regarding the accords implementation. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, visited Colombia from 5 to 7 December 2022. The Council may consider inviting Gamba to brief on her findings from the visit. This can also serve as a platform for discussion on the opportunities presented by the total peace policy for decreasing and preventing violations against children. Council Dynamics Council members are united in their support for the peace process in Colombia and for the verification missions work. However, negotiations on resolution 2574 of 11 May 2021, which expanded the verification missions mandate to verify compliance with the sentences handed down by the SJP, took longer than initially expected, due to concerns raised by China about possible budgetary implications. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 10 May 2021.) It remains to be seen whether a similar dynamic will affect the upcoming negotiations on the expansion of the missions mandate, considering that it may require a modest reinforcement to the mission, as the Secretary-General has noted. Council Members are apparently encouraged by Petros expression of political will and by the steps that his government has taken to promote peace. In their messages at Council meetings and in their press statements on Colombia, members may wish to emphasise the continued importance of the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 agreement, as national and international attention is increasingly focused on the new outreach efforts to non-signatory groups. The advent of the five new elected Council members in 2023 may affect Council dynamics on Colombia. It remains to be seen if Ecuador, Mexicos successor in the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) seat, or Brazilwhere a new administration will come to power in January 2023will play an active role on the file as Mexico did during its term, when it shared the pen on several Council products on Colombia with the UK. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON COLOMBIA EUROPE Cyprus Expected Council Action In January 2023, Security Council members are expected to receive a briefing in consultations on the situation in Cyprus. Special Representative and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Colin Stewart is expected to brief. The Council is expected to renew UNFICYPs mandate ahead of its 31 January 2023 expiry. Key Recent Developments Over the past six months, there has been no meaningful progress on the political front and no direct formal engagement between the Cypriot leaders in the context of unification talks, which have been stalled since the collapse of negotiations at Crans-Montana in July 2017. Efforts to reinvigorate the political process have failed to establish an agreement between the two delegations to proceed with formal negotiations. From 17 to 18 November 2022, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and America Miroslav Jenca visited the island and held separate meetings with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders. At the meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on 17 November, Jenca reiterated the Secretary-Generals commitment to stay engaged in the process searching for common ground and finding understanding to move forward the issue of settlement. Anastasiades remains firmly committed to a settlement based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation (BBF) with political equality, as stipulated in previous Security Council resolutions, while Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar insists on a two-state solution based on sovereign equality. On 16 September 2022, the US announced that it would lift an arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus, starting in 2023. The defence trade restrictions have been in place since 1987. The press statement, issued by US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price, contends that the Republic of Cyprus has met the necessary conditions under relevant legislation to allow for the arms embargos removal, noting the Greek Cypriots cooperation on financial regulatory oversight and its commitment to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing. Ankara strongly condemned the move and pledged to provide the Turkish Cypriots with greater military support. In a 17 September statement, the foreign ministry of Turkiye suggested that the US decision would negatively affect efforts to resettle the Cyprus issue and lead to an arms race on the island. Turkish Cypriot authorities reportedly submitted a Status of Forces Agreement proposal to the UN in September 2022, requesting that UNFICYP enter into a formal agreement with the Turkish Cypriots in order to continue its presence and operations in northern Cyprus. The UNs presence on the island is currently enabled through an agreement between the UN and the Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus. On 6 October, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu threatened to evict UNFICYP from northern Cyprus, asserting that either they sign a military agreement with the [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] or they leave. Tensions between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkiye resurfaced over the long-standing issue of hydrocarbon resources off the coast of Cyprus. On 9 August 2022, Turkiye dispatched its fifth ship to explore for oil off the coast of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus has claimed that Turkiyes activities within its exclusive economic zone constitute a breach of international law. Turkiye argues that its exploration activities are in the area of its continental shelf and are therefore legitimate. Turkiye has also maintained that it will protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots and that they are entitled to receive benefits from the hydrocarbon resources. The announcement by Turkish authorities prompted the European Council on 8 November to extend its sanctions framework, authorised in 2019, in response to Turkiyes unauthorized drilling activities. The EU has repeatedly condemned Turkiyes exploration and drilling activities, calling them illegitimate. Key Issues and Options Since the collapse of the 2017 unification talks, the key issue for the Security Council has been the lack of meaningful progress on the political front and the diminishing prospects for reaching a political settlement of the Cyprus problem. Given the current deadlock, the Council may wish to urge the parties to reach an agreement regarding the Secretary-Generals proposal to appoint a UN envoy on Cyprus to succeed Jane Holl Lute, who resigned in September 2021. While the Council may reiterate its firm commitment to a peaceful settlement based on a framework of BBF with political equality, it could also reassure the parties that the envoy will not be constrained in their search for common ground for the resumption of talks. Another issue for the Security Council is how to ensure that both sides reduce existing barriers to intercommunal contact to improve the public atmosphere for negotiating a peaceful settlement. In this regard, the Council may call on the leaders to develop a joint communication strategy and urge that the action plan ensures womens full, equal and meaningful participation in peace talks. They may also encourage robust engagement with women and youth organisations, led by the Technical Committee on Gender Equality, to broaden the inclusivity of the peace talks and advance reconciliation and peacebuilding objectives. Another key issue for the Council is establishing a direct military contact mechanism between the parties, facilitated by UNFICYP. In renewing UNFICYPs mandate in January 2023, the Council may decide to encourage the parties to approach negotiations on the basis of engagement without recognition and undertake significant confidence-building measures, which could help facilitate the resumption of negotiations. Council Dynamics Cyprus remains a low-intensity issue on the Councils agenda. Council members with a vested interest in Cyprus include France, Russia and the UK. In addition to being a guarantor power, the UK also serves as the penholder on this issue. While the Council is united in its support for the political process, members diverge on the conditions and timeframe for the unification talks. Some members have previously supported a comprehensive strategic review of the mission and timed benchmarks for an exit strategy tied to the political process. Russia remains adamant that there be no external interference or attempts to enforce solutions and schedules to influence the peace talks. The Council is unlikely to initiate drastic changes to the missions mandate and size. Council members will encourage the Secretary-General to continue working with the parties to find common ground for formal negotiations to commence. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON CYPRUS AMERICAS Haiti Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council is expected to receive a briefing from Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Helen La Lime on recent developments and the Secretary-Generals 90-day report on BINUH. BINUHs mandate expires on 15 July 2023. Key Recent Developments Haiti remains plagued by instability, with political deadlock, gang violence and natural disasters exacerbating humanitarian needs and complicating efforts to alleviate the dire situation. Against this backdrop, on 7 October 2022, the Haitian government appealed for the immediate deployment of an international specialised force to temporarily reinforce the efforts of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to combat gangs. On 8 October, the Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council a special report outlining options to enhance security support for Haiti, requested by resolution 2645 of 15 July 2022, which most recently renewed BINUHs mandate. It recommended that [o]ne or several Member States, acting bilaterally at the invitation of and in cooperation with the Government of Haiti, could deploy, as a matter of urgency, a rapid action force to support the HNP. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 17 October 2022.) The Security Council has yet to act in response to the Haitian governments 7 October request and the Secretary-Generals 8 October report. In her remarks at a 17 October 2022 Council meeting on Haiti, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (US) noted that Mexico and the US were working on a resolution that would authorize a non-UN international security assistance mission to help improve the security situation. She added that such a mission would be led by a partner country with the deep, necessary experience required for such an effort to be effective and would operate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. At the time of writing, no member state had indicated its willingness to lead or to participate in such a mission. In her briefing to the Council at the 17 October Council meeting, La Lime reiterated the Secretary-Generals call for Haitis partners to deploy an international armed force to the country, while emphasising that [a]ny enhanced security support to the [HNP] should also be accompanied by support to the justice system: both to ensure proper accountability, but also to re-enforce nationally led initiatives, such as the proposed judicial units specialized in adjudicating crimes committed by gangs, as well as financial crimes. The Secretary-Generals most recent report on BINUH, dated 13 October 2022, highlighted that detention conditions across the country have deteriorated owing to the prison systems inadequate budget, food shortages, limited medical supplies and delays in the transfer of prisoners to hospitals. As at 28 September, Haitian prisons held 11,788 inmates, approximately 84 percent of whom awaited trial. On 21 October 2022, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2653, which established a sanctions regime on Haiti, including targeted assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo measures. Resolution 2653 designated one person under the regime: Jimmy Cherizier (also known as Barbeque), who heads an alliance of Haitian gangs known as the G9 Family and Allies. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 21 October 2022.) According to a 5 December note by the President of the Security Council, Gabon has been elected as the chair of the sanctions committee established pursuant to resolution 2653. In addition, Canada and the US have introduced sanctions on individuals fuelling violence in Haiti under their respective national laws. At the time of writing, Canada had imposed sanctions against 13 individuals characterised as members of the economic or political elite for providing illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs, while the US had imposed sanctions on four Haitian nationals, including politicians accused of providing support to drug trafficking activities. On 28 November 2022, the EU for the first time imposed restrictive measures against gang leaders in Haiti; at the time of writing, only Cherizier had been designated under this legislation. On 4 November 2022, the HNP announced that the blockade imposed by Cherizier since September on the Varreux Terminal, Haitis main fuel terminal, had been lifted. Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric said on 2 December that the blockades lifting had led to an improvement in the availability of fuel and other supplies while adding that accessing and transport remains a problem for our humanitarian partners. The already dire humanitarian situation in the country has been further exacerbated by the re-emergence of cholera. Haiti reported on 2 October 2022 its first case of the disease after more than three years without a single reported case. As at 12 December, the UN reported that more than 14,000 suspected cholera cases had been recorded. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 283 deaths from the disease had been recorded as at 6 December. On 21 December 2022, the Security Council held a meeting on Haiti, at the request of Russia. La Lime, who briefed at the meeting, noted that civil society groups held inclusive consultations in October and November 2022 on a transitional road map and adopted a national consensus document on 6 December 2022, which calls for a final agreement by the end of 2022. She also said that resolution 2653 has received wide support from Haitian nationals. La Lime emphasised that civil society groups and political organisations have been calling for international operational support for the HNP, with clear parameters on the terms of engagement. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who delivered remarks at the meeting, called on member states to urgently consider the request of the Haitian government for an international specialised armed force to stabilise the security situation and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. The civil society representative, journalist Kim Ives, presented a different view than that of the other briefers, and stressed that the territorial integrity of Haiti should be respected. He added that the UN or any other foreign entities should only provide Haiti with disinterested economic support to rebuild its ravaged economy and political institutions. Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon) briefed for the first time in his capacity as Chair of the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee. He informed the Council that the committee has approved the appointment of four experts to serve on its Panel of Experts, who specialise in the areas of finance, humanitarian affairs, armed groups and criminal networks, and arms. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 21 December 2022.) Human Rights-Related Developments In a 1 November 2022 press release, the Committee on the Rights of the Child said that it was deeply concerned about the severe violations of childrens rights in Haiti, adding that the rights of children to life, education, safe water, sanitation, health, and nutrition are under threat. According to the press release, most children had not attended school since the start of the academic year in October. It added that cholera is threatening 1.2 million children in areas where cholera cases have been reported and that almost 100,000 children under five face severe acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF estimates. Upon the conclusion of a four-day visit to Haiti, UNICEF Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes Manuel Fontaine expressed concerns on 23 November 2022 about rising cholera cases in the country, saying that in Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to childrens livesmalnutrition, cholera and armed violence. And sometimes all three together. He noted that effective and timely delivery of treatment against cholera had been hindered by the fact that the urban-poor areas most affected by the cholera outbreak are under the control of heavily armed gangs. Key Issues and Options A key priority for the Council is to prevent a further escalation of the situation in Haiti, which may have destabilising spillover effects in the region. A related issue is addressing the growing humanitarian needs owing to increasing cholera cases and food insecurity. UN officials and other experts advocate a holistic approach to addressing the situation, which calls for simultaneous efforts to promote a solution to the political deadlock, the security threats, and the humanitarian crisis. To promote a response to the security situation, an option for the Council is to update the 2653 sanctions list to target additional individuals who fuel violence in Haiti, in line with the recommendations of the Panel of Experts of the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee. It seems that Mexico, whose Council terms ends on 31 December 2022, and the US do not want to introduce a draft resolution on a possible non-UN international security assistance mission until there is a commitment from member states to lead or participate in such a mission. Member states apparently hesitate to commit to such a force for several reasons, including concerns about the safety of their deployed personnel and the objections raised to foreign interventions by Haitian actors, including opposition groups. To inform their deliberations on the matter, Council members and other relevant member states may consider holding informal meetings (either virtually or in person) with Haitian actors and civil society organisations to hear their views. Council and Wider Dynamics Council members are united in their concern about the situation in Haiti. In recent months, there seems to be a convergence of views regarding the urgency of Council action on the matter, as reflected in the establishment of a sanctions regime on Haitithe Security Councils first sanctions regime since it created the Mali regime through resolution 2374 of 5 September 2017. Members also generally agree that sanctions alone will not solve all of Haitis problems and have emphasised the need to promote a Haitian-led political solution. Several membersincluding Ireland (which finishes its term at the end of 2022), Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)expressed this position in their explanation of vote on resolution 2653. Some members, including China, have been increasingly critical of Haitian political actors because of their reluctance to put aside their differences and advance dialogue. There appear to be divisions among Council members in their approach to the possibility of the Council authorising a non-UN international security assistance mission to Haiti. Russia, for example, has emphasised the need to listen to the voices of Haitian actors who oppose a foreign intervention in their country. Other members advocate a cautious and thorough analysis of the option. In the 21 December 2022 Council briefing on Haiti, the A3 members (Gabon, Ghana, and Kenya) encouraged Council members to respond to the insecurity in the country with utmost urgency. Kenya (which finishes its term at the end of 2022) noted that any new intervention backed by the Security Council must avoid past mistakes and should encompass a clear scope of tasks, concept of operations and an exit strategy. It added that the Council should consider including key African and Caribbean contributions in any possible intervention to gain the Haitian peoples confidence. China and the UAE in their statements welcomed the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to address the crisis in Haiti. The five incoming Council membersEcuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerlandin 2023 may affect Council dynamics on Haiti. Mexico was active on the file during its 2021-2022 term on the Council, serving as co-penholder with the US. It remains to be seen if Ecuador, its successor in the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) seat, or Brazilwhere a new administration will come to power in January 2023will seek a similarly active role on Haiti. Beyond the Council, Canada has long demonstrated a strong interest in supporting efforts to address insecurity in Haiti and assist Haitian stakeholders to achieve political consensus. Ambassador Bob Rae (Canada) visited Haiti from 7 to 9 December 2022 with the aim of encouraging greater unity among key stakeholders towards a political path and process for democratic elections. This was his second visit to Haiti in the past three months and was immediately preceded by a fact-finding mission. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON HAITI UN DOCUMENTS ON HAITI AFRICA Mali Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Mali. Special Representative and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El-Ghassim Wane is expected to brief. In addition to the Secretary-Generals quarterly report on Mali, Council members expect to receive his internal review of MINUSMA by 13 January. The mandate of MINUSMA expires on 30 June 2023. Key Recent Developments In November 2022, important troop-contributing countries (TCCs) to MINUSMA announced that they would end their participation in the peacekeeping operation. On 11 November, Cote dIvoire informed the UN that it would gradually withdraw its contingent, which numbers about 900 soldiers and police, by August 2023. Its decision comes as Malis transitional authorities continue to detain 46 Ivorian soldiers, whom they have held since July 2022. On 14 November, the UK announced that its 260-member contingent would be withdrawn earlier than planned. The UK said it made the decision based on the transitional authorities decision to partner with the Wagner Group, a Russian private security company, and the Malian governments interference with MINUSMAs work. On 22 November, Germany also announced that it planned to leave MINUSMA by mid-2024. The overall security situation in Mali remains dire. The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) has continued the offensive it began in March 2022 in the Gao and Menaka regions, fighting against Tuareg armed groups and local Al-Qaida affiliated groups. The offensive has displaced tens of thousands of people. During several days of heavy fighting in early December, dozens of civilians were killed and hundreds displaced in Ansongo, Gao region, according to news reports that cited community leaders. Speaking of the situation in Gao and Menaka at the Councils 18 October 2022 briefing on Mali, Wane said, We have to acknowledge that the needs on the ground far outweigh MINUSMAs abilities with its current resources, adding that the situation underscores the need for greater coordination between MINUSMA and the Malian forces. On 17 October 2022, an explosive device killed three Chadian peacekeepers near Tessalit in the Kidal region; a fourth peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries the next day. An attack on a MINUSMA police patrol on 16 December in Timbuktu killed two Nigerian peacekeepers, including one woman, and injured four others. In other incidents, six peacekeepers were injured when their vehicles hit explosive devices in Douentza in the Mopti region on 7 November 2022, and three peacekeepers were injured, one seriously, when a MINUSMA convoy hit a mine near the same area on 21 November 2022. On 20 November, suspected Islamist militants abducted a German priest in Bamako, the first kidnapping of a Westerner in the capital during the decade-long crisis in Mali. During his 18 October briefing, Wane highlighted significant progress in preparations for elections following the July 2022 agreement between Malian authorities and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to complete Malis political transition by 29 March 2024. He cited the establishment of a new, single electoral body and the recent appointment of its 15 members, who are tasked with making the bodys national, regional and local structures operational. Wane noted that a draft constitution was presented to transitional President Assimi Goita on 12 October 2022. The next step is for Malis Council of Ministers to adopt the draft constitution in the lead-up to a constitutional referendum in March 2023. The steering committee to monitor political and electoral reformscomposed of Malian stakeholders, ECOWAS, the AU and MINUSMAwas also meeting regularly, according to Wane. In a 9 December 2022 communique, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), an alliance of northern armed groups, denounce[d] the state of implementation of Malis 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, following a meeting of its executive bureau in Kidal. The CMA said, It is regrettable to admit after seven years that the peace agreement undoubtedly suffers from the obvious lack of commitment to its implementation by the Malian government, by Algeriawhich chairs the international mediation team overseeing the peace processand by the international community. In a 10 December letter addressed to Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra of Algeria, the CMA requested an emergency meeting to conduct a decisive examination of the viability of the agreement. Human Rights-Related Developments On 9 November 2022, MINUSMA issued its quarterly note on trends in and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Mali for the period 1 July to 30 September. According to the report, terrorist groups were responsible for 163, or 43 percent, of violations and abuses during the third quarter of 2022. Malian defence and security forces and foreign military personnelan apparent reference to the Wagner Groupcommitted 162 documented violations and abuses, which represented a 33 percent increase from the previous quarter. Elaborating on such abuses, the report said that during military operations conducted exclusively by foreign military personnel, MINUSMA documented serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including summary executions, rape and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence against women, disappearances, forced arrests, and arbitrary detentions. Key Issues and Options The security situation, progress in the political transition, and the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement remain key issues. MINUSMAs ability to protect civilians, the human rights situation, and the overall humanitarian situation are also recurring key issues. Relations between Mali and MINUSMA over the past yearincluding restrictions placed by Malian authorities on UN ground patrols and flightsis another critical issue and raises serious questions about the viability of the missions future. Decisions by TCCs to leave the mission come as MINUSMA has struggled to acquire enabling capacities as part of its December 2019 adaptation plan to make the operation more mobile and as it faces new demands following the departure of French counter-terrorism forces from Mali, which was completed in August 2022. The UNs internal review of MINUSMA, which is being conducted pursuant to resolution 2640 of 29 June 2022, which last renewed the missions mandate, is an important upcoming report in the context of these issues. The review is expected to include analysis of the political and security challenges affecting MINUSMAs ability to implement its mandate, an assessment of cooperation with the host country authorities and movement restrictions, recommendations about the necessary conditions for MINUSMA to continue operating, and options for MINUSMAs future configuration, force levels, and uniformed personnel ceiling. Options for the missions future include reinforcing MINUSMA, given the capacity gaps created by the departure of Frances counter-terrorism forces. This would however appear to require a recommitment by Malian authorities to cooperate with the UN. Alternatively, other options could be a consolidation or possible drawdown and exit of MINUSMA. The review is likely to inform future Council decisions on Mali and its submission in January 2023 will allow Council members to begin considering potential changes to the mission well in advance of MINUSMAs mandate renewal in June. Council Dynamics China and Russia have been supportive of the positions and views of Malis transitional authorities, often pitting them against the US and European members on several issues, including over reported human rights abuses by Malis security forces and restrictions on MINUSMAs activities. US and European members are critical of Malis decision to partner with the Wagner Group. The three African members (A3), which will be represented by Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique in 2023, play an important role in Council negotiations on Mali. Despite the tensions between ECOWAS and the transitional authorities over delays in restoring constitutional order, the A3 are often cautious about criticising Mali, particularly over human rights, which they believe could prove counter-productive to MINUSMAs cooperation with the government. Members are concerned about the potential vacuum in Mali and in the region that MINUSMAs departure could create. Still, the P3 (France, the UK and the US) and other European members have highlighted that the internal review should consider all options for the missions future. At the 18 October briefing, the A3 asserted that MINUSMAs continued presence is an important stabilising factor in Mali. China said during the session that it would like the review to include proposals for streamlining and optimising the missions mandate and for providing a rational arrangement of personnel and resources. France is the penholder on Mali. In renewing the Mali sanctions regime in August 2022, France served as co-penholder with Mexico, whose permanent representative, Ambassador Juan Ramon de la Fuente Ramirez, chaired the 2374 Sanctions Committee. At the time of writing, Council members had still not announced which member would assume the sanctions committee chairmanship from Mexico, whose two-year term as an elected member will end on 31 December 2022. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON MALI Overview In January 2023, Japan will hold the presidency of the Security Council. Japan plans to organise two signature events during the month. The first signature event is a ministerial-level open debate on The promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: the rule of law among nations. Japans Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa is expected to chair the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Joan E. Donoghue, and Professor Dapo Akande of the University of Oxford are expected to brief. The second signature event is an open debate on Peacebuilding and sustaining peace: Investment in people to enhance resilience against complex challenges. Japan plans to invite a high-level UN official, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and representatives of international/regional organisations or civil society organisations to brief. African issues on the programme of work in January are: Mali , briefing and consultations on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); Sudan , the semi-annual briefing of ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan on the ICCs Darfur-related activities; and West Africa and the Sahel , briefing and consultations on the UN Office on West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), as well as renewal of the mandate of UNOWAS. Middle East issues on the programme include: Syria , monthly meetings on political/humanitarian developments and on the chemical weapons file, as well as the renewal of the Syria cross-border aid mechanism; Yemen , the monthly meeting on developments; and The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question , the quarterly open debate. In terms of issues in the Americas, the Council is expected to hold briefings and consultations on Haiti and Colombia. Consultations are anticipated on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the one Asian issue expected to be on the programme in January. Cyprus is expected to be on the programme of work in January. A meeting is planned with troop-contributing countries of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and consultations are scheduled on the missions work. In late January, the Council will renew the mandate of UNFICYP. One or more meetings on Ukraine can be anticipated in January as well. Other issues could be raised in January depending on developments. PEACEMAKING, PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEBUILDING Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Council is expected to hold an open debate on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which Japan is organising as one of the signature events of its Council presidency. The session will focus on institution-building and resilience. Key Recent Developments On 8 September 2022, the General Assembly adopted by consensus resolution 76/305 on financing for peacebuilding, the culmination of an intergovernmental process that member states decided to establish in April 2022 and that was co-facilitated by Kenya and Sweden. Resolution 76/305 was the General Assemblys first resolution focused on peacebuilding financing. It recognised that financing for peacebuilding remains a critical challenge and affirmed the General Assemblys commitment to consider all options for adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding, including through voluntary, innovative and assessed funding. The General Assembly resolution further noted, among other points, that voluntary contributions have not been sufficient to meet increasing demands on the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). It recognised that the provision of assessed contributions for peacebuilding financing would represent a shared commitment by member states and encouraged the General Assemblys Fifth Committee to continue and conclude its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on investing in prevention and peacebuilding. The report, dated 1 March 2022, requested the Fifth Committee to appropriate $100 million to the PBF for the 12-month period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. During 2022, there were several notable developments in enhancing the advisory role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to the Security Council. The PBC intensified its practice of submitting written advisories to the Council, which it began in 2018 when the chair of the PBCs Central African Republic (CAR) configuration wrote to the Council with recommendations ahead of the mandate renewal of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA). Since October 2022, the PBC has submitted written advisories to the Council for meetings on cooperation between the UN and the AU, the situation in the Great Lakes region, a thematic discussion on Integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace, the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force, and Gulf of Guinea piracy. It also provided a written advisory for the mandate renewal of MINUSCA. The PBC chair, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith (Bangladesh), also delivered the PBCs first briefing, or oral advisory, on Colombia to the Security Council at a 12 October 2022 Council briefing on the country. In 2022, the PBC began to receive advanced unedited versions of the Secretary-Generals reports to the Council on topics considered by the commission. Starting with the preparation of the PBC chairs statement for the Councils briefing in July 2022 on West Africa and the Sahel, the PBC also began organising expert-level meetings to negotiate written and oral advisories as a way to improve the transparency among commission members on how these texts are negotiated and how members arrive at consensus, which is required for PBC products. Traditionally, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) drafts and circulates the advice, and PBC members submit comments to the PBSO, or break silence on the text, without needing to identify themselves to other members. Since this first expert-level negotiation on West Africa and the Sahel, PBC members have held at least three other expert-level meetings to prepare the PBCs advice on the Great Lakes, Gulf of Guinea piracy, and the MINUSCA mandate. In November 2022, Burundi informed the PBC of its decision to end the commissions country configuration on Burundi, which was established in 2006 as one of the PBCs first agenda situations. A 30 November 2022 PBC meeting was held to review the engagement of its Burundi configuration, which had been chaired since 2009 by the permanent representative of Switzerland, and explore possible forms of future cooperation between the PBC and Burundi. The configuration, according to a PBC press release, was expected to officially conclude on 31 December 2022. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the open debate is institution-building. Weak state capacities and institutions are often unable to manage sources of division or tension in societies while also making countries less resilient in coping with, for example, economic shocks or disruptions caused by climate change or natural disasters. The inability of states to provide basic services to their citizens can also be a source of grievance and has been exploited by terrorist or other armed groups to gain support among populations by, among other things, providing services that states have failed to deliver. Strengthening cooperation between the PBC and the Council is another key issue. In addition to an expansion in recent years of the topics on which the PBC advises the Council and the rise in written advisories, the PBCs advice has appeared increasingly more substantive in its identification and elaboration of issues, such as socioeconomic challenges, national reconciliation and inclusivity. One recurring issue remains the timeliness of the PBCs advice. Over the past year, some of its written advisories have been agreed to on the day before or on the same day as the relevant Council meeting, which does not give Council members time to consider the advice as they prepare their statements or positions. Its written advisory for the MINUSCA mandate renewal was dated 9 November 2022, the same day that the Councils draft resolution on MINUSCA was first placed under silence procedure and after Council members had already held two rounds of expert-level negotiations on the mandate. It seems that no Council product is envisioned for the open debate, though the meeting may build momentum for Japan to advance further Council consideration on the theme of institution-building during its 2023-2024 Council term. Members may welcome progress in the PBC-Council relationship while encouraging the commission to organise its activities around the Councils calendar of work and submit its written advisories well in advance of Council meetings or negotiations. Council Dynamics Japan has long emphasised the importance of institution-building in conflict-affected countries, stressing how this is essential for delivering socioeconomic services to people and for building their trust in government. During its last Council term (2016-2017), it organised an open debate on institution-building in Africa and sponsored a presidential statement on this subject, which the Council adopted at the open debate in July 2016. Some countries, such as the African Group in the PBC, have at times cautioned against considering institution-building in isolation, as they are wary of potentially separating this topic from other relevant aspects of peacebuilding, such as national ownership and the issue of financing. The Councils informal coordinator with the PBC plays an important role in promoting cooperation between the Council and PBC. Outgoing member Kenya served as informal coordinator over the past two years. It routinely surveyed the Councils upcoming monthly programme of work to identify opportunities for PBC engagement with the Council, which appears to have contributed to the increase in written advisories. Additionally, Kenya initiated the practice of expert-level meetings to negotiate these advisories. At the time of this writing, it had not yet been decided which Council member would serve as the new informal coordinator. In addition to Japans long-standing interest in the PBC, Brazil is a strong advocate of the PBC and chairs the PBCs Guinea-Bissau configuration. Switzerland also joins the Council in 2023, bringing its experience as chair of the former Burundi configuration. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON PEACEBUILDING AND SUSTAINING PEACE THEMATIC ISSUES Rule of Law Expected Council Action In January 2023, Japan is organising a ministerial-level open debate on the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: The rule of law among nations. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Joan Donoghue, and Oxford University Professor of Public International Law Dapo Akande are expected to brief. Background The Council held its first thematic debate on the rule of law in 2003. It has since held thematic debates on the issue on several occasions, including in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2020. The last open debate on the promotion of the rule of law as a general issue (without focusing on any particular aspect of the topic) was held on 19 January 2012. In a presidential statement adopted during that debate, the Council recognised that sustainable peace requires an integrated approach that strengthens the coherence among political, security, development, human rights, and rule of law activities. In the past decade, the Council has also held open debates that focused on specific aspects of the rule of law. On 19 February 2014, the Council convened for an open debate on the role of the rule of law in peacekeeping operations. Two days later, the Council adopted a presidential statement underlining the importance of peacekeeping operations and special political missions supporting the strengthening of rule of law institutions in host countries within the scope of their mandates. On 18 December 2020, the Council held an open debate on the Promotion and strengthening of the rule of law: Strengthening the cooperation between the Security Council and the [ICJ]. A presidential statement adopted on 21 December 2020 recognised the positive contribution of the ICJ to the rule of law at the international level, as well as its key role in adjudicating disputes, defusing tensions, and restoring peaceful relations among states. Open debates have also been convened in recent years under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item that addressed issues related to the rule of law. On 17 May 2018, the Council convened for an open debate on the Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding international law within the context of the maintenance of international peace and security. No product was issued in connection with this meeting. On 9 January 2020, the Council held an open debate on the topic Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding the UN Charter. A presidential statement was adopted at the meeting, which, among other matters, called on member states to fully comply with the Charter and raise public awareness of its importance in the maintenance of international peace and security. Several notable developments relating to various aspects of the rule of law have taken place in country-specific files on the Councils agenda in recent years. In relation to Ukraine, on 26 February 2022, Ukraine instituted proceedings against Russia before the ICJ, which rendered provisional measures on 16 March, ordering Russia to immediately suspend the military operations it commenced on 24 February 2022 in Ukrainian territory, among other matters. On 2 March, ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan announced that he had decided to proceed with an active investigation into the situation in Ukraine after receiving referrals from 39 ICC States Parties. After holding an urgent debate on the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression on 3 and 4 March, the Human Rights Council (HRC) established the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine. The COIs responsibilities include investigating all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation, as well as preserving information, documentation and evidence of such violations and abuses in view of any future legal proceedings. Ukraine is also advocating for the creation of a special international tribunal to prosecute high-level Russian officials for the crime of aggression. On 14 November 2022, the General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the creation of a register to document damages caused by internationally wrongful acts of [Russia] in or against Ukraine. The register is also intended to promote and coordinate evidence gathering. On the Syria file, the General Assembly created the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes Under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) in December 2016. The IIIM is responsible for collecting, preserving, and analysing evidence of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in order to facilitate fair and independent criminal proceedings. The establishment of the IIIM followed the creation of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry into the Syrian Arab Republic by the Human Rights Council in August 2011. Among other matters, its mandate includes investigating all alleged violations of international human rights law in Syria since March 2011 and, where possible, identifying those responsible with a view to ensuring they are held to account. At the Council level, a May 2014 draft resolution that would have referred the situation in Syria to the ICC was vetoed by China and Russia. Investigative mechanisms have also been created for Myanmar, another country situation where it has been difficult for the Council to achieve consensus concerning accountability. In March 2017, the HRC mandated the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (IIFFMM) to establish the facts and circumstances of alleged human rights violations by military and security forces in Myanmar. In August 2019, the IIFFMM handed over the evidence it had gathered to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), a body created by the HRC in September 2018 to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law in Myanmar and prepare files for criminal prosecution. The ICJ is also hearing the case brought by the Gambia concerning alleged genocide against the Rohingya population of Myanmar. In September 2017, the HRC created the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen. The Group was tasked with monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Yemen, as well as conducting a comprehensive examination of all alleged violations and abuses of international law committed by all parties to the conflict, among other matters. In October 2021, the HRC voted against extending the mandate of the Group, reportedly after lobbying by Saudi Arabia and coalition allies. Key Issues and Options Key issues that may be raised in the open debate include: the role played by the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security under the UN Charter; how member states can effectively defend rules and principles related to the maintenance of international peace and security; and how the main organs of the UNincluding the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, and the ICJand other international institutions can collaborate more effectively to promote the rule of law. One option could be for Japan to produce a chairs summary capturing the main themes of the open debate that can be circulated as an official UN document. Another future option could be for Council members to hold a closed meeting with members of the International Law Commission to discuss the role international law plays in the maintenance of international peace and security. Council Dynamics Japan views the open debate as an opportunity to reaffirm the meaning and role of the rule of law among nations, as well as the common understanding that the rules to which all member states have agreed must be observed by all. Council members frequently emphasise the importance of the rule of law, and the debate may provide constructive avenues for the Council to pursue in this regard. On the other hand, the current difficult dynamics in the Council, particularly those caused by the war in Ukraine, may make it difficult for the Council to have a frank and balanced discussion regarding the promotion of the rule of law. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE RULE OF LAW Status Update since our December Forecast Iraq On 5 December, the Council held a briefing on the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD)(S/PV.9206). Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD Christian Ritscher briefed. Iraq participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. UNDOF (Golan) On 8 December, Council members received a briefing in closed consultations on the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report (S/2022/887) on the activities of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and the implementation of resolution 338. The report covered the activities of UNDOF from 21 August to 20 November 2022. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari briefed. On 22 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2671, which renewed the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan for six months (S/PV.9234). UNOCA (Central Africa) On 8 December 2022, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-Generals semi-annual report (S/2022/896) on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UNs regional strategy to combat the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) (S/PV.9213). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) Abdou Abarry briefed the Council for the first time since his appointment on 28 July. President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Gilberto da Piedade Verissimo also briefed the Council on the latest political and security developments in Central Africa. Democratic Republic of the Congo On 9 December, the Security Council held a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including on the work of MONUSCO and the activities of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee (S/PV.9215). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita briefed on MONUSCO and recent developments in the DRC. Deputy Permanent Representative Lilly-Stella Ngyema Ndong (Gabon) provided an update on the work of the 1533 DRC sanctions committee. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), also briefed at the meeting, explaining the EAC regional initiative to address the situation in the eastern DRC. Rebecca Kabuo, an activist and member of Lutte pour le Changement (Fight for Change), shared a civil society perspective on the political, security and human rights situation in the country. DRCs Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula, as well as representatives of Burundi and Rwanda, participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Council. On 20 December, the Council adopted resolution 2666, which renewed the mandate of MONUSCO for one year, and resolution 2667, which lifted the notification requirement for the shipment of arms and related materials under the 1533 DRC sanctions regime (S/PV.9226). Both texts were adopted unanimously. Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea On 9 December, Council members discussed the human rights situation in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) under any other business. The meeting was requested by Albania and the US. Sanctions Regimes On 9 December, the Council adopted resolution 2664, which established a humanitarian carve-out to the asset freeze measures imposed by UN sanctions regimes (S/PV.9214). (The carve-out is also referred to as a standing humanitarian exception or exemption.) The resolution was co-sponsored by 53 member states. 14 Council members voted in favour and India abstained. International Criminal Tribunals On 12 December, the Council held its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The IRMCTs president, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, and its prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, briefed. They met with the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals prior to the debate. Arria-formula Meeting on Youth, Peace and Security On 12 December, an Arria-formula meeting was held on youth, peace and security. The meeting, which was organised by Ireland together with Ghana and Ecuador, marked the seventh anniversary of the adoption on 9 December 2015 of resolution 2250, which was the first thematic resolution on youth, peace and security. The briefers were UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem and youth peacebuilder Nynar Koul. Subsidiary Organs On 12 December, the outgoing chairs of subsidiary bodies briefed the Council on their experiences (S/PV.9218). The Council heard briefings by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (India) on the work of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, and the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Fergal Mythen (Ireland) on the 751 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Michael Kiboino (Kenya) on the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa; Ambassador Juan Ramon de la Fuente Ramirez (Mexico) on the 1540 Non-Proliferation Committee and the 2374 Mali Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Mona Juul (Norway) on the 1718 Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict; and Ambassador Trine Heimerback (Norway) on the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. South Sudan On 13 December, the Council held an open briefing on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (S/PV.9219). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom briefed on the Secretary-Generals report (S/2022/918). The Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Major General (Retired) Charles Tai Gituai, also briefed (via videoconference) from Juba. Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon), the chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, briefed on the work of the committee. Consultations followed the briefing. New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism On 14 December, the Council held an open debate on New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism, under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item (S/PV.9220). This was one of the signature events of Indias presidency. Indias Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, chaired the meeting. The briefers were Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and General Assembly President Csaba Korosi. Several other member statesincluding Council member UAE and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Polandparticipated at the ministerial level. Counter-Terrorism On 15 December, the Council convened a high-level briefing on Global counter-terrorism approachprinciples and the way forward (S/PV.9221). Indias Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, chaired the meeting, which was also a signature event of Indias presidency. The briefers were Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov; Acting Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Weixiong Chen; and Anjali Vijay Kulthe, a survivor of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. A presidential statement on counter-terrorism was adopted during the meeting (S/PRST/2022/7). Afghanistan On 16 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2665, which renewed the mandate of the Monitoring Team supporting the 1988 Afghanistan sanctions committee for a period of one year (S/PV.9222). On 20 December, the Council convened for its quarterly briefing on Afghanistan (S/PV.9227). Special Representative and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (India) also delivered the annual briefing of the chair of the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee. Representatives of Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan also participated in the open session under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. The meeting was followed by closed consultations. Council members also issued three press statements regarding terrorist attacks in Afghanistan during December: two regarding terrorist attacks (SC/15125 and SC/15126) and one calling for the rights of women and girls to be upheld (SC/15165). Libya On 16 December, the Council held a briefing, followed by consultations, on Libya (S/PV.9223). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily briefed on the Secretary-Generals report (S/2022/932). Iran On 19 December, the Council convened for its biannual briefing on resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Irans nuclear programme (JCPOA) (S/PV.9225). Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest report on the implementation of resolution 2231, which was issued on 12 December. The Councils facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231, Ambassador Fergal Mythen (Ireland), reported on the Councils work in relation to resolution 2231. The deputy head of the EU delegation to the UN, Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, briefed on the work of the JCPOAs Joint Commission. Nagorno-Karabakh On 20 December, the Council held a meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh (S/PV.9228), following a request for the meeting from Armenia (S/2022/688) that was supported by France. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Miroslav Jenca briefed. In addition to Council members, Armenia and Azerbaijan participated under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. Peacekeeping On 21 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2668, which was proposed by Mexico, on mental health and psychosocial support for UN peace operations personnel (S/PV.9229). Myanmar On 21 December, the Council adopted resolution 2669 on the situation in Myanmar, which demands an immediate end to all forms of violence and urges restraint and de-escalation of tensions (S/PV.9231). The resolution, which was proposed by the UK and is the Councils first resolution on Myanmar, received 12 affirmative votes and three abstentions (China, India and Russia). Somalia On 21 December, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2670 authorising the extension of the drawdown of 2,000 personnel from the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until 30 June 2023 (S/PV.9232). (The drawdown was originally expected to be completed by 31 December 2022). AFRICA Sudan Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will receive the semi-annual briefing of ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan on the ICCs Darfur-related activities. Background and Key Recent Developments Sudan is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Security Council referred the situation in Darfur, Sudan, to the ICC through the adoption of resolution 1593 on 31 March 2005. (Algeria, Brazil, China, and the US abstained on the resolution.) The Council invited the ICC Prosecutor to update it every six months on actions taken pursuant to resolution 1593. The investigations regarding Darfur focus on allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur since 1 July 2002. More than 17 years after the Councils ICC referral, the first trial opened on 5 April 2022 with the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb), which is ongoing. Four ICC arrest warrants remain outstanding against former President Omar Al Bashir, Ahmad Muhammad Harun, Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, and Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain. Sudan remains under an obligation to surrender the four remaining suspects in the Darfur situation to the court, pursuant to resolution 1593 and the subsequent orders of ICC judges. Khan last briefed the Council on 23 August 2022 via videoconference from Khartoum. He noted that it was the first time an ICC Prosecutor had briefed the Council from a situation country. The simple truth is that the nightmare for thousands of Darfuris has not endedin large part, because meaningful justice and accountability have not been felt, he said. Among his suggestions was that Council members consider visiting Sudan to learn more and hear from some of those survivors to reawaken the Councils commitment. He also said that Sudans cooperation with the court had taken a step backwards in recent months and highlighted the need for Sudan to issue multiple entry visas to assist with the opening of an office in Khartoum as soon as possible. On 5 December 2022, a broad range of civilian political forces and the military signed the Sudan Political Framework Agreement, intended to pave the way for a two-year, civilian-led transition ahead of elections. The agreement, however, did not contain specific deadlines for the transition process and has been opposed by several groups, including reported protests in Khartoum since its signing. Its signing was welcomed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Friends of Sudan (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the US, and the EU). In an 8 December 2022 press statement, Council members also welcomed the agreement. In a briefing on 7 December 2022, Special Representative for Sudan and head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes said that the signing of the framework agreement on 5 December 2022 marked the first step in a two-phase process. He noted that it is intended to lay the ground, after a further round of talks on substance, for a final political accord and the formation of a new civilian government. Describing it as an important breakthrough, he added that critical contentious issues still needed to be addressed, including matters related to security sector reform; transitional justice; and implementation of the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement. Human Rights-Related Developments In a 5 December 2022 statement, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk welcomed the signing of the framework agreement earlier that day as an important first step towards a political agreement and the restoration of a civilian-led government. He emphasised the importance of the international communitys support for the next phase of the transition. Key Issues and Options An underlying key issue for the Council is how to promote justice and accountability for past atrocities committed in Sudan. A related issue for the Council is how to support enhanced cooperation between the ICC prosecutor and the government of Sudan. In addition to receiving Khans briefing, Council members supportive of the ICCs work could consider holding an informal meeting with the prosecutor to facilitate a dialogue on ways in which his office could strengthen its cooperation with the Sudanese government. Council members could also hold a joint press stakeout to encourage improved relations between the Sudanese government and the ICC. Council and Wider Dynamics The Council is divided on the work of the ICC. Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, and the UK are states parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC. China, Mozambique, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the US are not. These distinctions, however, do not necessarily reflect how members view the courts work on Sudan. For example, the US has long supported the ICCs efforts with regard to Sudan. Among the wider membership of the UN, African countries have long expressed concerns about what they view as the courts disproportionate focus on Africa. At the last semi-annual briefing on 23 August 2022, wide-ranging views were expressed on the ICCs work in relation to Darfur. Many members welcomed the start of the trial against Ali Kushayb in April 2022 while calling on Sudan to cooperate more with the court, including providing access to key witnesses and allowing the court to establish a greater field presence. Russia was critical of the courts work, and holds the view that the case against Ali Kushayb did not constitute a breakthrough. The UK is the penholder on Sudan, and the US is the penholder on Sudan sanctions. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SUDAN MIDDLE EAST Syria Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will hold its monthly meetings on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria and on the use of chemical weapons in the country. Resolution 2642 of 12 July 2022 renewed the Syria cross-border aid mechanism for six months with a further six-month extension subject to a new resolution. The Council will vote on a draft resolution to extend the mechanisms initial authorisation, prior to its expiry on 10 January 2023. (Through this mechanism, humanitarian assistance is delivered to Syria from Turkiye via the Bab al-Hawa crossing without requiring the consent of the Syrian government.) Key Recent Developments Progress on the political track in Syria remains at a standstill. The Syria Constitutional Committee has not met since June 2022, and in his 29 November 2022 briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen asserted that there are no serious efforts to resolve the conflict politically. He has, however, continued his efforts to promote the peace process. On 6-7 December 2022, Pedersen met with Syrian government officials in Damascus to discuss his step for step initiative. Through this initiative, he is asking the Syrian government, the opposition, regional states, and other stakeholders what concessions they might make in exchange for reciprocal actions from others on such matters as abductees, detainees, and missing persons; humanitarian assistance and early recovery projects; conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees; and the restoration of better socioeconomic conditions. On 9 December 2022, Pedersen met in Geneva with Badr Jamous, the president of the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), which represents the political opposition to the government. In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Pedersen said that they had discussed steps all parties could take to help build trust and confidence and bring an end to the suffering of all Syrians. As the political process in Syria continues to falter, the humanitarian situation in the country is becoming increasingly dire, with more people in humanitarian need than at any time during Syrias civil war, which started in 2011. Some 15.3 million Syrians (over 69 percent of the countrys population) will require humanitarian assistance in 2023, according to the Secretary-Generals special report on humanitarian needs in Syria, which was requested by the Council in resolution 2642 and released on 9 December 2022. The report noted that in 2022 donors provided $517.6 million to support early recovery projects in all 14 governates of Syria. These projects focused on the rebuilding of critical infrastructure, the removal of solid waste, and vocational training, among other areas. The report also described the recent efforts of the UN and other actors to deliver humanitarian aid in Syria, both cross-line (that is, across domestic frontlines from Syrian government-held areas into areas outside government control) and cross-border (through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syria-Turkiye border). It concluded, While an important complement, the cross-line operation remains, at this time, unable to substitute [for] the size or scope of the massive United Nations cross-border operation. The spread of cholera in Syria compounds the countrys humanitarian challenges. OCHA recently announced that 56,879 suspected cases were reported across the country between 25 August and 3 December 2022, including 98 deaths attributed to the virus. An informal interactive dialogue (IID, a closed format) was held on 16 December 2022 to review and follow up on the implementation of resolution 2642. Russia requested the meeting, which took place less than one month after the previous IID on Syria on 21 November. This timing contrasted with the meeting cycle set out in resolution 2642, which encouraged Security Council members to convene an IID every two months with the participation of donors, interested regional parties and representatives of the international humanitarian agencies operating in Syria. Tareq Talehma, OCHAs ad-interim Director of Operations and Advocacy, briefed at the IID. In addition to Council members and Syria, Canada, the EU, Germany, Sweden, and Turkiye also participated at the meeting. Talehma emphasised the importance of maintaining the cross-border aid mechanism, saying that it helps to meet the basic needs of Syrians. He added that limited funding has hampered OCHAs ability to respond to the humanitarian situation in Syria. On 4 December 2022, protesters in Suweida, a Druze-majority city in southern Syria, demonstrated against deteriorating living conditions and called for the downfall of the Assad government. The protesters set fire to a government building and clashed with police. One police officer and one protester reportedly died during the demonstration. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the Syria chemical weapons track on 5 December 2022. Nakamitsu noted that in November, Syria had submitted a document to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) titled The General National Document Regarding the Cooperation of the Syrian Arab Republic with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Between 2013 and 2022. She added that the OPCW would circulate the document once it had been analysed and translated. During her briefing, Nakamitsu also reiterated that gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies remain unresolved in Syrias declaration of its chemical weapons stockpiles to the OPCW. On 21 December 2022, the Council convened a briefing, followed by consultations, on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths briefed. Pedersen referred to the need to resume and make more substantive meetings of the Constitutional Committee. Both Pedersen and Griffiths advocated the renewal of the cross-border aid mechanism. Key Issues and Options The key issue for the Council in January 2023 is the decision on the extension of the cross-border aid mechanism, which expires on 10 January. The most likely option would be for the Council to adopt a short resolution extending the mandate for six months. Another important and ongoing issue remains the impasse in the political process. One option would be for the Council to hold a private meeting with Special Envoy Pedersen and other member states with influence over the parties in Syria to discuss recent developments in his step-for-step initiative. (A private meeting is a closed, formal meeting format; unlike closed consultations, non-Council member states are allowed to participate in this format.) The Council could also consider adopting a presidential statement that expresses support for the Special Envoys efforts to reinvigorate the political process. Council Dynamics Syria remains a divisive file. China and Russia are supportive of the Syrian government, emphasising the need to respect the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity and drawing connections between unilateral coercive measures on Syria and the challenging humanitarian situation in the country. In contrast, the P3 (France, the UK and the US) and other likeminded members criticise the government for violating international humanitarian law and human rights law, arbitrarily detaining people, and not engaging meaningfully in political dialogue. Most members emphasise that the cross-border aid mechanism is essential to saving lives in Syria and strongly support its continuation. Other members, such as China and Russia, tend to argue that cross-border deliveries are extraordinary measures that undermine Syrias sovereignty and should be supplanted as soon as possible by enhanced cross-line assistance. Since the cross-border aid mechanism was initiated with the adoption of resolution 2165 in 2014, the Syria humanitarian file has always had two to three penholders from among the Councils elected members. It appears that Brazil and Switzerland will serve as the penholders on the Syria humanitarian file in 2023, thus assuming the role played by Ireland and Norway in 2021-2022. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief. Key Recent Developments Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party won the majority of votes during Israels 1 November 2022 elections. After protracted negotiations with coalition partners, on 21 December 2022, Netanyahu notified Israels President Isaac Herzog that he had successfully formed a new government. Some of the expected ministerial appointees, as well as some of the deals that Netanyahu agreed with far-right coalition partners to form a governing coalition, have generated concern among international and domestic observers. One such agreement was reportedly reached between Netanyahu and his coalition partner Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far-right Otzmah Yehudit party, on potential future measures that would support settlers and settlement activities in the West Bank, including changing a law that currently prohibits settlers from living in the Homesh outpost, which was evacuated in 2005. At the 19 December 2022 Security Council meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, several members commented on this development. Ghana called on Israel not to undertake these measures, while France expressed concern at announcements promising the legalisation of Israeli outposts and called on the incoming government not to implement these decisions. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that, in light of reports indicating plans to legalise outposts, it reaffirmed its rejection of any steps aimed at annexing Palestinian land and attempts to legalise annexation. The increasingly violent situation in the West Bank and its possible further deterioration continues to be a source of concern. In his briefing to the Council at the 19 December 2022 meeting, Wennesland said that [c]lashes, protests, attacks, Israeli security operations, including in Area A, and settler-related violence have continued. He said that over 150 Palestinians and more than 20 Israelis had been killed in the West Bank and Israel in 2022. The latest Secretary-Generals report on resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016, which was issued on 14 December 2022 and covers the period from 21 September to 7 December 2022, says that 2022 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN started recording fatalities in 2005. According to the report, in about 58 percent of the cases, Palestinian fatalities occurred during Israeli military operations or search and arrest operations, often involving armed exchanges with Palestinians. The report also says that 2022 has been the deadliest year since 2015 for Israeli civilians killed in attacks in Israel and in the West Bank. The Secretary-Generals report further notes that settlement activities, as well as seizures and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures, have continued during the reporting period. In the report, the Secretary-General expressed concern about the demolition of a school and the stated intention of Israeli authorities to demolish additional structures in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of Palestinian villages in the West Bank which Israel designated in the 1980s as a firing zone for the Israel Defence Forces. On 11 November 2022, the UN General Assemblys Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) adopted a resolution which decides to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures. The resolution also asks the ICJ how these policies and practices affect the legal status of the occupation and what legal consequences they produce for states and the UN. On 12 December 2022, the General Assembly extended the mandate of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) until 30 June 2026 (A/RES/77/123). In a separate resolution adopted on the same day (A/RES/77/122), the General Assembly decided to consider a gradual increase in the allocation from the UN regular budget to UNRWA that would support expenses for the Agencys operational costs related to executive and administrative management functions. The resolution also invites the Secretary-General to submit proposals at the 78th session of the General Assembly on the possibility of covering some of UNRWAs operational costs through the UN regular budget. (UNRWAwhich has long been suffering from chronic underfunding while facing increasing demandsis currently funded through voluntary contributions, except for a small fraction that covers international staff salaries, which is financed through the UN regular budget.) Human Rights-Related Developments In a joint press release on 2 December 2022, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ni Aolain, said that Israels decision to deport French-Palestinian human rights defender and lawyer Salah Hammouri to France against his will may constitute a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention. These measures set an extremely dangerous precedent for all Palestinians in Jerusalem, the experts said. Hammouri was deported to France on 18 December 2022. In a press release issued the following day, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned Israels deportation of Hammouri to France and expressed deep concern at the chilling message this sends to those working on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory. According to the press release, Israel revoked Hammouris residency in occupied East Jerusalem on the basis of breach of allegiance to the State of Israel. The press release stressed that the deportation of protected persons from occupied territory is prohibited in international humanitarian law, which also explicitly forbids compelling such persons to swear allegiance to the occupying power. Key Issues and Options At the 28 November 2022 meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Wennesland warned the Council that [t]he principles that underpin the Oslo Accords are slipping away, adding that [p]olitical leadership is required to reset a trajectory towards a two-State solution. Finding ways to support the resumption of political negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis to move towards a resolution of the conflict and achieve a two-state solution remains the fundamental issue for the Council. Nevertheless, concrete steps towards this objective remain absent. Members remain concerned about the deterioration of the security situation and violence against civilians in the West Bank and Israel. Other ongoing issues include deterring developments that undermine the viability of the two-state solution and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, such as the expansion of Israeli settlements, forced evictions and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures, and the alteration of the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem. Council membersincluding the USare likely to closely monitor the policies and actions of Israels incoming far-right coalition government on these key issues. In a 16 December statement, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, said that from 12 to 15 December 2022, Gamba visited Israel and the State of Palestine, holding meetings in Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv. The visit followed up on the recommendations contained in the Secretary-Generals 2022 annual report on children and armed conflict, which requested Palestinian armed groups and Israel to engage with Gamba to end and prevent grave violations against children and to adopt clear and time-bound commitments in this regard. Members may wish to invite Gamba to brief the Council about her findings from the visit. Members who pledged to make Women, Peace and Security (WPS) a top priority by endorsing the 1 December 2021 Statement of Shared Commitments on WPS may consider focusing on WPS the meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question during their presidency and stress their interest in integrating a gender analysis in UN reporting on this file. Council Dynamics Council members regularly express support for the two-state solution and call for avoiding measures that undermine its future viability. At the same time, no concrete steps have been taken to restart the peace process. The US appears to be of the view that the current circumstances are not ripe for the restart of peace negotiations and has instead emphasised the importance of measures to improve the everyday lives of Palestinians and Israelis while preserving the viability of a two-state solution. Russia has accused the US of blocking the Councils adoption of any substantive decision on the Middle East peace process and the efforts of the Middle East Quartetwhich consists of the EU, Russia, the UN, and the US. Regarding the request for an ICJ advisory opinion, several Council members abstained in the Fourth Committee vote in November 2022, including France and the UK. The US voted against the resolution, while Brazil, China, Gabon, Russia, and the UAE voted in favour, together with Ireland, Kenya, and Mexico, who finished their Council terms at the end of 2022. Of the new Council members, Malta and Mozambique supported the resolution, while Ecuador, Japan and Switzerland abstained. At the 28 November 2022 Council meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the US said that the request for an ICJ advisory opinion was part of [t]he lopsided focus on Israel at the UN, while Ireland welcomed the resolution and stressed the importance of supporting Palestinian efforts in seeking legal responses to the occupation. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION United Nations peacekeepers handing over a military base in North Kivu province to troops of the DR Congo: Soldiers of both forces have come under attack by M23 rebels. (File photo) Cape Town The European Union (EU) has called on all states in the Great Lakes region to stop support from flowing to armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but has singled out Rwanda for an unusually blunt warning. In a statement issued on December 31, referring to rebels of the "March 23 Movement" operating in the eastern DR Congo, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the EU "firmly urges Rwanda to stop supporting the M23..." Borrel also called on Kigali to press M23 rebels to comply with a call by regional leaders last November to cease hostilities and withdraw from territory it had recently seized. At the same time, the EU called on Kinshasa to "stop and prevent any cooperation" between its army and the Rwandan rebel group, the FDLR (Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda). Borrell's statement follows the findings of a United Nations "Group of Experts" last year which said it had "solid evidence" that Rwandan troops had been fighting alongside M23 soldiers and providing the group with weapons and support. Borrell said the EU welcomed the Group of Experts' work and "strongly condemns any support to local or foreign armed groups. "Any backing of these armed groups, unrequested military activities on foreign territory, violations of the UN arms embargo and sanction regime are in direct contravention of applicable international law and of multiple commitments taken by the countries of the region," he added. He also condemned "xenophobia, hate speech and incitement to violence targeting any person or group based on their race or ethnic origin" and called on those responsible to be brought to justice. November's call was issued by a "mini-summit" convened in Luanda by President Joao Lourenco of Angola and including President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC, a representative of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and former president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya - a facilitator of the peace process in the region. The summit called for a "cessation of hostilities in general" and in particular of M23 attacks against the DRC's troops and United Nations peacekeepers. It resolved that an East African regional military force should be deployed against M23 should it fail to comply with the summit's demands. It also voiced concern that M23 was acquiring "increasingly sophisticated weapons and other means" to carry out attack against the DRC's army. EUROPE Ukraine Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground. Key Recent Developments Hostilities remain concentrated in Ukraines eastern region as Russian forces attempt to advance towards the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. Russian troops who withdrew from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine in early November 2022 have reportedly reinforced Russian positions along the front lines in the Donetsk region. Heavy fighting has also been reported in the northeastern Kharkiv region, near areas that Ukraine recaptured in September and October 2022. Russia has been increasing its military presence in Belarus since October 2022, igniting fears of a possible repeat of its incursion in late February across the Belarus-Ukraine border. During a 13 December 2022 press briefing, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba acknowledged signs that Russia may be preparing for a large offensive once its military capabilities are restored in January and February 2023. In an interview on 15 December, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi noted that this offensive campaign may start not in [the] Donbas, but in the direction of Kyiv from Belarus. Some military analysts, however, continue to assess an imminent Russian attack from Belarus as unlikely. On 19 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, during which the issue of Russian-Belarusian military integration was reportedly discussed. Meanwhile, Russia has continued to launch air and missile assaults targeting civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Since 10 October 2022, Russia has launched nine large-scale missile campaigns against energy facilities and hydroelectric power stations. The attacks have triggered massive blackouts and a reduction in water supplies throughout the country. Moscow says that its attacks are aimed at weakening Ukraines military potential, while Kyiv alleges that Russia is employing terrorist tactics that violate international humanitarian law. On 6 December, a day after one of Russias missile barrages, the Security Council convened for an open briefing at the request of France and Mexico. At that meeting, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths urged the international community to enhance its support to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 5 December 2022.) On 21 December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the US in his first known trip outside Ukraine since the start of the war. During his trip, Zelenskyy held a meeting with US President Joe Biden, in which the leaders reportedly discussed strengthening cooperation, particularly regarding Ukraines defence capabilities. Zelenskyy also addressed a joint session of the US Congress, emphasising that the US support is not charity but rather an investment in global security and democracy. On the same day, the US announced an additional $1.85 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of the Patriot air defence system, which is expected to provide Ukraine with enhanced protection from Russian missile attacks. Russia continues to criticise Kyivs Western allies for supplying Ukraine with arms. On 9 December 2022, Russia requested a Security Council briefing under the agenda item Threats to international peace and security on the issue of supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine and their consequences. At that meeting, Russia accused the US and other NATO allies of waging a proxy war in Ukraine and violating the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional arms. The ATT requires state parties to assess the risk of exported weapons being used to violate international humanitarian law. The US and European Council members argued that it is within their rights to offer security assistance to Ukraine, as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence under article 51 of the UN Charter. On 30 November 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed forming a UN-endorsed tribunal to investigate atrocities in Ukraine. In a press statement on the same day, Frances Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had begun working with European and Ukrainian partners on a proposal to establish a Special Tribunal on Russias Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 2 December 2022 that it was outraged by Frances statement. On 8 December, Estonia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, and Ukraine organised a panel discussion in the ECOSOC chamber titled Creating Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. At that event, panellists explained the rationale for establishing such a tribunal, noting that its intention is to complement the ICCs investigation into war crimes while closing an important accountability gap, given the ICCs inability to take up the crime of aggression where the state concerned is not a party to the Rome Statute. Human Rights-Related Developments On 2 December 2022, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine released a statement on its visit to Kyiv. According to the statement, the commission devoted significant attention to the issue of the destruction of the civilian infrastructure of the country, particularly the destruction of its energy and transportation grids. It also expressed concern about the impact of the situation on childrens rights and lives. The commission will present a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March 2023, including recommendations on possible accountability mechanisms. On 15 December 2022, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk presented to the HRC his offices 7 December 2022 report titled Killing of civilians: summary executions and attacks on individual civilians in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions in the context of the Russian Federations armed attack against Ukraine. Turk confirmed that there are strong indications that the summary executions documented in the report may constitute the war crime of wilful killing. He also cautioned that continued Russian airstrikes could lead to a further serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation and spark more displacement. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Security Council is how to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, particularly in light of Russias continued air assaults on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Periodic briefings from Griffiths could help keep the Council informed of the humanitarian situation on the ground. Council members may also wish to urge Russia to provide unimpeded humanitarian access to the UN to all places under Russian control. At a 14 December 2022 press briefing, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the UN had not been able to do any cross-line convoys of humanitarian aid. Another key issue for the Council is how to promote the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. On 13 December 2022, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced an agreement allowing the IAEA to establish a permanent presence of experts at all nuclear power plants in Ukraine. IAEA experts have been present at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) since early September 2022. However, shelling around the ZNPPwhich Ukraine and Russia blame on each otherhas continued to raise concerns about a possible catastrophe. Efforts by Grossi to set up a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP are ongoing. Following his meeting with Shmyhal, Grossi said that he is increasingly optimistic that such a zonewill be agreed and implemented in the near future. Council members may wish to convene a meeting with Grossi. They may choose a private, informal format, such as an informal interactive dialogue, to allow for a frank discussion about implementing the protection zone. Council Dynamics The Security Council remains starkly divided on the situation in Ukraine. Russia continues to justify its invasion, which it refers to as a special military operation, while several Council membersincluding Albania, France, the UK, and the UScondemn Russia for what they consider to be an unprovoked war. The advent of the five new elected Council membersEcuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerlandin 2023 appears unlikely to change the difficult dynamics underlying Security Council inaction on the situation in Ukraine. The direct involvement of a permanent member in the conflict will continue to limit the Councils options in this regard. As a member of the EU, Malta is expected to adopt a position similar to that of outgoing Council member Ireland. Japan is also expected to be highly critical of Russia. In addition to imposing economic sanctions on Russia, both countries co-sponsored, co-authored and voted in favour of all substantive draft General Assembly resolutions condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine. They also co-sponsored the 25 February 2022 Security Council draft resolution condemning Russias aggression against Ukraine, which failed to be adopted because of a Russian veto. Mozambique is likely to take a position similar to that of departing Council member India and refrain from criticising Russia. Mozambique has abstained on all substantive draft resolutions on Ukraine in the General Assembly. It has chosen not to deliver a statement throughout the ongoing 11th Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the General Assembly. During a meeting with members of the Ghanaian parliament on 25 May 2022, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said that in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, [Mozambique] has refrained from taking a position, adding that we abstained [in the General Assembly votes] because we want the parties to talk and find peaceful solutions. Ecuador has voted in favour of every resolution condemning Russia in the General Assembly. It co-sponsored both political resolutions, including the 2 March 2022 text condemning Russias aggression against Ukraine and the 12 October 2022 text condemning Russia for organising illegal so-called referendums in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. It also co-sponsored the humanitarian resolution on 24 March 2022 while abstaining on the motion to consider South Africas competing draft that was nearly identical to the draft resolution tabled by Russia at the Security Council on 23 March 2022. Ecuador did not, however, co-sponsor the 7 April 2022 resolution suspending Russia from the HRC and the 14 November 2022 draft resolution establishing a compensation mechanism on reparations for Ukraine. While permanent neutrality is a guiding principle of Swiss foreign policy, requiring it not to participate in a war between states, Switzerland has clarified that neutrality does not preclude it from taking a principled stand against violations of international law. During a 23 March 2022 meeting of the ESS, Switzerland noted that although it is a neutral country, neutrality does not oblige us to remain silent in the face of violations of international law. On the contrary, it is up to us to commit ourselves to respect of the Charter. The five incoming members will replace India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway. Mexico informally assumed the co-penholdership, together with France, on humanitarian issues in Ukraine following Russias invasion. In early March 2022, France and Mexico pursued a draft humanitarian resolution at the Security Council and have since collectively initiated numerous humanitarian briefings on Ukraine. It remains unclear which Council member, if any, will assume Mexicos co-penholder role in 2023. Norway was a strong advocate for the Secretary-Generals good offices in the context of the war in Ukraine during its term. Together with Mexico, Norway co-authored the 6 May 2022 presidential statement welcoming the Secretary-Generals efforts in search of a peaceful solution to the war. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UKRAINE ASIA UNRCCA (Central Asia) Expected Council Action In January, the Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Centre for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Natalia Gherman, is expected to brief the Security Council on UNRCCAs work in closed consultations. Key Recent Developments Gherman last briefed Council members in closed consultations on 28 July. Among other matters, she provided an update on UNRCCAs activities pertaining to counter-terrorism, transboundary water management, border demarcation, and the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas. Gherman also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Central Asia, the bout of unrest that broke out in the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan in May, the ongoing border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the July protests in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan. On 14 September, clashes erupted between Kyrgyz and Tajik forces along the disputed part of the border between the two countries. Kyrgyz and Tajik officials each blamed the other side for the outbreak of violence. According to media reports, the Kyrgyz Border Guard claimed that Tajik troops shot at Kyrgyz guards stationed at the Dostuk outpost in the Kak-Sai area of Kyrgyzstans southern Batken region. Tajik officials, on the other hand, accused Kyrgyz forces of initiating hostilities by firing mortar shells at Tajik troops. The fighting, which continued for several days and reportedly involved the use of tanks, artillery, and rocket launchers, killed at least 81 people and wounded more than 139 others. According to Kyrgyz authorities, a further 136,000 people were displaced by the violence. In a 17 September statement, the Secretary-General called on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to engage in dialogue for a lasting ceasefire and said that both sides should take advantage of the existing mechanisms on the ground to defuse tensions. The statement also said that the UN stands ready to assist in identifying a sustainable solution to the border disputes, if requested by both sides. On 25 September, the Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan and the head of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan reportedly signed a protocol on the settlement of the situation on the border. Under the terms of the protocol, each side agreed to remove four border posts and to conduct border patrols using mobile detachments of troops. Three days earlier, on 22 September, Gherman met with Tajikistans ambassador to Turkmenistan Farrukh Sharifzoda, and discussed the border clashes, among other matters. The clashes marked the third occasion in the last two years that the border dispute between the two countries has escalated into widespread violence. In April 2021, a disagreement over the use of a shared water distribution facility led to fighting that killed at least 50 people and injured hundreds more. In late January 2022, a dispute over a blocked road erupted into clashes between the two sides. Tajik authorities claimed that two people were killed and a further ten wounded during the fighting, while Kyrgyz officials said that 12 people were wounded and more than 24,000 evacuated from the area. There have also been sporadic border skirmishes between Kyrgyz and Tajik forces during the past two years. Violent anti-government protests took place in the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan in May 2022. In response to the protests, Tajik authorities began an anti-terror operation in the region. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, as many as 40 people were killed in the region during this operation. Tajik authorities have reportedly continued to target demonstrators and leaders of the protests since May. On 3 November, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a series of agreements demarcating several parts of the border between the two countries, including an agreement to jointly manage the Kempir-Abad water reservoir. The agreement regarding management of the reservoir was opposed by several groups in Kyrgyzstan. According to media reports, Kyrgyz authorities carried out raids on 23 October targeting members of the groups who voiced their opposition to the deal. At least 20 activists and politicians were detained during the raids. In early July 2022, violent protests began in the autonomous Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan. The protests were reportedly sparked after Uzbekistans president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, proposed a raft of constitutional amendments that would, among other matters, remove Karakalpakstans right to secede from Uzbekistan. A Karakalpak leader who voiced opposition to the proposed changes was detained on 1 July, leading hundreds of protesters to take to the streets and prompting Uzbek authorities to shut down internet access in the region. The ensuing protests ran for three days and quickly turned violent. According to the Uzbek government, 21 people were killed and a further 243 injured during the protests. The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect throughout Central Asia. Prices in many Central Asian countries have increased, while remittance payments from migrant workers in Russia, a key source of income for many families in Central Asia, have declined. Several analysts have suggested that the conflict appears to have weakened Russias influence in the region. From 18 to 19 October, UNRCCA and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organised a high-level conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on international and regional border security and management cooperation to counter terrorism and prevent the movement of terrorists. The conference was conducted under the Dushanbe process, which was launched in May 2018 to discuss challenges preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism, and was hosted in partnership with Tajikistan, the EU and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In her opening remarks, Gherman stressed that UNRCCA brings a preventive diplomacy approach to border security challenges. High-level officials from the region also shared information about the efforts of their countries to strengthen border security, including through repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters and their family members. On 29 and 30 November 2022, UNRCCA convened a meeting on water and energy cooperation, bringing together national experts from Central Asian states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The event was held within the framework of UNRCCAs Strategy in support of cooperation between the states of Central Asia in the field of water, energy, environment and climate for 2022-2025. Participants exchanged views on water management, climate change adaptation policies, green economy strategies, and ongoing law reform efforts. On 2 December, the Secretary-General announced that Gherman had been appointed as the next Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED). Key Issues and Options One of the main issues for the Council is how to make the best use of UNRCCAs expertise and whether there is anything else the Council could do to support UNRCCAs efforts to facilitate preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation. The recent unrest and violence in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is an issue for the Council to consider. Members are likely to be interested in learning more from Gherman about the effect that these incidents might have on stability in the region. The situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Central Asia is another issue for the Council. The Council could consider inviting a representative of UNAMA to participate in the consultations and provide information regarding developments in the country that may affect the wider region. Another option would be for Council members to convene an informal interactive dialogue with representatives of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to discuss their border dispute and possible ways the international community can support their efforts to resolve it. Council Dynamics Council members are generally supportive of UNRCCA and view it as an important tool in promoting cooperation in Central Asia. Until 2015, Council members issued a press statement following the consultations, encouraging increased cooperation and coordination among the Central Asian countries, UNRCCA, and relevant regional organisations. In September 2015, however, Russia, the penholder on UNRCCA, sought to add specific references in the statement to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), as well as the OSCE and the EU. The P3 (France, the UK and the US) opposed these additions, seeing the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO as vehicles for enhancing Russian influence in the region. As a result, a press statement could not be agreed upon for more than two years. Kazakhstan was able to overcome these difficulties during its 2017-2018 term as an elected member by proposing compromise language. Press elements were issued in February 2017, and a press statement was agreed upon in January 2018. Since then, however, Council members have again been unable to reach agreement on a UNRCCA press statement owing to disagreements about referring to regional organisations. The conflict in Ukraine may further complicate consensus over a press statement. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UNRCCA AFRICA West Africa and the Sahel Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will hold its biannual briefing on the situation in West Africa and the Sahel. The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the UN Office of West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) in January. This is likely to be done through an exchange of letters between the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General. UNOWAS current mandate expires on 31 January 2023. Key Recent Developments Amid rampant insecurity, Burkina Faso experienced its second coup detat in nine months on 30 September 2022, when soldiers ousted the transition president, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. On 4 October 2022, a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)headed by the former president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, as the ECOWAS mediator to Burkina Fasomet in Ouagadougou with the coup leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who promised to keep the July 2024 timeline for restoring constitutional order, which Damiba had previously agreed with ECOWAS. Council members issued a press statement on 7 October that expressed serious concern about the unconstitutional change of government and their support for regional and continental mediation efforts. On 14 October 2022, Burkinabe political parties, social and religious groups, and representatives of the security forces adopted a new transition charter. The charter appointed Traore as transition president, maintained the July 2024 transition timeline, and prohibited transition leaders from running in the forthcoming elections. On 22 October, Traore named Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela interim prime minister, whose new government soon announced a recruitment drive for 50,000 civilian volunteers to help fight jihadists. On 14 December 2022, Ghana accused Burkina Faso of partnering with the Wagner Group, the Russian private security company. Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo made the claim while in Washington D.C. for the US-Africa Summit, accusing Burkina Faso of allocating a gold mine to the Wagner Group as a form of payment. Guineas authorities continued negotiations with ECOWAS mediator Thomas Yayi Boni, the former president of Benin, on a transition timeline to restore constitutional order following its September 2021 coup detat. On 21 October, the sides announced a two-year transition, beginning 1 January 2023. The agreement was reached amid opposition protests over the pace of the transition and ECOWAS threat to impose additional sanctions if authorities did not commit to a shorter transition period than the three-year timeline that they announced in May 2022. At the 62nd Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja on 4 December 2022, West African leaders welcomed the new 24-month transition timetable while insisting that its implementation must start immediately, and not at a later date. Mali and Chad are also undertaking political transitions to restore elected governments. On 14 October 2022, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who was appointed UNOWAS head in March 2021, was named foreign minister in Chads new transitional government. Subsequently, Annadif resigned as head of UNOWAS; his successor had not yet been appointed at the time of writing. In Mali, three troop-contributing countries to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)Cote dIvoire, Germany and the UKannounced in November that they would leave the peacekeeping operation amid Malian authorities repeated interference with the work of MINUSMA. (For more, see the Mali brief in this months Forecast.) On 7 November 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of Frances regional counter-terrorism force in the Sahel, Operation Barkhane, which was established in 2014. The announcement followed rising anti-French sentiment over the past year in the region, often directed at Barkhane. Despite the conclusion of the operation, Macron stressed that France would maintain its forces, which number around 3,000 troops, in Sahelian countries. Sahel-based terrorist groups have increasingly conducted attacks in northern parts of coastal West African countries. On 21 and 22 November 2022, Ghana hosted an International Conference of the Accra Initiative, which Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, and Togo established in 2017 to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and address transnational organised crime by enhancing security cooperation. The conference also convened representatives of Niger (a current Accra Initiative member), Nigeria, the UK, the UN, and the EU. In a 22 November communique, heads of states and government of Accra Initiative countries committed to mobilise resources to make the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Accra Initiative (MNJTF/AI) operational within a month. During its 4 December summit, the ECOWAS Authority called for its Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to urgently study and propose options to make the ECOWAS Standby Force operational as soon as possible, including a special operation to combat terrorism. It also announced that West African countries would establish a regional force, whose mandate will include the restoration of constitutional order where [it is] threatened in the subregion. On 21 December, The Gambia announced that it had foiled a coup detat plot, which ECOWAS strongly condemned. Key Issues and Options The expanding terrorism threat and the evolving security landscape in West Africa and the Sahel is a key issue. The coups detat in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali over the past two and half years, and ECOWAS efforts, with UN support, to restore constitutional order in these countries are another key issue. In addition to military responseswhich also include the struggling Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S)is the recurring issue of how to address the regions structural conflict drivers of weak governance, under-development and climate change. Such efforts are guided by, for example, the UNs Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which UNOWAS is mandated to support, the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) Priority Investment Programme, and the Lake Chad Basin regional stabilisation strategy. A future issue for the Council will be how to respond to the strategic assessment of the Sahel being conducted by the Independent High-Level Panel on Security and Development led by former Nigerien President Issoufou on behalf of the UN, the AU, ECOWAS, and the G5 Sahel. (The G5 Sahel comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger; Mali withdrew from the group in May 2022). It seems that the panel, which was formally launched in September 2022, now plans to share preliminary findings during the AU summit in February 2023, as the timeline to complete the assessment has been extended until mid-2023. Besides taking stock of the situation and efforts to address the security crisis, the panel may make recommendations on issues such as how to secure sustainable and predictable financing for African-led peace support operations. The Security Council may adopt a presidential statementusually proposed by the UNOWAS penholders following these biannual meetingsthat addresses recent developments and reiterates calls for a comprehensive approach to tackle the security, peacebuilding and development challenges of the region. The presidential statement may look forward to the findings of the High-Level Panel and encourage it to make actionable recommendations. In renewing the UNOWAS mandate, the Council could retain its four main objectives, which are to monitor political developments and conduct good offices; enhance regional and subregional partnerships to address cross-border and cross-cutting threats in West Africa and the Sahel; support, through political advocacy and convening, implementation of the UNISS; and promote good governance, respect for the rule of law, human rights, and the integration of gender in conflict prevention, management and resolution. Council Dynamics Council discussion on West Africa and the Sahel became more polarised during the past year. This was largely linked to the deployment of the Wagner Group to Mali in December 2021, which the US and European countries strongly criticised. Ghana is a member of ECOWAS and the Accra Initiative. In addition to its concerns about the expanding terrorism threat, Ghana has championed renewed Council engagement on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea because of the rise in piracy incidents in the region in recent years and the risk of links between terrorist and pirate groups. It seems that many Council members have high expectations regarding the ability of the High-Level Panel to help guide the Councils future decisions in support of peace and security in the region. The panels work featured prominently during Council meetings on Mali in October 2022, as well as in meetings on terrorism in Africa and the FC-G5S in November 2022. Potential panel findings on how to provide African-led peace operations with predictable and sustainable financing could resurrect previous Council discussion on this issue, which in the past divided members. Regarding UNOWAS, Council members have long valued the missions good offices role. Since 2017, the Councils West African member has served as co-penholder on UNOWAS with one of the elected European members. Ghana and Ireland were co-penholders in 2022. During the year, the Council failed to agree on the customary presidential statement adopted following UNOWAS briefings because of Indias opposition to climate security language. In an attempt to broker an agreement on the statement following the Councils July 2022 briefing on UNOWAS, Ghana reportedly engaged India directly at capital level in Delhi but was unsuccessful in reaching an agreement. At the time of writing, Switzerland was expected to replace Ireland as co-penholder with Ghana. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL MIDDLE EAST Yemen Expected Council Action In January 2023, the Security Council will hold its monthly briefing, followed by consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an OCHA representative are expected to brief. Major General Michael Beary, the head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), is expected to brief during the consultations. The authorisation of the Yemen asset freeze and travel ban sanctions and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts expire on 28 February and 28 March 2023, respectively. The mandate of UNMHA expires on 14 July 2023. Key Recent Developments Grundbergs efforts to mediate a renewal of the truce agreement between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebel group have continued but so far without a deal. Despite the agreements expiry on 2 October 2022, the parties have not resumed major military operations, and elements of the agreementthe re-opening of Sanaa airport to civilian flights and fuel imports through Hodeidah porthave continued. On 6 December 2022, an UNMHA armoured vehicle carrying General Beary struck a land mine during a field visit in the Al Hali district of Hodeidah. No one in the vehicle or in the accompanying convoy was hurt. The convoy included the Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Ilene Cohn, who was on a week-long visit to Hodeidah, which is one of the Yemeni governorates most affected by mines and explosive remnants of war. On 13 December 2022, Council members held closed consultations on Yemen, hearing briefings from Grundberg, OCHAs Acting Director of Operations and Advocacy Tareq Talahma and General Beary, who apparently informed members that the UN had determined that the 6 December land mine incident was an accident. Other issues reportedly discussed were difficulties that the UN is having in receiving visas from the Houthis to send mine action experts to Hodeidah and the governments hesitancy to approve the delivery of equipment needed to remove mines. The Houthis increased enforcement of mahram, which makes it necessary for close male relatives to accompany female Yemeni aid workers, was also raised. On 1 December 2022, US naval forces intercepted a fishing trawler carrying more than 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and propellants for rockets in the Gulf of Oman along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen, according to a US announcement. This was the second announced US interdiction within a month of arms suspected of being smuggled from Iran to the Houthis. On 8 November, the US reported that its navy had seized 70 tons of ammonium perchloratewhich is commonly used to make rocket and missile fuel as well as explosivesand 100 tons of urea fertilisers that can also be used as explosives, aboard a ship bound from Iran to Yemen. Key Issues and Options A key issue for the Council is how to support efforts to restore the truce and establish a formal ceasefire and political process. When the parties failed to renew the truce at the start of October 2022, Grundberg had been seeking a six-month extension that would expand the elements of the truce agreement to include the payment of civil servant salaries, among other things, but the Houthi position that their security forces also be included in the salary payments prevented an agreement. Reported talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia to end the war is a related initiative parallel to Grundbergs efforts. Houthi drone attacks in October and November 2022 against oil terminals and ports in Hadhramaut and Shabwah governorates intended to deprive the government of revenue from oil exports have become another related issue of concern. In addition to the risk of military escalation, concerns include the harm that the attacks have had on the economy, the prospect of the governments own retaliatory economic measures, and by extension, the negative impact on the humanitarian situation. Council members are likely to monitor Grundbergs ongoing mediation activities. Members may reiterate calls for restraint and for the parties, especially the Houthis, to show flexibility to restore the truce. If an expanded truce agreement is brokered, the Council could adopt a presidential statement to endorse the deal. It may also encourage the parties to maintain and translate a new truce agreement into a ceasefire agreement that leads to an inclusive political process under UN auspices aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The humanitarian situation continues to be a key issue. Beyond meeting the requirements to respond to Yemens enormous humanitarian needover 66 percent of the population requires assistancechallenges entail bureaucratic impediments and movement restrictions. Land mines and explosive remnants of war have become an increasing issue of concern since the truce and post-truce period, emerging as the leading cause of civilian casualties in recent months. Members might encourage more donor support for relief efforts in Yemen, including for mine action activities. Members are also likely to continue monitoring progress towards starting the salvage operation for the FSO Safer oil tanker, which is moored off Hodeidah port; in September 2022, the UN-facilitated plan to remove the oil from the decrepit ship finally received the donor commitments required to conduct the first phase of the operation. Council and Wider Dynamics Council members want the parties to restore the truce, and in their 5 October 2022 press statement, they criticised the Houthis maximalist demands, which prevented the renewal and expansion of the truce agreement in October 2022. The United Arab Emirates (UAE)an elected Council member that has been closely involved in the conflict as a member of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition battling the Houthisactively pushes for its views, particularly regarding the Houthis, to be reflected in Council products. Russia traditionally resists language in Council products that it perceives as too critical of the Houthis or not balanced. This year, however, Russia has been more flexible in Council negotiations on Yemen, which appears to reflect its bilateral relations with the UAE. Despite broader geopolitical tensions, the P5 ambassadors to Yemen have maintained their coordination in support of Grundbergs efforts, while the US Special Envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, has also engaged in regional diplomacy to back UN mediation to re-establish the truce. Saudi Arabia exercises leverage on the Yemeni government, and Oman often plays an important role as an interlocutor with the Houthis. The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania) chairs the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee. Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN Celebrating the re-opening of a bridge in Mali, destroyed by insurgents and rebuilding by MINUSMA, the United Nations peacekeeping operation. analysis With violence continuing into the new year, security experts call on the EU to push for a more local approach in Mali. Disputes with Mali's ruling military junta and their close relationship with Russian mercenaries over the past two years have caused France, Germany and their EU allies to wind down security operations in the West African country this year, signaling further security risks in the country. In February, France announced that French forces in Mali would withdraw over a period of months after nearly ten years of fighting unrest in West African country. Relations between the two nations began deteriorating when Mali's ruling military junta took power in a coup in 2021. "We cannot remain militarily engaged alongside de-facto authorities whose strategy and hidden aims we do not share," French President Emmanual Macron said. He added that French troops and French-led missions would be deployed elsewhere in the Sahel, a vast semi-arid region separating the Sahara Desert to the north and tropical savannas to the south. Two months later, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borell announced that the bloc's military training mission, called EUTM, would suspend its operations after noting the military junta's cooperation with Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a private military organization with close ties to the Kremlin. Wagner operatives have been accused of serious abuses in countries like Syria and Ukraine, as well as in Mali. Meanwhile, Germany has spent months debating the issue of their troops' presence in Mali. German forces have been involved in two missions in Mali, both the EU training mission and the UN's peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSMA. But the African nation's close ties to the Wagner Group caused the German government to agree it would start pulling out troops by mid-2023 and completely withdraw its soldiers by May 2024. The announcement came after the UK announced it would withdraw its contingent earlier than the planned date of December 2023. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Defense Minister Colonel Sadio Camara have welcomed bilateral negotiations with European partners who wish to cooperate in maintaining security in the country, and President of the African Union Macky Sall has called for more solidarity with African nations in the Sahel. "If there's no peace and security in Africa, then the world won't have peace and security," he said in a DW interview in February, shortly before France announced the withdrawal of its troops. West Africa expert Jonathan Guiffard, a senior fellow at the Institut Montaigne, a French think tank, told DW that the impact of each country's withdrawal had been different so far. "The French withdrawal is the end of the Barkhane military operation, which was a very aggressive military operation against the jihadist group in Mali," he said. "Since then, France has proposed a new way of continuing to work with Mali's authorities. But they refused and currently, cooperation between France and Mali does not exist." "On the other hand, the British and German troops were part of the UN and EU operations and their presence involved more military training but not really battle operations. So the hard blow mainly came from the French withdrawal," he added. Security situation in Mali Since 2012, the security situation in Mali has been murky, with several separatist groups fighting against the government and instigating coups and jihadist forces killing scores of people in north and central Mali. While the military junta led by Colonel Assimi Goita continues to remain in power, the security situation on the ground is very dramatic according to Guiffard, especially in north and central Mali. "In the northern part of the country, there are almost no Malian military forces. So the jihadist groups have all the freedom to do what they please. They are also currently fighting each other in the north, posing further security risks which could get worse in the near future," he said. "Meanwhile in central Mali, the country's armed forces are fighting the jihadist forces. But the military junta's operations are also in coordination with Russia's Wagner Group, making it dangerous for the local population, who no longer feel safe," he added. In 2013, the UN's peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, comprising around 15,000 soldiers and police personnel, was set up in Mali. The EU also set up a military training mission with 1,000 soldiers who were deployed to train Malian armed forces. German soldiers were a part of both these missions. French troops were deployed a year later to fight terrorism in Mali in Operation Barkhane, which was further supported by Taskforce Takuba in 2020. But the arrival of the Wagner Group in 2021 and France's tense relations with the military junta instigated withdrawals of EU troops. Prior to the EU-Africa Summit, the EU's foreign affairs and security policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the EU "is not abandoning the Sahel." "We are just restructuring our presence," he said, adding that the EU's support would also depend on the political situation in the country. Virginie Baudais, senior researcher of the Sahel West Africa program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told DW that while the EU's military training missions had a positive impact, and officials planned to continue evaluating their presence in Mali and the Sahel region, local armed forces were dissatisfied with the EU's capcity to listen. "We conducted interviews with the local Malian armed forces a while back and they didn't criticize the EU's training mission but called on the bloc to pursue an equal partnership with them. They're keen to participate in the discussion about the security of Mali with international troops," she said. Russia's presence? The government of Mali has denied using Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group and after a meeting with French President Emmanual Macron in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin also told a news conference that the Kremlin had nothing to do with Russian military contractors in the West African country. But Guiffard highlighted that the EU has begun addressing the issue of Mali's military junta collaborating with Russia's Wagner Group. "Europe understands Russia's playbook in Africa. They know that other countries like Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad are also Russia's next targets. So countries like France have been having diplomatic dialogues in this region to prevent any new strategic aggression triggered by Russia, in West Africa," he said. "The war in Ukraine has had an impact on Russian forces and their proxies, making the Kremlin keen to continue its presence in Mali through its mercenary, the Wagner group. But the EU has begun taking action on both a political and diplomatic level. For example, the Russian group runs disinformation campaigns in social media channels in West Africa which the EU has begun tackling," he added. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Mali Conflict Europe and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Baudais also explained that while Mali's desire to claim its sovereignty is understandable, the diversification of alliances in this manner is detrimental for the local population and will be in the coming year as well if there is no further international support. "With Wagner, the problem is that the number of civilians killed by armed groups continues to grow, and the humanitarian situation is getting worse. So that's really violence against the population which is increasing every day. Without any support from the EU, its going to be challenging to tackle violence from jihadist groups, maintain the economy and also protect the local population," she said. Pathway ahead The withdrawal of foreign troops has outlined an unclear future for peace and security in Mali next year. While some locals support more local authority in securing the country, others are keen to find new ways to collaborate with foreign troops to counter terrorism effectively. Guiffard also highlighted that the violence is spilling over to neighboring countries along the coast such as Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. This spread is not only due to jihadist groups, but also to the rise of local militias across the Sahel region. Often poorly trained, their presence is a counterproductive force. "This is where Europe should increase its presence and where it can have maximum impact in protecting these regions along the coast," Guiffard explained. "Within Mali, in 2023 the EU should push and maintain a very local approach, especially on development, economic cooperation, and social cooperation. The bloc should clearly act in a way more assertive manner, because when you talk with a lot of people in West Africa, they are still very open to cooperation with EU countries, with France, and they are just asking the Europeans to listen," he said. Edited by: Maren Sass Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has just signed Decision No.26/2022/QD-TTg about the establishment and operation of VSDC. Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC) is upgraded from Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD), with the headquarters in Hanoi and main brand office in Ho Chi Minh City. VSDC is responsible for _providing information related to securities ownership of stockholders in public companies _issuing securities as requested by public companies _monitoring registration, depository, clearing and settlement services for securities _monitoring the ownership proportion of foreign investors in accordance with the law on securities and securities market _monitoring the compliance with obligations of VSDCs members With a fixed 2030 target, emissions are now a zero-sum game and any concession to one sector is a burden to another, so the behind-the-scenes lobbying must be intense. Loading Until now emissions limits for industry under the federal governments safeguard mechanism were set so high no change was achieved. By mid-2023 every large facility will have an emissions reduction trajectory heading to net zero by 2050 and if it is not met, credits companies will have to buy credits from facilities that have cut emissions more than required, or buy carbon offsets. However, companies that planned to buy carbon offsets instead of reducing emissions basically paying others for activities like planting trees will face higher costs than they envisaged after Bowen ruled out the use of much cheaper international credits for at least several years due to concerns about their credibility. That leaves the more expensive Australian Carbon Credit Units, which may well increase further in price when a review into their integrity is completed. In WA, the only Australian state with rising emissions, the new carbon pollution regime will heavily influence the speed with which industry invests in decarbonisation, and the viability of new gas projects. Culture: Indigenous and workplace failures force change The WA resource sector is full of responsible corporate citizens utilising the worlds best practices, or so they tell you until the opposite is revealed and the resultant furore weakens their vice-like grip on governments long enough for change to occur. The states miners and oil and gas producers now face the twin challenges of preserving ancient Indigenous culture while eradicating some loathsome behaviours in their own workplace cultures. A WA parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment of women at fly-in fly-out sites revealed horrific complaints of discrimination and sexual assault. Independent reports commissioned by Rio Tinto and Chevron provided more details of the mistreatment of women as well as racism and bullying suffered by workers of both genders. Loading State workplace safety regulations will be beefed up to add so-called psychosocial hazards such as sexual harassment and bullying. Unlike concern about workplace harassment, Rio Tintos destruction of Juukan Gorge in May 2020 was not enough to force the state Labor government to significantly increase the power of Traditional Owners when it revised its Aboriginal heritage legislation in 2021. However, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has vowed to strengthen federal legislation to make traditional owners primary decision-makers for projects on their land and boost powers to override state approvals. It will be a big change for WA miners that during 12 years under the previous state legislation received approval for 99.6 per cent of their applications to destroy Aboriginal heritage. Plibersek has not waited for new legislation to act. In September she commissioned an independent report to determine if more than one million ancient rock engravings on the Burrup Peninsula or Murujuga to its Traditional Custodians which is home to Woodsides two liquefied natural gas export plants and other big emitters, are threatened by adjacent industry. The rocks at Murujuga National Park feature more than a million rock art engravings, but industry may threaten these. Credit: Getty In doing so she has opened up an issue that the state government has been determined to manage in-house with its Murujuga rock art strategy. Until Plibersek receives and responds to the report there is a question mark over any new investment on the peninsula that is the heart of WAs gas industry. Chaos: Workers, contractors, regulators all stretched to limits While many of the feasibility studies into projects costing $147 billion listed by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in December will not result in investments, just a fraction of that number going ahead will overload the states ability to deliver projects. A lack of Environmental Protection Authority staff to review new projects is already slowing approvals, despite half its compliance team being assigned to the task instead of ensuring operating projects are adhering to their environmental conditions. With an approval in hand WAs miners and gas producers next need a contractor to build their projects, and gone are the days when contractors would accept most of the risk to win the work. No contractor wants to be the next Clough that failed after cost increases on projects it had signed up to complete at a fixed price. Building a project on time and on budget has become more difficult due to the disruption COVID inflicted on global supply chains and worker supply. Volumes of goods from China and commodities to China had been picking up, before the current COVID outbreak. Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Monday said the disruption would get worse before it got better and was a key risk to the Australian economy in 2023. Loading Workers in WA will remain in short supply with the state government predicting unemployment will sit at a low four per cent until mid-2025. The resources labour market will also be disrupted by the federal governments plan to ensure labour-hire workers are paid the same as direct employees. Labour hire started with casual workers paid a premium for short-lived roles like maintenance turnarounds. It degenerated into a ruthless business that employed large numbers of low-paid workers with few benefits in ongoing roles. The labour hire firm took its cut and the resource companies washed their hands of the messy business of employing people. The lack of job security exposed labour hire workers to a greater risk of workplace bullying as they feared any complaint would endanger their employment. The labour hire business model is already in decline as the resource players realise that in a capital-intensive business, developing workers who run their operations at maximum efficiency is smarter than treating them collectively as just another cost to cut. Loading Workers have their strongest negotiation position with employers for decades and resource companies will be focused on recruitment and retention, not penny-pinching. Getting the resources WA has in the ground to the international markets that need them will require an increasingly sophisticated approach. Shortcuts will backfire when major customers are willing to pay a premium for materials that are ethically and environmentally sound. Australias newest lithium mine is preparing to make its first overseas shipment, loading 15,000 tonnes of unprocessed ore to be sent to China where it will be converted into materials to build electric cars and clean energy infrastructure. ASX-listed Core Lithium, the developer of the Finniss lithium project in the Northern Territory, began the process of loading its maiden export onto the bulk carrier Rossana at the Port of Darwin on Friday. Global carmakers are racing to lock in supplies of lithium and a range of other raw ingredients required to build millions of electric cars in coming years. The cargo, bound for Fangcheng in China, was sold using a digital exchange platform at a price of $US951 a dry metric tonne, the company said. The $89 million Finniss mine is the Northern Territorys first new mine in more than a decade and the countrys the first lithium supply project to be developed outside of Western Australia. Australias casino operators will be hoping to keep their names out of the headlines in the new year, after enduring a chastening 2022, that saw the regulatory wheel turn decisively against their favour. Having enjoyed a soft touch for decades, Crown Resorts and The Star Entertainment Group have both found themselves on the receiving end of a litany of fines, to go with the loss of their respective licences in a number of states, and reputational damage that could take decades to rehabilitate. Most importantly, the casino industry is no longer bulletproof and cant hide behind its traditional safeguards of filling the coffers of state governments with tax revenue and supporting thousands of jobs. Crowns fall from grace, which started with the Bergin report finding it unsuitable to hold its licence in Sydney in 2021, came to a head in 2022. Firstly, Crown Perth was found unfit to run the casino in Western Australia, followed by almost $200 million in fines. Then in June, US private equity giant Blackstones completed its $8.9 billion takeover of Crown, delivering billionaire James Packer a $3.36 billion payday for his 37 per cent stake in the company. It was only days ago that the Australian government decided it would resist following panicked moves by other countries to impose mandatory COVID tests and quarantine on travellers from China. Chinese President Xi Jinpings decision at the end of last year to relax his three-year pursuit of COVID-zero policies brought on a huge wave of cases with millions of infections a day, prompting the United States to block travellers from China unless they provide proof of a negative test. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said he would take medical advice to keep our borders open and not impose new restrictions, while continuing to monitor the situation. Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly was comfortable with the current arrangements because Australians had already been exposed to variants that were believed to be circulating in China. The Herald supported the decision against imposing new restrictions and continues to believe they are not necessary, based on available information and scientific evidence. But on January 1, the Australian government announced that it would join other nations, including the US, United Kingdom, India and Japan, in demanding proof of negative tests taken 48 hours before departure for flights from China, Hong Kong and Macau from 12.01am on January 5. This sudden about face appears to defy science-based logic. Sadly, lifes not like that. You want a car? Thats $29,990 thanks. Want $29,990? Thats several years of savings on the average full-time salary, after taxes and living expenses. Want those several years back? Sorry, no can do. Bummer, right? On the brighter side, when we do exchange our time and our money, we can obtain goods and services that improve our lives which yield benefit. The first principle of economics is just to be aware of these various costs and benefits when making decisions. As Stevenson and Wolfers summarise: Costs and benefits are the incentives that shape decisions. You should evaluate the full set of costs and benefits of any choice, and only pursue those whose benefits are at least as large as their costs. The opportunity cost principle This is the idea that every choice you make is actually a myriad of decisions to NOT do other things. A decision to go to the movies is, in truth, a cascading ripple of other decisions to, for example, not go for a bushwalk, not take a nap, not go for a bike ride or, indeed, to not work an extra hour and get more income. So, when youre performing your cost-benefit analysis on whether to go to the movies, dont simply observe the ticket price and whether you can afford it. Also consider what other pleasurable things you could be doing and remember economists tally benefits not only in pure dollar terms but in terms of how much overall happiness different actions bring. The true cost of something is the next best alternative you have to give up to get it, Stevenson and Wolfers advise. The marginal principle Many of us get hung up trying to decide in advance how much of something we should have in our lives. How many kids should I have? How many chocolate bars should I eat? How many pairs of shoes should I own? How many shoes should you own? Julie Bishops resignation red shoes have become an icon of Australian political life. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Loading Economists advise breaking down such decisions into smaller decisions and crucially thinking at the margin. Have one kid and see how you like it. Then, you can think about whether the benefits of having an additional child outweigh the costs. This approach yields the extra benefit of granting better information on the actual costs and benefits entailed by different choices. Decisions about quantities are best made incrementally, offer Stevenson and Wolfers. You should break how many questions into a series of smaller, or marginal decisions, weighing marginal benefits and marginal costs. The interdependence principle This brings us to our final principle, perhaps best surmised by another economist, John Maynard Keynes, with the famous phrase: When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? Life happens. And when it does, it affects all potential decisions. As a result, there can be no set and forget when it comes to optimal decision-making. What works one year, under one set of circumstances, may not work for you next year. Loading As Stevenson and Wolfers conclude: Your best choice depends on your other choices, the choices others make, developments in other markets and expectations about the future. When any of these factors changes, your best choice might change. Butler announced the restrictions anyway, saying that tests will be required within 48 hours of departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau in response to an explosion of COVID-19 infections in China and the potential for new variants. The decision to screen passengers was taken out of an abundance of caution, the health minister said, citing concerns voiced by the World Health Organisation about a lack of detailed information about the situation in China. Chief Medical Officer Paul Kellys advice to Mark Butler was published on Monday night. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen That lack of comprehensive information has led a number of countries in recent days to put in place various measures, not to restrict travel from China, its important to say, but to gather better information about what is happening epidemiologically in that country, Butler said. The Australian policy follows recent moves by the United States, Japan, India, South Korea, France and Italy to impose testing mandates for Chinese visitors. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the government would not introduce mandatory isolation for travellers from China who test positive on arrival. If they test [positive before their flight] then of course were asking them not to get on the plane and ... the airlines to play a role in preventing that from happening, he told Brisbane radio 4BC. One of Chinas top representatives in Australia expressed deep regret over the policy, which he said unfairly punished Chinese travellers just as the two nations were trying to rebuild diplomatic and trade relations. Zhou Limin, Chinas Consul-General in Sydney, noted with dismay that the testing announcement came just weeks after Foreign Minister Penny Wong travelled to Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations. We deeply regret that the Australian government has announced restrictions on inbound travellers from China, Zhou said. China believes that the prevention and control measures adopted by one country should be scientific and proportionate, not targeting at one certain other country, and should not affect normal personnel exchanges and co-operation. Loading Leading public health experts said Australia should focus on increasing surveillance of rising sub-variants circulating through increasing wastewater and PCR based testing instead of singling out China. James McCaw, a pandemic adviser to the federal government, said he believed there was no public health reason for Australia to have particular requirements on travellers arriving from China. The virus continues to circulate globally, the University of Melbourne epidemiologist said. We do need to monitor for variants carefully, but screening everyone coming from China wont make any material difference to the state of the transmission in Australia. University of Melbourne infectious diseases expert Fiona Russell said: This will not make any public health impact this is not a science-based decision; I suspect its a political decision. She continued: We shouldnt be turning back the clock to this kind of reactionary, knee-jerk policy response. Health Minister Mark Butler said Chinas lack of transparency and concern about new variants were why Australia would start screening travellers from China. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer James Goodwin from the Australian Airports Association said: There needs to be urgent clarification on transiting passengers given Hong Kong has been included in the announcement. Many people could pass through Hong Kong on the way to Australia and our view is those requiring testing should be based on the country of point of origin as long as the passenger doesnt leave the airport. Infectious diseases physician and associate professor at the University of Queensland Paul Griffin said the federal government was overreacting to a single country. Loading The vaccine expert said the next new variant of concern could mutate anywhere in the world. A far better strategy would be just to strengthen our surveillance in our country, he said. Bring back wastewater testing in all states, make sure we still do a good proportion of PCR testing and sequencing so we know what is being imported and what is circulating. Griffin questioned why China was being targeted when about 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the United States were caused by the highly contagious Omicron sub-variant, XBB.1.5. In my view, that is the most concerning and notable sub-variant at the moment, he said. Loading Kirby Institute virologist Associate Professor Stuart Turville said attempts to stop new sub-variants from entering Australia were futile. Whatever sub-variants dominate globally will inevitably come up in our mix in Australia, Turville said. If you believe the genomics coming of Shanghai, all the dominant sub-variants that are coming through in China are ones that weve seen before anyway. Head of Monash Universitys epidemiological modelling unit, James Trauer, said Chinas most dominant sub-variant of Omicron, BF.7, had already been detected widely in Australia. Taylor is the antithesis of the consciousness-expanding trippy hippies immortalised in Tom Wolfes The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. He is in his late 40s, owns a small business and has never taken recreational drugs. I hadnt been that kind of person, you know. Ive never even smoked a cigarette in my life. Michael Taylor participated in a psychedelic drug trial and said the experience was one of the most profound of his life. Credit: Scott McNaughton But inside that MRI machine, Taylor says he lost all sense of self. I actually felt myself melding with the MRI machine and becoming one with it. Which is crazy but thats what it was like, I was just part of everything else around me. I was everything. And everything was me. Despite early psychiatric experimentation in the 1950s and 60s, decades of prohibition has meant that the therapeutic possibilities of psilocybin and MDMA (the active substance in ecstasy) have remained largely unknown. A new wave of research worldwide is showing that psychedelic drugs can be used to treat a variety of mental health conditions ranging from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to addiction, Alzheimers disease and anorexia nervosa. However, psychedelics may be harmful to people who have a genetic predisposition to psychosis, and they remain prohibited in Australia outside clinical trials. Researchers such as Razi say rigorous scientific study is needed before they are integrated into publicly available therapy. There is also debate in the scientific community about whether altered consciousness such as what Taylor experienced is key to the success of psychedelic therapy in treating mental illness or whether it is possible to develop drugs that provide therapeutic effects without hallucinations. In March 2021, the Australian government announced it would provide $15 million for clinical trials to explore the use of psychedelics to augment and enable psychotherapy to be more effective. Razi says PsiConnect, which is taking place at BrainPark at Monash Universitys Clayton campus, will add to the psychedelic drug evidence base by examining the changes to a normally functioning brain after a dose of psilocybin. Researchers are measuring the pattern of brain electrical activity in participants before and after they take 19 milligrams of synthesised psilocybin. I can look at how the brain is reacting to these compounds and that gives me a window into understanding consciousness, Razi says. We need to have the evidence base of how it actually works in a brain without depression, and then the insights that we get, we can translate into use in a clinical setting. Robert Forsythe, who trained as a pharmacist, had read about the therapeutic use of psychedelics for people with mental illness and was keen to participate in the trial to help further the research. The other thing was, I suppose, I was just curious. Im not a person who does drugs and the opportunity to pique that curiosity while under medical supervision and safe conditions, I thought, I might learn something from a personal level. At first, Forsythe experienced heightened sensory perceptions after taking the psilocybin: bright colours, the clanking of the keys on the researchers belt, a flickering light on the power socket. It felt a bit like one of those Quentin Tarantino movies where everything slows down, he says. Forsythe then had an MRI and EEG brain scan, while completing tasks such as allowing his mind to wander, watching videos of clouds and listening to music. What I found was really interesting was the part of your brain that judges whether something is good or bad shuts down. Its like your ego is suspended. Youre in this state where it just is, which is quite unlike anything Ive experienced. Listening to some old Beatles songs or whatnot, it makes a bit more sense. Adeel Razi has been leading a trial of the use of magic mushrooms on healthy adults. Credit: Penny Stephens Forsythe says his mood remained elevated for several weeks after taking the psilocybin. I had this optimism and it did definitely change the way I thought about things. Its starting to sound a bit corny, like summer love stuff, but it was like your empathy was really dialled up. You felt like one with the whole human race and one with creation. And, for somebody like me, whos the sort of person who likes evidence of things, and is probably quite sceptical, I thought it was an interesting experience and not what I would have expected. Forysthe has signed up for a meditation course. The trial has changed my perspective. I have a desire to go back to that meditative state. About 60 per cent of the participants in the PsiConnect trial said it was one of the most meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their life. I think the most surprising thing is the overwhelmingly positive experiences that people had, Razi says. Just under half of those who did not find it meaningful or spiritually significant still rated it to be one of the most amazing or interesting experiences of their lives. About 10 per cent did not experience much effect and about 5 per cent experienced unpleasant effects. Loading This number is low, and we were probably lucky, Razi says. The trial also examines the role of meditation. Participants were split into two groups, with one completing eight weeks of online group meditation before their scans. This will help researchers determine what effects meditation may have on the brain and if the psychedelic experiences differ between the two groups. Our observation was that the meditation group was better prepared for the experience on the day, but now we are looking at whether that is backed up by the hard evidence, Razi says. Michael Taylor was part of the cohort that did group meditation for eight weeks before taking the psilocybin. I had never really succeeded in meditation before, he says. Some of the exercises they got you to do was body scans, where you are meant to concentrate on a certain part of your body and feel that part of your body. Even during the eight-week course, I had never managed to do that. But after taking the psilocybin, Taylor said he could feel specific areas of his skin, the sensation of being seated and hairs being moved by the air-conditioning. Even though I know I wasnt meditating, I could concentrate on an area of my body with these heightened senses, and actually isolate that specific part, which was amazing to me. Taylor has continued meditating after the trial, and four months later, he can still pinpoint specific parts of his body. Gifts for U.K. troops The Herald reported that the Lord Mayor, Alderman E. C. ODea, last night asked people in New South Wales to support the appeal by the Minister for the Army, Mr. J. Francis, for gift parcels for United Kingdom troops in Korea. People in Britain are short of food, and comforts which their boys in Korea would greatly appreciate, said Alderman ODea. Mr. Francis on Monday suggested that a public fund should be opened for the gift parcels. Milk cut unless it rains Milk rationing was inevitable unless production was increased by substantial rain in the next two weeks, the secretary of the Milk Board, Mr. W. E. Murphy, said. He said Sydney was getting its normal intake in the milk zone at this time of the year, supplemented from areas outside the zone. But consumer demand will increase after another 10 days or two weeks. Consequently unless production is increased by substantial rain rationing will be inevitable. New power charges On January 1st, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, went to Croatia to commemorate the nation's admission to the eurozone and the Schengen region without borders, Azernews reports citing Xinhua. On early Sunday morning, a number of events were held at the Slovenian and Hungarian border crossings to commemorate the historic occasion. "This is a day to celebrate. It is time for new beginnings. I believe that there is no other place in Europe where a new beginning and a new chapter can be better marked than the border of Slovenia and Croatia," said von der Leyen, along with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Slovenian President Natasa Musar, at the Bregana border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia. According to Plenkovic, Croatia will contribute to the strengthening of the Schengen and Eurozone regions. "It also must be the year of political reforms that allow us to go to free and transparent general elections , where all Peruvians can elect our new authorities," Mrs. Boluarte said in a televised address to the Nation. The Head of State indicated that, during the three weeks of her Transition Government, measures have been adopted to immediately improve the population's living conditions through infrastructure, food, and poverty-fighting projects. As an example, the top official mentioned the Con Punche Peru Plan, which includes 19 measures to be implemented during the first half of 2023. These involve a high social and productive component, which are focused on economic reactivation at the national level. They will entail an investment of S/5.9 billion (about US$1.5 billion) and generate over 130,000 jobs. Likewise, primary health care will be strengthened and the completion of stalled regional hospitals will be unlocked. Furthermore, the dignitary ensured the reactivation of emblematic projects, such as Chavimochic and Majes Siguas II, which mean an investment worth over US$1.3 billion, as well as measures to guarantee that schoolchildren can rely on proper infrastructure, food, greater internet connectivity, and other services in 2023. The President affirmed that these measures together with the unlocking of water, planting, harvesting projects, and permanent coordination with new regional and local authorities will go hand-in-hand with the frontal fight against corruption. What does Sydney mean to you? I moved back to Sydney this year after spending a few years in the US. On the long flight home, I had a lot of time to think about everything I was returning to: family and old friends; the comfort of a familiar accent; the buzz of cicadas; getting dumped at the beach; the mozzies, and the bushfires, and the terror of getting attacked by a magpie; the birds, which are everywhere and outrageously beautiful. Circling a sparkling Sydney Harbour on the final approach to the airport never gets old. This city really is a stunner. Earliest memory of summer in Sydney? I was perched up a tree near my house, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope. Let me explain. The mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter after a crash on the Gold Coast on Friday in which three family members were killed, police alleging she was driving on the wrong side of the road in the minutes beforehand. Police claimed Uiatu Joan Taufua, 46, from Bonogin, was driving her Mercedes dangerously before the crash, and they had flashed their lights in an attempt to pull her over. The scene of a fiery two-car crash at Bonogin in the Gold Coast hinterland on Friday, December 30, 2022. Credit: Nine News They said Taufua then allegedly fled the scene, and police did not pursue her. Her car later crashed with that of Chris Fawcett, his wife Susan Zimmer and daughter Stephanie Zimmer on Bonogin Road about 5pm. Transport Minister Mark Bailey has announced there will be a road safety roundtable in a bid to prevent crashes after 299 fatalities were recorded across the state in 2022. The announcement follows a fiery crash on the Gold Coast on Friday night, in which three members of a family were killed. Bailey said motorcyclists were an area that needed focusing on, following an increase in motorcyclists deaths. He also raised drink-driving as another major concern for authorities, along with seatbelt wearing in regional Queensland. Theres not one single thing thats put the road toll up. Theres a whole range of different things, and well look at those, Bailey said. A body has been found following the search for a swimmer who disappeared in Victorias northeast on New Years Day. The 34-year-old man was swimming with friends at Lake Eildon near Jerusalem Creek Track when he ran into difficulty and disappeared underwater about 4.30pm on Sunday, according to police. A body has been found in Lake Eildon after a 34-year-old man went missing during a swim on New Years Day. Credit: Nine News His friends raised the alarm and emergency services scoured the lake into the evening before the search was suspended. The search resumed on Monday with the help of police divers. Shortly before 11am, Victoria Police said they found the body of a man deceased in the water. It is believed to be the missing 34-year-old. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned the surge of coronavirus cases triggered by the Chinese governments abrupt removal of tough restrictions poses a major risk to the Australian economy this year and is already disrupting local supply chains. Chinas factory activity shrank for the third straight month in December, recording its biggest drop since the pandemic began, in a sign the infections sweeping across the country are already hitting the superpowers manufacturing industry hard. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was closely monitoring the situation in China. Credit: Janie Barrett The impact of COVID on China and on supply chains is one of the key risks to our economy in 2023, Chalmers said on Monday. We are heavily reliant on Chinese markets and Chinese work forces for a lot of the goods in our economy. Its really right across the board. London: Prince Harry says it is his fathers and brothers fault that they have not reconciled and has accused Buckingham Palace of betraying him and his wife Meghan, in two prime-time interviews he has conducted to promote his upcoming memoir. The sensational snippets of the interviews were released just weeks after the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan aired, in which Harry and his wife take fresh aim at the royal family, accusing rival households of leaking to the press about them out of jealousy. Family argument: King Charles, Harry, Meghan and William. Credit: Getty, Netflix, AP A trailer released by British broadcaster ITV suggested his next unload on the royal family may be even more dramatic than the last. It will air on Sunday evening, London time. Harry said he wanted to restore relations but that it was not his fault that it hadnt happened. Vatican City: A steady stream of tens of thousands of people filed into St. Peters Basilica to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI, whose body was laying in state without any papal paraphernalia ahead of his funeral this week. Benedict, a hero to conservative Catholics who yearned for a return to a more traditional Church, died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the secluded Vatican monastery where he had lived since 2013, when he became the first pope in 600 years to resign. The body of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is lied out in state inside St. Peters Basilica. Credit: AP I feel like he was a grandfather to us, Veronica Siegal, 16, a Catholic high school student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is in Rome for a programme of religious study, said in St. Peters Square after viewing the body on Monday (Vatican City time). She said she had read one of Benedicts books on Jesus for one of her courses. GoldMining Inc. Announces Updated At-the-Market Equity Program GoldMining Inc. (TSX: GOLD, NYSE American: GLDG) (\GoldMining\ or the \Company\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/goldmining-inc/ ) announces it has entered into an equity distribution agreement dated December 30, 2022 (the \Distribution Agreement\) with a syndicate of agents, including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and BMO Capital Markets Corp. (the aLead Agentsa) andH.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, Haywood Securities Inc., Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (together with the Lead Agents, the \Agents\), for a new at-the-market equity program (the \ATM Program\), which replaces the Companya?s previous at-the-market equity program which is set to expire on January 1, 2023 in accordance with its terms. The ATM Program allows the Company to distribute up to US$50 million (or the equivalent in Canadian dollars) of common shares of the Company (the \Offered Shares\) to the public from time to time, through the Agents, at the Company\-s discretion. Any Offered Shares sold under the ATM Program will be sold at the prevailing market price at the time of sale. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of any sales under the ATM Program to fund the exploration and development of its mineral properties, to fund future acquisitions as may be determined by the Company, and for working capital. As at December 29, 2022, the Company has approximately C$77.3 million in cash and marketable securities. Under the Distribution Agreement, sales of Offered Shares will be made by the Agents through \at-the-market distributions\ as defined in National Instrument 44-102 a Shelf Distributions on the Toronto Stock Exchange, NYSE American LLC or any other trading market for the Offered Shares in Canada or the United States. The Company is not obligated to make any sales of Offered Shares under the Distribution Agreement. Unless earlier terminated by the Company or the Agents as permitted therein, the Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of: (a) the date that the aggregate gross sales proceeds of the Offered Shares sold under the ATM Program reaches the aggregate amount of US$50 million (or the equivalent in Canadian dollars); or (b) November 27, 2023. The ATM Program will become effective upon the filing of a prospectus supplement to the Company\-s short form base shelf prospectus dated October 27, 2021 and U.S. registration statement on Form F-10 filed May 3, 2021, as amended on October 27, 2021. Copies of the prospectus supplement, the Distribution Agreement and other relevant documents will be available under the Companya?s profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Lead Agents will send copies of such documents to investors upon request. In Canada: BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Brampton Distribution Centre C/O Attention: The Data Group of Companies 9195 Torbram Road Brampton, Ontario L6S 6H2 Email: torbramwarehouse@datagroup.ca Telephone: (905) 791-3151, ext. 4312 In the United States: BMO Capital Markets Corp. Attention: Equity Syndicate Department 151 W 42nd Street, 32nd Floor New York, New York 10036 Email: bmoprospectus@bmo.com Telephone: (800) 414-3627 This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor will there be any sale of, the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About GoldMining Inc. GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas. Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The Company also owns more than 21 million shares of Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE American: GROY). Forward-looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations,A including those regarding the intended use of proceeds raised from the ATM Program and the future issuance of Offered Shares thereunder. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining operates. Forward-looking information includes statements that address or discuss activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future.A When used in this news release, words such as aestimatesa, aexpectsa, aplansa, aanticipatesa, awilla, abelievesa, aintendsa ashoulda, acoulda, amaya and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements involve significant uncertainties, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and, therefore, actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its industry may be materially different from those implied by such forward-looking statements.A Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: risks that the Company may not sell any of the Offered Shares or may raise less than the maximum offering amount under the ATM Program; management has broad discretion in the use of proceeds from the ATM Program; delays to project plans caused by governmental restrictions and other future impacts or any other inability of the Company to meet expected timelines for planned project activities, including the timing of proposed project studies and programs; the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuating metal prices, proposed studies may not confirm GoldMining\-s expectations for its projects, unanticipated costs and expenses, risks related to government and environmental regulation, social, permitting and licensing matters, and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including the availability of future borrowings under existing credit facilities. These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMining?s Annual Information Form for the year ended November 30, 2021, and other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. A federal judge has set a date for the first pre-trial hearing between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The two go to court on January 3rd to spar over the fate of Microsofts $69 billion bid to buy Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard. Microsoft and Activision announced the merger at the start of 2022. At the time, the tech giant said it expected the deal to close no later than June 2023. Last month, the FTC sued Microsoft to block the acquisition from moving forward. Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals, FTC Director Holly Vedova said at the time. Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets. The FTC is expected to face an uphill battle trying to convince a judge of the merits of its case. For one, Microsoft isnt pushing for a horizontal merger that would see it take one of its direct competitors out of the picture. Additionally, the company has signaled its ready to make concessions to rubberstamp the deal. Should the merger move forward, Microsoft has pledged to release future Call of Duty games on competing platforms for at least 10 years. It also said it would bring the franchise to Nintendo consoles . A Qantas plane was among hundreds of flights forced to turn around mid-air, after technical issues at a major international airport sparked chaos on New Years Day. QF19 departed Sydney for Manila in the Philippines just after 12.30pm on Monday and turned back three hours into the journey, just as the plane had passed over Far North Queensland. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports due to a malfunction of air traffic control, affecting around 56,000 passengers at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. After travelling roughly 6,500km during seven hours in the air, the flight touched down again in Sydney at 7.47pm, before refuelling and taking off again around 10pm. The Qantas flight was turned back three hours into its journey (left), as flights avoid the air space over the Philippines (right). Source: Flight Radar 24 As of 4pm (local time) "the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations", the Manila International Airport Authority said in a statement. Video clips and photos posted on social media showed long queues at the airport and airline personnel distributing food packs and drinks to stranded passengers. "We're told radar and navigation facilities at NAIA down. I was on my way home fm Tokyo - 3 hours into the flight, but had to return to Haneda," one passenger tweeted. "6 hours of useless flying but inconvenience to travellers and losses to tourism and business are horrendous. Only in the PH. Sigh. Budget carrier Cebu Pacific said there was a power outage and loss of communication at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center. It offered passengers due to fly on Sunday free re-booking or the option to convert tickets to vouchers. Philippine Airlines said a number of flights were diverted, cancelled and delayed, and travellers should check the status of their journey before proceeding to the airport. Story continues Thousands of travellers were stranded at Philippines airports after a "loss of communication" at the country's busiest hub in Manila forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Source: Getty Jetstar flight only 30 mins out of Bali forced to turn back It comes just days after Jetstar travellers were turned away from Bali just half an hour before they were due to land. Passengers ended up spending almost 11 hours in the air just to land back in Melbourne again. Jetstar admitted the flight was diverted due to a simple error. We swapped yesterdays Melbourne to Bali service to a larger Boeing 787 aircraft to carry more customers during the holidays, a spokesperson for the airline told Yahoo News Australia. Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, the swap to a larger aircraft had not been approved by the local regulator in Indonesia. As soon as Jetstar became aware, the flight was turned around and sent back to Melbourne. with Reuters Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Several air flights that were to depart or arrive on Monday at the Avram Iancu International Airport in Cluj-Napoca are delayed or canceled due to the fog, the normal schedule of flight operations being completely disrupted, Agerpres informs. "The unusually high temperatures during this period have created a strange phenomenon. At Cluj airport, it is plus 3 degrees, and in the mountain, in Baisoara, it is plus 8 degrees. When there is a thermal inversion, the maintenance of fog is favored. We are sorry for the inconvenience to the passengers , we hope that in an hour or two, the conditions will be suitable for the flight," said the director of Cluj-Napoca Airport, David Ciceo.Hundreds of people stand in queues and complain that these delays or cancellations of the flights were not announced by the airlines. Also, people posted images of the crowding at the airport on social media and expressed their displeasure.Some flights were delayed, others were cancelled, and many flights were directed to other airports in the country and Hungary. The last flights canceled so far, during Monday, were to Istanbul and Nuremberg.Cluj County is under the extended yellow fog code, with visibility below 200 meters and, isolated, even below 50 meters. The Ministry of Health informs that between December 26, 2022 and January 1, 2023, 3,605 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered. According to the cited source, 872 of the cases registered in the last week were in reinfected patients, tested positive more than 90 days after the first illness, Agerpres informs.Distinct from the newly confirmed cases, following the retesting of the patients who were already positive, 233 people were reconfirmed positive.Until now, 3,312,085 cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2 have been registered on the territory of Romania, the incidence recorded after 14 days being 0.25.In the last week, 8,989 RT-PCR tests and 51,893 rapid antigen tests were performed.Up to this date, at the national level, 13,685,693 RT-PCR tests and 12,396,321 rapid antigenic tests have been processed. Approximately 95,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with over 20,900 means of transport, crossed the border points on the first day of the year, informs the Border Police. According to a press release sent by the institution on Monday, there were 36,278 people entering Romania, of which 2,134 were Ukrainian citizens (down 77.4% compared to the previous day). Thus, starting from 10.02.2022 (pre-conflict period), until 01.01.2023, midnight, at the national level, 3,228,713 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania, Agerpres informs.In the areas of competence - the crossing points and the "green border" - the border police detected 10 illegal acts (six felonies and four misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens. Also, the law enforcement officers raised, with a view to confiscation, goods worth approximately 828 RON. The amount of contravention fines applied amounts to over 16,850 RON.Four foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country and 10 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. On Monday, the National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued a series of Yellow Code nowcasting warnings of dense fog, in areas of three counties in Moldova, valid for the next few hours, Agerpres informs. According to the meteorologists, until 14:00, in the low area of Vrancea county, respectively in 60 localities, fog will be reported locally, which causes the visibility to drop below 200 meters, isolated below 50 meters.Similar phenomena will persist until the same time in Galati and Vaslui counties.The warnings of immediate dangerous phenomena (nowcasting) are issued for a maximum period of six hours, ANM specifies. SKANEATELES After participating in a 4-mile organized run on the first day of 2023, Kate Chajka and Daniel Marshall met up with friends and relatives at a lakeside Clift Park gazebo for another type of event. Serenaded by a hundred-strong flotilla of honking geese that bobbed atop the gentle ripples of Skaneateles Lake, the couple exchanged vows to become husband and wife. They were among 72 participants, ranging from toddlers to octogenarians, who started off the new year Sunday with the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run, an annual gathering that raises money for the service clubs designated charities, including the community library, food pantry and first responder organizations. Kate and Daniel ran side-by-side, she in a faux bridal dress and he in a faux tuxedo-top T-shirt, and when they returned, they quickly readied for the coming nuptial, although Kate kept on her pastel blue and rainbow-hued HOKA running shoes. At 12:30 p.m., a mere 90 minutes after the runs start, they made their way to the gazebo in formal wedding clothes, posed for pictures, and were joined by Town Justice Kathleen Dell, who performed the ceremony as well-wishers looked on and applauded when the couple were pronounced married. The gazebo holds a lot of sentiment for Kate and I, said the newly married Daniel. We got engaged at this gazebo five years ago. We had a wonderful day today and a great leap into the new year. That's the idea for many who take part in the run. Lions Club Vice President Tom Bersani, who also ran, said the event has no winners or placers, just runners and walkers, who do it for sheer fun as well as knowledge that their $25 registration fees are going to good causes. Every year its an interesting mix of people, said Bersani, who with other club members organized the event eight years ago. On New Years Day, gyms are all closed, a lot of people like to take a job or a walk. The run has become a family tradition for some, like Corrie and Colin Carroll, their children, and a few other relatives. While waiting for the race to begin Corrie gave motherly tugs to the laces of 11-year-old Wills running shoes as his brother, 14-year-old Hugh, and cousins Luke and Amelia Broge looked on. Its another activity in the community that we enjoy doing, Corrie said. Its a nice, healthy start to new year. As the 11 a.m. start drew near, excitement welled in the antique-decked lobby of the 300-plus year old building housing the landmark Sherwood Inn, headquarters for the run and the Lions Clubs regular meeting place. I run every day, said 82-year-old antique dealer Steve White, indicating that he had no intention of placing himself in the walking category, despite a knee replacement and current cancer treatments. From the inns front portico, Bersani an ophthalmologist by trade gave final instructions to the runners and walkers, who then crossed West Genesee Street and without need of pistol or flag signals, started the trek beneath gray but non-threatening skies. On the villages commercial drag, normally chock-a-block with gaping tourists, they passed stores and restaurants mostly shuttered for the holiday, then followed the pylons and signs marking the course along residential streets, feet pounding or stepping past stately centuries-old homes and a few churches. Returning runners and walkers filed into the inns main dining room, where cookies, hot cider, cocoa and coffee awaited them. Bersani said he and other Lions Club members, while pleased with Sundays event, are hoping for even greater turnouts in the future. It was successful in that we had a decent turn out, and the weather was very cooperative, Bersani said. We hope to continue to build our following and our attendance so that we can support our various causes even better. Close Participants in the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run pound the sidewalk on State Street Sunday. A total of 72 men, women and children took part by either running or walking, with their $25 entry fees slated to fund various charities to which the service clubs contributes. Skaneateles Town Justice Kathleen Dell weds Daniel Marshall and Kate Chajka within a Gazebo at Clift Park beside Lake Skaneateles following the Lions Club Resolution Run, in which the couple participated, on Sunday Kate Chajka and Daniel Marshall take part in the Skaneateles Lions Club Resolution Run on New Year's Day Sunday in the village before they got married in the gazebo next to Skaneateles Lake. Corrie Carroll helps tighten the laces on her 11-year-old son Wills shoe in the lobby of the Sherwood Inn prior to the start of the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run on Sunday. Luke Broge of Washingtonville sprints along State Street in the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run Sunday. Broge and his younger sister, Amelia, joined their cousins, aunt and uncle, who live in Skaneateles, for the event. Gallery: Skaneateles Lions Club holds New Year's Day run The Skaneateles Lions Club helds its annual New Year's Day Resolution Run on Sunday, drawing dozens of runners of all ages, including a couple from Camillus that got married after the event ended. Participants in the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run pound the sidewalk on State Street Sunday. A total of 72 men, women and children took part by either running or walking, with their $25 entry fees slated to fund various charities to which the service clubs contributes. Skaneateles Town Justice Kathleen Dell weds Daniel Marshall and Kate Chajka within a Gazebo at Clift Park beside Lake Skaneateles following the Lions Club Resolution Run, in which the couple participated, on Sunday Kate Chajka and Daniel Marshall take part in the Skaneateles Lions Club Resolution Run on New Year's Day Sunday in the village before they got married in the gazebo next to Skaneateles Lake. Corrie Carroll helps tighten the laces on her 11-year-old son Wills shoe in the lobby of the Sherwood Inn prior to the start of the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run on Sunday. Luke Broge of Washingtonville sprints along State Street in the Skaneateles Lions Clubs Resolution Run Sunday. Broge and his younger sister, Amelia, joined their cousins, aunt and uncle, who live in Skaneateles, for the event. JENNINGS Authorities have charged a man with murder in a fatal shooting in Jennings early Sunday that killed a St. Louis man. St. Louis County Police identified the victim Monday as Akeem White, 32, of the 4300 block of West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis. Darrell Davis, 33, of the 8800 block of Blewett Avenue faces charges of murder in the second degree and armed criminal action in connection with White's death. Davis admitted to shooting White shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday outside his home on Blewett Avenue, according to police. Officers called to the block at 2:12 a.m. to respond to a disturbance found White dead in the street, police said. An investigation led detectives to contact Davis, who was inside his home. Davis admitted to shooting White, police said. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis-based group thats already distributed tens of thousands of doses of an opioid overdose reversal drug plans to massively expand its efforts in the coming year. The Addiction Science Team has been working for years at the University of Missouri-St. Louis to reduce opioid overdose deaths with prevention, research and programs. Now, its armed with an additional $6 million from state settlements with opioid manufacturers. Last year, the group distributed 120,000 doses of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone. This year, it plans to double, or even triple, that number. Program leaders say prevention measures like naloxone will be key to reducing opioid-related deaths, which accounted for 72% of all Missouri drug overdose deaths in the first two quarters of 2022, according to the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at UMSL. In 2021, more than 1,580 Missourians died from an opioid overdose the vast majority of which came from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the state health department. St. Louis city had the states highest mortality rate, with nearly 97 people per 100,000 dying of a drug overdose. (Naloxone) is not a cure-all for our countrys opioid crisis; it is not a panacea, said Rachel Winograd, director of the Addiction Science Team. But without sufficient naloxone, without our high-need, vulnerable communities being saturated ... then we are never going to be able to get ahead of this death crisis. Winograd has been studying substance use for over a decade, and in recent years she said she has seen a marked shift in peoples acceptance of prevention measures like naloxone. Critics initially saw the reversal drug as a fringe intervention that may have even enabled people to continue using opioids. But now, she said, educational pushes by the state and efforts to reduce stigma have led to a change in thinking. When the team started their work in 2017, Missouri had the 17th-highest overdose death rate of any state. In 2021, it was 25th. Nationally, overdose deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic from roughly 50,000 in 2019 to 68,600 in 2020, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Addiction Science Team worked to combat that trend in Missouri by continuing to distribute naloxone, even though some other states halted similar efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, states across the U.S. are getting help in the form of billions of dollars in settlements with manufacturers and distributors over claims they fueled the opioid crisis. Missouri is expected to receive $458 million from the settlements over 18 years. The money has allowed the addiction science team to expand its model of finding people throughout the state who can make connections with communities. In recent weeks, theyve opened up applications for consultants to do training and street outreach, and set up tables at events to expand their scope, said overdose program coordinator Rithvik Kondai. Theyve also added 10 staffers in recent months, including social service workers, an EMT, a military medic and people with direct experience with substance use disorder. Kondai said the additional staff has allowed them to distribute even more kits to trusted places all over the state, including community hubs like barber shops, liquor stores, pawn shops and law firms, he said. They are trusted places people come to with their issues, he said. The kits include other prevention materials, such as test strips that detect fentanyl in other drugs, treatment information, recovery resources and a breathing mask, which can be crucial when people stop breathing during an overdose. In some locations, the team has distributed disposal containers for syringes to be hung in common areas. They also have plans to also distribute medical supplies to a limited number of organizations for people who are experiencing drug- or injection-related wounds. Winograd and Kondai acknowledged there is still a lot of work to do to solve the problem. Winograd said a robust response under the leadership of the Department of Mental Health in distributing the grants will be necessary to getting a handle on the overdose crisis. We are just one piece of the puzzle, she said. ST. LOUIS A teenage boy was wounded in a shooting New Year's Eve in St. Louis, police said. The boy, 13, told officers he was out walking on Mimika Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. when he heard gunfire and then felt pain in his back, police said. Officers called to the 6100 block of Lucille Avenue to respond to a shooting call found the boy there, police said. Lucille Avenue intersects Mimika Avenue. The boy was hospitalized for treatment and was in stable condition, police said. If you have one checking and one savings account, you have the typical bank accounts. But could you and your money be doing better? Even before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was the problem with Russian sleeper agents, also known as illegals. During the last decade Russia has activated more of these sleeper agents and used them for a variety of tasks besides espionage. Since the Russians invaded Ukraine, more sleepers have been activated to gather information on NATO efforts to supply the Ukrainian war effort. These sleepers are trained to do this discreetly but some used commercial quad-copters too frequently and attract unwanted attention. European counter-intelligence agencies have prepared profiles of likely sleepers and that has made it easier to detect and arrest sleepers even if they have not been activated. As a result of all this activity NATO governments, often the post-Cold War ones in East Europe have increasingly gone public with details of Russian espionage operations, especially the use of assassination of those Russia considers traitors or simply enemies of the state. There has been more of that since the Ukraine invasion and more Russians have fled their homeland. One news story about the sleeper program did more than just report on the problem. A 2019 French newspaper article described the Russian GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) Unit 29155 that had recently been operating from a secret logistics base in France near the Swiss border. From there at least fifteen GRU undercover agents engaged in espionage, sabotage and assassination operations. Also described was a joint British, Swiss, French and American intelligence operation to track down details of Unit 29155 and what it was doing between 2014 and 2018. The Unit 29155 base was apparently moved around Western Europe frequently to avoid detection and concentrate efforts on specific tasks. One of these was assassination, including attempts on the life of Sergei Skripal in Britain early in 2018. This incident did make the news, mainly because the GRU agents used a form of nerve gas called novichok. That incident caused an international uproar. In mid-August 2018 the U.S. imposed its first round of new sanctions on Russia for its March 2018 use of nerve gas in Britain. The details of this use of Russian nerve gas had been confirmed. British investigators identified the Russians who were involved with the use of nerve gas to try and murder Sergei Skripal on March 4th. Skripal was a former Soviet intelligence officer who worked for Britain as a double agent. He was found unconscious on March 4th, with his adult daughter, on a park bench near a British pub they had visited. The two were hospitalized and survived what turned out to be an assassination attempt using a form of nerve gas (novichok) developed in Russia and, as far as anyone knows, the only stocks of novichok were Russian. The Skripal operation attracted more attention than the Russians expected. For example, three of the police officers who responded to the call about the unconscious people on the park bench also fell ill, one of them seriously. Everyone recovered and provided information on what happened. Four months later the container (a small perfume bottle) the Russian assassin carried the liquid novichok in was found. This was because a couple had found the discarded novichok bottle nine days after the March attack and kept it. The assassin had tossed the bottle away in a park. Eventually, the couple opened the bottle and both ended up in the hospital, where the woman died. When her companion regained consciousness he provided information leading to the novichok container and further analysis of it. Worldwide, four different labs analyzed the samples and all agreed it was novichok, a chemical weapon never manufactured outside Russia. In response to the March 2018 incident, Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence agents and Russia responded by expelling 23 British diplomats. More nations said they would expel Russian diplomats and after the June confirmation that it was Russian novichok, the U.S. ordered into effect a series of additional sanctions on Russia. These could be limited if Russia admitted it used novichok and provided assurances it would never do so again with any banned weapons. Russia said it will do neither and denied any involvement. This assassination effort was nothing new for Russia. Skripal was still working for British intelligence when he was arrested in Russia at the end of 2004 and prosecuted for espionage. He was sent to prison in 2006 but got out in 2010 when Russia agreed to use him as one of the three imprisoned spies exchanged to get back several Russian illegals who were caught in the United States. Russia was reluctant to part with Skripal, who had apparently done enormous damage to Russian overseas spying efforts. But they wanted their imprisoned agents in the U.S. back. This was not the first time Russia had gone after people like Skripal in Britain. This sort of thing has happened elsewhere in Europe before and after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Russia insists that it does not do this and have been saying that since the Soviets started hunting down and killing traitors overseas back in the 1930s. What was not revealed at that time was the joint investigation of Unit 29155 and how many of the growing number of Russian espionage efforts in Europe could be traced to it and similar GRU or KGB operations in East Europe. The Russians have been quite active in Serbia and Bulgaria where local intel agencies have more experience with Russian methods. Thats because until the 1980s Bulgaria was ruled by a Russia-backed communist government that had close ties to the KGB and GRU. It was these former communist states in East Europe that were the first to detect and warn their NATO allies of the resumption of major Russian espionage efforts. Even journalists in East Europe were able to identify some Russian agents on their own. Decades of Russian-imposed communist rule in East Europe left bitter memories of how ruthless the Russian espionage services could be, and many victims are still alive to provide personal testimony. Western Europeans, except those in East Germany, did not experience this and were slow to accept the fact that the Russians were back, since the late 1990s, at their Cold War espionage efforts. That attitude is changing as more details of recent Russian efforts are made public. For example, in late 2012 Germany revealed it was prosecuting two Russians (a married couple) who were arrested in 2011 on suspicion of espionage. Russia insisted that the two Russians were not active Russian agents, but retired Cold War era spies. Germany accused the couple of recruiting and using a local spy three times between 2008 and 2011. When the police came to arrest the couple, the woman was found listening to coded messages. There was apparently much more evidence as well that the couple was spying. The two 51-year-old Russians were sent to Germany (via Austria using false Austrian IDs) in 1988, to serve as "sleepers", agents that spend most of their time doing nothing until activated from time-to-time for some simple, but essential, mission. While Germany let a lot of its own Soviet era spies off easy, there is still a lot of animosity towards Russian spies. That's because Russia is still very much involved with espionage. In Germany that means stealing economic secrets, which hurts the German economy. The Germans are not in a forgiving mood because of this Russian aggression. Germany believes that this couple are but two of many other Cold War sleeper agents that Russia, or someone, is reactivating. Prosecuting these two included attempts to get them to reveal details of how the sleeper program operates. This would help the Germans track down other sleepers and get an idea of how many of them are out there. These two sleepers were apparently not very cooperative. Some details of the sleeper operation were gathered from the investigation of so many sleepers. Many, if not all, the sleepers were cut loose in the 1990s, as the KGB back home was reorganized and saw its budget cut sharply. But after 2000 the FSB (the rebranded and reorganized domestic operations branch of the KGB) and SVR (foreign operations of the KGB) revived a lot of Cold War era operations. In large part that's because KGB men hold many senior jobs in the Russian government. The president of Russia for most of the last decade, Vladimir Putin, was a career KGB man. The SVR and GRU got more money to operate in foreign lands. There are two foreign intelligence services: SVR and GRU. The first one is the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. It is the former First Chief Directorate of the Soviet era KGB, which has managed most foreign intelligence operations for decades. Its activities are well known throughout the world. The second one is the GRU, Russian military intelligence. It is a part of the Defense Ministry. Its full name is much longer, as in The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Army. GRU has retained its Soviet era name and just about everything else. GRU is seen as a living relic of Soviet times. That is why GRU is so much more secretive than the "Westernized" SVR. GRU officers are considered more patriotic (and old school) than those of the SVR. During the Cold War there were fewer GRU defectors, still a point of pride. GRU prefers to stay in the shadows, which makes the exposure of Unit 29155 activities all the more unusual. Westerners have not written many books about the GRU, compared to the KGB. This is largely because GRU keeps its secrets better and, in the West, is considered an obscure part of Russian intelligence. It's possible that the GRU activated these sleepers but the Germans did not go public with a lot of information. The Germans shared their information with the clandestine investigation of Unit 29155 only with other Western intelligence agencies. Both GRU and SVR perform the same functions: Political Intelligence, Scientific and Technical Intelligence (industrial espionage), and Illegal Intelligence. Because of this the two agencies have a very real rivalry going. There was, and remains, one area where only the SVR (and its predecessor, the KGB) participates, running counter-intelligence abroad. This was long a KGB monopoly because it was the KGB's job to make sure the armed forces remained loyal, while GRU was and is very much a part of the armed forces. When GRU officers are working abroad, they are monitored by Directorate K (counter-intelligence) of the SVR. Those who serve inside Russia are watched by the Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (The Third Directorate) of the FSB (Federal Security Service, inheritor to the KGB). Interestingly, in the Soviet period, it was also called the Third Directorate. It is not a coincidence but a continuation of the Soviet tradition. The Third Directorate of the FSB is still assigned to monitor the Defense Ministry, of which the GRU is a part. The head of GRU does not even report directly to the Russian president. GRU reports have to go through the Head of the General Staff and the Defense Minister before reaching the top man. GRU is very much number two in the Russian foreign intelligence business. As such they tend to try harder and consider themselves more elite than those pampered wimps over at SVR. On the other hand, there also is one function monopolized by the GRU: battlefield intelligence and NATO countries are now considered potential battlefields. The battlefield intelligence is run in peacetime as well. For example, in preparation for future wars, the GRU sets up illegal weapons and ammunition dumps in the territory of many foreign countries. This is a risky operation. It usually involves groups of junior Russian diplomats secretly going into rural areas to bury rifles, machine-guns, and other weapons. They have to do this discreetly and in a hurry, to avoid detection by the local counterintelligence service. It is considered a hard job. Western analysts regard the GRU as the most closed Russian intelligence service partly because it does not even manage its own press relations. That's because GRU is one of many components of the Defense Ministry and is not eligible to have its own press relations staff. The FSB and SVR are higher up in the government pecking order and entitled to their own press relations operations. Formally, GRU is nothing but one of the numerous Chief Directorates of the General Staff of the Defense Ministry. It does not even report directly to the Minister of Defense. That is why those foreign journalists who have questions about GRU must address them to the Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry. The questions are often handled by some press aide who knows little about intelligence work, while FSB and SVR press people are very well informed. Foreign journalists tend to seek out the SVR press department when seeking information on Russian intel operations. During the Second World War GRU worked in close contact with the NKVD, the predecessor of the KGB. For example, in March 1941, both intelligence services jointly carried out a successful operation aimed at overthrowing the pro-German government of Yugoslavia. During the entire war, GRU and NKVD managed a joint network of foreign agents in Europe. The current system of two separate intelligence services competing with each other only came about in the 1950s, after Stalins death. It was done by the Central Committee of the Communist Party in order to protect itself from a coup inspired by either intelligence service. As a result, the GRU not only competes with the SVR, but it is also supposed to keep an eye on the SVR for signs of disloyalty. In Soviet times, although the GRU was monitored by the KGB, both organizations reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. In case of emergency, the Central Committee could control the KGB using the GRU. The communists believed it best that someone guards the guards. Nowadays, GRU does not monitor the SVR anymore. GRU, the military, and the rest of Russia are all subordinate to the FSB/SVR. SVR has more money and resources. It's long been like that, and the GRU has developed a tradition of getting by on very little. GRU methods are considered more aggressive and crude than those of the SVR. GRU operatives tend to think they are at war even during peacetime. The SVR assigns its officers to do some jobs in the form of tasks, not detailed orders. The task is not supposed to be necessarily accomplished, while the order is to be carried out by all means. The GRU prefers ordering and expects results no matter what. In the GRU nobody cares how their officers obtain secret information, like parts of missiles and other weapons. They may even buy it legally or semi-legally or even steal it. The SVR officers are not allowed to do so. They are supposed to use foreign collaborators for it. In the GRU you just go get it. Thats why tracking Unit 29155 was such a big deal. These are all reasons why Unit 29155 is still active. PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: NHOA (NHOA.PA, formerly Engie EPS) (Paris: NHOA) is pleased to announce that in December 2022 NHOA Energy has been awarded contracts for over 620MWh across North America, Australia and Asia, far outperforming the expectations disclosed in the Trading Update released on 1 December 2022. While reconfirming the Full Year 2022 consolidated Revenue guidance slightly above 160 million, as effect of the recently awarded contracts NHOA Energys backlog at year end is now expected to range between 280 and 290 million. Approx. 1,400MWh are now in execution, with six projects in commissioning or pre-commissioning phase. Details on the newly awarded projects will be disclosed in due time with dedicated press releases and during the Q4 2022 Trading and Operational Update Investor Call scheduled on 31 January 2023. * * * NHOA NHOA S.A. (formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage, e-mobility and EV fast and ultra-fast charging infrastructure, develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet. Listed on Euronext Paris regulated market (NHOA.PA), NHOA forms part of the CAC Mid & Small and CAC All-Tradable financial indices. NHOA, with offices in France, Spain, United States and Australia, maintains entirely in Italy research, development and production of its technologies. For further information, go to www.nhoa.energy follow us on LinkedIn follow us on Instagram Forward looking statement This release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are not undertakings as to the future performance of NHOA. Although NHOA considers that such statements are based on reasonable expectations and assumptions at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual performance to differ from those indicated or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include without limitation those explained or identified in the public documents filed by NHOA with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), including those listed in the Risk Factors section of the NHOA 2021 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 6 April 2022 (under number D. 22-02751). Investors and NHOA shareholders should note that if some or all of these risks are realized they may have a significant unfavorable impact on NHOA. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the verbs or terms anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, build- up, under discussion or potential customer, should or will, projects, backlog or pipeline or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and that are to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the impacts of the Covid19 pandemic on NHOAs business operations, financial results and financial position and on the world economy. They appear throughout this announcement and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding NHOAs intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, NHOAs results of business development, operations, financial position, prospects, financing strategies, expectations for product design and development, regulatory applications and approvals, reimbursement arrangements, costs of sales and market penetration. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from managements expectations or could affect NHOAs ability to achieve its strategic goals, include the uncertainties relating to the impact of Covid-19 on NHOAs business, operations and employees. In addition, even if the NHOAs results of operations, financial position and growth, and the development of the markets and the industry in which NHOA operates, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. The forward-looking statements herein speak only at the date of this announcement. NHOA does not have the obligation and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230101005009/en/ Press Office: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, [email protected] Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, [email protected] Source: NHOA WARRINGTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Polysciences, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of specialty chemicals for research, IVD and medical device applications, has announced its plan to create a new brand, Kyfora Bio, representing its product offerings to the bioprocessing market. Building on Polysciences extensive experience in developing and manufacturing monomers, polymers, microspheres, and specialty reagents for the medical device, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical industries, Kyfora Bio will focus on the synthesis of cationic polymers, lipids, and other materials used in nucleic acid delivery for cell and gene therapies. Based in Horsham, PA, Kyfora Bio will occupy a 45,000 square foot cGMP facility outfitted with administrative offices, R&D laboratories, manufacturing suites, and QC laboratories for chemical and biological performance testing. The new site is a short drive from Polysciences 250,000 square foot Warrington, PA campus which serves as the companys headquarters and houses manufacturing, R&D, QA/QC, and product storage facilities. Kyfora Bio reflects Polysciences latest commitment to be the partner of choice in supplying key cGMP compliant materials to the cell and gene therapy market. Through Kyfora Bio, we will leverage over 60 years of experience in chemical synthesis along with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and 210/211 compliant Quality Management System to assist our customers in bringing life-saving therapies to the patient. Our flexible CDMO business model and deep technical expertise are ideal for those seeking the development and manufacture of novel materials used in discovery, clinical trials, and commercial manufacturing of biotherapeutics said Scott Knorr, President, Kyfora Bio. For more information about our products and services, please visit Polysciences.com or contact [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005006/en/ Leena Mol Thuruthippallil, PhD Vice President, Sales & Business Development [email protected] Source: Polysciences, Inc. HOD HASHARON, Israel, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weebit Nano Limited (ASX: WBT), a leading developer of next-generation memory technologies for the global semiconductor industry, has taped-out (released to manufacturing) demonstration chips integrating its embedded Resistive Random-Access Memory (ReRAM) module in an advanced 22nm FD-SOI (fully depleted silicon on insulator) process technology. This is the first tape-out of Weebit ReRAM in 22nm, one of the industrys most common process nodes, and a geometry where embedded flash is not viable. Weebit worked with its development partners CEA-Leti and CEA-List to successfully scale its ReRAM technology down to 22nm. The teams designed a full IP memory module that integrates a multi-megabit ReRAM block targeting the 22nm FD-SOI process which is designed to deliver outstanding performance for connected and ultra-low power applications such as IoT and edge AI. As embedded flash is unable to scale below 28nm, new non-volatile memory (NVM) technology is needed for smaller process geometries. Weebit ReRAM in 22nm FD-SOI offers a low-power, cost-effective embedded NVM solution which can withstand harsh environmental conditions. Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano, said: Were delighted to have taped-out on schedule our first demo chip in 22nm. We are continuing to accelerate Weebits path towards more advanced geometries to meet a clear market need in applications such as microcontrollers, IoT, 5G, edge AI and automotive. Embedded NVM is a key element of such designs, but since embedded flash is difficult to scale below 28nm, many companies are looking to emerging technologies like ReRAM. There is increased interest from companies looking to use our ReRAM to create exciting new products in these areas. Olivier Faynot, Head of Silicon Component Division, CEA-Leti, said: FD-SOI technology provides high performance with low voltages and low leakage to enable devices to operate at higher frequencies with better energy efficiency. It also enables easier integration of additional features such as connectivity and security. With Weebit ReRAM available on this process, the industry will have a highly efficient and robust NVM option for their future product innovations. Weebits embedded ReRAM module includes an 8Mb ReRAM array, control logic, decoders, IOs (Input/Output communication elements) and error correcting code (ECC). It is designed with unique patent-pending analog and digital circuitry running smart algorithms that significantly enhance the memory arrays technical parameters. Among other benefits, Weebits ReRAM technology excels in harsh environmental conditions including high temperatures, radiation and electro-magnetic fields, making it ideal for applications such as IoT, medical, automotive and industrial. The demo chips comprise a full sub-system for embedded applications, including the Weebit ReRAM module, a RISC-V microcontroller (MCU), system interfaces, memories and peripherals. About Weebit Nano Limited Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebits ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. As it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See www.weebit-nano.com and follow us on https://twitter.com/WeebitNano. Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. InvestorsEric Kuret, Automic GroupP: +61 417 311 335E: [email protected] Media AustraliaTristan Everett, Automic GroupP: +61 403 789 096E: [email protected] Media USJen Bernier-Santarini, Weebit NanoP: +1 650-336-4222E: [email protected] Source: Weebit Nano Ltd Ankara, Turkey--(Newsfile Corp. - January 1, 2023) - The CIPC Cosmic Interstellar Public Chain Metaverse Conference will be officially inaugurated on January 1, 2023, ushering in a new era. The flourishing financial world will continue the legacy of the past and usher in the future. Cosmic Trade, the world's first blockchain-based decentralised international financial trading platform, will also be launched at this conference in order to connect to the international market and produce great achievements. With the 360-degree immersive experience of the metaverse online environment, attendees will be able to participate in a variety of well-planned interactive sessions and enjoy a real-time feast of knowledge. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8520/150019_941225f1749b4a30_001full.jpg Based on the global financial development trend, the team has meticulously planned the development direction and global positioning of the company through on-site inspections of important nations and real-time monitoring of the political and financial future trends in each country. At the same time, this press conference invited avatars from the global industry, such as God of stocks, master of the Metaverse, representatives of new energy vehicles, representatives of business schools, representatives of Cosmic Interstellar Warehouse, representatives of Thailand Cosmic Interstellar Warehouse, etc., to share delightfully. Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8520/150019_941225f1749b4a30_002full.jpg This conference will focus on the grand debut of Cosmic Trade, the first decentralised worldwide financial trading platform based on blockchain technology. At the same time, everyone invited shared detailed explanations and functional elaborations on the Cosmic Trade platform, because the combination of blockchain technology and traditional systems, through a comprehensive upgrade and innovation of traditional finance, has promoted a massive financial leap in the new era, providing a more convenient transaction method for all parties, but also enhancing the transparency, traceability, and security of the platform, promoting tamper-proof transactions. The innovative solution offers investors more than 100 types of diverse investment products in five categories, including foreign exchange, digital currency, commodity, index, stock, and other commodity CFD transactions. All investment items are executed on a single platform, and worldwide market traders find the application convenient. Figure 3 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8520/150019_941225f1749b4a30_003full.jpg As a decentralised blockchain-based financial technology online trading platform, Cosmic Trade offers a tight trader access mechanism and significant technical benefits. Unique storage technique uploads all essential data to the blockchain to achieve the highest level of security protection. In addition, the cosmic trade platform provides cutting-edge trading tools and services, and its intelligent data integration function can manage personal assets more fully and comprehend the profit-loss ratio of investments more clearly and concisely. More than a hundred varieties of financial investment products include foreign exchange, digital currency, commodity, index, stock, and other commodity CFD transactions. During the same press conference, the world will be introduced to the world's first over-collateralised stablecoin, USDT3.0, the upgrading of the CIPC public chain wallet, and the upgrade of the Cosmic Interstellar Warehouse, among other things. In step with the CIPC public chain, build a beautiful existence while setting contemporary trends. Media Contact Company Name: CIPC Cosmic Contact: Marry Lin Email: [email protected] Website: https://cipc.space To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150019 LOS ANGELES2022 Storerotica Lubricant Company of the Year Wicked Sensual Care announced that it has received two 2023 "O" Awards nominations, including the top honor in its product category, Outstanding Lubricant Product or Line. The innovative sexual health and wellness companys monthly Retail Superstar Spotlight program also received a nomination for Outstanding Marketing Campaign. The 14th annual awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Wednesday evening, Jan. 4 in Las Vegas as part of the 2023 AVN Novelty Expo (ANE), will recognize outstanding achievements in pleasure products released during the past year. A clean, water-based lubricant that is slick, sensual, and never sticky, simply Aqua Special Edition received the Outstanding Lubricant Product or Line distinction. Free of Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, and Parabens, simply Aqua Special Edition is vegan, cruelty-free, and enhanced with Wicked Sensual Cares antioxidant-rich Olive Leaf Extract for its moisturizing and bio-static properties. In its review, AVN lauded the products gently rainbowed label which identifies it as a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. Using the hashtag #loveissimplylove to promote its inclusivity, this outstanding lube is perfect for everyone from every background and every gender. Each month, Wicked Sensual Care dedicates a percentage of its proceeds to local and global LGBTQ+ organizations and communities. The ongoing Wicked Sensual Care Retail Employee Spotlight, designed to honor retail staff employed in the pleasure industry, received a nomination for Outstanding Marketing Campaign. Each month, an individual who exceeds not only in sales performance but as an educator and customer service specialist is interviewed in the WSC newsletter and receives recognition across all Wicked Sensual Care public relations platforms. To see simply Aqua Special Edition receive the top O Award nomination in our product category this year is extremely rewarding, said Wicked Sensual Care marketing director Cassie Pendleton. Im happy to see our Retail Superstar Spotlight receive an Outstanding Marketing Campaign nomination, as our retail partners play a vital role in our industry, from educating customers to making product recommendations. We thank them for being an integral part of our growth and are proud to share this nomination with all of them. We are grateful to everyone involved with the O Awards for the continued recognition and support. For more information, contact a preferred distributor, Wicked Sensual Care sales representative, or email [email protected] For WSC updates, including sexual health and wellness tips from resident sex educator Jessica Drake, follow the company on Instagram Facebook , and Twitter . For review samples, contact T[email protected]. REVOLUTIONARY ONLINE TRADING FUNDING PLATFORM OFFERS USERS NEW BENEFITS AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apex Trader Funding, an innovative online trader funding company offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost and highest contract plans, announced today their complete list of benefits to their trader funding platform including: Apex Trader Funding has surpassed just over $5,000,000 in payments to traders The ability to keep the first 25k per account based on the payout schedule, then 90/10 split after that Only trade evaluation accounts for seven days instead of ten to qualify for a PA account Traders can now get paid twice a month Access multiple trading accounts with one login Trade full-sized contracts in evaluations or funded accounts No Scaling or Failing by going over contract limits No daily drawdown Trade on holidays Trade your normal day to day strategy or system during the news No total cap on maximum payout One-step evaluation process Qualify in as little as 10 days Real-time data included Simple risk management rules Trade with multiple accounts New accounts will have updated mini to micro ratios. For all new PA accounts, you'll have the option to pay monthly or choose to pay a one-time fee. You can make this choice per each account so you can mix and match payment options. Last year, Apex Trader Funding announced updated benefits to their funding platform in response to feedback they received from traders. Apex Trader Funding has surpassed just over $5,000,000 in payments to traders, more than any other trader funding company. "The complete benefits we offer to retail traders show our commitment to providing them the easiest and flexible funding platform," said Darrell Martin, Founder and CEO of Apex Trader Funding. "We will continue to look for new ways to build upon these benefits and thank our community for the tremendous success Apex Trader Funding has seen since launch." About Apex Trader Funding Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Apex Trader Funding is a community of traders offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost, highest contract funding plans. Founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin, Apex Trader Funding is a thriving community of traders including more than 25,000 members in 150 countries. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apex-trader-funding-announces-full-benefits-with-new-year-301709395.html SOURCE Apex Trader Funding The acquisition broadens the firm's capacity to manage its rapid growth. GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kopis, a Greenville, South Carolina-based tech firm specializing in enterprise-level app development and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) services, has purchased Intelice's ERP Group. The deal is effective as of Dec. 1, 2022. Kopis forecasts revenue growth of 33 percent heading into 2023 as a result of the acquisition. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In addition to their leading Managed Services practice, Intelice's ERP practice, with offices in the Washington, D.C. area, specializes in cloud and on-premise ERP services that utilize the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV platform. ERP is a software system that automates and manages core business functions by linking a company's financials, supply chain, operations, commerce, and reporting activities on a single platform to ensure intra-system integration. Companies can scale faster through improved efficiencies when these core functions communicate with each other. The acquired Intelice division works with over 50 clients with a specialty in the non-profit sector. The acquisition involving Intelice's ERP division means that Intelice can continue to focus on providing leading cloud-managed services. "This acquisition means that we are able to serve Kopis's clients and Intelice's clients with cutting-edge ERP services, including the best-in-class Business Central ERP platform, for years to come," said Andrew Kurtz, founder and CEO of Kopis. "The Intelice and Kopis teams share a common passion to help ensure clients overcome their growth challenges with innovative technologies that are easy to learn and use." The acquisition means Kopis expands its number of ERP consultants available to work directly with clients during the initial build and on an ongoing basis if support is needed. "Our ERP Group is excited to now be aligned with Kopis, a company that has established itself as a category leader that stands out due to their impeccably responsive customer service," said Robert Roman, president of Intelice. "Our clients will not miss a beat with this acquisition just the opposite. Kopis's team is similarly committed to guiding clients to the best solution that is tailored to their specific needs and growth strategies. We are excited to join forces with Kopis as they continue their own growth." MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Lochel | 803.984.2883 | [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tech-firm-kopis-acquires-intelices-erp-group-301711903.html SOURCE Kopis (Tribune News Service) The public comment period has been extended to Jan. 13 for a proposal to increase the use of the Limestone Hills Training Area on the east side of the Elkhorns in Broadwater County, Mont., to allow aerial gunnery practice by Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana Army National Guard helicopters. The environmental assessment, in which the U.S. Air Force is the lead agency, also calls for the creation of special use airspace restricted area for when military drills are underway. An earlier deadline of Dec. 5 was extended when members of the public said there was not sufficient notice of the proposal. A 348-page environmental assessment filed in November and done in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found the proposal to have a "finding of no significant impact," also known as FONSI. But the head of the Montana Pilots Association says the calls for restricted air space could pose problems for private pilots who unknowingly violate the order due to insufficient notice. As the operator of the Limestone facility, the Montana Army National Guard has requested the FAA establish a joint-use restricted area airspace to authorize helicopter aerial gunnery training for "multiple" Department of Defense service branches. It would include the 846 acres now used for ground-based weapons training. Helicopter aircrews would fly in from Malmstrom in Great Falls and Montana Army National Guard would fly in from their base in Helena, do brief weapon firing while landed at existing helicopter landing pads and then do aerial gunnery at the proposed aerial gunnery range. The assessment notes Malmstrom's 40th helicopter squadron and 341st Missile Wing Security Forces Group are tasked with the defense of the Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile complex and there are no aerial gunnery ranges in Montana where they practice. They now fly 480 miles from Malmstrom to Utah to get to the nearest range to practice, officials said. This brings costly out-of-state deployments and limits training due to costs, distance and impacting "the home mission." The notice states Limestone Hills is the only federal training range near Malmstrom and that Montana Army National Guard aircrews also train out of state and could benefit from a range closer to home. Katie Rediske, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) manager at Malmstrom, said the proposal does not expand the training area and the military would be restricted to 140 days a year, due to the nearby big game wintering range. She said they are working with the FAA on limited airspace. The airspace would be limited to two- to three-hour allotments during the 140 days Proximity to Montana facilities is a key reason why they want a range so close, Rediske said, adding that personnel can fly down in one day, do their training and fly home. The report notes participants can fulfill their training within a 12-hour period. The original comment period was Nov. 4-Dec. 5. Public notice was published as legal advertising in the Helena Independent Record, Broadwater County News and Great Falls Tribune. The final decision rests with the Wing commander. However, Bozeman resident Michael Vivion, who heads the nearly 400-member Montana Pilots Association, said the environmental assessment was not well researched, adding those who compiled it did not talk to aviators outside the Federal Aviation Administration. And Vivion, a retired wildlife biologist who spent much of his career in Alaska, said the extra firing of military rounds could send thousands of pounds of lead into the environment and in the proximity of the Missouri River. He said the report makes no mention of how to remediate it. Vivion said the noise would also impact Townsend residents, who live within five miles of the facility. But he said he was most concerned about the restricted airspace and proper notification to pilots of such an order. He said many pilots fly without filing flight plans. "How do you find out if it's active?" he asked. Vivion said they need to put some kind of radio broadcast in the Townsend area and near the shooting range to say if restricted airspace is active or not. "All they have to do to keep pilots happy is to put something like that out of Townsend," he said, adding it's a "good neighbor" gesture. "When the helicopters are flying, flip a switch and send out a message." He said most pilots would then not have a problem with restricted air space. He said the proposed restricted airspace is "tiny," as restricted air spaces go: 7.5 miles by 5 miles. "I can easily go out of my way, but the question is how do I know I need to go out of my way?" he asked. Vivion also questions the air traffic estimates. He said the assessment states about 24 general aviation aircraft fly through that airspace each year. He said according to his log books, he has flown through that immediate area seven times in 2022 en route to Helena. He believes the number to be in the hundreds and that the report looked at high-altitude flights and not any traffic at altitudes that general aviation typically flies. Vivion also said the assessment did not consider other alternatives, such as other bombing ranges in eastern Montana. "Why fly 200 miles from Malmstrom when they could probably do something in their own backyard?" Vivion asked, adding the "500-pound gorilla in the room" is there are places they did not even consider. He also fears that military based in other states will come to the range. "There is no guarantee this will be the only use," Vivion said, adding that provision needs to be added. Rediske said there has been a mix of comments, with some people in support of the proposal. But she said officials decided to extend the comment period when people said there was not enough public notification. Michael Korn of Clancy, a pilot and retired Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks employee, said the proposal raises concerns. Like Vivion, he also said there was a lack of public notification and questions the content and thoroughness of the assessment. Korn said he stumbled across the news that the EA (assessment) had been released only by serendipity, glancing at the legal notice section of the Sunday IR classified pages back in early November. Korn and Vivion said a "virtual public open house" on Dec. 15 failed when the computer system crashed. Korn said the document is likely something that, with some modifications, can be accommodated, "but only if it is properly analyzed, considered and designed." Copies of the assessment have reportedly been placed at libraries in Helena, Townsend and Great Falls. Read the environmental assessment for the Limestone Hills Training Area. To comment by Jan. 13, send an email to 341CES.CEIE.NEPAWork-Flow@us.af.mil or write to Katie Rediske, 39 78th St. N. Malmstrom AFB, MT 59402. (c)2023 the Independent Record (Helena, Mont.) Visit at www.helenair.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Corry Robb's colleagues at the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency use powerful satellites to monitor protests in Iran, missile launches in North Korea and Russian strikes on Ukraine. This fall, Robb and a team from the agency were deployed under far different circumstances: to Florida, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. With climate change driving more frequent and powerful natural disasters, the intelligence agency, part of the Department of Defense, is contending with new needs closer to home. Charged with mapping and analyzing the physical world, it's turning skills sharpened in the world's danger spots toward helping people inside U.S. borders. And within days of Ian's landfall on the Florida coast, Robb and his team of analysts were processing tens of thousands of drone and satellite images per day to help direct rescuers in the Fort Myers area to their most important targets. The week-long effort was one of the latest examples of public agencies and companies repurposing advanced technology toward improving the speed and efficacy of rescues, as more people stand in the pathway of climate-driven disasters. Now, U.S. intelligence officials are experimenting with ways to get involved, taking a small step toward an area they have often avoided: domestic deployments. "Geospatial data is really layered data," said Robb, who helps run a team at the geospatial intelligence agency that deploys to locations around the world. "We're that foundational layer that you build everything on top of." The deployment came after President Joe Biden declared Hurricane Ian a major disaster on Sept. 29, giving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the power to request help from across the federal government in response to one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the United States. The intelligence officials could accumulate drone and satellite photos of the hurricane-hit areas, plug them into their systems, and come up with a list of areas that were the likeliest to be in need of search-and-rescue teams. They could figure out which boat docks were still likely to be functional, making it easier to get around by water. They could plot quicker and safer routes for rescuers as they zipped around a torn-up and waterlogged landscape no longer navigable with Google Maps. More than 100 people died in the hurricane. Far more needed help from emergency workers. At the peak, the analysts' system was processing about 60,000 images per day, Robb said, helping to produce rich information about the geography of the damage that made rescue efforts more effective. The agency has deployed to natural disasters for years, but it hadn't previously used drones, which meant it didn't have as rich or as many low-altitude images to work with. The agency doesn't use classified images for emergency situations such as Hurricane Ian, since most of the people who would need access to them don't have security clearances, Robb said. But the analysts are still able to do powerful work with commercial, unclassified satellite images and pictures taken from small quadcopter drones, the kind with four spinning rotors, he said. The data "tells us where some vulnerable communities could be," he said. The team worked out of a parking lot in a cramped, nondescript white trailer that was small enough to be towed around by pickup truck. Sitting on black folding chairs as they stared at their computer screens, they tried to pinpoint rescue targets that people on the ground wouldn't otherwise have been able to see. Analysts brought special large-format printers that could create detailed, waterproof maps on the spot. And they could feed data into an online portal that emergency personnel could access on their phones, helping to spread the information widely and quickly. The effort was responsible for at least one human rescue, Robb said. After receiving a tip that a person might be stranded in a stand of mangrove trees, which can be difficult to search because of their thick root structures, an analyst pored over drone imagery and found a possible target for a rescue team. The analyst was right. The emergency responders "were getting the information that they needed to be able to turn the power back on. Find the people still trapped in debris. All that kind of stuff," Robb said. Analysts such as Robb aren't the only national security personnel finding themselves pulled more into a different kind of fight, one that is driven by climate change rather than human enemies. Across the globe, armed forces are also increasingly being seen as the emergency responders of last resort, as wildfires, floods and other disasters start to strain the civilian safety net. The result can be complicated: officials who are accustomed to fighting foreign adversaries sometimes say that natural disasters are an unwanted distraction. And in societies in which attitudes toward the military are mixed or in which armies have occasionally subverted civilian leaders, widespread domestic deployments can cause tension. That's true in the United States as well, where intelligence agencies restrain their activities domestically. That's why the team deployed under the control of FEMA, a civilian nonmilitary agency, he said. "There are some very strong sensitivities and some hot-button issues," Robb said. But, he said, "we're helping fellow Americans, which is kind of neat." Miller Pacheco (29) was charged with the murder of his former partner before a special sitting of Cork District Court Miller Pacheco (29) who appeared at Cork District Court charged over the death of Bruna Fonseca (28) in Cork city. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Cork Courts Limited Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision A man has been charged with the murder of young Brazilian woman, Bruna Fonseca (28), who was found beaten and strangled in a Cork flat on New Year's Day. Miller Pacheco (29), who is also a Brazilian national, was charged with the murder of his former partner before a special sitting of Cork District Court. Pacheco is charged with the murder of Ms Fonseca at No 5 Liberty Street in the early hours of New Year's Day contrary to Common Law. The defendant has an address at Room 3, No 5 Liberty Street in Cork. Judge John King was given evidence of arrest, caution and charge by Det Garda Padraig Harrington. The defendant had been detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 on January 1 and brought to the Bridewell Garda Station for questioning. Pacheco was formally charged at 2.45pm at the Bridewell Garda Station. Det Garda Harrington said that in response to the single charge, Pacheco made no reply. The defendant appeared in court wearing dark slacks and a black jumper. He did not speak during the brief hearing. Bruna Fonseca PA Judge King granted free legal aid on the application of defence solicitor, Aoife Buttimer, and directed that Pacheco receive all medical attention required while in custody. He also certified that a Portuguese translator be made available for future court sittings. Because the charge involved is murder, bail cannot be dealt with by the district court. Any bail application must be brought before the High Court. Sergeant Pat Lyons applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody to appear before a sitting of Cork District Court by video link. Judge King remanded Pachecho in custody to appear again before Cork District Court on Jan 9. Ms Fonseca, who was from Formiga in Brazil, travelled to Ireland last year for work. She was employed by BidVest-Noonan Contractor Cleaners. Her work included duties at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) which is located less than 100 metres from where her body was found at 6.30am on New Year's Day. Gardai and paramedics attended the Liberty Street flat at 6.30 on New Year's Day but desperate efforts to revive the young woman failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination was conducted at Cork University Hospital (CUH) by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster on Sunday afternoon. Gardai have withheld the post mortem findings for operational reasons. However, it confirmed that Ms Fonseca met a violent death. The young woman had been beaten and strangled. Ms Fonseca attended university in her native Brazil and had worked as a librarian. She moved to Ireland last year. Her body was found at Liberty Street just a couple of hours after she had gone out with friends to celebrate New Year's Eve in Cork city centre. The flat involved is located just 100 metres from the Bridewell Garda Station and around the corner from Cork Courthouse on Washington Street. Ms Fonseca's body was found on a bed in an upstairs bedroom at the flat which is located above Picasso's hair salon. Gardai have appointed a family liaison officer to assist her family in Brazil. It is understood her family are hoping to travel to Ireland to supervise arrangements for the repatriation of their daughter's remains back to Brazil. In a tribute, both MUH and Bidvest Noonan hailed Ms Fonseca as a diligent worker - and said they were "saddened and shocked" at her death. "Even though she was only working for a short time for the company at the hospital she was considered a hard and diligent worker and an esteemed colleague. We extend our deepest condolences to her friends in Cork, and her family and friends in Brazil. May she rest in peace." Jordan Deasy (18) appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court A teenager has been charged with an assault that left a 29-year-old man fighting for his life. Jordan Deasy (18) appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court charged in relation to an alleged assault last Wednesday that left a man with critical injuries. Mr Deasy of Ravensdale, Herons Road, Carrigaline, Co Cork appeared before Cork District Court where he was charged with assault causing harm to Matt ONeill in the Glenwood area of Carrigaline on December 28. Detective Garda Declan Healy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution to Judge John King. He said that Mr Deasy made no reply when the charge was formally put to him at Togher Garda Station at 10.30pm on New Year's Eve. The young man had earlier been detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Det Garda Healy objected to bail arising out of the serious nature of the charge. He told Judge King that the nature of the evidence against Mr Deasy was strong given that the assault was captured on CCTV security camera footage. Defence solicitor Diane Hallahan said her client was willing to meet stringent bail conditions such as signing on daily, residing at his home address and being contactable to gardai by phone on a 24/7 basis. She said the accused was also willing to obey any curfew terms required by the court. However, Det Garda Healy indicated that gardai wouldnt be satisfied with such measures. Judge King remanded the accused in custody until his next court appearance at Cork District Court on Thursday, January 5. Mr Deasy will appear by video link and instructions in the case are expected on that date from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Free legal aid was granted in the case after the court was toild that Mr Deasy is currently unemployed and has no assets. The injured party in the matter remains in CUH where he underwent emergency surgery on Wednesday evening. He is in a critical but stable condition. The alleged incident occurred shortly before 6pm on Wednesday at Glenwood, with the injured party being treated by paramedics at the scene before he was rushed by ambulance to hospital. The incident happened off South Anne Street at 11.20pm when the victims, aged in their 20s were seriously assaulted Two men have appeared in court charged with assault after two other men were attacked metres from Dublins Grafton Street last night . The incident happened on Annes Lane, off South Anne Street at 11.20pm when the victims, aged in their 20s were seriously assaulted on the street. Both men were removed to St. James' Hospital by ambulance where they were treated for their injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. In a follow up search of the area, two men were stopped by Gardai and arrested. Daniel Olasunbo leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice. 2.1.2023 They were taken to Pearse Street Garda station where they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. They were charged with Section 3 assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act and appeared before judge Vincent Deane at a sitting of Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. Jeffery Iyobosa (21), a student with an address at Barnwall Crescent in Dublin 8, was charged with one count of assault. Garda Danny Fetherston of Pearse Street garda station told judge Deane that Mr Iyobosa made no reply when charged. He made no objection to bail subject to agreed conditions which included a 100 own bond, that the accused stay out of Dublin 2, that he sign-on at Kevin Street garda station daily between 9am and 9pm, and that he have no contact with the injured party. Daniel Olasunbo (22), with an address at Fairfield Park, Kilcohan, Co Waterford, was charged with two counts of assault. Jeffery Iyobosa leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice. 2.1.2023 Garda Ricky Cunningham or Pearse Street Garda Station told judge Deane that Mr Olasunbo made no comment to one of the charges, and in response to the other charge said: I dont know these people. I only hit one person. He made no objection to bail subject to agreed conditions which included a 100 own bond, that the accused stay out of Dublin 2, and that he sign-on at Blanchardstown Garda Station on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9am and 9pm. Both men were remanded on bail to appear before court again on January 30 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Both men were also granted legal aid. The Dublin teen was last seen on New Years Day in 2008 and her aunt believes there are people out there who know the truth The family of missing Irish girl Amy Fitzpatrick have spoken out about the hell they have endured since her disappearance 15 years ago. Amy was last seen on New Years Day in 2008, when she left the home of a friend around 10pm on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Her walk home should have taken just 10-minutes but the 15-year-old never made it to her villa near Mijas. On the 15th anniversary of her disappearance, her aunt Christine has pleaded for people with information to come forward. "There are a lot of people out there who know the truth but unfortunately they dont have the decency to stand up and tell the truth, she has told the Irish Mirror. We just want somebody to come forward with the information and not be afraid. If it was their child wouldnt they like to know where their child is? Its 15 years way too long. Somebody knows something and there are a lot of people who know something but unfortunately they dont seem to have the guts to come and tell the truth. They could do it confidentially. I feel now its time the truth comes out and Amy is found regardless of whether she has passed or not. "It is hell, its the not knowing. Amys dad Christopher has called for a cold case review into his daughters disappearance by the Irish and Spanish Governments. Christine added that she feels there werent enough things done from our Government to find Amy. "Shes 15 years missing now, surely to god its time enough that something was actually done and I still feel there are people who need to be re-interviewed and investigated properly. Because Amy was an Irish citizen, she was a 15-year-old girl who went missing, the Irish should be involved, she told the Irish Mirror. Our Government needs to do a whole lot more... its about finding a child. She has started a petition for a cold case review of Amys disappearance, saying: Its heartbreaking, weve had our own tragedies besides Dean and Amy and at the end of the day all we want is closure and I think its about time our government got up and asked questions. Amys brother Dean (23) was killed in Dublin in 2013. His stepfather Dave Mahon served five years in prison for the manslaughter of the 23-year-old. Last February, Amys family marked her 30th birthday with a touching vigil. At the time, Christine told sundayworld.com that is was "a sad day. "The only way we can celebrate her birthday is the way we're doing it now, doing a little vigil with a priest saying a small service, we're going to have candles lighting. "It's going to be done as it should be, she deserves to be out there. We're just doing what we can. It's just to make memories for her birthday." Peter Pringle (84), originally from Killybegs, served 15 years in prison before being released in 1995 after his convictions were deemed unsafe and overturned. Peter Pringle was released from prison in 1995 after his conviction was overturned Peter Pringle initially faced the death penalty and then spent 15 years in prison after he was wrongfully was convicted of murdering two gardai. Photo: Tony Maxwell A man who was wrongfully convicted of murdering two gardai in a Roscommon bank raid in the 1980s has died at his home in Co Galway. Peter Pringle (84), originally from Killybegs in Donegal, served 15 years in prison before being released in 1995 after his convictions were deemed unsafe and overturned. He was sentenced to death for the murders of gardai John Morley and Henry Byrne during a bank robbery in Ballaghaderreen in July 1980 alongside Colm OShea and Pat McCann. Pringle, OShea, and McCann each had their sentences commuted to penal servitude of 40 years by then-president Patrick Hillery in 1981. OShea and McCann served 33 years behind bars and were released from jail in 2013. Pringle, whose son Thomas is an Independent Donegal TD, spent 14 years and ten months in prison before the Court of Criminal Appeal found his convictions to be unsafe and unsatisfactory in 1995. He pursued a number of civil actions against the State. Peter Pringle was released from prison in 1995 after his conviction was overturned In 2012, Pringle married Sunny Jacobs, who was similarly placed on death row in Florida in 1976 for the murder of two police officers, serving 17 years before her exoneration. Following her release, Jacobs campaigned to end the death penalty and travelled to Ireland to speak at an Amnesty International event in 1998, where she met Pringle. The pair lived in a cottage in Connemara for over a decade. Peter Pringle died at his home in Glenicmurrin, Costelloe, Co Galway on New Years Eve. He is survived by his wife Sunny, daughter Anna, sons Thomas and John, and his twelve grandchildren. He will repose at Naughtons funeral parlour in Inverin, Connemara, today from 5pm to 7pm and will be cremated on Tuesday following a ceremony in Shannon Crematorium. Brendan McGuinness has been Unlawfully At Large for a staggering 21 years James Meehan is one of seven prisoners who are listed as being Unlawfully At Large (UAL), according to the Department of Justice. The longest serving inmate to fail to return to prison is Brendan McGuinness who has been UAL for a staggering 21 years. He was just 19-years-old when he failed to return to HMP Hydebank Wood having been granted pre-release for drug offences according to the DOJs website. Emmanuel Henry The newest UAL prisoner is Belfast thug Emmanuel Henry who failed to return to HMP Magilligan on December 22 after being granted unaccompanied release. Henry once appeared on the front page of the Sunday World after beating his ex-partner with a flick-stick during a shocking incident. He was jailed in 2017 for eight years after he broke into a house in South Belfast in 2015 and when confronted by the occupant, he smashed a vodka bottle over the man's head then stabbed him repeatedly in the arm and chest with the broken bottle. A court heard Henry, whos 30-years-old now, had given himself PTSD because of the stabbing. Despite offering the injured man help after he stabbed him by showing him how to stem the blood with a duvet, Henry held a knife to his throat and demanded he hand over money and his mobile. During the incident, Henry also told the man "sorry mate, wrong house." Henry, from Eliza Street Terrace, in the Markets area of the city, apparently had flashbacks and nightmares following the incident and was later diagnosed with elements of PTSD. In April 2021 we revealed how prison bosses foiled a drugs racket inside Magilligan in which Henry was suspected of being involved in which saw him being kicked out of the Foyleview wing where prisoners are granted greater freedoms. Recently Henry had regained the trust of prison bosses after a number of successful pre-releases where he did return as expected. But it seems just three days before Christmas he failed to return back to Magilligan in Co Derry. The DOJ have asked for anyone with information on the missing thug to contact them or Crimestoppers. They list his offences as being: robbery, burglary, possession of a class B controlled drug, inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm and assault on police. And they say hes 1.79m tall, has blue eyes and has a scar on his left cheek and nose and a Celtic tattoo on his back. Elijah Martin Gavin has been unlawfully at large since April 2022 The other prisoners who are listed as UAL are 26-year-old Elijah Martin Gavin whos offences include driving convictions, fraud, burglary, criminal damage, grievous bodily harm, and possession of a class B controlled drug. He went missing last April from HMP Magilligan as did 42-year-old Patrick McCarthy who failed to return after being granted compassionate leave in August 2020. His list of crimes includes assault, dangerous driving, theft and burglary. Frank Shanley went missing from HMP Maghaberry in 2006 according to the Prison Service and the thief, who would be 46-years-old now and is still being looked for by the authorities. Thomas OBrien The seventh prisoner listed as UAL is Co Fermanagh death driver Thomas OBrien who has been on the run since 2012 after failing to return from temporary release. O'Brien was convicted in 2009 of causing the death of Paul Flanagan by dangerous driving on the Castlederg Road, Ederney on December 24, 2005. At the time of the crash, O'Brien, a traveller with an address in a caravan on the Muckross Road, Kesh, had been a disqualified driver. He was sentenced to nine years in prison after a Crown Court heard how minutes before the fatal crash, O'Brien had been drinking beer from a bottle while driving the car with five passengers. The young woman was found dead in a Cork city centre apartment in the early hours of New Years Day. Undated family handout photo issued by Gardai of 28-year-old Bruna Fonseca, whose body was discovered in a residential property on Liberty Street, Cork City on Sunday PA Tributes have poured in for the young woman who was tragically killed in Cork city centre in the early hours of New Years Day. Bruna Fonseca (28) was found unresponsive in a flat on Liberty Street on Sunday morning. She is understood to have fought to defend herself from her killer before being overpowered, beaten and strangled in a violent attack. Gardai are set to launch a murder investigation into the death of Ms Fonseca who was originally from Brazil. News of her death has shocked the local community. Im so sorry for what happened to you, one comment reads. "You are so beautiful with a beautiful energy. Rest in peace, you wonderful human. Others described the 28-year-old as sweet and unforgettable. "I cant believe it, another wrote. My condolences to the family members. Mourners have taken to social media to pay tribute to Ms Fonseca, who had been living in Cork for less than a year. In a statement last night, the Mercy University Hospital where Ms Fonseca had been working as a contract cleaner paid tribute to the young woman. The body of Bruna Fonseca (28) is removed from the flat on Liberty Street in Cork city. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision "On behalf of management and staff at Mercy University Hospital Cork and Bidvest Noonans Contract Cleaners we are saddened and shocked at the tragic and unexpected death of Bruna Fonseca, the statement said. "Even though she was only working for a short time for the company at the hospital, she was considered a hard and diligent worker and an esteemed colleague. We extend our deepest condolences to her friends in Cork, and her family and friends in Brazil. May she rest in peace. Others on social media have shared the candles they are burning in her memory. "Thoughts to all who knew and loved Bruna Fonseca, one wrote. "The Brazilian community will always be close to my heart and when something like this happens, it leaves a sadness with me too, another said. Condolences to all her friends and family. Her death has been described as unbelievable and deeply shocking. It was announced by Womens Aid yesterday with a heavy heart as the organisation shared that the 28-year-olds name has been added to our record of women who have been killed in violent circumstances in this country. After graduating from university in Brazil, Ms Fonseca worked as a librarian in the Formiga area near Rio de Janeiro before arriving in Ireland. Yesterday morning, gardai were alerted to an incident at the city centre apartment and discovered the body of Ms Fonseca upon their arrival. Emergency services including paramedics had been called to the scene. A man in his 20s believed to be known to the victim was arrested in the area a short time later. He was detained under Section 4 of the 1984 Criminal Justice Act for questioning at the Bridewell Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing. The suspects, both in their early 20s, will appear before the courts this morning after two men were seriously assaulted on Sunday night in Annes Lane, Dublin 2. Two men have been charged with the serious assaults of two other men in Dublin City on New Years Day. The suspects, both in their early 20s, will appear before the courts this morning after two men were seriously assaulted on Sunday night in Annes Lane, Dublin 2. Gardai in Pearse Street are investigating an assault which occurred around 11:20pm last night. The victims were discovered on Annes Lane and both men were rushed to St James's Hospital where they were treated for their injuries. In a follow up search of the area, two men in their early 20s were stopped by Gardai and arrested. They were taken to Pearse Street Garda Station where they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Both men have since been charged in relation to the assault and are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30a.m. Investigations are ongoing. Her father Gus OConnor, who was also jailed for lying about the circumstances of wife Patricias killing, left Louise nothing in a will made in August of last year four months before his death. Louise OConnor served 23 months for her role in the cover-up of her mother Patricias murder. Daughter from hell Louise OConnor who tried to cover up the gruesome murder and dismemberment of her own mother has been frozen out of the will dividing up her fathers 400,000 estate. The 43-year-olds father Gus OConnor, who was also jailed for lying about the circumstances of wife Patricias killing, left Louise nothing in a will made in August of last year four months before his death. The Sunday World can further reveal that Gus also excluded Louises daughter and co-conspirator in the cover-up, Stephanie (24), from benefiting from the estate built up during the lifetimes of Gus and his murdered wife. His estate included the proceeds of the sale of the 365,000 home in which his 61-year-old wife was murdered her share of which was bequeathed to him in her will. Louise OConnor served 23 months for her role in the cover-up of her mother Patricias murder. The will is the first public indication of the extent to which Gus turned on his daughter and grand-daughter after learning of their attempts to shield Louises boyfriend Kieran Greene (36) from justice. Greene battered retired hospital cleaner Patricia to death with a childs hurley in a sustained attack in the bathroom of the family home at Mountainview Park, Churchtown, Dublin on May 29, 2017. Gardai linked the attack to tensions rising in the home caused by overcrowding when Louise and Greene moved in on top of hard-working Patricia with their children. Greene later buried the grandmother-of-sevens body in a shallow grave in a cornfield in Co Wexford. He later dug Patricias body up, dismembered it with a hacksaw and scattered the remains in the Wicklow mountains. His seven-week trial heard Patricias body was dismembered into 15 parts that were found at nine locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. Gus O'Connor - husband of murdered Patricia O'Connor Former deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis gave evidence that Patricia OConnors head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement, and the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head. After the murder, Louise and her daughter Stephanie claimed Patricia had stormed out of the house following an argument. Stephanie even dressed up as her dead grandmother, leaving the house later that night, to be captured on a neighbours CCTV to bolster this claim. The plan was hatched, the court heard, with Louise, who agreed to it. Patricias husband Gus OConnor knew his wife was dead but later went to gardai to falsely report her missing. However, it was never made clear what level of knowledge Gus actually had of the events that took place surrounding the murder on May 29, 2017. Gus who served less than a year in prison for the lie he told to gardai is understood to have known he was terminally ill when he tore up all previous wills and wrote out a new one in August. He passed away in January 2022. Probate documents obtained by theSunday Worldshow how in the will he wrote: I, Augustine OConnor of 66 Mountainview Park, Churchtown hereby revoke all former wills and testamentary dispositions made by me and declare this to be my last will. He appointed his brother Ken OConnor and daughter-in-law to be the joint executors of his estate. The documents show that to two named grandchildren: I give, devise, bequeath a bequest up to the maximum amount allowable under their tax-free threshold as to the date of my death. Gus directed that this bequest be held in trust for the children until they reach the age of 25. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, I bequeath to my son Richard for his own use and benefit absolutely. The scene of the crime According to the probate documents, the Revenue Commissioners have acknowledged the gross value of all the estate of the said deceased within this jurisdiction amounts to 402,483 and that the net value amounts to 394,127. Gus (77) and son Richard who was devastated by his mothers horrific murder had reconciled following Guss release from prison in June 2021. After his release, we approached Gus for comment in Stamullen, Co Meath as he walked his dogs in the company of Richard. Asked if he would finally give his account of the cover-up of the murder of his wife, one of the most gruesome in the history of the State, Gus responded: I have nothing to say. Louise OConnor was released from prison in May after serving just 23 months for her role in a conspiracy to cover up the killing. Stephanie OConnor was released from prison in February 2021 after serving eight months of her 18-month sentence. Louises former partner Keith Johnston (46), who went shopping with Greene to help him select tools that were later used by Greene to dismember the body, was released from Loughan House prison in September. Kieran Greene remains behind bars for Patricias murder. Odhran had his life planned out and knew exactly where he was going, not something a lot of 22-year-olds can say Tributes have been paid at the funeral of a 22-year-old man from Lurgan who died in a kayaking accident on holiday. The funeral was held in St Peters church in Lurgan at noon today and opened with condolences being offered to Odhran ONeills mother, Claire, father, Maurice, sister Michaela and extended family. Several tributes were read by Mr ONeills friends and family at the funeral. He was praised for his intelligence and drive and mourners heard how he had aced his GCSEs and A levels and landed an apprenticeship with Norbrook. Odhran had his life planned out and knew exactly where he was going, not something a lot of 22-year-olds can say. There was also light-hearted moments when his friends and family shared stories of Mr ONeill setting a croissant on fire and changing from jeans into jogging bottoms to go to a 21st birthday party. One family member praised Mr ONeills contagious humour: Little did Odhran know that everything we needed was his comic relief, she said. Another described him as being the life of family parties, No matter any family gathering they asked was Odhran gonna be there. One tribute thanked Mr ONeill for his honest advice: He was the one I went to when I needed advice and he would always say, Stop stressing because it only makes you ugly. While another praised his individuality, He wasnt trying to be funny he was trying be himself. He was a natural comedian. He didnt care what anyone else thought. One friend described Odhran as being a faithful and loyal friend. Friends thanked Mr ONeill for the positive impact he made on their lives. Odhran being in your life just made it more fun more enjoyable, when you first met Odhran it didnt take long for your heart to warm up. The number of people that have met him once or twice and have texted me their condolences is testimonial, one friend said. I owe so much to Odhran, another added. Mr ONeill was described as a strong independent young man, with a positive attitude. To portray Odhrans outlook on life for every three bad there's 300 good. He wasnt here for a long time but he was here for a good time. Mr ONeills younger sister Michaela delivered the last tribute. Wearing her brother's T-shirt, she praised him for his extravagant dress sense. She thanked Mr ONeill for being a good big brother: From the moment I was born you were fascinated by me and you would watch my cot. She described being close to her brother throughout her childhood: As we got older people thought we would grow apart but we didnt, then it was me who was fascinated by you, she said. She thanked Mr ONeill as being her rock and said he was too pure for this world. She finished her tribute by saying, Until the very end I will love you forever. A report from a local rescue centre in Thailand shared details of the incident. The friends of the missing said that they were playing in the water together. Later, the other friends came up on the raft. The missing person continued to swim alone near the raft, they said. Friends came to pick up the missing person to eat, but couldn't find him, so he informed the authorities to help him find him. The park used boats to search for the surface and the initial hill area. The missing person has now been found, it added. The area in which Mr ONeills body was found had been experiencing bad weather, with passenger ferries in the Khao Sok National Park ordered to stop operations. Locals separated the birds with sticks and brushes as the two attackers were driving him under the water and trying to kill him A group of passers-by had to band together to rescue a young swan from an attack this afternoon in Kildare. The cygnet was set upon by two other swans after they came face-to-face on the canal in Naas. Quick-thinking locals separated the birds with sticks and brushes as the two attackers were driving him under the water and trying to kill him. Kildare Wildlife Rescue took to Facebook to share a video of the aftermath, where the intruder swan was filmed hiding for his life. Our volunteers were mobilising but were thankfully saved a journey because Waterways Ireland came to the rescue and were able to open the locks, enabling the intruder to escape in the opposite direction, the organisation explained. "The resident pair returned to their cygnets after their little adventure. This could have ended very badly for the intruder. The organisation congratulated the group of passers-by in Kildare who quickly came to the rescue of the young swan caught-up in a territorial spat with other swans. It is a common sight at this time of year, as swans battle to protect their young and others fly the nest to find their own homes. Audrey Williams, a volunteer with the organisation, told sundayworld.com that it was a busy day of rescuing the birds. An ongoing problem with oil and pollution in Balbriggan Harbour is having a heart breaking impact on wildlife, she said. Volunteers have worked to rescue swans from the area, she revealed, including one today who is battling for his life. I couldnt walk away from this, she said, explaining how she got involved helping out animals in need in Balbriggan. "There have been deaths here, wildlife and clutches of cygnets have died from this. "We are hoping it can be fixed by the summertime and when nesting season comes around again. "Swans will do their best to return to their nests, even when they have been relocated. "We have been caring for many of them at the centre as there is not yet anywhere for them to go, they cant go back to the harbour. Audrey shared advice to those out-and-about who may see swans and other animals in distress. "Send a photo or video to info@kwr.ie giving as much detail as possible about the situation so we can assess and send the right volunteer with the right experience, she said. She encouraged people to send their contact details and location when they spot an animal in need, so help can arrive as soon as possible. The non-profit also raises funds for the expensive task of rescuing wildlife like swans, who need veterinary care and special support when in their rehabilitation centre. Concert-goers can rejoice with back-to-back concerts in Tauranga this summer with Bay Dreams and UB40 bringing the beats to start off the New Year! First up is festival favourite Bay Dreams, which is set to be one of the hottest music highlights In Aotearoa for January 2023. Incredible international acts will headline the festival from Diplo, Sticky Fingers, Denzel Curry and Hybrid Minds performing their live drum and bass show Outline. Weve spoken about bringing our Outline live show to NZ for years, and its surreal that were finally doing it. To say we are excited is an understatement, its going to be incredible! says Matt Lowe of Hybrid Minds. Organiser Mitch Lowe says: Weve pushed the boundaries on shows throughout the year, and we will be taking all of our learnings and implementing them at Bay Dreams 2023, to make sure its a festival experience that is talked about long after Diplo plays his final tune. Playing among these dynamic musical forces will also include onefour, Freddie Gibbs, SG Lewis, Elderbrook, Bou and much more! Bay Dreams 2023 will be held at Trustpower Baypark, Mount Maunganui on Tuesday, January 3. The very next day one of reggaes most successful acts, legendary British band UB40, will grace the stage in Tauranga! In celebration of their 40th Anniversary (2020) UB40 will give audiences a taste of their classic hits like Food for Thought, 1 in 10, Red Red Wine, Kingston Town and Cant Help falling In Love With You. Bay Dreams is a summer must for any festival-lover. Photo: supplied. We always look forward to trips down under, says the band in a statement about their New Zealand tour. Its one of our favourite places in the world to perform, but with so many uncertainties in the world these past two years, we felt it was far more important to focus on everyones safety. Now that borders have reopened, were finally ready to get back to New Zealand and perform the show fans have been waiting for! Joining these reggae icons on-stage is legendary Jefferson Starship and Australasian heroes Dragon. These smooth reggae sounds are not to be missed this summer! UB40 will be held at Trustpower Baypark, Tauranga on Wednesday, January 4. Tickets for BayDreams are available at: https://baydreams.co.nz/ and UB40 tickets are available at: www.trademarkgroup.co.nz Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2023 New Year Address on Saturday. What challenges and opportunities will China face? What to expect for the economy of China and beyond? Only three wealthy foreign investors have applied for residency since the government overhauled the rules last spring and they are in limbo. Immigration says their applications were still being processed, and this could take months. The Active Investor Plus visa replaced two investor visa categories in September, which has the option of investing $5 million in a New Zealand company, $7.5m in funds or $15m in listed equities and philanthropy. But those hoping to gain residency as an investor do not yet know what investments are deemed suitable for the visa category. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), which was marketing the new visa, says a list of acceptable investments should be ready early this year. A spokesperson says NZTE had been working alongside Immigration and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on technical amendments to the criteria, to ensure they were in line with the intent of the policy, and that had taken time get right. They says it was not holding up applications from being approved. "An investor migrant, whose application has been approved in principle, has six months (plus another six months on request) to make a minimum initial investment and invest the remainder of their funds into holding investments or other acceptable investments," the spokesperson says. The agency is also in the process of appointing an advisory panel which will make recommendations on which managed funds or direct investments quality as an acceptable investment. NZTE says the panel would have their first meeting early this year. "Advisory panel members will be chosen for their relevant experience and expertise, as well as their mix of complementary skills." Queen City Law director Marcus Beveridge, who has worked with wealthy foreign investors for 30 years, says the uncertainty over investment options was frustrating and the number of inquiries had dwindled. "There's been a huge drop off in application numbers and interest. At the moment New Zealand is not seen as flavour of the month at all," Beveridge says. "Business immigration has gone from a reasonable flow to a mere trickle and the policy settings are not very attractive at the moment." He had three people interested in applying for residency under the new investor visa category but says the lack of certainty over investment options was off-putting. "We've probably gone from one end of the spectrum to the other, a bit too far, in terms of active [investment], and without having the basics there, without having NZTE ready to actually provide the assessments ... it's a bit Mickey Mouse," Beveridge says. The global economy meant investors may be wary of putting money in a New Zealand start-up, he says. "I think we're kidding ourselves a bit in terms of New Zealand popularity and how many billionaires are willing to come to Aotearoa, and on top of all of that how many are actually willing to inject $5 million into a New Zealand company without probably being that familiar with New Zealand." It was good the visa was targeting active investors, he says, but believed Australia's policy was more attractive and less risky. Immigration general manager, border and visa operations Nicola Hogg says processing investor visa applications could take some time depending on the complexity of the applications. "It is not unusual for residence applications to take a matter of months," she says. The Active Investor Plus visa has a slightly different process to other visas because NZTE determines what is an acceptable investment for applicants. "Immigration New Zealand is responsible for making final decisions on granting visas and assessing whether investors meet the conditions of their visa and ensure all nominated funds and transactions are legitimate," Hogg says. "Active Investor Plus residence applications are complex and have a dedicated team of business immigration specialists who work closely with the applicants and their advisors throughout the process." Announcing the new visa category in July last year, Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash says the old visa categories had attracted more than $12 billion over the past decade but much of it was passive investment in shares and bonds. He says the new Active Investor Plus visa would attract "active and high-value migrants" who could offer their international expertise to local businesses. The Green Party says the scheme was allowing wealthy individuals to "purchase" residency while entrenching a system that kept low-waged workers on a precarious and temporary status. - Amy Williams/RNZ. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. dragracer567 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Bahrain Posts: 745 Thanked: 3,966 Times Re: International Air Travel & Airlines | Reviews, Anecdotes, Advice, Cautions My favourite top three airlines are in descending order: 1) KLM Sectors flown (all two way): Brussels to Amsterdam - Embraer E195 (for further connections) Amsterdam to Quito to Guayaquil - Boeing 777-200 Dubai to Amsterdam - Boeing 787-10 Amsterdam to Dammam to Muscat - Airbus A330 What I like: 1) Cute little Dutch houses as gifts if you are in Business class. 2) Very nice and polite flight attendants. 3) Option for air-rail ticket with Thalys trains. 4) Amsterdam airport is the best in Europe for transit. Not huge and complicated like London Heathrow or Paris Chales De Gaulle (the worst). 2) British airways: Sectors flown (all two way): Brussels to London - Airbus A319 London to Newcastle - Airbus A320 London to Muscat - Boeing 787-9 (now terminated) Jeddah to London - Boeing 777-200 London to Chennai - Boeing 787-9 What I like: 1) Courteous flight attendants. 2) Well-connected to Indian and Middle Eastern airports. 3) Terminal 5 is nice albeit too big. An anecdote: I was flying from London to Muscat, this was back in 2017. The seats were all empty so, I slept across the three seats like many others on the flight. I was really exhausted that day and was in a deep state of slumber. Suddenly, there was a bad turbulence and the pilot turned on the seat-belt sign, so, the flight attendants went around asking everyone to put their seatbelts when one of them saw me sleeping across the seats. She tapped me once, but before I could wake up, she took the seat belt sections from the first seat and the third seat and secured me in place! I woke up after a while and when the seat belt sign was turned off, I thanked her profusely (which seemed to mean a lot for her). This experience alone single-handedly made me like this airline more. In Gulf airlines, for example, such treatment is limited to business class passengers only. 3) Turkish airlines Sectors flown (all two-way): Barcelona to Istanbul-Sabiha: Boeing 787-800 Istanbul-Sabiha to Dubai: Boeing 787-800 Dubai to Istanbul-Ataturk: Boeing 777-300ER Istanbul-Ataturk to Brussels: Airbus A321 What I like: 1) Best economy class seats in any airline I've been in. Boeing 777 has only 9 seats abreast, very spacious. The Turkish airlines 737 seats are more spacious than the Emirates 777 seats. 2) The second best economy class food. The best is the budget Pegasus airlines (but that's paid). 3) Heard that the new Istanbul airport is really good. Haven't been there though. The Sabiha and old Ataturk airports are terrible. The Gulf airlines - Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are actually really nice but I hate that they always treat Indians like second-class passengers as compared to European passengers - especially when the flight attendants are desi/Filipino while in BA, KLM and Lufthansa, they generally treat all passengers equally. Also, there is a lot more emphasis on first and business class passengers than economy class passengers. Air France offcourse, treats all its passengers equally bad . The best (and most underrated) Gulf-based airline IMHO is Oman air - great food, nice staff, nice airport. Quote: V.Narayan Originally Posted by I havent flown some bloopers such as Aeroflot, Olympic {Greece}, Ryan Air, Air Canada. American carriers usually break the scales on terrible service. All in all, a wholesome experience. Hope everyone got the sarcasm here. Quote: Foxbat Originally Posted by Thanks for starting this thread hopefully will informative for all members Worst Airline I have flown is probably Kuwait Airways, I flew on a almost 20 year old 777 from Mumbai to NYC with broken seats, rude flight attendants and a very unpleasant stopover in Kuwait City. They seem to emulate their country of origin, Kuwait is easily the worst Gulf country (or second worst in many aspects after Saudi) to live in for expats. An anecdote about Kuwait airways: I was about 10 when my mother and I were returning from our vacation in India (Trivandrum to Kuwait sector). I was fast asleep when apparently the plane started flying really low, very close to Omani mountains (instead of 33,000 feet). The pilots gave no explanation and the flight attendants were nowhere. My mother really thought we were going to die and decided not to wake me up (I was asleep the whole time). After about 45 mins, the pilot announced that were will be having an emergency landing in Muscat airport. As soon as we landed, the flight attendants literally chased us out and we got out leaving behind our passports in my mother's handbag which was in the overhead bins. When we came out, we were surrounded by fire trucks, it was a scary experience. We finally spend about 4.5 hours in Muscat airport (and provided light food) before we could board the plane again and fly to Kuwait on the same plane. Meanwhile, my dad who was in Kuwait was worried sick because the board in the airport literally read 'no information'. When he contacted the airport authorities, they all said there was no information (you can imagine how scary it would have been). This was before flight tracking or international roaming. Finally, my uncle checked with Trivandrum airport who informed him that the flight had conducted an emergency landing in Muscat and that the passengers are safe. Lessons: 1) Always keep your passport on hand. 2) Avoid Kuwait Airways like a plague unless you live in Kuwait and need a direct flight. Being brought up and currently working in the Gulf, studied in India and Europe (still doing a PhD there), I rake up about 25,000 kms to 40,000 kms every year according to my Kayak tracker. A modest amount compared to most business travellers but enough to give a fair assessment of many airlines. Please note that being a 27-year-old, my experiences are almost always economy class with two rare exceptions when I got upgraded.My favourite top three airlines are in descending order:1) KLMSectors flown (all two way):Brussels to Amsterdam - Embraer E195 (for further connections)Amsterdam to Quito to Guayaquil - Boeing 777-200Dubai to Amsterdam - Boeing 787-10Amsterdam to Dammam to Muscat - Airbus A330What I like:1) Cute little Dutch houses as gifts if you are in Business class.2) Very nice and polite flight attendants.3) Option for air-rail ticket with Thalys trains.4) Amsterdam airport is the best in Europe for transit. Not huge and complicated like London Heathrow or Paris Chales De Gaulle (the worst).2) British airways:Sectors flown (all two way):Brussels to London - Airbus A319London to Newcastle - Airbus A320London to Muscat - Boeing 787-9 (now terminated)Jeddah to London - Boeing 777-200London to Chennai - Boeing 787-9What I like:1) Courteous flight attendants.2) Well-connected to Indian and Middle Eastern airports.3) Terminal 5 is nice albeit too big.An anecdote: I was flying from London to Muscat, this was back in 2017. The seats were all empty so, I slept across the three seats like many others on the flight. I was really exhausted that day and was in a deep state of slumber. Suddenly, there was a bad turbulence and the pilot turned on the seat-belt sign, so, the flight attendants went around asking everyone to put their seatbelts when one of them saw me sleeping across the seats. She tapped me once, but before I could wake up, she took the seat belt sections from the first seat and the third seat and secured me in place! I woke up after a while and when the seat belt sign was turned off, I thanked her profusely (which seemed to mean a lot for her). This experience alone single-handedly made me like this airline more. In Gulf airlines, for example, such treatment is limited to business class passengers only.3) Turkish airlinesSectors flown (all two-way):Barcelona to Istanbul-Sabiha: Boeing 787-800Istanbul-Sabiha to Dubai: Boeing 787-800Dubai to Istanbul-Ataturk: Boeing 777-300ERIstanbul-Ataturk to Brussels: Airbus A321What I like:1) Best economy class seats in any airline I've been in. Boeing 777 has only 9 seats abreast, very spacious. The Turkish airlines 737 seats are more spacious than the Emirates 777 seats.2) The second best economy class food. The best is the budget Pegasus airlines (but that's paid).3) Heard that the new Istanbul airport is really good. Haven't been there though. The Sabiha and old Ataturk airports are terrible.The Gulf airlines - Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are actually really nice but I hate that they always treat Indians like second-class passengers as compared to European passengers - especially when the flight attendants are desi/Filipino while in BA, KLM and Lufthansa, they generally treat all passengers equally. Also, there is a lot more emphasis on first and business class passengers than economy class passengers. Air France offcourse, treats all its passengers equally bad. The best (and most underrated) Gulf-based airline IMHO is Oman air - great food, nice staff, nice airport.Great thread Sir, you haven't experienced aviation at its finest if you haven't flown Ryan air. The cabin beats Emirates airlines' first class cabin by a fair margin by providing a unique experience of a crossover between an airline and the worst Indian bus transport corporation vehicle you can think of. The seats are specially designed by chiropractors to provide the least lumbar support possible while the legroom was decided in consultation with J. R. R. Tolkien to emulate the kneeroom required for a hobbit. There are no seat pockets and the safety cards are stuck onto the seat in front, you know, so you don't have to go through the hassle of taking the safety cards out of the pockets, does Emirates, Qatar Airways or Qantas provide this luxury? Also, the B737s come with built in stair cases (more like ladders) so that they can serve the worst possible airports or airport terminals in European cities.All in all, a wholesome experience. Hope everyone got the sarcasm here.Used to lived in Kuwait when I was a kid and have flown Kuwait airways multiple times in the Kuwait to Trivandrum sector in the early 2000s in what was then an already dilapilated A300. Glad to know they haven't changed one bitThey seem to emulate their country of origin, Kuwait is easily the worst Gulf country (or second worst in many aspects after Saudi) to live in for expats.An anecdote about Kuwait airways: I was about 10 when my mother and I were returning from our vacation in India (Trivandrum to Kuwait sector). I was fast asleep when apparently the plane started flying really low, very close to Omani mountains (instead of 33,000 feet). The pilots gave no explanation and the flight attendants were nowhere. My mother really thought we were going to die and decided not to wake me up (I was asleep the whole time). After about 45 mins, the pilot announced that were will be having an emergency landing in Muscat airport. As soon as we landed, the flight attendants literally chased us out and we got out leaving behind our passports in my mother's handbag which was in the overhead bins. When we came out, we were surrounded by fire trucks, it was a scary experience. We finally spend about 4.5 hours in Muscat airport (and provided light food) before we could board the plane again and fly to Kuwait on the same plane.Meanwhile, my dad who was in Kuwait was worried sick because the board in the airport literally read 'no information'. When he contacted the airport authorities, they all said there was no information (you can imagine how scary it would have been). This was before flight tracking or international roaming. Finally, my uncle checked with Trivandrum airport who informed him that the flight had conducted an emergency landing in Muscat and that the passengers are safe.Lessons:1) Always keep your passport on hand.2) Avoid Kuwait Airways like a plague unless you live in Kuwait and need a direct flight. Last edited by dragracer567 : 1st January 2023 at 17:10 . TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust A (very) hot potato Are AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX reference graphics cards heading for a recall? That's the nightmare scenario team red could be facing after legendary overclocker Roman 'der8auer' Hartung discovered a potential reason for the cards' overheating issues: a faulty vapor chamber. As a recap, we heard a couple of weeks ago that some AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX MBA (Made By AMD) reference models are experiencing thermal issues involving GPU hotspot temperatures, or the maximum temperature read by the sensor, reaching as high as 110C. der8auer hoped to uncover the cause of the high temps, so he purchased four Radeon RX 7900 XTX cards to perform some tests. It was discovered that the installation orientation made a difference, with horizontal setups improving temps by 20 degrees, but the overhearing issue still reared its head after just one minute once the burn-in test started. The overclocker also investigated factors such as cooler weight and gravity to see if they were influencing the high temps. He used a specially designed stand to confirm these were not part of the problem. Mounting pressure was also ruled out as a cause by dismantling the cooler, removing the support bracket, and shortening the standoffs by 1.5mm. That left one theory remaining: a problem with the vapor chamber, which could be related to the choice of material or a design flaw, possibly preventing the water from traveling back after condensing. der8auer said he is certain this is where the issue lies. He didn't have time to take the chamber apart for further investigation but may do so in a future video. The overheating isn't affecting every Radeon RX 7900 XTX reference card: the one we used in our review didn't show any unusually high temps. However, a defect within the vapor chamber likely means the problem is more widespread than first realized and likely impacts a higher number of users than Nvidia's melting 16-pin 12VHPWR adapter issue, which AMD gleefully mocked in a tweet. AMD last week said that it was aware of the problem with its RX 7900 XTX reference cards. It advised users experiencing unexpected thermal throttling to contact AMD support. Why it matters: LockBit is a "ransomware-as-a-service" operation where the malware creators and operators manage the backend, while affiliated "partners" breach victims' networks. Sometimes, this chain of operations can lead to a clash between parties especially when the affiliates go against the ransomware's formal business policy. It's been a busy end of year for LockBit, the infamous ransomware operation offering its encryption capabilities to script kiddies and other interested partners in crime. The ransomware was first responsible for an attack against the Port of Lisbon Administration, which manages Portugal's third-largest port and one of the most accessed ports in Europe. The Port of Lisbon was targeted by LockBit on December 25, but according to the port's administration, no operational activity was compromised. All the security measures designed as a response to this type of occurrence were quickly activated, the organization said, while it was working with the competent authorities to restore the affected systems. As a matter of fact, the Port of Lisbon's official website is still offline, and LockBit has already published a ransom note on their official site within the Tor darknet. The cyber-criminals are asking for a hefty price ($1,500,000) to be paid by January 18, 2023, otherwise they will publish all the data they were able to steal from the port's servers. The LockBit gang says they got their hands on financial reports, audits, budgets, contracts, cargo information, ship logs, documentation, email messages and other valuable business or personal data. That's totally fine to encrypt, steal and sell to interested parties, because Port of Lisbon is not a children's hospital like the second outstanding victim LockBit collected at the end of 2022. On December 18, one of LockBit's affiliates attacked the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), a Canadian teaching hospital devoted to child healthcare. The attack impacted internal and corporate systems, phone lines, and the hospital website. While just "a few" systems were compromised, patients had to deal with delays in exam results and longer wait times. According to a later update, the SickKids team was able to restore almost 50% of the hospital's priority systems while others were still in progress. However, on new year's eve, the LockBit gang posted a note to "formally apologize" for the attack against the Canadian hospital. "The partner who attacked this hospital violated our rules, is blocked and is no longer in our affiliate program," the cyber-criminals said. LockBit gave SickKids a free decryptor to restore the encrypted data, even though the hospital was already in the process of restoring all the systems by itself. According to LockBit's policy, affiliates of the ransomware operation have no permission to attack medical institutions to avoid accidental deaths. Stealing data is still allowed, however. A rare comet that appeared during the Ice Age will reappear this 2023. People who like space should definitely try to watch this heavenly object in the night sky. A comet that last seen in the sky during Earth's Ice age is set to make its reappearance This year. The C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet orbits the sun every 50,000 years and will pass within 26 million miles of Earth on February 2, making it visible to naked eyes. It's already pic.twitter.com/xB7CrViqtz Naren Mukherjee (@NMukherjee6) January 1, 2023 This is because the comet's last appearance was around 50,000 years ago. If you are curious about this rare space rock, here's what you need to know about the C/2022 E3 (ZTF). Rare Comet That Appeared During Ice Age Will be Visible This 2023! According to Interesting Engineering's latest report, the rare will pass within 26 million miles of Earth this coming Feb. 1. (Photo : Screenshot from NASA's official website ) Rare Comet That Appeared During Ice Age Will be Visible This 2023! Here's How You Can See It Also Read: Asteroid 2022 AP7: Possible Outcomes if Space Rock Hits Earth Shared by New Online Model You can still see it with your naked eyes around mid-January. "On a voyage through the inner Solar System comet 2022 E3 will be at perihelion, its closest to the Sun, in the new year on January 12 and at perigee," said NASA via its official blog post. The international space union added that the comet would be closest to Earth on Feb. 1. But, space experts suggested using low-level telescopes or binoculars to view the comet clearly. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) 2022 dec 28 4.30 UT 25x100sec 12"/4 Nikon Z6mod Michael Jager pic.twitter.com/znxHNlZGe6 Michael Jager (@Komet123Jager) December 28, 2022 Aside from these tools, you also need to go to an area far away from the city lights. If you are having difficulty finding the comet, you can use Star Chart, SkyView, Sky Safari, and other comet-tracking applications. About C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Comet NASA said that astronomers Frank Masci and Bryce Bolin first discovered the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet. They used the Zwicky Transient Facility to track the comet on March 2, 2022. After the space rock was confirmed, NASA has been photographing the comet. The latest image of the comet was captured by NASA on December 19, 2022. In the photo, you can see that the comet has a very long tail. Aside from this, it also emits a bright green color. However, it is unclear if the naked eye can also see these characteristics. Space experts said that comets are unpredictable space objects because their brightness depends on the scattering of sunlight from dust particles. If you want to learn more about the C/2022 E3 (ZTF), you can visit NASA's official website. NASA and other space agencies are still discovering various asteroids and comets. Recently, we reported that the K2 comet, the brightest one in the entire solar system, appeared in July 2022. NASA also discovered a potentially-hazardous asteroid the size of a skyscraper. This space rock was expected to fly toward Earth last October 2022. For more news updates about comets, asteroids, and other heavenly bodies, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Comet's Volcanic Eruption Detected; Here's What Amateur Astronomer Discovers 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TikTok and Twitter posts falsely claiming Andrew Tate has been freed are becoming rampant. (Photo : Photo by DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images) This photograph taken on March 23, 2022, shows logo of the networking application TikToK displayed on a tablet in Lille, northern France. (Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP) This false content causes alarm to some social media experts. The controversial internet celebrity and his brother, Tristan Tate, were both arrested because of human trafficking allegations. Andrew was also accused of rape. Despite these accusations, many people still look up to them; some even share fake posts that their idols were already released from detainment. TikTok, Twitter Posts Falsely Showing Andrew Tate Being Freed Alarm CCDH According to The Guardian's latest report, the false Twitter and TikTok posts alarm experts because they risk the investigation's integrity. (Photo : Photo by DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images) A photo taken on October 21, 2020 shows the logo of the multinational American Internet technology and services company, Google (center), the American online social media and social networking service, clockwise. Also Read: 'Apex Legends' Blacklisted Terms Include Andrew Tate? Players Get Banned After Mentioning Him "Having conspiracy theories proliferating which might put at risk the integrity of an investigation or the safety of those involved is unconscionable," said Imran Ahmed, the Center for Countering Digital Hate's Chief Executive. Aside from affecting the investigation and victims, these fake posts could also lead to more conspiracies that can influence more people. Many individuals are already convinced that the so-called "Matrix" was the main reason why the social media influencer was detained. Hes freed the minds of millions. You cant stop Andrew Tate #FreeTopG pic.twitter.com/51Z1vLVUCC Josh (@JoshPaul2k) January 1, 2023 For those who believe that Andrew Tate was already cleared of allegations, you need to know that he is still detained. BBC News reported that the Romania police decided to extend the detainment of Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate to 30 days. What You Must Do Of course, as a social media user, you are responsible for reporting any fake content you see on different platforms. Here's how you can do it on Twitter and TikTok: TikTok First, click the Share button at the lower-right corner of the video. Choose the report option and select the reason why you want to report it. Twitter First, click the three-dot option on the post. After that, scroll down and choose the "Report Tweet" button. Then, click the "Start Report" option and choose the reason why you want to report the content. TikTok is still the most criticized social media platform because of the risk it poses. Previously, we reported that the FBI considered TikTok as a national security threat. Aside from TikTok, fake posts are also becoming more rampant on other online platforms. Recently, fake Facebook profile pictures generated by AI alarmed many experts. For more news updates about TikTok and other social media sites, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: [VIRAL] Greta Thunberg Shades Andrew Tate's Arrest After Their Epic Twitter Spat 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson claims that China could ban the U.S. from visiting the moon. (Photo : Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (L) hold a news conference to introduce the design of the new Space Launch System on Capitol Hill September 14, 2011 in Washington, DC. As of writing, the Chinese government hasn't completed any manned missions to the moon. Before it sends taikonauts to the surface of Earth's natural satellite, China plans to conduct three unmanned lunar missions over the next 10 years. Although it will take many years before Chinese astronauts can step on the moon's surface, NASA is now concerned about China's moon ambitions. China Could Ban US From Visiting Moon? According to The Daily Mail UK's latest report, Bill Nelson and other NASA officials shared why they are concerned regarding China's moon ambitions. (Photo : Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) A Long March 5B rocket lifts off from the the Wenchang launch site on China's southern Hainan island on May 5, 2020. - Chinese state media reported the "successful" launch of a new rocket on May 5, a major test of its ambitions to operate a permanent space station and send astronauts to the Moon. Also Read: NASA Says Artemis 1 Moon Mission was a Complete Success After Initial Assessment - Ready for Crewed Landing? Nelson explained that China could block U.S. astronauts from visiting the Moon by cornerning the market on resource-ruch locations on the lunar surface. The NASA official further stated that he and other officials are worried that the Chinese government would claim the territory over the Moon once they reach the natural satellite. "And it is true that we better watch out that they don't get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research," said Nelson. Bill even claimed that China could copy the strategy it used to claim the land and water in the South China Sea. What International Space Law Says The official international space law reiterates that no nation can own space, as well as the heavenly bodies. These include the Moon, the sun, other planets, and space bodies outside the solar system. Aside from this, here are other rules that international space law implements: Weapons of mass destruction are forbidden in orbit and beyond, and the Moon, the planets, and other celestial bodies can only be used for peaceful purposes. Nations are responsible for damage caused by their space objects and must avoid contaminating space and celestial bodies. Space activities benefit all nations, and any country is free to explore orbit and beyond. For the past few years, all countries have been free to explore outer space. As of press time, numerous space launches and other out-of-this-world activities are being conducted. Recently, NASA HiRISE captured a gorgeous, mysterious crater on Mars. We also reported that the 60th Falcon 9 rocket mission was completed by SpaceX. For more news updates about space, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Is Confident That the US Will Beat China in the Race to the Moon 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Twitter is being sued for failing to pay $136,250 rent for its office space in San Francisco. The landlord notified the company on December 16th to pay the amount in the next five days, or the space will automatically be on lease. (Photo : David Odisho/Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 04: Twitter headquarters stands on 10th Street on November 4, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Twitter Inc reportedly began laying off employees across its departments on Friday as new owner Elon Musk is reportedly looking to cut around half of the company's workforce. Failing to Pay Office Space Rent California Property Trust sued Twitter for failing to pay rent for its office space. According to a report from Bloomberg, the rent for the 30th floor of the Hartford Building costs $136,250. This is located at 650 California Street in San Francisco. Twitter was notified on December 16th that the whole space will be for lease if the company will not pay the due rent in five days. But as per the complaint, the tenant failed to comply, hence the filed lawsuit in San Francisco's state court. The possible reason behind this is that the company is taking steps to cut costs. Engadget reported that Twitter Chief Elon Musk has been experiencing several setbacks, such as safety issues, legal battles, and cost-cutting. Aside from its San Francisco headquarters, other global offices' rent was also not paid for weeks. The case is Columbia Reit - 650 California LLC v. Twitter Inc., CGC-22-603719, Superior Court, State of California. Other Company Setbacks Earlier this month, Musk has been preparing for several legal battles at Twitter which made him revamp the legal department of Twitter to gear up for upcoming lawsuits. He disbanded a council that advised the company on safety issues and pushed out one of his closest advisers during the process. Apart from the rent issues, New York Times reported that Twitter has refused to pay the bills for private charter flights since Musk's takeover. Based on the filed lawsuit in New Hampshire District Court, the bill costs $197,725. Other bills were left unpaid, according to the same report. The company leaders discussed the outcome of denying payments to several laid-off employees. According to an internal email, Musk has threatened employees if they talk to the press regarding this matter. He advised them to "act in a manner contrary to the company's interest. Janitors were also included in the layoffs, which made the social media company's physical officer no longer kept clean. Employees faced dirty bathrooms, food leftovers, persistent smells, and body odors around the headquarters. The lack of toilet paper was also one of the problems in the company. Musk has been taking off a cost-cutting campaign since he closed the acquisition. He began this strategy by cutting half of the company's workforce, which affected 7,500 employees, and fired several workers rapidly. Also Read: Breach of 400 Million Twitter Users' Data Reportedly Affects a Few Personalities Employees were also warned of potential bankruptcy, based on the financial position of the company that Twitter has not turned a profit since 2019. Adding to this is the decline of ad revenue since Musk's leadership. He then said that this is the main reason why the company keeps on pushing the Twitter Blue subscription, as it is the one that keeps Twitter alive. Related Article: Twitter Rival Mastodon Retains Non-Profit Status After Declining More than 5 Investment Offers 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As 2023 bloomed in a roaring fashion, with people jumping up and down and celebrating the start of something new, it is time to look back on the stories that mattered, which TechTimes shared with all. Indeed, 2022 came fast, and the public did not notice much of the happenings this year, as restrictions for COVID-19 simmered down and everything was going back to the way it was. From different space ventures and phenomena to Big Tech companies making headlines last year, here is a wrap-up of 2022. James Webb Space Telescope's Universe-First Photos With the James Webb Space Telescope's arrival in space in 2022 after its late 2021 launch on Christmas day, it took the spacecraft several weeks before it reached its destination on the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. It also took the spacecraft some time to calibrate its instruments and ready it for its focus on the universe, one that aims to bring more high-definition images for the world to see. Back in April, NASA's JWST also gave the world its first snap of the entire universe, which it shared with the public to enjoy. These images are never-before-seen photos of the heavenly bodies, one that provides more details and content than any spacecraft that came before. Read Also: Apple Watch Stress Monitor Feature: Three Apps to Help You Know Your Levels Now Available Google's Gmail Vulnerability For the entire year, Google saw an array of different vulnerabilities that pestered users for its different services, and one of the most notorious is with the famed email service, Gmail. However, back in May last year, it saw one of the infamous threats against its service and users, especially the one capable of exploiting users' data. This vulnerability was present in Google's OAuth (Open Authorization) feature, which was supposed to protect its users from external access to their accounts. Good thing that this was one crisis averted as a security researcher named Youssef Sammouda exposed it early and made it known to Google. Tesla Model Y with 4680 Batteries Tesla teased the world with its new high-mileage and massive capacity batteries known as the 4680, and this was delivered in 2022 with the Model Y Standard Range. The Musk-owned company manufactured and assembled these vehicles in Gigafactory Texas, also Tesla's new home. Last year also marked the opening of this new Gigafactory, with many attendees seeing its launch, as well as the new EV with structural batteries. Laser-Powered Spacecraft in the Future? It is important to note that laser-powered spacecraft are still not available, but researchers claim that this should be the focus of further space travel in the future. Not only that, researchers and experts claim that this will propel space travel to greater heights, as it could also improve the time it takes to get to destinations like stars in one human lifetime. According to Space.com, travels within the Solar System still takes years, but with this technology, travel time will significantly improve with this new system. Ice Crystals in the Sky Last year also gave the world one of the most exciting sky show for the North, particularly with the noctilucent clouds (NLC), which appeared as "ice crystals in the sky." This annual heavenly showcase paints the sky with a glimmering blue color, as brought by the clouds' unique hue. And do not worry about missing it last year, as it appears yearly from June to August in Canada. Related Article: AI Generator Shows How Tesla Looks Like if EV Company Was Founded in the 1950s 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We are finally saying goodbye to the UK's iconic Red Arrow jets, following the country's Ministry of Defence's (MoD) signing of a multimillion-dollar agreement with a private defense corporation for the development of a new fleet, as reported by Interesting Engineering. (Photo : Jack Taylor/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 23: A Royal Air Force Red Arrow jet sits outside Number 10 Downing Street to mark RAF 100 celebrations on May 23, 2018 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May is to hold a reception at Number 10 later today to mark the RAF centenary. The agreement will provide the MoD access to digital technical data and support, which may lead to the development of a new generation of light military aircraft, according to MicroSoft Network (MSN). The First Since 1976 If everything goes to plan, the new aircrafts will be the first fully British manufacturer, designed, and engineered military jets since 1976 when the Hawk was introduced. This is also a sign that the UK is investing and supporting more their own aircraft. It can be recalled that the initial suggestion for the Red Arrows was that they have had to fly non-native aircraft for the first time because of the retirement of the Hawks in 2030. AERALIS Technology: Making Things Faster and More Affordable The good news is, AERALIS has developed a system that will let the company develop a fleet of light aircraft faster and in a more cost-effective way. They will use a fully integrated digital approach to the design, certification, and development. AERALIS is a UK-based firm that designs and manufactures aircraft. They claimed to be involved in the development of the new aircraft. According to the company, the aircraft is in development with the help of over 130 workers. The country's TEMPEST program will also use AERALIS technology for the replacement of the RAF Typhoon. The new set of Red Arrows is expected to have the same fuselage and cockpit. However, they may be changes to their wings, tails, and noses, which will depend on how it will be flown. Also Read: UK Joins Japan and Italy in Tempest Alliance to Build Fighter Jet With Hypersonic Weaponry What the New Red Arrows Could Look Like It is expected that there will be variants that will include a fast jet trainer to replace the Hawks. This is important for military Top Guns who are learning to fly high octane, supersonic missions. According to Tristan Crawford, the head for Aeralis, "This contract is another step towards rejuvenating our ability to develop whole aircraft. We are the only UK company taking this pioneering digital engineering approach," he said. Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the UK announced last week that Britain would partner with Japan and Italy on the Future Combat Air System. Should the program be successful, the UK will have a new set of military aircraft that can replace the aging Red Arrows. This new version is expected to fly either stealth missions or provide cover to other aircraft. Moreover, the new aircraft is also expected to be compatible with the Typhoon, as well as other UK aircrafts and platforms. Related Article: Tempest Fighter: UK, Two Other Countries to Join Forces on Its Creation 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jessica Roddy's grandfather, who is known as the "Mtn Dew Man", holds his great-grandson Aidoneus Jason Charles Strock with a matching Mountain Dew t-shirt and onesie at St. Vincent Healthcare on New Years Day. Aidoneus was born at 2:24 am on New Years Day at St. Vincent Healthcare and weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 19 inches long. St. Vincent saw more than 1600 births in 2022. CryptoWatch's cryptocurrency weekly wrap-up is here to share another batch of top stories in the digital blockchain world and all that comes with it, and still one of the largest stories from last year is the FTX issues and its court proceedings. (Photo : Tech Times) With the many issues thrown against Sam Bankman-Fried and his hands on the FTX collapse, court proceedings are slowly unwrapping the roots behind what really happened within the company. On the other hand, there is also a new marketplace called "Unsellables" for NFTs that face difficulty in its sale. FTX Lawsuit: Alameda Researchers Claim SBF Took Billions One of the biggest turnouts in the FTX bankruptcy case is from Alameda Research's previous employees, who recently claimed the work Sam Bankman-Fried delegated them to do. It was revealed by Caroline Ellison that FTX's founder were secretly making loans from investors and shareholders to fund the failing crypto company. In Ellison's claims, these loans made up to billions of dollars made out to the CEO, and this was made possible through Alameda Research doing Bankman-Fried's bidding. There are still investigations to be made on the case, especially with the billions of dollars that are yet unknown, especially if it really made its way to keeping FTX afloat. Read Also: Twitter Hacked: UK Education Secretary's Profile Changes to Elon Musk's Picture, Promotes Cryptos SBF Purchased Robinhood Stocks with Loan Money In another report regarding the FTX lawsuit, SBF yet again made another loan, but this time it is from Alameda Research worth $546 million made out to his name. However, this loan was not for the company, with the former FTX CEO and Gary Wang, an Alameda executive, admitting on record that this was meant to purchase stocks via Robinhood. There were about 8 percent shares bought by the duo in the Robinhood market. According to the proceedings, SBF made it known to the court on December 12, and this was also the same time the executive was arrested in the Bahamas before his extradition to the United States. Interesting Engineering first reported that there were 56 million shares purchased on Emergent Fidelity, with Wang owning 10 percent, and Bankman-Fried having 90 percent. 'Unsellable' NFT Marketplace NFT was a massive hype in 2021, but not so much for 2022. And that means that those who invested a lot in non-fungible tokens with high values cannot get their money's worth or even the equivalent of it. With that, a new NFT marketplace is now opening its doors to taking it off its owners' hands, for their collection. This new platform is called the "Unsellable," which accurately stands for its name, being the marketplace for people who are having a hard time turning it into profit. The platform purchases the NFT for a fraction of its original price and gives receipts for legal and tax write-offs for its customers' needs. Related Article: US-Based Crypto Exchange Kraken Will Halt Business Operations in Japan 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Orion spacecraft, best known for being the vessel that astronauts would soon board on their way to the Moon, is now back at Kennedy Space Center for further inspection and study. NASA will do an "extensive analysis" of the spacecraft where its engineers would take some of the spacecraft apart, and look further at what the 1.4 million-mile trip brought it. In 2022, humans' return to the Moon officially started with the uncrewed mission of NASA Artemis to test its spacecraft to the natural satellite and back. NASA's Orion Spacecraft is Back at Kennedy Space Center (Photo : NASA) NASA's Orion Program Manager, Howard Hu, shared a photo of the Orion spacecraft as it arrived last December 30 at the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. This marks a significant milestone for the agency after it recently completed its mission and returned from the Moon to make a splash down on the Pacific Ocean. After its recovery, the spacecraft was transported to the Space Center by ground, which made its way to the location recently. This also means that NASA and its team will inspect the spacecraft from top to bottom, with an "extensive analysis" soon underway for the spacecraft. Its current focus is to determine different data and information gathered by the Orion on its round-trip journey to the Moon and the home planet, for its future mission. Read Also: NASA Moon Lander Competition: Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman Go Head-to-Head for Crewed Lunar Transportation NASA Artemis: Soon to Fly Humans to the Moon According to NASA, this is a necessary procedure for the Orion, especially as this uncrewed mission is also a test of its capabilities to bring humans to space. The goal now is to make the Artemis mission more than capable to fly humans to the Moon and bring everything they need for studies on its surface and bring them back safe and sound. NASA and its Moon Mission The Moon used to be a big deal back in the 1970s, but after several missions, there has been a change in priorities for NASA which focused on looking into other places in the universe. Now, with the revival of the old Apollo missions and an application of a modern take, the Artemis takes shape as the current focus of NASA toward the Moon. There is more to do on the Moon despite the numerous missions of the Apollo, and this is what the Artemis would continue from this point onwards. Still, it is centering on a new rocket and crewship, with the Space Launch System and the Orion to fulfill the travels and vessel to journey to the Moon and back for a modern visit to the space rock. The Artemis will also bring the first woman to space, with its astronaut having a mix of genders on this mission, which is also the reason for its change of name to Apollo's twin. For now, NASA will be studying what the rigorous venture has caused its spacecraft, and also fix the weaknesses and challenges faced by the initial uncrewed mission before the actual one. Related Article: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Is Confident That the US Will Beat China in the Race to the Moon 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung recently hired ex-Mercedes-Benz designer Hubert H. Lee as the head of its Mobile eXperience (MX) design team. Lee will lead the design of upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Samsung Hired a Former Mercedes-Benz Designer to Help with the Design of Its Upcoming Device According to the story by Giz China, Samsung is getting ready to bring in a brand new approach to design with its new hire. With this new partnership, fans of the tech giant may expect to see a new eye-catching design with the Galaxy S24 series. For years, Samsung has been innovating its products and progressing its designs. This new collaboration between Samsung and Mercedes-Benz might be a natural progression for the company. New Aesthetic is Coming to the New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 Now, Samsung is taking another step forward and creating a clean and sleek design for the Galaxy S24 series, as highlighted in an article by Phone Arena. It is also possible that with Lee's superiority in luxury design, Samsung will bring the same aesthetic to the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Although not much has been leaked about these new products, the design will be an exciting part of the launch, especially considering the partnership between Samsung and Mercedes. With the hire of Hubert H. Lee, Samsung is upping the aesthetics of its products. Luxury Smartphones and How Some Buyers are Struggling to Spend Thousands of Dollars on Devices As more and more consumers use phones as lifestyle accessories, attractive and luxury designs will become a necessary aspect of high-end devices. If the past indicates the future, this new partnership could mean great things for Samsung and the Galaxy series. In today's world, buying a smartphone is essential. Whether a basic or a more advanced model, it can financially burden your wallet. Smartphones have increased significantly, and many are priced at over a thousand dollars, making them a hefty investment. There are Different Reasons Why $1,000 is a Lot of Money for Some Buyers Nowadays, there are many reasons why $1000 is considered a lot of money for a smartphone. The main reason is that technology keeps rapidly evolving, and consequently, the cost of the smartphone increases. For example, the latest smartphone models have special features like high-resolution displays and photography prowess that can cost quite a bit. Even phones released years back may lack some important features that cause their prices to skyrocket. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 Renders Certified by China's 3C Appear! Other Alternatives are More Affordable for Buyers on a Budget Another reason $1000 is a lot for a smartphone is that it makes up a large portion of a person's budget. People need to make sure they can afford the payments and the rising emergency costs. Finally, $1000 is a lot of money for a smartphone because there are alternatives. There are many reliable and affordable smartphones, like the ones that come with a two-year contract and other affordable, pre-owned models, which are much more financially viable. Related Article: O2 Offers 200 Mastercard For Customers Who Will Buy iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Phones 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Belgian NGO, Dung Dung, is using human hair to absorb environmental pollutants as part of the Hair Recycle Project, as reported by EuroNews. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 23: A pile of human hair lies on the ground after protesters cut their hair as an act of solidarity with women in Iran during a demonstration against the death of Mahsa Amini on September 23, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Amini, 22, was arrested by Iranian authorities in Tehran on September 13 for not wearing her headscarf properly and died three days afterwards, apparently due to a severe head injury. How It Works Hairdressers across the country collect hair clippings, then they feed them into a machine that turns them into matted squares. These matted squares can be used to absorb oil and hydrocarbon that pollutes the environment. The hairy mats are then placed in drains to absorb water pollution before it reaches a river or deals with pollution problems because of flooding. Other Applications of Discarded Human Hair Aside from that, human hair can also be transformed into bio-composite bags or to clean up oil spills. According to the Hair Recycle project, a strand of hair is enough to support up to ten million times its own weight. Furthermore, it is water-soluble and highly elastic because of the keratin fibers in it. The hair is used based on its length. For one, long hair is turned into wigs, while shorter ones have many other purposes. Also Read: Researchers Use a Weird Ingredient to Produce Vegetables: Human Hair A Good Cause Many salon owners pay a small fee to the project to collect hair cuttings. They, in turn, send the hair to be recycled into mats or other products. The mats have been put to use before in many cities and villages around the world. On the other hand, the Hair Recycle project just started only in Belgium. Hopefully, it will soon spread to other countries as well. The Many Benefits of Human Hair Aside from serving as an absorptive mat, human hair can be used for many other things. It can be turned into an all-natural fiber, too. It can be used to make woven fabrics, felt, yarn, and paper. Regular tools can transform human hair into cloth. It can be dyed, but it can shrink and become unstretchable if exposed to direct sunlight. Aside from directly using human hair, it can also be used as an ingredient in other products. For example, it can be turned into wigs, brushes, and even processed into fibers for weaving rugs. Hair is definitely something too good to be thrown away in the trash can. With its many benefits and positive impact on the environment, it is good to know that it is being put to good use than ending up in a landfill. Human hair isn't just another form of bio-waste. It can be recycled as an alternative textile. It can be turned into paper, felt, and yarn, too. The Hair Recycle Project does its part in helping the environment by using discarded head hair. This project is a good example of how the world can change for the better and how we can help solve environmental issues. Related Article: Hair Loss Problem? Scientists From Japan Just Developed Organ Transplantation Of Cells To Fix That! Here's How it Works 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It is this time of the year when people would wonder what things they will look forward to, and this also includes their choice of technology, especially with one of the largest names in the industry, Apple. Being one of the most popular smartphone providers in the world, Apple's iOS is also the most used. And with iOS 16's introductions, some were promised and speculated to arrive soon, particularly those who have not made the cut in 2022. Apple still has several months of development for the iOS 16 before it transitions to the next one, and here are some of the speculated arrivals this year. Apple's iOS Features for 2023 (Photo : GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) MacRumors reported that there is a lot to look forward to for 2023 in Apple's iOS, centering on the different offers of the company for the public to enjoy. Additionally, a handful of these features are already claimed by the Cupertino giant to arrive soon for all iOS users to enjoy soon, focusing on the future of its application to the system. Apple Card Savings According to Apple, there will be a partnership with Goldman Sachs with a high-yield savings account to arrive for the Apple Card and its payment system. Instead of the regular Apple Pay which centers on a postpaid service and is similar to credit cards (where one could also link their existing ones), people would be able to put in money and save. This will also take into account the Daily Cash to generate more savings for the user in their use of the Apple Pay system. The Apple Card Savings will be available to use via the Wallet app once it releases. Read Also: Apple Watch's Activity Share Feature Helps Users Stay Motivated and Reach Fitness Goals Apple CarPlay There is an upcoming update for the Apple CarPlay and it will center on its next-generation update for all users to enjoy. It will bring a different user interface to what people are used to before, and it will allow everyone to take full advantage of what Apple has to offer. Additionally, the CarPlay will also arrive in electric vehicles for its future integration of the smartphone link to applicable cars. Security Keys The iOS 16.3 beta delivered the integration for Security Keys on the new smartphone OS, and it aims to further expand security and privacy for devices. This feature will allow users to authenticate new logins with security keys, and avoid access via online authorizations that may also be accessed by others. Here, it will deliver a physical security authenticator for iPhones in the future, but the devices to be used for unlocking will not be sold by Apple. Advanced Data Protection With Apple's focus on security, an additional feature for iCloud users called Advanced Data Protection will also arrive in other regions and countries soon. This expansion is part of the Cupertino company's commitment to securing one's cloud storage drive further, especially as it was notorious for previous leaks and access to accounts. Emergency SOS Satellite Last but not the least, the famous iPhone 14 emergency feature will soon arrive for more countries and regions as well, with the Emergency SOS Satellite for all to use. Apple first made it possible for the US and Canada regions to access it but promises to add more later this year to more areas, for people that have the feature. Related Article: Apple's Plans for Classical Music App Remain Unclear as Launch Date Passes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to a doctor at a public hospital, at least 20 people were killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Somaliland over several days, Azernews reports citing Reuters. In Laascaanood, a town in Somaliland's east that is disputed between Somaliland and nearby Puntland, one of Somalia's semi-autonomous regions, police and the military have been fighting protesters for more than a week. Reuters was informed by Mohamed Farah, a physician at Laascaanood Hospital, a public facility in Laascaanood, that at least 20 people had died and numerous others had been hurt. He claimed to have witnessed the victims' bodies being brought into the facility. In addition to demanding that Somaliland give Puntland control of the town, protesters also charge security forces with failing to reduce crime there. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy On Sunday, the Crucenista Youth Union (UJC) and other groups supporting Governor Luis Fernando Camacho set fire to one of the branches of the state-owned Banco Union, the offices of the Police Command, and other public buildings in Santa Cruz. Citizens filed complaints with the Bolivian authorities pointing out that far-right paramilitaries seized, looted, and burned central government offices such as the Prosecutor's Office, and National Taxes. "The irregular groups, which attempted against democracy and attacked the police and public institutions, used Molotov cocktails," Interior Minister Eduardo Del Castillo said and announced the existence of two injured officers. On Sunday, 22 people were captured and sent to jail for acts of violence generated at the facilities of the Prosecutor's Office, the Police Command and the house of a national authority. Acts of vandalism erupted in eastern Bolivia, where Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of the department of Santa Cruz and the main opponent of the current authorities, was detained as part of the 2019 coup investigation.#LatinAmerica #Bolivia pic.twitter.com/ctMJQYyc5J The Story Teller (@I_am_the_Story) January 2, 2023 We repudiate violence. We hope that the full weight of the law falls on these criminals who are destroying many state assets. It is incredible that we hurt ourselves, said Omar Rivera, the president of the Federation of Neighborhood Councils of Santa Cruz. During the public hearings, 11 of the people apprehended accepted their guilt and decided to take advantage of an abbreviated trial for crimes such as criminal association, public incitement to commit crimes, arson, and aggravated robbery. Over the last week, the right-wing groups have been performing violent acts to demand the release of Governor Camacho, who is currently imprisoned in La Paz city. Due to a court order issued in October 2022, he is being investigated for events related to the "Coup I" case, which refers to the 2019 U.S.-backed coup against President Evo Morales. 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She was as improbable as a hummingbird, a creature that beats its wings 80 times a second, while its tiny heart pounds 1260 times every minute. They have short lives. The wonder with Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was not just her revolutionary art, nor that she was dead at 47, but that she painted at all and survived so long, given the last 30 years of her life were physical torture. Layers of Realitys immersive biography incorporates virtual reality, holography and artificial intelligence. Credit: Andreas Gebert/Getty Images She lived beyond her possibilities, says Jordi Sellas, artistic director of Barcelonas digital arts company Layers of Reality, which, in conjunction with Mexicos Frida Kahlo Corporation, has produced Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon, a Sydney Festival exhibition using the cutting edge of audiovisual technology. The hummingbird, the exhibitions leitmotif, was revered in ancient Mexican culture, with a dead one worn as a charm, as in Kahlos Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940), believed to restore lost love and Frida needed her broken heart repaired as often as her mangled bones. Frida Kahlo poses in a magenta shawl for the photographer Nickolas Muray in 1939. Credit: Nickolas Muray Rendered lame by polio at six, at 17 she was intending to become a doctor when a tram slammed into the bus in which she was travelling, and a handrail skewered her pelvis. Two years of operations and insufferable corsets followed. To distract her from the pain, the heartbreak of learning she couldnt bear a child, and to relieve the boredom of convalescence, she took up painting, feeling compelled to externalise her inner life. This would later account for her many self-portraits. It's not just the New York Times that has exposed New York's George Santos as a pathological liar (from his heritage to his education to his career). An ex-boyfriend is now accusing the Republican Congressman-elect, who fancies himself as the "full embodiment of the American dream," as a man of whoppers as well as a thief. In 2015, former boyfriend Pedro Vilarva says that Santos surprised him with a tropical vacation in Hawaii that didn't really exist, according to the Seattle Times. He also allegedly stole Vilarva's phone and then most likely hocked it. He later found out Santos was wanted by the Brazilian police by doing a simple Google search. From The Seattle Times: Vilarva met Santos in 2014, when he was 18 and Santos was 26. Vilarva found him charming and sweet. They dated for a few months before Santos suggested they move in together. Vilarva said he felt on top of the world even if he said he did find himself footing many of the bills. "He used to say he would get money from Citigroup, he was an investor," Vilarva recalled. "One day it's one thing, one day it's another thing. He never ever actually went to work," he said. Things began to unravel between the two men in early 2015, Vilarva said, after Santos surprised him with tickets to Hawaii that turned out not to exist. Around the same time, he said he discovered that his cellphone was missing, and believed Santos had pawned it. The betrayal prompted him to plug Santos' name into a search engine, where he found that Santos was wanted by Brazilian police. "I would be scared to have someone like that in charge having so much power in his hands," Vilarva said. But this is the Republican/MAGA party we're talking about, where telling lies has become an honored tradition. Four people have died after two Sea World helicopters crashed midair, coming down in an area of the Gold Coast busy with boaties and beachgoers. One of the helicopters, carrying seven people, plunged to the ground while the second, carrying six people, managed to land. On board the first chopper, four people were killed and three passengers were critically injured and were taken to hospital in a critical condition. Some occupants in the other helicopter also required medical attention. Concerned members of the public rushed to a sandbank where the helicopters landed, desperate to free injured passengers from the wreckage. Investigators have revealed the midair crash of two helicopters on the Gold Coast in which four people died and several others were injured could have been worse. The Sea World helicopters crashed midair about 2pm on Monday. One of them, carrying seven people, plunged to the ground, while the second, carrying six people, managed to land. The victims were reported to be British-born pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, Liverpool residents Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36. A man has been charged over a fatal stabbing in Melbournes north-west last week in an incident police say followed an altercation involving several males. Emergency services found an injured 32-year-old man in St Albans, near St Albans Road, between Princess and Percy streets, about 10.50pm on December 30. A man has been charged following a stabbing in St Albans on December 30, 2022. Credit: Nine The man, from St Albans, was taken to hospital and later died. Police arrested a 26-year-old man, of no fixed address, in Mernda in Melbournes outer-north on Monday afternoon. For those of us fortunate enough to have a home, it is supposed to be our private sanctuary. It is where we live, love, laugh, grow, cry, eat, sleep, raise our kids and look after our pets. We are meant to feel safe in our home. All sorts of things go on in the big wide world some good, some not so good. We may have issues at work that are frustrating and downright annoying. We may have had an argument with someone at the supermarket or a sad visit to a relative in a nursing home, but when we get home we are meant to feel safe. The criminal justice system should include processes of restorative justice for victims. We can finally take a deep breath and relax. Recently, my sanctuary was invaded. It was about 1am and my family were in the house. I had just returned from hospital after knee surgery and was asleep, feeling a little worse for wear from the operation. My wife and children and pets were also asleep. Your correspondent happily attributed let me be chaste, but not yet (Letters, 1/1) to Thomas Aquinas instead of another great doctor of the church, Augustine. I must thank him because I keep misquoting it as God, make me good, but not yet. Genevieve Tucker, Mitcham Towards sustainability Angus Daltons excellent insights captured the milk conundrum (The Age, 2/1). With dairy cows contributing 3per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and using 7per cent of all land on Earth, it is obvious why scientists at Oxford concluded plant milks do better than cows milk on every environmental metric. However, every product we interact with has an environmental impact. The more consumers engage with this fact, the more producers are adapting towards sustainable practices. Packaging is another consideration for our milk choice. With only 16per cent recycled, plastic is an environmental disaster. For now, I will stick with brewing home-made oat milk, free of disposable packaging; it seems to be the most sustainable option. Amy Hiller, Kew Putting animals first The excellent article on plant milk unfortunately only made one mention of animal welfare, with the person interviewed suggesting it was mainly the concern of Millennials. I, for example, have eschewed all animal milks for animal welfare reasons for 45 years, and have met many others with similar views. Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford Facing up to our past I feel that all Australians are obliged to support the Voice as a principle that stands on its own. Agreeing to establish it is an honest acknowledgement of our colonised past, while suggesting that we need lots of details is both disingenuous and cynical. There was not much quibbling over the details for First Nations peoples when Captain Cook turned up. Tim Huf, Ballarat North A perfect new national day This year, the long weekend in June will not be to celebrate the Queens Birthday. Given the mood for some change with a new English monarch, that Monday public holiday could sensibly become Australia Day. Much better than a Kings birthday. Brian Kidd, Mount Waverley Cutting the apron strings If white Australia could only give up the monarchy and Union Jack, we could have our national day of celebration under a flag of unity. Greg Pyers, Daylesford Plant too precious to lose Epacris impressa, or common heath, is fast becoming less and less common, therefore we should keep it as our states floral emblem (Comment, 29/12/22). Seen en masse, in flower, it is breathtaking. Virginia Barnett, Mount Waverley AND ANOTHER THING Obligatory reading for Putin in 2023: the story of David and Goliath. Christian Grawe, Essendon I wanted summer but now I dont. Too darned hot and humid. Susan Munday, Bentleigh East Free parking would get people back in the CBD. Hans Paas, Castlemaine Re the Voice. The devil is in the detail. Graham Cadd, Dromana To paraphrase Anne Twomeys unshakeable logic (2/1), its not so much the devil in the detail that should concern us, but rather the devil in the democracy. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale As a kid, I was never fooled by clowns. Those eyes and wide, painted mouth were sinister and unfunny. Like your correspondent (2/1), I too would have run a mile. Margaret Skeen, Point Lonsdale Instead of fireworks at midnight, why not all join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne like we used to do? Janet Cox, Highton My New Years resolution: I will not purchase or do anything that adds to the personal wealth of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. David Cayzer, Clifton Hill Im not sure if Kathy Veel and Bridget Canham, who sailed in the Sydney to Hobart race (2/1), are brave or foolhardy but they have my admiration. John Walsh, Watsonia The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cost Australia nearly half a million migrants by 2025-26, even as new figures confirm the overseas intake is finally climbing back to levels last seen before the nations borders were shut. Data from the federal governments annual population report shows net overseas migration is on track to reach the pre-pandemic trend of 235,000 people on average annually by the middle of the year, buoyed by the return of international students from India and China. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government welcomed the rebound in overseas migration. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Overseas migration fell to a record low in 2020-21 as travel restrictions contributed to a net loss of 85,000 people. The figures were contained in an excerpt of the report, which was prepared by the Centre for Population and will be released in full on Friday. Leading Voice to Parliament campaigner Megan Davis says changing the date of Australia Day would be a symbolic move that would have little tangible impact on the lives of Indigenous Australians as she urged people to instead support constitutional recognition. This year, the annual Invasion Day rallies to commemorate January 26 as the beginning of colonisation will take place as momentum builds for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, which will be held in the second half of this year. UNSW Professor Megan Davis said the Voice to Parliament would deliver substantive practical change, whereas changing the date of Australia Day was a symbolic move. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman and co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue, said there would be no official, coordinated effort by the Yes movement to campaign alongside the Invasion rallies or tap into the mass public support for changing the date that accompanies Australia Day. She said January 26 was a solemn day for many Indigenous Australians and, while some supported changing the date, theres a very strong view that changing the day doesnt change the issue. Brussels: Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new COVID variants as part of new steps against the spread of the coronavirus as infections in China surge, the government has announced. This will be an additional monitoring objective to verify that the data we receive from China is accurate, Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano national public health institute told Reuters on Monday (Brussels time). Wastewater will be tested for new COVID variants. Credit: iStock He said Belgium was aware that some COVID-infected passengers might not use the toilet during their flights, and therefore the new measure was not meant to track people but to track independently what is happening in China. Belgium is also asking travellers from China to test themselves for COVID-19 if they show symptoms seven days after arriving, but will not enforce this measure. January 1, 2023 marked the 70th anniversary of the death of country music icon Hank Williams. To commemorate his death and celebrate his life and music, the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, will host an anniversary event on January 1st, followed by a celebration later in 2023 on what would have been the country star's 100th birthday. At 10 a.m. on New Year's Day folks will gather at Williams' grave site in Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Montgomery, and afterwards, the celebration will begin at the museum. Alabama.com explains: The museum will then honor the Williams legacy from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Live music will be performed by Shepard Family, Mike Ball and David Church. The cost to attend is $10 for museum members, $15 for non-members. The New Year's Day tradition has been going on since the museum first opened, 24 years ago. "Alabama, of course, was home to Hank," said Parker. "Montgomery as well. Hank's music is still alive. It's not dying down." To learn more about the event and about Hank Williams, visit the Hank Williams Museum website. And go listen to some Hank Williams! Here's a compilation of 10 of his greatest hits, put together by The Boot. Chemist and YouTuber, NileRed, was intrigued by stories from the 1800s about Thioacetone, a substance so noxious it is considered dangerous just to smell. People were said to be knocked unconscious, vomit, and become filled with fear over a mere whiff. So, of course Nile wanted to try and make some and take a toot. After a lengthy process of distilling it out, and fearing releasing it in an urban area, he rented an island for grand uncorking. As in a number of other NileRed videos in search of the worst possible odors, it was bad, but not the level that was claimed. No one passed out, vomited, or panicked over the smell. An interesting aspect of the release of Thioacetone is that the smell actually gets stronger the farther you are from it. This was part of 19th century reports and he found this to be true. In fact, they beat it off of the island when they realized that the smell was probably wafting across the water and there were houses near by. Nile was not interested in explaining to the cops what he was up to. After taking the oath of office for his second term, Governor Mark Gordon delivered his Second Inaugural Address. Governor Gordon pledged to continue to fight for Wyoming values, and called on her citizens to work together to build the states future. The Governors speech encouraged engaging with others holding differing views, and laid out a vision for Wyoming to chart her path, independent of political fashion, or popular trend. The undeniable fact is that our founders did not leave us a fire-and-forget, plug-and-play government, Governor Gordon said. Our government requires participation and effort and compromise. We must work together to begin this next chapter. The Governor, along with Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Auditor Kristi Racines, Treasurer Curt Meier, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, was sworn in by Wyoming Chief Justice Kate Fox during a public ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda at 10:30 a.m today. The Governor called on citizens to advocate for, and protect, Wyoming values, and said the state must seize the opportunities that lay before it. He spoke of the importance of education and economic diversification, noting the states future is its children and grandchildren. The Governor also pledged to continue emphasizing responsive, responsible and accountable government. Wyomings time is now, the Governor said. While others fiddle for answers, Wyoming is ready to solve the challenges of our time not with talk but with action. To Wyoming, I say we will not be deterred by any obstacles. As Governor, I commit to use every power I have to protect Wyomings interests and potential. The Governor concluded by thanking his family and stressing the importance of the next several years, and its impact on future generations. We have been given a great state, a great nation, and a great gift, and we know it is our time to leave this world a little better for our time in it. On this day, we stand united and ready to seize our future --- as Wyoming people have always done --- with courage, confidence, and conviction. A complete copy of Governor Mark Gordons Second Inaugural Address (as prepared) follows, and is available here. Governor Mark Gordon Second Inaugural Address January 2, 2023 Today, we begin a new year and I begin a new term. It may be snowing and blowing outside right now, still this is Wyoming after all, we know that tomorrow skies will be clearer, the winds calmer, and our future will be as bright as it has ever been. Jennie and I are honored and humbled to be here on this day. To say thank you and welcome to all of you gathered here, in the Peoples House, or watching online. Because we live in Wyoming each of us knows we can and will play an important role in building our future. I grew up in Kaycee on the North Fork of the Powder River. Its a town rich in Western history, Native American trails ran through our country and later was known for the Hole in the Wall, the Johnson County War, some great bronc riders and Chris LeDoux. It is where the values embodied in the Code of the West run deep. I grew up proud of my state but I can truly say becoming Governor was never on my mind. The thing about Wyoming is no matter who you are or where you come from you will have a better chance to meet, influence and even become leaders of our state than anywhere else. Ours is truly a citizen government and citizens make a difference. Bear in mind though, we are Wyomingites a people less impressed by who you are or whom you know; we care more about what you do. We care about your character and judgment. My sister Valerie, and I grew up on horseback. I remember one particular August day when we rode with our dad from cow camp back to the ranch. Even though I was only 11 I looked forward to helping out. We had checked on our summer pastures and needed to get home. We left the cabin as a light snow started to fall for what seemed like a routine ride back to the ranch, but unexpectedly it turned into a full-on blizzard. It became bitterly cold, and we tucked our hands under the saddle blankets to keep our fingers from freezing. The trail from cow camp to the ranch winds along ridges, through draws. It goes past a certain tree where the trail leads across a broad grassy slope. If you miss the trail and turn too quickly to the left or go too far to the right, you will be rimrocked. On a clear day, it is pretty easy to see the way, but that day was not a clear one. Riding through the snow, in time, we could just make out the faint shadow of that landmark tree. Finding it meant we were thankfully still on course. Though my sister may not admit it, neither of us was sure which way to go next, but we trusted our father, he had been this way many times before. I will pick back up on this story a bit later. But the immediate lesson for me as a young boy was that the best course in a challenging time is to stay calm, use common sense, and not be tempted to turn too sharply left or right. It is a lesson I applied during my first term as Governor. Auditor Kristi Racines, Treasurer Curt Meier thank you both for your teamwork. Four years ago, we stood in the pre-dawn hours to take our oaths of office in this very spot. You remember, at the time, this was a construction zone. If you look up the four statues above us had yet to arrive. I think we can all agree they add value and meaning to this grand building. To the northwest stands Truth, she lights the way forward. In the northeast corner, Justice is ready for those who fail to follow Truths light. Together they frame the historic chamber where our State Constitution was signed. Across the way, to the southeast, Courage stands resolute while Hope patiently occupies the southwestern niche. These are the virtues that have helped Wyoming and our country weather so many trials and tribulations along the trail these past few years. Today, I pledge this administrations continuing belief in and commitment to these four virtues. As Governor, I am privileged to work in this building and be surrounded by outstanding staff and I also appreciate the hard working Wyoming state employees in every corner of the state. I want to offer a special recognition to our Congressional delegation. Congresswoman Liz Cheney thank you. Senator Cynthia Lummis and Congresswoman-elect Harriett Hageman, and I have sometimes contested for the same office in spirited campaigns. But, I am so proud that after the voters spoke, we came together to work for what is in the best interest of Wyoming. That is the way life is in Wyoming and the way politics should be nationally. It has also been a distinct privilege to serve with Senator John Barrasso. He has always been a strong and steady hand in helping guide our nation, and a powerful voice for individual freedom and rights as well as Wyomings values and interests. It has been an honor to work with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho nations. I am proud of the progress we have made toward common goals. Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Superintendent Megan Degenfelder, congratulations to you both and thank you for your willingness to serve. You follow great men and women who made important contributions to our state. I want to note the willingness of Secretary of State Karl Allred and Superintendent Brian Schroeder to fill the vacancies of these important offices. I thank former governors who have been so helpful, Matt Mead, Dave Freudenthal, Jim Geringer and Mike Sullivan. Each left a lasting legacy. Whether Republican or Democrat, all had a singular focus -- to make Wyoming a little better for their time here. We are grateful for their service. Governors Freudenthal and Geringer, thank you for being here. I also want to take a moment to thank those who have answered the call to defend our country. I ask those members of the Armed Forces to stand and be recognized. Men and women from Wyoming serve with distinction in all branches of our military. They, and the families that are their support, understand better than most the commitment it takes to keep us free and safe in a dangerous world. I ask that the Officers who are here today to make sure the men and women you command know how proud we are of them. No state appreciates our veterans as Wyoming does, their service will never be forgotten. We will always honor and remember the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those that have yet to come home. In particular, on this day we thank our first responders; firefighters, law enforcement and EMTs. Too many of them have given their lives in service to Wyomings people. Sadly, we have recently been reminded of the risks and dangers they face every day. We are also grateful for all good citizens who do their jobs with commitment; our teachers, snowplow drivers, social workers, healthcare workers, hospital staff and unsung heroes. In short, all of those committed to protecting our lives and homes; comforting us in crisis; and assuring that our kids and seniors are safe. Turning to our judicial branch, Chief Justice Kate Fox, thank you for administering the oath of office and I thank your colleagues for being here from the Judicial Branch. Senator Ogden Driskill and Representative Albert Sommers a huge thank you and to members of the Legislature for being here. Together we share a commitment to the people of Wyoming. For the sake of all, this is a moment in history when we must come together. President Teddy Roosevelt spoke about this just down the street from here in 1903. He came to remind us of the words of the Apostle Matthew, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Wyoming was only 13 years old when the President rode here from Laramie. Many assembled that day were veterans who had worn either the blue or the gray of the Civil War. Many still had memories of how divided our country was during that dark time. In his remarks that day, President Roosevelt emphasized the importance of unity, not division, in building a future, noting that, We cannot afford, if we are going to make this Republic true to its promise, if we are to make its mighty future as essentially great as its past, we cannot afford as citizens to sunder in the deeper matters along lines other than the line of conduct which separates good citizens from bad citizens. Today, there are many outside influences seeking to divide us. We can see that President Roosevelts speech about citizenship was timely then and prophetic now. The undeniable fact is that our founders did not leave us a fire-and-forget, plug-and-play government. Our government requires participation and effort and compromise. We must work together as we begin this next chapter. Citizenship is not aligning with one ideology or another. It is a willingness to engage and respect each other. To get things done, we must reacquaint ourselves with the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. To listen as much as to advocate. Our nation was founded on dialogue more than dogma. Wyoming is a conservative state with an ingrained sense of independence and freedom. Her people have always had an abiding respect for one another. Our aim should always be for Wyoming to chart her path independent of political fashion, or popular trend. To be sure, there will be times of strain and stress, but our core Wyoming values have and will always persevere and see us through. They are so intrinsic to our nature that we enshrined them in our pioneering Constitution: Article 1. Section 1. Power inherent in the people. Section 2. Equality of all. Section 3. Equal political rights. On this day, we stand united and ready to seize our future as Wyoming people have always done, with courage, confidence, and conviction. Over the next four years we will focus on building our future by emphasizing four fundamental pillars. First, our government must be responsive, responsible and accountable. As a Republican, I believe in limited government that is closest to the people. Staying on that trail while emphasizing economic opportunity, free enterprise, and personal responsibility has always been a recipe for success. But, that success must never come at the expense of our most vulnerable. In Wyoming, we take care of our own. Second, our economy must diversify and grow and education must continue to innovate and transform. We will remain committed to refining and reducing regulation to unbridle entrepreneurship and economic development. And we will redouble our efforts to rethink education to better equip our students, citizens, industries, and our workforce to be more successful, more skilled, more ambitious, and increasingly ready to meet the challenges of our time. The future of our state is our children and grandchildren. Good education means strong, engaged families. They are the heartbeat of our state. Third, I call on each of us to advocate for and protect our Wyoming values. We must always stand up for what makes Wyoming so wonderful, our people, exquisite wildlife, open and wild spaces, vibrant energy, abundant agriculture,the pursuit of equality for all, respect for one another, and helping each other in times of need. These values are enduring to Wyoming and we cannot afford to lose them to the intemperance of heated rhetoric on social media or the inflammatory divisiveness of those selfishly seeking political gain. It is imperative our young people are not distracted, and made aware of these values and their obligation to protect them in the decades ahead, when they become our leaders. And fourth, we must seize the day. Wyomings time is now. Wyoming energy powers the nation. Science and engineering are poised for trailblazing advances that will transform technology, natural resource management, outdoor recreation, and agriculture. Wyoming is the tip of the spear. While others fiddle for answers, Wyoming is ready to solve the challenges of our time not with talk but with action. To Wyoming, I say we will not be deterred by any obstacles. As Governor, I commit to use every power I have to protect Wyomings interests and potential. I believe that Wyomings greatest days are ahead of us. And know this the building of our future is in our hands the tough and resourceful working men and women of Wyoming. Let me close by sharing the reason why I am so optimistic about Wyomings future by finishing my story about that long-ago ride on a cold and snowy day. Despite the storm, we found our way to the valley where our ranch lies. We and our horses were tired and cold; but the clouds lifted and sensing home our horses picked up their gait, and our hearts were warmed at the sight of the barn and the lights of our house. We knew our family was waiting with dry clothes and warm food. We knew we were home. When I come home to my family, my heart is warmed just like all those years ago. Without the love and support of my family I could never have accepted this responsibility. Jennie, you have been and always will be the light of my life. And an incredible mother and grandmother to our kids and grandchildren. My love for you is endless. You know how important it is that Wyomings less fortunate have a warm meal. Your commitment to end food insecurity in Wyoming has made such a difference for so many in this state. For Jennie and for me, our family is a source of amazing joy and happiness. And it is a big one, many of whom are here today. Family is what keeps us grounded. Aaron, Anne, Spencer, and Bea, you are awesome and have added so many wonderful people to our family: Sarah, Austen, and Greg you are simply the best. I thank all of you for your love and support. And on this day, when we contemplate Wyomings future, I especially want to recognize Everett, Violet, Eloise, and Crawford our grandkids. You each have been blessed to have Wyoming in your soul. You remind me every day, why the work we do in this building means so much. For all of us here today, we know what we do now and in the next several years matters for our children and the generations that follow. Because after all, Wyoming too, is a family. We have been given a great state, a great nation, and a great gift, and we know it is our responsibility to leave this world a little better for our time in it. God Bless America, God Bless Wyoming and keep her wild and free. And may Gods wisdom guide our way forward. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High around 70F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. I feel bad for former GOP Congress member Michele Bachmann. She really believes that non-Christians will spend eternity roasting in Hell even though no one has ever provided credible evidence of its existence. Nevertheless, Bachmann felt it her duty to pass along her unsupported belief to her young grandchildren on Christmas. Here she is on a podcast called Lions & Generals, explaining how she told the youngsters: I was with two of my grandchildren this week, a six-year-old and a three-year-old. And I just felt compelled to talk to them about when we die, it's judgment. It's appointed on to man to [unintelligible] and then the judgment. So what happens is at that moment, the decision is made, you're either going to Heaven, or you're going to Hell. We talked about what Heaven is, we talked about what Hell is, and that Hell is just as real as Heaven. And in Hell, there's eternal fires and damnation, and it's a real place. We do not want to go there. That's where the wicked will go. And then I explained how they don't go that they receive Christ, they confess their sins, they receive the Lord, He cleanses them, and because of his righteousness, they go to Heaven. And so my little granddaughter immediately started saying, "I don't want to go to Hell; I want to go to Heaven." I said, "Bella, Can I pray with you? Let's pray. Do you want to pray?" We prayed, and we'll continue to speak to her about all of this. And I think, why miss an opportunity? This is the moment to speak to our children, our grandchildren, our friends, our neighbors. Don't wait. Former Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann spent Christmas teaching her grandkids how they'll be tortured in Hell unless they follow her religion. pic.twitter.com/SYdS6ymbKD Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) December 30, 2022 In Bachmann's view, Trump is the model toward which Heaven hopefuls should aspire: a liar, adulterer, cheater, con artist, and racist. In 2020, Bachmann posted a video praying for the reelection of Trump, asking God to find enough votes in Georgia to give Trump the edge. "Lord, would you deliver these races in Georgia? O Father, would you deliver various local and state races, Father, that they aren't stolen? Would you give us a true vote? And, O God, I personally ask, from myself, Michele Bachmann, Lord, would you allow Donald Trump to have a second term as president of the United States?" Bart D. Ehrman, a distinguished professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and author of Heaven and Hell, would likely disagree with Bachmann's description of Hell and what you need to do to avoid ending up there. From his essay in Time: 14 Dead, Including 10 Prison Guards, After Armed Attack on Mexican Prison Near US Border Members of the Mexican Army secure an area outside the prison of Ciudad Juarez number 3 after an attack on the prison left 14 people dead and allowed 24 inmates to escape on Jan. 1, 2023. (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images) Fourteen people have been killed, and dozens more injured after gunmen in armored vehicles attacked a state prison in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, which sits across the border from El Paso, Texas, on New Years Day. Approximately 10 prison guards and four inmates were killed on the morning of Jan. 1 when an unknown number of gunmen arrived at the Cereso No. 3 state prison at around 7 a.m. local time and opened fire, officials said. Another 13 individuals were injured, and 24 inmates were able to escape when riots broke out among rival groups within the prison during the attack, the Chihuahua state prosecutors office said. Details regarding the escapees were not provided; however, Juarez police said that the escaped inmates committed several carjackings and stole vehicles after fleeing the prison. Soldiers and state police were able to control the situation later on Sunday, according to officials. An investigation has been launched into the attack, and four people have so far been detained, prosecutors said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack or if the armed assailants are among those who were detained, but law enforcement officials said they are now on maximum alert. Relatives of inmates react outside the prison of Ciudad Juarez number 3 after an attack on the prison left 14 people dead and allowed 24 inmates to escape on Jan. 1, 2023. (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images) Speaking at a news conference, Juarez Mayor Cruz Perez Cuellar said that municipal police engaged in a shootout with some of the suspected escapees several miles away from Cereso on Sunday, which resulted in three of the suspects being killed and five more arrested. Shortly before the attack on the prison on Sunday, law enforcement officials reported that Juarez municipal police officers were attacked but managed to capture and detain four men after a vehicle chase, according to The El Paso Times. Violent Prison Outbreaks Common Later on Sunday, in a different part of the city, police confirmed that two other drivers in a hummer had been killed by law enforcement officials in what authorities called an armed aggression incident. It is unclear if any of the events are related. The high-security Cereso No. 3 state prison is located 17 miles (28 kilometers) south of Ciudad Juarez, which serves as a major battleground between drug cartels. It sits across the border from El Paso, which has been buckling under the weight of an influx of illegal aliens. According to a February 2022 report by the State Human Rights Commission, more than 3,700 people are detained in the prison, which has a maximum capacity of 3,135. Government officials say the prison is run by members of an organized crime group known as the Mexicles, reported NPR. This is not the first time that the prisonwhich is reportedly one of Latin Americas most dangerous institutionshas seen violent outbreaks. In August 2022, a violent clash broke out between rival gangs in the prison during family visiting hours. Three prisoners were killed while the violence spilled out in the city, with gang members launching attacks on residents; setting fire to vehicles and buildings, and killing at least nine people, including a child, according to local reports. The National Guard was subsequently called in to help quell the situation. Years earlier, in 2011, 17 people were killed during an armed clash between rival gangs in the prison. In March 2009, 20 people were killed and 15 injured after a riot broke out between inmates. Reuters contributed to this report. 2 Dead, Thousands Without Power in California After Storm Forces Evacuations Vehicles stranded along the Interstate 80 at the Nevada State line and Colfax, Calif., on Dec. 31, 2022. (California Highway Patrol Truckee via AP) Two people have died and nearly 200,000 homes and businesses in Sacramento, California were without power on New Years Eve after a powerful storm bought flash flooding, mudslides, and winds of up to 60 mph. According to local reports, one person was found dead in a submerged vehicle in south Sacramento in the area of Highway 99 on Sunday morning after two levees along the Cosumnes River broke overnight, flooding roads, homes, and part of the highway. The Cosumnes Fire Department confirmed to CBS13 that a department helicopter discovered the vehicle submerged near the highway at around 10 a.m. on Sunday. Our understanding is the vehicle was washed off the roadway sometime in the night, and it appears the person never exited the vehicle, said Cosumnes Deputy Fire Chief Dan Quiggle in a statement to local radio. No further details were provided. The highway has since been reopened after being temporarily closed while the water receded, according to officials. A second individual, a 72-year-old, died after being struck by a fallen tree at a Santa Cruz park, according to officials. Paramedics arrived at the scene at around 1:30 p.m. after receiving a call from another person in the area. The individual, whose name and gender were not provided, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said, according to local reports. Thousands Without Power Elsewhere, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District reported that over 165,000 customers were without power as of 10 p.m. on Saturday. That figure dropped to 38,000 homes and businesses without power by 11 a.m. Sunday. As of 01:32 a.m. Monday morning, there are a total of 359 active outages affecting 9,127 customers, according to the utility companys website. Meanwhile, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) reported approximately 46,000 customer outages, including 24,000 outages in the Stockton Division, 11,000 in the Sacramento Division, approximately 7,000 in the Bay Area, and approximately 2,500 in PG&Es Central Coast Division, late on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, up to 95,000 customers had been left in the dark. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. warned that continued flooding and road closures were hindering work to inspect and fix outages. Santa Cruz County has been hit particularly hardand with safety for all as our highest priorityPG&E stood down some operations and pulled crews out of the Santa Cruz mountains on Saturday as a result of dangerous conditions, delaying restoration efforts in some portions of that area, the company said on Saturday. Crews have since returned to Santa Cruz and are working to restore power, the company said. Sacramento County declared a state of emergency on Saturday evening amid an atmospheric weather eventwhich carries moisture for thousands of milesthat it said had brought with it significant transportation impacts, rising creek and river levels, and flooding in Wilton, where residents were ordered to shelter in place. Residents Told to Evacuate Flash flooding warnings were extended on Sunday after the storm wreaked havoc, downing trees and power lines and stranding vehicles. In the Point Pleasant, Glanville Tract, and Franklin Pond areas, residents were issued an evacuation alert and told to leave before rising water levels made doing so impossible. It is expected that the flooding from the Cosumnes River and the Mokelumne River is moving southwest toward I-5 and could reach these areas in the middle of the night, the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services said earlier on Sunday afternoon. Livestock in the affected areas should be moved to higher ground. That was later upgraded to an evacuation order for Point Pleasant as officials warned that flooding was imminent. According to the Los Angeles Times, the city of Oakland also suffered its rainiest day since 1970 on Saturday with 4.75 inches of rain, while a mudslide in the east of the city prompted by the heavy rains blocked part of Highway 580. San Francisco also suffered its wettest day in over 170 years, according to the publication. The National Weather Service expects the storm to move into the Central U.S. on Monday, producing snow over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Rockies, and the Northern Plains, before eventually pushing into parts of the Midwest. Adverse Reactions to Chinese Vaccines Leave Victims in Financial Difficulties Qian Dalong, who had adverse reactions to COVID vaccination, holds a protest placard that says, Cerebral infarction after CoronaVac, in Beijing, China, on Dec. 28, 2022 (Qian Dalong/The Epoch Times) Nearly 3.46 billion doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in China as of Dec. 19, 2022, which the authorities claim were all Chinese made. Following the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in China, the effectiveness of and adverse reactions to the vaccines are under a spotlight. Two people who had adverse reactions told their stories to the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Dec 28. Both developed rare diseases, and claim to have been healthy prior to receiving the vaccines. Both men said that the loss of mobility has left them financially stressed from huge medical bills and the cost of their childrens schooling. However, medical specialists in China say the adverse reactions are unrelated the vaccines. Cerebral Infarction Qian Dalong, a Beijing resident, received a third dose of Sinovac vaccine on Oct. 28, 2021, and nine days later, became paralyzed. His diagnosis was a cerebral infarction (stroke). He said he had days of aches and pains after the first two vaccinations; but after the third dose, besides the aches, he lost mobility. The experts said his physical problem was coincidental to receiving the vaccination, in July 2022. He refused to accept this simple conclusion. Getting a second opinion from a medical association in Chaoyang District cost him 3,000 yuan (about $432.69). Their opinion was that his stroke was Irrelevant to the vaccination, but a note attached to the opinion stated One expert said the vaccine cant be ruled out, but the other four believe it is irrelevant. Qian said he lost mobility of the entire right side of his body and has to rely on a wheelchair to walk more than a few steps. He could not use his right hand, could not hold a pair of chopsticks, and could not function independently. He said that while he was hospitalized, a patient in the same ward also said they had a cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction after vaccination. The Epoch Times was unable to verify this other patients situation. Qians wife received a third vaccination in October 2021. She experienced vertigo in the summer of 2022, and a CT scan suggested that she had a problem in her cerebral blood vessels. She used to be very healthy, Qian said. A child receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Handan, in Chinas northern Hebei Province on Oct. 27, 2021, after the city began vaccinating children between the ages of 3 and 11. (AFP via Getty Images) Financial Distress Life has become very difficult for the Qians. They cant afford the medical bills, and even buying food has become a problem. My unemployment benefit runs out in December, Qian said, while his wife, a retiree, had to find a part-time job to cover their living costs, the medicines, and their childs school fees. I trusted the government and the vaccines they recommended. Besides, without proof of vaccination, you cant work, and the child cant go to school, Qian said. But when the vaccines cause severe adverse reactions, no one cares. They are deliberately lying, evading responsibility by exploiting the so-called expert opinions, he said. He filed complaints with various state agencies but has not received any help. On Dec. 1, he was arrested along with three other people who suffered adverse reactions to vaccination when they shouted slogans outside the National Health and Medical Commission. I was released that day. The other three people, from Shanxi, Jiangxi, and Guangdong, were still in the detention center, he said. Life was good until he was vaccinated, he said, If there was a way out, who would go on the path of rights defending? ALS When Cao Yonghong, from Linfen, Shanxi, received a third dose of vaccine on March 12, 2022, his arm was sore for many days, and by April 15 his left hand became weak. Gradually, he was having a hard time talking and lost strength in both hands. Specialists from county, city, and regional hospitals suspected he may have had a cerebral infarction, but an MRI, electrocardiogram, and chest X-ray, showed everything was normal. Finally, one expert said he believed something was abnormal, but could not identify the problem. Caos arm muscles started to twitch, but a medical examination didnt indicate what was causing his symptoms. In August, he went to Beijing Union Medical College Hospital for a series of tests, including gene analysis and blood tests. With all the tests and the symptoms he had, the experts said he likely had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for which there is no cure other than medication to delay the progress of the disease. He refused to give up looking for a diagnosis. He underwent a lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing at Peking University Third Hospital. Everything was normal. The specialist had him do the electromyography (EMG) to test the muscle response to nerve stimulus, which finally confirmed that he had ALS. Cao said hundreds of people have developed ALS after COVID vaccination. The Epoch Times was unable to verify this statistic. I asked many other ALS patients, who said they developed ALS after receiving vaccinations. Each persont initial symptoms were different, but in the end, it all comes down to weakness of the limbs, and then its tracheostomy [insertion of a breathing tube] and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [insertion of a feeding tube into the abdomen]. I have checked many references. ALS used to be common in the elderly, but now its common in young people. I asked many doctors, but none of them would acknowledge that it is related to vaccines, he said. People wait in line to receive the Sinopharm vaccine from China at a school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 30, 2021 as part of a government campaign to halt the increasing number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Mandatory Vaccine Policy Cao said that his family is struggling financially since he became ill. He used to run his own business but the illness has stopped his ability to work. With a child still in school, his wife is now working to feed the family. I still have more than 10,000 yuan (about $1,449) of medical bills not reimbursed, the monthly medication is very expensive I am only 45 years old, he said. A 28-day supply of imported medicine costs him 3,800 yuan (about $551) and drugs made in China cost 1,200 yuan (about $174). He said that friends who worked at the local government were told to contact friends and family to get a quota of 10 to 20 people vaccinated. The government made vaccination mandatory, he said, and eggs were handed out as a bonus to those who were vaccinated. Schools demanded that parents must get vaccinated. Now, with the adverse reactions, theres nowhere to complain to, financially you are on your own. Unvaccinated Recover Faster Cao said that many people around him became infected during the resurgence of the virus even though they had been vaccinated. Qian Dalong also told The Epoch Times that in this wave of COVID, those who have been vaccinated still get infected, and their symptoms are even worse than those who werent vaccinated. He said, One of my very good buddies did not dare to get vaccinated after he saw what I experienced. He tested positive [for COVID-19] this time but his fever was gone in just one day. His parents, who are in their 70s and 80s and are not vaccinated, recovered in three days. His wife, however, was vaccinated, and still suffers from fever. Qian said his relatives and friends had similar situations. Those who were not vaccinated got better quickly, but those who were vaccinated would take a week or even longer to recover. Zhao Fenghua and Hong Ning contributed to this report. Arizona AG Sues Elementary School District Superintendent for $500,000 Excess Pay Compensation Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (L) discusses the problem of human trafficking in Arizona at a press conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., on June 22. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Arizonas Attorney General Mark Brnovich has announced that his office is suing the Buckeye Elementary School District (BESD) as well as its superintendent Kristi Wilson for alleged overpayment of salary despite not being entitled to it. Wilson has been the superintendent at BESD since 2013. As of fiscal year 2019, the average teacher at BESD earned $44,536, which is 15 percent below the state average, according to the lawsuit. Between fiscal years 2014 and 2016, Wilsons annual compensation averaged $172,813. Starting fiscal year 2017, BESD entered into three separate employment agreements with Wilson that led to her receiving additional compensation, the lawsuit noted. For fiscal years 2017 through 2021, Wilsons compensation was 163 percent higher (or about 2-1/2 times higher) than the reported average of peer districts superintendents, and 108 percent higher (or more than 2 times higher) than superintendents of Arizonas three largest districts. The attorney general calculates that Wilson received over $500,000 in excess compensation that she was not entitled to, per employment agreements. The lawsuit is seeking to make Wilson return funds that BESD paid her in violation of employment contracts and state laws. Compensation The first agreement that BESD entered into with Wilson in 2017 lasted until 2019 and had a base salary of $165,000. It required the district to pay additional compensation to Wilson so that she could purchase a one-year retirement service credit with the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) for each fiscal year under the agreement. Wilson was also entitled to be paid at the current per diem rate for up to 30 unused vacation days. The second agreement covered fiscal year 2019 to 2021 and had a base salary of $175,000. Unlike the first agreement, which had a compensation limit of $1,800 per pay period, this one did not place a limit on the compensation amount. Other additional compensation was also agreed upon. The third agreement, between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, has a base salary of $189,000. Due to the additional compensation and per diem rate for unused pay in the three agreements, BESD paid Wilson $1,712,976 in addition to her base salary between July 2016 and December 2021. Adding to the base salary of $1,561,529, Wilsons total compensation during the period came to $3,274,505. Additional Compensation Components Of the $1,712,976 in additional compensation, $1,509,311 was paid to Wilson to purchase 11 years of retirement service credit with the ASRS. This includes $885,634 that BESD directly paid to the ASRS, $358,109 paid to Wilson directly, and $265,568 to taxing agencies and the ASRS on Wilsons behalf. The remaining $203,665 of additional compensation was related to payments for unused leave. After deducting ASRS payments and required withholdings, BESD was estimated to have paid Wilson $501,875 not required by employment agreements. Under the three agreements, Wilsons annual salary ranged between $338,986 to $799,846, which is higher than the superintendents of Arizonas three largest districts, which ranged between $208,600 and $306,179. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Buckeye school district. Transparency and accountability are not electives in our public school districts, said Attorney General Mark Brnovich, according to a Dec. 28 press release. Hardworking taxpayers expect these public funds to be expended in accordance with the law and the best interest of students. The lawsuit insists that the additional compensation received by Wilson violated the Arizona Constitutions Gift Clause and is thus recoverable. It seeks the excess amounts paid by BESD to Wilson be considered illegal and also recovered. Australian Off-Duty Police Officer Drowns in Rip After Saving Teen Surf rescue workers instruct swimmers to move away from the northern end of the beach at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on January 16, 2022. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images) An off-duty police officer has drowned in a rip after saving the life of a teenage boy at an unpatrolled beach on the New South Wales (NSW) south coast. Emergency services were called after the 45-year-old became caught in a rip at Bogola Beach, south of Narooma, at about 1.30 p.m. on New Years Day. When lifesavers arrived at the scene, onlookers told them the man went into the ocean to rescue a 14-year-old boy, but after saving the teen, he disappeared under the water, Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said. A helicopter was sent from Moruya and spotted the man who was pulled from the rip by lifesavers, but paramedics were unable to revive him, and he died at the scene. Trainee members of the Garie Vanguard Surf Life Saving group paddle out during a mock ocean rescue at Garie Beach in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 24, 2019. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Its a really, really tragic incident, and we have numerous cases each year where someone goes into the rescue and they, in turn, become the victim and the person they went to rescue successfully escapes the rip they were caught in, Pearce told AAP. NSW Police confirmed the man who died was an off-duty officer. Local police will prepare a report for the coroner. With warm temperatures driving thousands of people to the states beaches this summer, NSW lifesavers have already carried out more than 1000 rescues since Christmas, which is a record. Weve never ever seen this before, Pearce said. Akos Melegh and John DeLauney patrol the waters on a IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on December 9, 2007. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) So the primary message today, particularly because its such a bumper day for the beach, is: were urging people to go to a patrolled location, and thats anywhere with a red and yellow flag flying and where our lifesavers, and our lifeguards, are on duty. Chinese Cities See COVID-19 Infection Rate Exceeding 50 Percent The rate of COVID-19 infections may have exceeded 50 percent in Chinese provinces and large cities and reached as high as 80 percent in the capital city of Beijing, the countrys health experts and officials estimated, painting a picture much grimmer than what the nations central authorities disclosed and fueling distrust around the world. The infection rate of the current COVID wave is already very high, with many large cities seeing it exceed 50 percent, Zhang Wenhong, director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, said on Dec. 29 at an online forum. That may reach up to 80 percent during Chinas Lunar New Year in late January, the expert estimated, as a huge number of people normally travel around the country for family reunions. China is grappling with an explosive COVID-19 outbreak on the heels of the abrupt retreat from the zero-COVID policy long championed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since the outbreak first hit Wuhan three years ago, the CCP had vowed to eliminate every infection among communities through repeated testings, swift lockdowns, prolonged quarantine, and digital surveillance in spite of growing economic and human tolls. State media and officials repeatedly warned the Chinese public of catastrophic outcomessuch as millions of COVID-related deathsif they abandon the curbs and opt to live with the virus like the West. But following widespread protests against the tightened curbs in late November, the regime suddenly stopped the efforts to control the pandemic and dismantled most of its hallmark zero-COVID policy. State media moved at a quick speed to portray the Omicron variant as a flu-like mild virus as COVID spread unabated through Chinas 1.4 billion population with low natural immunity after three years of harsh lockdown. A patient with COVID-19 lays on a bed in a hallway at Tangshan Gongren Hospital in Chinas northeastern city of Tangshan on Dec. 30, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Officially, China has reported thousands of daily infections and a handful of deaths. But on the ground, ill-prepared hospitals across the nation were overwhelmed with patients, forcing doctors to continue duty while sick. Medicines for reducing fever and coughing were left out of stock. Funeral workers described an influx of bodies waiting to be cremated. We didnt expect the first wave to be this vehement, Zeng Guang, former chief epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a separate online panel on Dec. 29, according to state media. Over 80 percent of Beijing residents, or 17.6 million people, may have already been infected with COVID, Zeng estimated. That percentage could be even higher, he added. It is hard to know the exact number of COVID infections or deaths in China. Official tallies are often obscured, as doubts grow over their credibility. Last week, Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) stopped publishing COVID infections and fatalities every day. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a department directly under NHC, publishes relevant outbreak information for reference and research. Infection Rate Exceeding 50 Percent In the absence of reliable COVID figures, outside scientists have turned to regional data, which give significantly higher numbers than the nationwide infection and death tolls registered by the central health authorities, to assess the impact on the global economy and the health of the world. Several provinces and cities recently estimated more than half of their residents were infected, based on survey results. From the northernmost province of Heilongjiang to the southernmost of Hainan, dozens of provinces and large cities across the nation have turned to online surveys to gauge the scale of the outbreak after the regime lifted the mass testing requirement and allowed people to report antigen test results at home voluntarily. Related Coverage China Estimates 248 Million People Infected With COVID in 20 Days: Reports A study in Hainan showed the COVID infection rate on the tropical island exceeded 50 percent. With a population of 10 million, the infected may have reached 5 million. Health authorities in Hainan have been sending out a second round of questionnaires on Wechat to poll residents experience with COVID-19. By Dec. 27, the Hainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention received over 33,000 responses, officials said at Dec. 30 briefing. The infection rate in the southwestern province of Sichuan, which has a population of more than 84 million, is over 63 percent. The actual rate should be much higher given that nearly 30 percent of 158,000 respondents showing fever, cough, or other COVID-19 symptoms didnt take antigen or PCR tests, the authorities said in a Dec. 26 statement. That figure coincidentally corresponds with a leaked memo from an internal meeting of the countrys top health officials. Half the population in Sichuan, as well as Beijing, had tested positive in the first 20 days of December, according to the leaked notes confirmed by several news outlets. The wave of infections has yet to peak in many regions. Wu Zunyou, Chinas chief epidemiologist, said at Dec. 29 press conference that the outbreak in Beijing, Tianjin, and Sichuans Chengdu may have hit the peak. But Shanghai and several provinces in central and south China are still seeing surging COVID infections, Wu added. Official Data Faces Skepticism At the Hankou funeral home on the outskirts of Wuhan, an intermittent stream of mourners and hearse drivers were arriving on New Years Day. Staff at the sites heavily guarded entrance declined to answer questions about their recent workloads. But funeral homes in other cities in Chinaincluding Chengdu and Beijingsaid that they were busier than ever since the regimes sudden reopening last month. A dead person on a gurney at Tianjin First Center Hospital in Tianjin on Dec. 28, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) The grim picture is in sharp contrast to the tiny official death toll. China reported one new COVID-19 death in the mainland for Dec. 31, the same as a day earlier, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday. China had only acknowledged 11 COVID deaths since Dec. 7, when the regime abruptly reversed course and loosened its strict zero-COVID policy. Health officials recently explained they only counted individuals dying from respiratory failure caused by COVID-19, excluding deaths from other diseases and conditions even if the deceased had tested positive for the virus. I believe the definition [of COVID death] in China is quite narrow, Mike Ryan, emergencies director at the World Health Organisation, said at Dec. 21 briefing. Such criteria will very much underestimate the true death toll associated with COVID, he added. Airfinity, a British-based health analytics firm, estimated as many as 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID. Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1 have likely reached 100,000 with infections totaling 18.6 million, researchers said on Dec. 29. Facing growing skepticism over the reliability of the official statistics, Wu told reporters at the same briefing last Thursday that the difference between the number of deaths in the current wave of infections and the death rate for the same period in pandemic-free years would be studied to calculate the excess mortality and gauge any potential underestimate of deaths from COVID-19. Jitters Around the World Since the onset of the pandemic, the communist regime has drawn mounting criticism for its covering up of COVID-related information in a bid to downplay news that it deems harmful to its image. Amid the current explosive outbreak, the lack of transparent data has prompted international concern, particularly regarding the possibility of a new, stronger variant emerging out of China. Medical staff of the COVID-19 testing center of the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport wait for travelers from China in Roissy, outside Paris, on Jan. 1, 2023, as France reinforces health measures at the borders for passengers arriving from China. (Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images) Australia and Canada became the latest countries to require travelers from China to provide negative COVID-19 tests upon arrival. The United States, Britain, France, South Korea, and several other countries have all imposed similar measures. Morocco will impose a ban on people arriving from China, its foreign ministry said. Global Times, a Chinese state-run tabloid, has railed against the growing number of foreign governments imposing COVID tests on travelers from China, calling the restrictions discriminatory. The new entry requirements for arrivals from China came as the regime announced last week it would reopen its borders from Jan. 8. I want to stress that the government welcomes the resumption of travel between Australia and China I also want to stress that this is a temporary measure, reflecting the lack of comprehensive information right now about the situation in China, said Australian health minister Mark Butler. Reuters contributed to this report. For over 40 years, the Gould family has centered their lives around helping others in Deerpark and surrounding communities in Western Orange County, New York. The tradition started with Jonathan and Pricilla Gould at a local church and was passed down to their daughter Denise Hulse and then to granddaughter Rebecca Hulse, who opened doors for the senior couple to touch more young lives in the school districts. Once, they took a troubled teenage boy from a broken family under their wing, giving him love and confidence that helped him become a productive citizen today. A nativity display at the Gould familys home in Sparrow Bush, N.Y., on Dec. 20, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) We have never really made a list of everything weve done. It has always been spontaneous or as it happens, Pricilla Gould told The Epoch Times at her home in Sparrow Bush, a hamlet of Deerpark. Since our kids were little, we have had a lot of faith in our lord, and a lot of what we do is because of that faith. We feel that we should serve others as Jesus would serve us, she said. Faith and Church A picture of Jonathan Gould during his service in the Marines at his house in Sparrow Bush, N.Y., on Dec. 20, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) At 27, Jonathan Gould, a Port Jervis native and Marine veteran, became a Christian. Soon, he and his wife got involved at the Milford Bible Church, running youth groups and helping with vacation Bible school. When they heard of families struggling to get by, they gave money to the pastor to pass it on without revealing that it came from them. We didnt want them to know itwe did it because of our Lord, Gould said. Their two daughters grew up around their church volunteering, taking it in as a natural part of life. My heart for volunteering was to stem from them. It wasnt a forced thingnobody told me you have to do this or you have to do that, Denise Hulse told The Epoch Times. When her daughter, Rebecca Hulse, attended the Eldred School District, Hulse volunteered for the parent-teacher association, school potluck, and fundraiser. Then she saw a need for costume altering and fitting for school plays, so she took it on and recruited her mother, a seamstress by profession, and her father. Costume Mistress Together, the family trio would alter and fit thousands of costumes each school year, first for the Eldred and then the Port Jervis School District, for about 10 years. Hulse, dubbed the costume mistress by many in the community, would buy the costumes from places such as the Salvation Army. Her mother would alter the costumes based on cast and plays, and her father would help with delivery. They said the volunteering act saved the districts thousands of dollars each year. Pricilla Gould looks at past pictures of her costume volunteer work at her house in Sparrow Bush, N.Y., on Dec. 20, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Sometimes in the time crunch just ahead of the plays, they would work on the costumes at schools past 11 p.m., with young Rebecca Hulse by their side. Im surprised that I didnt just make a bed in the locker room, Hulse said. The volunteering of family members also inspired Hulse to get more involved in school activities, such as cheerleading and student council. That gave us even more reason to be involved because we could watch what she was doing and do it all together, Pricilla Gould said. Through the costume work, the family had a deeper interaction with school district children and discovered many had troubled family situations. Until you are involved on that level, you dont realize how many kids dont have normal things, Hulse said. A lot of kids that get involved in plays or other activities dont have great lives at homethey literally might not have food at home, or there may be nobody at all for them to go home to. When you start to see this, and you start to hear this, then it becomes almost like I have to do this for the childrenit isnt just about helping the school district anymore, she said. Touching Young Lives Holiday cards at the Gould familys home in Sparrow Bush, N.Y., on Dec. 20, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) For kids who couldnt afford shoes for the plays, Hulse helped them. For those who had to wait over an hour after rehearsals for parents to show up, the Gould family stayed with them. You can kind of sense when kids are having a hard time. They are so in need of just a loving, kind, warm gesture, Pricilla Gould said. Once, they helped a boy with measurement and fitting, which astonished his mother, who told them the child was autistic and had never allowed such close contact before. We just went about our business and treated him like any other student, she said. When the Gould family volunteered with a community theater called Presby Players in Port Jervis, they met a teenage boy from a dysfunctional family. His father died of cancer, his mother was an alcoholic, and his siblings robbed the mothers house for money to sustain their drug habitsthat happened so often that his mother finally got a court-issued restraining order against them. For a year, the Gould family took the teen under their wing, inviting him up for dinner, taking him fishing, and reminding him to do homework. He is a young man on the right track now because of the love from people like us, Jonathan Gould said. If those things werent done for that young child during that time, maybe he would have still been stuck back in that adverse scenario or whatever that was pushed on him, he said. Senior of the Year Alongside volunteering at the school district, Jonathan Gould donated materials to schools, parks, and other local organizations through his glass and window company. Sometimes, the couple drives local seniors to doctor appointments, shops, and churches. As Rebecca Hulse got involved with the Drug Abuse Council of Orange County in recent years, the Gould couple came to help her with fundraising, ushering at ceremonies, and annual contests. Two years ago, Hulse was awarded the Citizen of the Month Award from County Executive Steven Neuhaus for her work at the drug abuse council. (LR) Tom Faggione, Rebbeca Hulse, Denise Hulse, Pricilla Gould, Jonathan Gould, Ann Marie Maglione, and Barry Cheney at a ceremony awarding the Senior of the Year at the county government in Goshen, N.Y., on Dec. 1, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) In the summer of 2022, a colleague at the council suggested that Hulse nominate her parents for the county Senior of the Year award, and she did. On Dec. 1, the Gould couple was given the award during the county legislative county session. Orange County Office for the Aging Director Ann Marie Maglione said of the Gould couple during the award ceremony: They say that a society is judged by the way people treat the young, the ill, and the elderly. You two are an example, and we are doing great because of you two. County Legislature Majority Leader Tom Faggione added: We are so blessed to have you in our community [and] it transcends generationsyour daughter and your granddaughter are so much involved in our community. Without your family being there for us, we would not be the community that we are. Critics: Democrats Push for Puerto Rico Statehood a Bad Idea The Condado tourist zone in San Juan after Hurricane Fiona struck the Caribbean nation in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 19, 2022. (Jose Jimenez/Getty Images) The House of Representatives passed the Puerto Rico Status Act in mid-December, led by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.). The mostly symbolic bill could be brought up again in the new Congress. If signed into law, the measure could spark a drastic change to the islands economy. The bill would require the U.S. government to conduct a plebiscite for the islands residents, allowing them to democratically decide whether they would like Puerto Rico to become the 51st state, an independent country, or remain a commonwealth. Previous non-binding referendums have resulted in a slight majority favoring statehood. Grijalvas act received unanimous Democratic support in the House, and 16 Republicans crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the bill, including outgoing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo). Supporters of the bill view it as an important step in undoing the vestiges of American colonialism. Invaded by the United States during the 1898 Spanish American War, Puerto Rico has remained in a state of colonial limbo that flies in the face of the anticolonial values upon which the American Republic was founded, said Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) in a press release after the bill passed the House. The time has come to fully decolonize Puerto Rico. This argument is not compelling to Yaron Brook, a Puerto Rico resident and chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute. When asked about the congresswomans perspective, Brook told The Epoch Times, I dont buy it. He believes the islands inhabitants are better off today than they would have been had the United States granted them independence after the Spanish-American war in the late 1890s. People should not focus on whether colonialism is inherently evil, according to Brook, but instead ask themselves, Are human beings living better lives under this system or not? Brook, who is also a hedge fund manager based in Puerto Rico, warned that both statehood and independence could have detrimental effects on the islands economy. Those who want to be a state, basically want to be a state because they want more welfare, he said, adding that welfare will only make residents more dependent and less productive in the long run. A recent study found that many U.S. states offer unemployment and other benefits that exceed the national median household income. Brook pointed out that more than 25 percent of Puerto Rican workers are already employed by the government. Theres a bloat of bureaucracy. Real jobs need to be created here. Economist and fellow Puerto Rico resident Peter Schiff, founder of Euro Pacific Asset Management, echoed Brooks opposition to statehood for the island, emphasizing the added tax burden that would come with it. Imagine owning a business in the state of Puerto Rico: 37 percent federal income tax, 15.3 percent self-employment tax, 3.8 percent Obamacare tax, 33 percent state income tax, and an 11.5 percent sales tax, Schiff wrote on Twitter on Dec. 15. Plus, since Puerto Rico has more debt per capita than any other state, state taxes will likely be raised. Political Climate Brook, a believer in free markets, does not see the prospects of independence as promising, given the current political climate. Based on the island governments track record and the rhetoric originating from prominent secessionists, Brook believes independence would move Puerto Rico in the direction of more statism, more government intervention. Proponents of Puerto Rican self-determination, however, argue that there is a moral imperative. For far too long, however, the people of Puerto Rico have been excluded from the full promise of American democracy and self-determination, said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), speaking on the House floor in support of the bill. We owe it to Puerto Ricans to bring an end to their islands 124-year-old status as a U.S. territory. Following in the footsteps of the early 20th-century writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, Brook does not view democracy as an end in itself. Im not big on referendum and the people deciding, he told The Epoch Times. Thankfully, the people did not decide on the American Constitution, he added, referring to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. They decided through representatives, but they didnt decide directly. Who knows how that vote would have gone? Brook suggested instead that Puerto Rico hold a convention to decide the matter. Despite being in favor of the status quo, Brook acknowledged there are pitfalls to the current governance system. While he is generally in favor of lower taxes and less regulation, Brook criticized the islands legal system for disproportionately favoring the wealthy. Theres a lot of tax breaks for special deals, but what they dont do is tax breaks for Puerto Ricans, which is the sad part. Zero percent taxes on capital gains and dividends are very attractive for asset holders, but more than 50 percent of American assets are owned by the top 1 percent of the population. Average Puerto Ricans are unaffected by these tax breaks, but are still required to pay the islands 10.5 percent sales tax. Dont give me any tax advantages, Brook said. Just make it attractive for Puerto Ricans so that I want to become a Puerto Rican. Elderly Couple Zip-Tied at Gunpoint in San Marino Home Invasion SAN MARINO, Calif.San Marino police searched Saturday for four males suspected of preying on an elderly couple with a home invasion robbery. The robbery occurred at about 9 p.m. Friday at a home in the 1700 block of Oak Lane, according to a police statement. The four suspects wearing black ski masks pried open a French door in the master bedroom, zip-tied the elderly residents at gunpoint, and forced them to lie down in the front entryway, then disabled telephones, internet, and security camera systems, police said. The suspects then spent about 1,5 hours ransacking the home, police said. The elderly husband crawled to the garage while still tied up and yelled for help until a neighbor heard him, police said. The neighbor freed the victims and called the police. Paramedics treated the victims for minor injuries, police said. Anyone with information was asked to call detectives at 626-300-0726 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Elon Musk Says Fauci Files Coming This Week as More Twitter Files Drops Expected Then National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks in Washington on Nov. 22, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Elon Musk has said that internal Twitter documents containing revelations about the former White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci would be released within days, in whats been dubbed the Fauci Files. Musk said in a Jan. 1 message to his Twitter followers that he hopes theyre having a great day 1 of the New Year, adding that 2023 definitely wont be boring. Reacting to Musks message was Juanita Broaddrick, an 80-year-old former nursing home administrator that once alleged she was raped by former President Bill Clinton in 1978, saying in a post that shes waiting for the release of the #FauciFiles. Later this week, Musk replied, suggesting that his criticism of Fauci will continue into the New Year. Elon Musk speaks at the 2020 Satellite Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C., on March 9, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Fauci, for his part, said recently that he doesnt pay any attention to Musks jabs, calling them a mere distraction. Earlier this year, Fauci said he would be stepping down from his roles as the White House chief medical adviser and as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) on Dec. 31, 2022. Twitter Files on COVID-19 Musk took over Twitter in October and vowed to try and cleanse the platform of political bias in content moderation. He has enabled the release of a string of so-called Twitter Files, or internal company discussions that lift the lid on the inner workings of the social media giants censorship machine. A recent Twitter Files disclosure shows that the company suppressed COVID-19 information from doctors and experts when it differed from establishment views on the pandemic. Internal emails published by journalist David Zweig show that there were countless instances of Twitter posts being taken down or labeled as misleading because they differed from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines or establishment views around COVID-19 or vaccines. The United States government pressured Twitter and other social media platforms to elevate certain content and suppress other content about COVID-19, Zweig wrote in a post on Twitter, saying in another post that when the Biden administration took over, one of their first meeting requests with Twitter executives was on the pandemic, with a focus on vaccines and high-profile anti-vaxxer accounts. Fauci, who has been a lightning rod of criticism over COVID-19 lockdowns that he once supported, penned a guest essay in The New York Times earlier in December. In in, he lamented that our fight against Covid-19 has been hindered by the profound political divisiveness and that decisions about public health measures like vaccinations and mask-wearing have been influenced by disinformation and political ideology. Fauci became a household name in the United States following the COVID-19 outbreak, giving over 1,000 interviews to various news outlets since early 2020 and drawing both praise and criticism for his grim warnings and support for harsh measures including lockdowns. For instance, in October 2020, Fauci publicly recommended that then-President Donald Trump shut the country down, although its not clear what he meant, as presidents dont have the authority to impose sweeping lockdowns. When it became clear that we had community spread in the country I recommended to the president that we shut the country down, he said in an event with students at the College of the Holy Cross in October 2020. Fauci acknowledged some missteps in the fight against the pandemic in a Dec. 25 interview with The Guardian. I dont think anybody got it completely 100-percent right but the idea to say that you should have not put any restrictions on anything at a time when there was a tsunami of infections and New York City hospitals were getting overrun, practicallythink of Elmhurst hospital, remember those pictures of the cooler trucks with bodies piling up in thatyou had to do something pretty significant to slow that down, he said. Overall, however, Fauci insisted that we tried our best given our best judgment and our analysis of what was going on around us to make recommendations. One of those whos been critical of Fauci over his recommendations to impose COVID-19 restrictions is Musk, who strongly opposed lockdowns. Musk recently suggested that the former NIAID director should face legal action and revealed that Twitter staff had a Fauci fan club, hinting at the social media platforms political leanings under prior management. Fauci did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Fauci Fan Club Musk said on Dec. 28 that Twitter employees had an internal group on the Slack messaging system that was unironically called Fauci Fan Club.' Musks post noted that the Fauci fan club was set up despite outstanding glaring issues regarding Fauci, including the question of whether the White House adviser was untruthful when he denied that U.S. federal money was used to fund risky gain-of-function research at a Chinese lab at the center of speculation about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his thread on Twitter, Musk also shared a Newsweek article from September 2021 that carried the headline, Fauci Was Untruthful to Congress About Wuhan Lab Research, New Documents Appear to Show. The documents the article refers to were obtained and released by The Intercept following a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the publication against the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responds to questions during a congressional hearing in Washington in a file image. (Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters) Gain-of-Function The documents obtained by The Intercept detail the work of the EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based health organization that used federal money to fund research into bat coronaviruses at the Chinese lab in Wuhan. Some have argued that the documents show that research funded by EcoHealth in China amounted to gain-of-function. This type of research involves altering the properties of a pathogen, such as its virulence, in order to study its potential impact on human health. Gain-of-function research is controversial because of the potential risks it poses. Seven out of 11 scientists who are virologists or work in related fields were asked by The Intercept about the documents, and they said that the work appears to meet the NIH criteria for gain-of-function research. EcoHealth, NIH, and NIAID that Fauci headed at the time have denied that the funding amounted to gain-of-function research, while Fauci himself has repeatedly insisted that it did not. The NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Fauci said at a Senate hearing on May 11, 2021. NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins said in a statement on May 19 that neither NIH nor NIAID have ever approved any grant that would have supported gain-of-function research on coronaviruses that would have increased their transmissibility or lethality for humans. The question of whether the research amounted to gain-of-unction appears to be to some extent subjective. No one knows exactly what counts as gain-of-function, so we disagree as to what needs oversight, much less what that oversight should be, said Nicholas Evans, an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, who specializes in biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, in remarks to ASBMB Today. But Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University, has insisted the research amounted to gain-of-function and that Fauci and others lied when insisting it was not. The materials confirm the grants supported the constructionin Wuhanof novel chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses that combined a spike gene from one coronavirus with genetic information from another coronavirus, and confirmed the resulting viruses could infect human cells, Ebright wrote on Twitter. The documents make it clear that assertions by the NIH director, Francis Collins, and the NIAID director, Anthony Fauci, that the NIH did not support gain-of-function research or potential pandemic pathogen enhancement at [the Wuhan Institute of Virology] are untruthful, he added, referring to the Freedom of Information Act documents obtained by The Intercept. Lockdowns May Claim 20 Times More Life Years Than They Save At the height of the outbreak, Fauci repeatedly backed harsh measures that were believed to help contain COVID-19, including lockdowns. Since then, research (pdf) has suggested lockdowns had a minimal impact on virus spread and COVID-19 mortality, while having a devastating impact on the economy and society. Some studies have identified lockdowns as contributing to jumps in suicides, mental health crises, learning loss, and delayed health treatments. Other studies have indicated lockdowns worked to stem the spread of the virus. Our results show that major non-pharmaceutical interventionsand lockdowns in particularhave had a large effect on reducing transmission, wrote the authors of the study backing restrictive measures, though the research did not evaluate any unintended impacts of the measures. But a recent study that looked at a wide array of research into lockdowns concluded that such measures can be an effective tool in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, but only if long-term collateral damage is neglected. The price tag of lockdowns in terms of public health is high: by using the known connection between health and wealth, we estimate that lockdowns may claim 20 times more life years than they save, the studys authors wrote. That studys authors also said that what deserves a special and urgent analysis is the question of to what extent, why, and how the dissenting (disapproved by healthcare officials) scientific opinions were suppressed during COVID-19. Suppression of misleading opinions causes not only grave consequences for scientists moral compass; it prevents the scientific community from correcting mistakes and jeopardizes (with a good reason) public trust in science, they wrote. Republicans said earlier this year that if they retake the House in the midterm electionwhich they have now donethey will pursue a COVID-19-related investigation and would seek Faucis testimony. Fauci, for his part, has said hed be willing to testify. If there are oversight hearings, I absolutely will cooperate fully and testify before the Congress, Fauci told reporters on Nov. 22. I have no trouble testifyingwe can defend and explain everything that weve said, he added. Jack Phillips and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Emergency Visits Surge in Shanghais Top Hospitals, Mostly COVID Patients People wait for medical attention outside the Fever Clinic at Tongren Hospital in the Changning district in Shanghai, on Dec. 23, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Shanghais tertiary hospitals are experiencing a soaring number of patients in their emergency departments, which is double or even several times more than their usual workload, according to doctors. Patients have waited up to eight hours to see a doctor in some of the hospitals. There are a lot of patients coming to the emergency department, and they may have to wait for five or six hours before they see a doctor. Some patients have even waited eight hours. Theres nothing we can do [to shorten the wait time], as we have been working around the clock, a doctor working at Xinhua Hospital told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Dec. 30. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the hospitals fever clinic is fully packed with patients as well. Xinhua Hospital isnt the only top-level hospital in Shanghai that has seen a sudden increase in emergency patients. The eastern and southern parts of the hospital receive 1,500 and 1,000 patients, respectively, every day, said Zhuang Xu, deputy director of the Outpatient and Emergency Office of Renji Hospital, which is affiliated with the School of Medicine of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Renji Hospital has four sections in total, but Zhuang didnt mention the number of patients in the other two areas. Zhuang added that the number of ambulances received on Dec. 28 was 269, ranking the number as top among its peers in the city, as reported by National Business Daily (NBD), a state-run Chinese business publication. Online footage shows multiple ambulances parked outside the emergency department of Renjin Hospital. The Epoch Times wasnt able to verify the authenticity of the footage. Chinese hospitals are categorized into three tiers: primary, secondary, and tertiary. A tertiary hospital is a comprehensive, referral, general hospital, at the city, provincial, or national level, which is similar to a tertiary referral hospital in western countries. An aerial view of a residential area during the second stage of a pandemic lockdown in Jingan district, Shanghai, on April 5, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Shanghai has 66 tertiary hospitals, ranking second in China after Beijing, which has 78. Chen Erzhen, deputy director of Ruijin Hospital, which is also affiliated with the School of Medicine of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, told The Paper, a Shanghai-based Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mouthpiece, on Dec. 29 that the number of emergency room patients increased significantly, doubling from before, reaching 1,500 patients per day. According to Chen, the peak of severe cases has gradually emerged. Chen noted that 80 percent of the patients in the emergency department were infected with COVID and that the elderly account for 40 to 50 percent of the total patients received. About half of those over the age of 65 have pneumonia symptoms. Video footage viewed by The Epoch Times revealed that Shanghai General Hospital was crowded with patients on Dec. 28. An online photo shows patients of Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital receiving intravenous therapy and oxygen therapy on the grounds outside the hospital. It is winter now in Shanghai, and the temperature can be as low as 5C (41F) outside. Following the stringent two-month-long citywide lockdowns that occurred from April to June last year, residents of Chinas commercial and financial hub have suffered another blow from the outbreak of the pandemic. Three Family Members Have COVID: Shanghai Resident My wife, my child, and my 85-year-old mother have all been infected by COVID during this recent outbreak of the pandemic, Mr. Liu (pseudonym), a resident of Shanghai, told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Dec. 30. Both his wife and mother have low-grade fevers, but they are not very serious, according to Liu. We dont dare to go to the hospital, which is very dangerous. Liu said that he thinks two percent of the 26 million residents of the city could be seriously ill with COVID. That amounts to over 500,000 people. To see a doctor, people tend to go to secondary and tertiary hospitals, which have better doctors and equipment. I think its terrifying to go to these hospitals, Liu said. Liu told The Epoch Times that he had COVID-19 in April last year and was locked down in a makeshift quarantine facility after he tested positive. He said he hasnt been infected in this recent surge in cases. Zhang Wenhong, head of the Center of Infectious Diseases of Shanghai Huashan Hospital of Fudan Univerisity, said at a pandemic prevention and control seminar that the infection rate of the pandemic in major cities in China is over 50 percent. As the Chinese New Year approachesChinas most important festivalhe anticipates that as much as 80 percent of the population in China may be infected by COVID, according to the CCPs mouthpiece China News Weekly on Dec. 30. Xia Song and Luo Ya contributed to this report. Research from the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) may help create non-hormonal male contraceptives and offer insights into fertility and overall health. HMRI researcher and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Newcastle University, David Skerrett-Byrne PhD, has, for the first time, profiled 6000 sperm proteins. Skerrett-Byrne said in an HMRI news release that he was able to profile these proteins using a process called phosphorylation, which activates or deactivates a protein. Identifying these proteins and then taking them through a process of phosphorylation helps us understand the process that switches proteins on and off, he said. The potential for this is that we could eventually use drugs to target specific proteins and maybe even create a non-hormonal male contraceptive. Non-hormonal male birth control is an important step forward in the field of male contraceptives because it does not have the limitations or side effects of other forms of birth control. A non-hormonal male birth control is an important step forward in the field of male contraceptives. (Shutterstock/koya979) Currently Used Male Contraceptives At the moment, there are only two effective forms of male birth control, vasectomies and condoms, which both have their limitations. Condoms are single-use and only 98 percent effective when used properly, meaning that out of 100 people, two will get pregnant annually, while vasectomies are regarded as a permanent form of sterilisation. Although there are reversal procedures for vasectomies, they are expensive and not always successful. Male hormonal birth control, targeting testosterone, has also been attempted but isnt commonly used due to side effects such as depression, weight gain, and an increase in low-density LDL cholesterol levels. Therefore, an effective non-hormonal form of male birth control would be a significant advancement in the field of contraceptives. However, this is not the first study to perform research on a non-hormonal male contraceptive. For example, a study from 2020 that used mice as the subject matter found that, eliminating the RAR- (retinoic acid receptor alpha) protein achieves effective and reversible sterilisation with no apparent side effects. Accordingly, in March of 2022, scientists presented research at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, which demonstrated the contraceptive efficacy of a compound called YCT529. YCT529 inhibits the RAR- protein and, when administered to mice orally for four weeks, reduces sperm counts to achieve 99 percent efficacy in preventing pregnancy. Furthermore, when taken off YCT529 for four-six weeks, the mice could procreate again. YCT529 is also less likely to have side effects because it inhibits other retinoic acid receptors 500 times less than it inhibits RAR-; however, the compound has yet to go through human trials. Male Infertility Crisis This new research also builds on the HMRI and Newcastle Universitys work to identify the causes of the ongoing male infertility crisis. The male infertility crisis refers to the globally experienced reduction in sperm counts, where over the last 4o years, global sperm counts have halved, and 1 in 20 men have faced a decrease in fertility. Potential causes for this crisis include rises in obesity, endocrine disruptors such as plasticisers, and the trend of delayed parenthood. The most common plasticizers (plasticisers) include esters such as adipates, azelates, citrates, benzoates, ortho-phthalates, terephthalates, sebacates, and trimellitates, according to Plasticisers.org. This study mapped the protein composition of immature and mature sperm proteins, establishing the changes that occur after the sperm leaves the testes. Sperm is the only cell in the human body that cant read its own DNA and create proteins, Skerrett-Byrne said. Thus, the protein-altering processes that sperm sustains along its travel from the testes to the egg is an essential part of fertility. Skerret-Byrne said that fertility knowledge could be enhanced by understanding the serious changes that sperm undergo as they travel through the epididymisthe tube connecting the testes to the vas deferens. He said that of the primary changes that occur in the epididymis, a substantive remodelling of the sperm architecture, the scale of which has yet to be fully resolved, is critical. The study also observed that transit through the epididymis significantly changed the abundance of 889 sperm proteins within sperm cells. Furthermore, the data indicated that the reduction in the protein set within the sperm cells corresponded with the enhancement of several key fertility processes. These processes included sperm motility, capacitation, and penetration of the thick extracellular matrix surrounding mammalian eggs. We envision the most immediate clinical impact of this work will be on the detection of defects in sperm maturation causally associated with male infertility, Skerrett-Byrne said. The study observed that transit through the epididymis significantly changed the abundance of 889 sperm proteins within sperm cells. (Lluis Gene/ Getty Images) The Relationship Between Reproductive and Overall Health Additionally, Skerrett-Byrne said that poor semen parameters could be used as an early indicator of potential danger, signalling the onset of various diseases and medical conditions outside of infertility. The potential for sperm quality to be a useful overall health indicator is strengthened by the work of another HMRI researcher, Elizabeth Bromfield. Bromfield identified a signature of cell damage that connects sperm quality to a number of different diseases including autoimmune, cardiovascular, metabolic, oncological, and urogenital. Infertility is the canary in the coal mine. Its one of the first things to be affected if there is a problem with environmental stress, said Bromfield. Bromfield said that fertility is not just about mens capacity to conceive as there are two decades of research which suggests that men with below normal fertility die younger and live less healthy years. Its also about their overall mortality, she said. What we would like to see happening is IVF clinicians directing patients towards in-depth health checks and lifestyle interventions when men aged 25 40 years of age are presenting with poor sperm quality. Skerrett-Byrne said that the protein resources provided by this study might find application in predicting an an individuals long-term health. Heavily Redacted ArriveCan Documents Blocking Committees Probe Into $54M Price Tag: Conservative MP A person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the ArriveCan app in a file photo. (Giordano Ciampini/The Canadian Press) Heavily redacted versions of ArriveCan documents submitted to a House of Commons committee in December 2022 are blocking MPs investigation into the apps $54 million price tag, says Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, who is also the committees chair. Im very greatly concerned that documents are redacted, blocking any ability for us to see what the government was actually buying and how many units. All we get is a lump-sum price, McCauley told The Globe and Mail. I suspect the committee will probably put through another motion demanding unredacted documents. Government contracts and development costs associated with the ArriveCan app are currently being investigated by the Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO), which began its study on the matter in October 2022. The committee on Oct. 17 requested that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) release lists of ArriveCan subcontractors and invoices by Oct. 31, but the federal agency missed the deadline due to delays in translating the invoices. CBSA president Erin OGorman told the committee on Nov. 14 that the agency did not have lists of the subcontractors who worked on ArriveCan. We just have information relating to those who held the contract directly with either CBSA or PSPC [Public Services and Procurement Canada], she said. OGormans comments came nearly two weeks after a majority of MPs in the House on Nov. 2 voted in favour of Auditor General Karen Hogan conducting an in-depth review of the federal governments $54 million spending on the app. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a member of the OGGO committee studying the costs and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, told the Globe that he believes CBSA should provide documents that give unredacted descriptions of the services provided by individual contractors. We should have a clear view of what exactly was being paid for in each case, and I would be supportive of a request to receive that information in an unredacted format, Housefather said. Provided that any commercially confidential information would be kept confidential by the Committee and not be made public. Committee Work The OGGO committee has yet to question federal ministers about the ArriveCan costs after a motion that McCauley introduced in October was revised to remove the section calling for at least five ministers to appear before the committee and face questions. McCauley told The Epoch Times in a previous interview that the decision was a blow to transparency. Its another kick in the face to taxpayers who have to cough up all this money for a relatively small app, he said on Oct. 17. The CBSA said in a previous email that the government spent only $80,000 on creating and launching the ArriveCan app in April 2020. The total price tag increased to $54 million because of operations and maintenance, upgrades, technical support, and other requirements over the last two years, said CBSA spokesperson Sandra Boudreau. ArriveCAN is not a simple information sharing app, its a secure transactional tool that used industry standards, she wrote on Oct. 17. MPs on the Commons OGGO committee questioned former CBSA president John Ossowski on Dec. 8 about ArriveCan costs and contracts. Ossowski, who served as CBSA president from 2016 until June 2022, told the committee that he was unsure if initial development work on ArriveCan was done in-house or contracted out of the department. Could the version that we have today have been made for less money? asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett. If we were to look back at it, Im sure there might be some stuff that the department would be willing to hear about as we go forward, Ossowski replied. With the benefit of hindsight, I would say that we were moving very quickly. Homer's 'The Iliad' compares two great warriors In Homers poem The Iliad, the Trojan hero Hector and the Greek hero Achilles are destined for a showdown from the very beginning. The poem marches with unwavering steps toward this inevitable conclusion, like the marching ranks of Trojan and Greek soldiers on the blazing plain before Troy. The coming duel between the greatest warriors on each side remains ever-present throughout the seemingly endless struggle of the armies on the beaches before the city, caught between the hallowed heights of Troy and the fish-filled seas, suspended between human civilization and the wild unknown of the afterworld. Through the story of these two warriors collision course, Homer presents us with two versions of masculinity. Both men have competitive, aggressive, even violent tendencies. Both men are terrors on the battlefield, for example. But they have very different motives, and so different types of masculinity. Often today, strong or aggressive behavior from a man is automatically labeled as toxic masculinity. But that blanket moniker fails to make a distinction about the control and usage of such behavior, which The Iliad dramatizes very well in its comparison of these two men. Achilless Rage The late 8th- or early 7th-century epic poem is set during the Trojan War, but it does not tell the story of the war. We see neither the beginning nor the end of the siege within the lines of The Iliad. It is concerned, rather, with a smaller drama within this large drama: the story of the rage of Achilles. The Rage of Achilles, 1757, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Fresco at the Villa Valmarana ai Nani, Vicenza. (Public Domain) The famous opening lines run: RageGoddess, sing the rage of Peleus son Achilles, / murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses (Fagles translation). Due to a squabble with the Greek commander Agamemnon, Achilles refuses to fight for most of the poem. And since he is the Greeks champion, a veritable death-machine in combatperhaps the greatest warrior in all of literature and mythhis absence hurts his own side greatly. Many Greeks die as a result of Achilless rage against Agamemnon that keeps him from battle. For most of the poem, Achilles has no control over himself. He sulks in his tent day by day, consumed by a sizzling, festering anger, believing himself insulted by Agamemnon. The plight of his comrades cant touch Achilless heart, wringed as it is with wrath. Achilles is described as vengeful and immature by Homer. The Wrath of Achilles, circa 1630 to 1635, by Peter Paul Rubens. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Public Domain) Only the death of someone Achilles personally cares about brings him back into the fight. But even then, he acts with reckless, blind anger, though now its directed at his enemies, especially Hector. Achilless aggressive behavior is destructiveto both the Trojans and his own side, the Greeksbecause it is selfish and uncontrolled, driven by irrational passion. Upon the death of his friend, Achilles launches himself on a chaotic rampage against the Trojans, unleashing his violent energy in a blind, animalistic manner. At the end of his rampage, Achilles, bent on getting revenge for the death of his friend, comes face to face with his nemesis, Hector. Hector shares many of Achilless traits but with important differences. Hector, too, is a powerful force in battle, singlehandedly scattering enemy troops. Homer compares him to a powerful west wind and a strong lion. The Greeks fear him, and with good reason: Hector harried the long-haired Argives, killing the last stragglers, man after lagging man and they, they fled in panic (Book VIII). Hectors forcefulness on the field of battle along with his strong leadership holds the defense of the city together. In Book VI, Homer says that Hector is the lone defense of Troy. The Death of Hector, unfinished oil painting circa 16301635, by Peter Paul Rubens. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Public Domain) Hectors Masculinity But Hector is more than just a ferocious fighter. He has an extraordinarily gentle side, and here is where he differs from Achilles. He is calm and courteous when inside Troy. He even speaks kindly to Helen, who is one of the main causes of his grief, since it was her elopement with Hectors brother Paris that set off the war. Most importantly, he is a family man who treats his wife and son with great care. In a famous scene in Book VI, Hector, still bloody and begrimed from battle, still wearing his battered armor and with the fire of combat just fading in his eyes, visits his wife and son. The passage is worth quoting at length: She [his wife] joined him now, and following in her steps A servant holding the boy against her breast, In the first flush of life, only a baby, Hectors son, the darling of his eyes and radiant as a star The great man of war breaking into a broad smile, his gaze fixed on his son, in silence shining Hector reached down for his son. And laughed, [Andromache] laughed as well, and glorious Hector, quickly lifting the helmet from his head, set it down on the ground, fiery in the sunlight, and raising his son he kissed him, tossed him in his arms, lifting a prayer to Zeus and the other deathless gods So Hector prayed and placed his son in the arms of his loving wife. Andromache pressed the child to her smiling through her tears. Her husband noticed, and filled with pity now, Hector stroked her gently, trying to reassure her. Andromache fears that Hector will die, and its true that he is at great riskbut it is a risk he takes for her sake, to protect her and their entire city. Here we see that Hectors ferocity is not blind or rage-induced, like Achilless is. It is rational, calculated. Its purpose is simply to defend what he loves. He is in control of his dangerous side and channels it solely for the benefit of others; he would never hurt his own people or family. This is what true masculinity looks like. The Farewell of Hector to Andromache and Astyanax, before 1918, by Karl Friedrich Deckler. (Public Domain) True masculinity controls the forceful, dangerous side of male nature to direct it to good and self-sacrificing ends. By contrast, Achilles has not tamed the aggressive side of his male nature, nor does he direct it to the benefit of others. He uses it for himself and the satisfaction of his unchecked emotions. So what can we learn from this about the modern concept of toxic masculinity? One popular definition of the term is: a cultural concept of manliness that glorifies stoicism, strength, virility, and dominance, and that is socially maladaptive or harmful to mental health. This definition fails to make clear the distinction above, the distinction between a man like Hector and a man like Achilles. It is not the virility, strength, or dominance themselves that are toxic, only the way that those traits are used. If men are not virile and strong, they are not fully men, after all. Achilles Displaying the Body of Hector at the Feet of Patroclus, 1769, by Jean Joseph Taillason. Oil on canvas. Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Ill. (Public Domain) People who use the term toxic masculinity often seem to advocate that men cease to be menthat they surrender strength, virility, and dominance, traits that are part of their very nature. But that is no solution. In reality, our society needs traits like these for its very preservation. Take the example of Hector. If he lacked these traits, Troy would have fallen much sooner than it did, bringing suffering and misery to his culture. One cant help wondering whether the suffering in our society might be less if we possessed more Hectors in our midst. Heres What a Truly Conservative Supreme Court Would Do Commentary Mainstream media and commentators often claim we have a 63 majority conservative Supreme Court. No, we dont. And to make the point, I thought I might explain what a truly conservative Supreme Court would be like: I mean a conservative court in the sense that we used to have a liberal one. Early in the 1787 Constitutional Convention, advocates of states rights were complaining about the nationalism of delegates such as James Madison and James Wilson. So arch-nationalist Alexander Hamilton stood up to tell them the kind of Constitution he wanted. In an oration lasting all day, Hamilton outlined his proposals for a president for life with an absolute veto, a senate for life, states subordinated to an all-powerful central government, etc., etc. Once Hamilton sat down, some of the complainers probably decided that moderate nationalists such as Madison and Wilson werent so bad after all. Im going to perform Hamiltons trick here. Im going to describe the kind of decisions a truly conservative-activist Supreme Court would make. Then maybe some of our liberal friends will be grateful that we really dont have such a court. Background No one in todays six-justice majority is an outcome-driven conservative in the way the three left-leaning justices are outcome-driven liberals. The six follow a variety of judicial philosophies, ranging from the minimalism of Chief Justice John Roberts to the originalism of Justice Clarence Thomas. Sometimes those justices produce results that conservatives like. Sometimes they produce results that liberals like. Thats not a liberal majority, but its not a conservative one, either. For perhaps a century, the Supreme Court has included liberal activists among its members. During much of the 20th century, the liberal activists comprised an absolute majority of the justices. But there hasnt been a single conservative activist on the bench since Justice James McReynolds retired in 1941. If there were a conservative-activist majority, what would it do? We can extrapolate this from the following: what liberal activists did when they held a majority what those activists recommended when they were in the minority the direction that strongly libertarian and deeply conservative scholars recommend for the court. Accordingly, lets imagine its a few years down the road, and six of the nine justices are conservative activists. In other words, lets imagine what a truly conservative Supreme Court would do. Liberty Former Justice Stephen Breyer, a liberal activist, reached some of his decisions by favoring one constitutional valuedemocracyover other constitutional values, such as liberty and federalism. Other liberals have said that if theres a question about whether an economic or social law is constitutional, then the government should win. (At least they said this about liberal legislation.) A conservative-activist majority would play the same game, using what one scholar calls a presumption of liberty. This means that if its doubtful whether a statute constraining liberty is constitutional, then liberty wins and the statute is void. As a result, our hypothetical conservative-activist majority strikes down Obamacare, mandatory Medicare, mandatory Social Security, and most of the Environmental Protection Act. Property The liberal-activist majorities of the 20th century announced that rights they favored held a preferred position and deserved more protection than other rights (such as property). They even awarded a preferred position to some rights that arent in the Constitution at all, while denying that favorable treatment to others that the Constitution does protect. Our new conservative-activist majority does the same, but with different rights. It announces that property and economic liberties are in a preferred position. It justifies this by saying, Without property and economic liberty, none of the other rights are enforceable. Hence, they are more fundamental than other rights. Accordingly, the court begins to expand the scope of the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. Following the argument of a prominent libertarian scholar, the justices rule that whenever government adopts a regulation benefitting some at the expense of others, the government must compensate the losers. As a result, governments wind up paying billions of dollars to property owners for losses caused by environmental regulations. The court also expands the contracts clause (Article I, Section 10, Clause 1). Now any state legislature adopting a new economic regulation that reduces the value of existing contracts must exempt those existing contracts from coverage. Right to Keep and Bear Arms When liberal-activist majorities awarded a preferred position to rights they favored, they proclaimed that any law limiting those rights is subject to strict scrutiny and, therefore, presumed unconstitutional. Needless to say, the liberals didnt give this preferred position to the Second Amendments right to keep and bear arms. The new conservative-activist majority rules that the Second Amendment is in a preferred position and that any restriction on the right to keep and bear arms will be subject to strict scrutiny. Substantive Due Process The due process clauses of the Fifth and 14th amendments were designed for one purpose: to ensure that the government follows pre-established standards when proceeding against a person civilly or criminally. Nevertheless, both liberal and conservative activists have rewritten the due process clause to void state and federal laws they disfavor. (The only difference is that conservative and liberal activists disfavor different kinds of laws.) The new conservative majority strikes down a range of state and federal economic regulations as violating due process. Gone are minimum wage laws, maximum hour rules, price controls of any kindany measure the justices, in their assumed wisdom, think is unreasonable. Unenumerated Rights The liberal-activist majorities of the mid-20th century proclaimed that the Constitution protects rights that the document actually doesnt say anything about. Examples included abortion and sodomy. Most liberal justices said these practices were protected because they were liberty interests under the due process clauses. Others said they were protected by the Ninth Amendment. (Actually, the purpose of the Ninth Amendment was to clarify limits on the federal government, including the courts.) Following the recommendations of some libertarian writers, the new conservative-activist majority announces that unenumerated rights dont include abortion or sodomybut they do include property and other economic liberties. The justices strike down all business and environmental regulations that they deem too intrusive. Religion The religion clauses of the First Amendment were designed to ensure that all religions are treated equally. Rightly or wrongly, they werent designed to give equal status to atheism or irreligion (pdf). However, when liberal justices comprised a majority on the Supreme Court, they established a strict separation rule that, in effect, favored secularism. Back to our hypothetical world with a conservative-activist Supreme Court majority: Following the recommendations of some deeply-conservative writers, the justices limit the protection of the First Amendment to Christians. They announce that the First Amendment means only that Christian denominations must be treated even-handedly. Other religions enjoy only limited toleration. Conclusion You get the idea. If the Supreme Court had a majority of justices who were conservative in the same sense that prior majorities were liberal, the court would be mangling the Constitution to achieve its favored resultsjust as prior liberal-activist majorities mangled the Constitution to get what they wanted. Our liberal friends should thank heaven that their suppositions about the current Supreme Courts majority arent true. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Historic New Year for Croatia as It Joins Euro, Schengen Area A police member stands guard while the border opens as Croatia enters the EU's control-free Schengen area in Bregana, Croatia, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Borut Zivulovic/Reuters) BREGANA BORDER CROSSING, CroatiaCroatia rang in two historic changes with the new year, as the European Unions youngest member joined both the EUs border-free Schengen zone and the euro common currency, fulfilling longstanding ambitions of close integration with Europe. At the Bregana border crossing with neighboring Slovenia, police took down signs at midnight and a barrier was lifted up for the last time, before a placard reading free passage was installed, symbolizing the end of border checks. If there are historical moments, special moments which should provide us with great honor and when we witness the achievement of strategic goals of a statethis is such a day, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a ceremony at the border later on Sunday. He was joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who hailed it as a day to celebrate. Today Croatia joins the Schengen Area and the eurozone, two immense achievements for the youngest member state of the European Union and both reached on the very same day. So indeed, this is a day for the history books. People attend the opening of the border cross as Croatia enters the EUs control-free Schengen Area in Bregana, Croatia, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Borut Zivulovic/Reuters) Plenkovic and von der Leyen later toured the capital Zagreb where they bought coffee in a cafe using euros, which replaced Croatias kuna currency. After a server brought their coffees to an outdoor table, Plenkovic paid with a handful of euro notes, while von der Leyen, seated next to him, applauded. Croatia entered the EU in 2013. It becomes the 27th country to join the Schengen area, and the 20th to adopt the euro currency. Finance Minister Marko Primorac touted the advantages of using the euro to lawmakers last month, saying it would strengthen the economy, improve the investment climate, and make Croatia more resistant to external shocks. Hong Kong to Reopen Border With Mainland Amidst Chinas Surge of COVID-19 Infections Experts worry Hong Kong's healthcare system might collapse Hong Kong is set to reopen its borders with Mainland despite the surge in COVID-19 infections. Its in contrast to nations worldwide tightening entry restrictions for Chinese visitors. Experts expressed concerns that the actual COVID-19 situation in mainland China is much more severe than imagined. With the doubtful official figures of confirmed cases and deaths, they are worried that Hong Kongs healthcare system might collapse. Severe Outbreak in China Xu Wenbo from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a briefing on Dec. 20 there were 130 Omicron strains detected in China, and 50 of them have caused the outbreak. Within the first 20 days of December, 248 million people were infected, accounting for 17.56 percent of the total population. Reports of widespread pandemic cases are seen in various parts of China. People in China rushed to buy medicines, and long queues have been reported in hospitals and crematoriums. Inside mortuaries in China, dead bodies have been piled on the floor since the refrigerated chambers reached capacity. Lines of cars waiting for bodies to be cremated have formed outside mortuaries and crematoriums around China. Some cold stores have been turned into temporary storage facilities for corpses. The grim scenes emanating from China recently are even more chaotic than during the first outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan. Countries Tighten Restrictions On Dec. 27, the Japanese authority announced that due to the rapid increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 in China, it tightened its pandemic prevention restrictions. Starting Dec. 30, all flights from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau can only use four airports (now increased to seven), including Narita, Haneda in Tokyo, Kansai in Osaka, and Chubu in Nagoya New Chitose in Hokkaido, Fukuoka, and Naka in Okinawa. All those who travel to Japan from mainland China, and those who have visited mainland China within the prior seven days, must be tested upon entering Japan. Those who test positive must quarantine for seven days. This testing requirement does not include Hong Kong and Macau residents. At the same time, the Japanese government will limit the number of flights from China to Japan. U.S. health officials released a travel alert telling Americans to reconsider travel to China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed mandatory COVID testing on all passengers flying from China. Beginning Jan. 5, all passengers over two years old need to show a negative test result within two days before flying to the United States. On Dec. 24, India mandated COVID-19 negative tests for travelers from China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Thailand. Malaysia has imposed new surveillance and tracking measures for Chinese travelers. In Taiwan, passengers from China will need to take PCR tests upon entry. Although the EU generally has not imposed restrictions, Spain has added restrictions on Chinese travelers. Hong Kong Should Close Border in Response to Chinas Outbreak Benson Wong Wai-kwok, a former assistant professor from Hong Kong Baptist University, suggested in an interview with the Epoch Times on Dec. 25 that the Hong Kong government should take measures to close the border in response to the pandemic in China to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Hong Kong government should use science to prevent the pandemic, not politics, he said. Wong believes that although the vaccination rate in Hong Kong is higher than that in mainland China, it does not mean that it should leave its door wide open. He questions allowing infected mainland visitors to take Hong Kong as a port for vacation, obtaining medicine, and medical treatment, adding he believes it will cause social panic. Chinas Official COVID-19 Figures Cannot Be Trusted Ng Chi-sum, a veteran former host of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) analyzed on his YouTube channel on Dec. 24 that the COVID-19 situation in mainland China is much more severe than outsiders could imagine. The official figures of confirmed cases and deaths are not credible, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet received any relevant data. The Chinese regime has made it difficult to gain a true picture of the outbreak, according to the regime, only eight people have died from COVID-19 since it lifted COVID curbs in early December. However, Yu Xinle, the deputy director of the Zhejiang Health Commission, said on Dec. 25 that the daily cases in Zhejiang province topped 1 million. And a leaked memo from a meeting with high-level officials estimated that likely around 248 million people were infected in the first 20 days of December. Hong Kongs Health System Could Collapse Ng predicted that the mainland pandemic would spread to the whole of Hong Kong after the border reopened. I am 100 percent sure, and worried whether Hong Kongs healthcare system would collapse. Dr. Gavin Chiu Sin-hin, a Hong Kong economic historian and current affairs commentator, described on his YouTube channel on Dec. 25 that the current pandemic in the mainland is out of control. He said the complete healthcare systems in the mainland and Macau have already collapsed, while the vaccines administered there are not targeted against the Omicron variant. He calculated with reference to the Omicron pandemic data in Hong Kong that there were three to four million newly confirmed cases a day in the mainland, which might result in more than two million deaths before the pandemic wanes. Chiu believes that Beijing should give pharmaceutical companies and the public sufficient time to produce and purchase antipyretics before relaxing the COVID-19 prevention policy, which should also be relaxed step by step in a few stages. But the current practice is just the opposite. He predicts that once Hong Kong and the mainland reopen their borders to each other, there will be a rush of mainland people to Hong Kong in search of medicines, and neither the healthcare systems in China nor Hong Kong will be able to manage it. Cheung Tak-wing, the vice chairperson of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy, revealed to the media on Dec. 25 that a certain brand of analgesic and antipyretic drugs in Hong Kong has been sold out, and the supply of other drugs with the same effect has also begun to run short. Sixty to 70 percent of customers are helping relatives and friends to buy or send to the mainland. William Chui Chun-ming, president of The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong, also pointed out on the same day that if mainland residents come to Hong Kong to buy paracetamols and other relief drugs, there wont be enough supply for Hong Kong residents. In the end, the latter will be transferred to either the emergency department or general outpatient clinic for medical treatment. Any of these happenings will certainly increase the pressure on the public healthcare system of Hong Kong. Incoming GOP China Committee Chair Calls TikTok Digital Fentanyl The TikTok app is displayed in the App Store on an Apple iPhone in Washington on Aug. 7, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The Chinese video-sharing app TikTok is an addictive drug that the Chinese regime is offering to Americans, according to Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the incoming chairman of a new House select committee on China. Its highly addictive and destructive, and were seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America, Gallagher said on NBCs Meet the Press program that aired on Jan. 1. Its also digital fentanyl in the sense that, as you allude to, it ultimately goes back to the Chinese Communist Party. Gallagher further expressed concerns about the threat that the Chinese app, which has soared in popularity, would impose on U.S. users as he noted that the parent company of TikTokBytedanceis under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Im concerned about TikToks ability to track your location, track your keystrokes, track what websites youre visiting, even when youre not using the app, he said. This collected information would help the Chinese regime in effectively compiling dossiers filled with our data. Im concerned about the lack of transparency around the algorithm, which is addicting kids, he said. Gallagher said TikTok is incredibly dangerous because it could act as a channel for malign influence operations. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) speaks to reporters after a House Republican Caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 21, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Whats most pernicious is the fact that since a lot of young men and women in America increasingly turn to TikTok to get news, what if they start censoring the news? he said. What if they start tweaking the algorithm to determine what the CCP deems fit to print? Gallagher says that such a scenario would be equivalent to the KGB or the Russian newspaper Pravda buying The New York Times and other major newspapers at the peak of the Cold War. Thats incredibly dangerous. Thats as if, in 1958, we allowed the KGB and Pravda to buy The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and The Washington Post, he said. That actually probably understates the threat. I think its a multipronged threat we need to look at. We have to ask whether we want the CCP to control what is on the cusp of becoming the most powerful media company in America. Export of Techno-Totalitarian Control Gallagher pointed to the 2019 Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report that accused TikTok of censoring content thats politically sensitive to Beijing, including banning some accounts that posted about mass detention camps in Chinas northwest region of Xinjiang. The U.N. estimates that more than 1 million Uyghurs have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang. Its most prominently and perversely expressed in Xinjiang province, but theyre supporting that throughout the rest of the country, he said. Gallagher pointed out that Chinese authorities had initiated the highest level of censorship of the unprecedented mass protests against the CCPs zero-COVID policy and ramped up curbs on tools to bypass the nations internet control. Theyre using it [technology] to shut down the protests that were seeing in China right now, he said. Gallagher said the regime exploits technology to exert total control over its citizens, describing the CCPs governance as a model of techno-totalitarian control. The lawmaker believes that the regime would replicate its authoritarian model in foreign countries. Ultimately, its my belief that thats a model that will not stay in China. Thats a model theyre going to export around the world, he said. Bipartisan Effort Gallagher lauded his colleagues in the Senate for passing the ban on the Chinese social media platform on government devices. He expressed hope that the House would follow suit and expand the ban nationally. He pointed to his bill, cosponsored by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), which would prohibit TikTok from operating in the United States and stressed that there should be a bipartisan effort to deal with the issue. I dont think this should be a partisan issue. I want to work with them [Democrats]. And I think the Senate vote that we were talking about earlier is evidence that this isnt a partisan issue, he said. Gallagher supported the option of selling TikTok to a U.S. company, which the Trump administration explored. In August 2020, then-President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to order the Chinese parent company of TikTok to divest its U.S. assets in 90 days. Some big names, including Microsoft and Oracle, reportedly were in talks for the deal at the time. So the devil is in the details, but Im open to having that discussion with TikTok, Gallagher said. He further suggested a reciprocity approach, noting that Chinese officials are allowed to use U.S. apps such as Twitter, but Chinese citizens are deprived of access to those platforms. If your government doesnt allow your access to the platform, were going to deny your government officials access to that same platform. I think that would be a useful step to apply not only to China but also to Russia. Industrial Accident Leaves 3 Dead, Others Injured in US City The intersection at East Morehead Street and Euclid Avenue in Charlotte, N.C., in September 2022. (Google Maps/Screenshot via NTD) An accident on Jan. 2 left three dead in Charlotte, North Carolina, officials there said. A scaffolding collapse in downtown Charlotte left three construction workers deceased, according to the Charlotte Fire Department, which described it as an industrial accident. Two additional workers were rushed to area hospitals for evaluation, Jackie Gilmore, a captain with the fire department, told reporters near the building on East Morehead Street. Fire officials secured the scene but are waiting for U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workers to arrive and evaluate the situation. All construction work at this site has come to a complete site until this investigation is completed, Gilmore said. OSHA workers later arrived on the scene, WSOC-TV reported. Images and video footage from the ground showed police and fire officials at the building. Footage also showed construction workers leaving the building. Many spoke with police officers before departing. Infection Fatality Rate of COVID-19 Was 0.0003 Percent At 019 Years: Study A child reacts while receiving a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Smoketown Family Wellness Center in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., Nov. 8, 2021. (Reuters/Jon Cherry/File Photo) A study that looked into the age-stratified infection fatality rate (IFR) of COVID-19 among the non-elderly population has found that the rate was extremely low among young people. The median IFR was 0.0003 percent at 019 years, 0.002 percent at 2029 years, 0.011 percent at 3039 years, 0.035 percent at 4049 years, 0.123 percent at 5059 years, and 0.506 percent at 6069 years, the study conducted across 29 countries stated. At a global level, pre-vaccination IFR may have been as low as 0.03 percent and 0.07 percent for 059 and 069-year-old people, respectively. The study aimed to accurately estimate the IFR of COVID-19 among non-elderly populations in the absence of vaccination or prior infection. For every additional 10 years in age, the IFR was observed to increase by roughly four times. After including data from nine more nations, the median IFR for 059 years came in at 0.025 to 0.032 percent and for 069 years was at 0.063 to 0.082 percent. According to the study, the analysis suggests a much lower pre-vaccination IFR in the non-elderly population than had been suggested previously. The large differences found between nations were pegged to differences in factors like comorbidities. Vaccination Dangers Among Youth A recent study that analyzed children between the ages of 5 and 17 who had received Pfizer COVID-19 shots found an elevated risk of heart inflammation among children as young as 12 years old. Myocarditis and pericarditis met the threshold for a safety signal for children aged between 12 and 17 following the second and third doses. These heart conditions can cause long-term issues and even death. The signal detected for myocarditis/pericarditis is consistent with published peer-reviewed publications demonstrating an elevated risk of myocarditis/pericarditis following mRNA vaccines, especially among younger males aged 12-29 years, the researchers said. In an interview with Fox News back in January, MIT researcher Stephanie Seneff had said that it was outrageous to give COVID-19 vaccines to young people as they have a very, very low risk of dying from the infection. When looking at the potential harms of these vaccines for children, they dont make any sense, she added. With repeated boosters, such treatment will be devastating in the long term. Parents should do absolutely everything they can to avoid getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19, the research scientist advised. Vaccinating Children Some countries have stopped their COVID-19 vaccine programs for children. In October, the Swedish Public Health authority ceased recommending vaccination for 12- to 17-year-olds except under special circumstances. The agency acknowledged that very few healthy children have been affected seriously by the virus. Overall, we see that the need for care as a result of COVID-19 has been low among children and young people during the pandemic, and has also decreased since the virus variant omicron began to spread, Soren Andersson, head of a unit at the Public Health Authority, told broadcaster SVT at the time. In this phase of the pandemic, we do not see that there is a continued need for vaccination in this group. Meanwhile in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pushing ahead with vaccinating children, allowing emergency clearance of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for children as young as just six months old. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that it is the vaccinated population that made up most of the COVID-19 deaths in August. During that month, 6,512 deaths were recorded, of which 58.6 percent were attributed to vaccinated or boosted individuals. Back in January, COVID-19 deaths among the vaccinated and boosted had only made up 41 percent of the total mortalities. ALBANY Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn into a full term of office on Sunday, becoming the first woman in New York history to achieve that feat. Hochul, who won election to a four-year term in November, began her remarks by reading out the names of New York women who had blazed her path, from Harriet Tubman to Shirley Chisholm to Hillary Clinton. Hochul noted that the fight for women's suffrage began in New York, and that her election could similarly be an inspiration for young women. At the same time, Hochul emphasized that her bid for the office had not been primarily motivated by achieving the historic first. "I didn't come here to make history," she said. "I came here to make a difference." While stating that she would save policy ideas for her Jan. 10 State of the State speech, Hochul did broadly outline some priorities: Fighting an "affordability crisis" in housing and energy, gun violence, a rise in hate crimes and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. She pledged to fight crime and protect the environment. The ceremony also emphasized Hochul's personal biography: A father who did clerical work at night at the Bethlehem Steel plant and attended school during the day, a mother who fought for "social and racial justice and taught her daughter to go into the world and do well, but also to do good." That daughter worked her way up the political ladder in Western New York: Hamburg Town Board, Erie County Clerk, and in 2011, an upset win to become a member of the U.S. Congress. Hochul was elected as New York's lieutenant governor in 2014, running on the Democratic ticket along with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In 2021, Cuomo confronted a spate of sexual harassment allegations, and facing likely impeachment, resigned in August of that year. Hochul quickly built a political operation and raised campaign funds at a record-setting pace. Attorney General Letitia James, a powerful fellow Democrat, briefly entered the Democratic primary against Hochul, but dropped out in December 2021. Hochul still faced a Democratic primary against Long Island U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, but easily prevailed in June. She faced a tougher test in November against the Republican nominee for governor, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who hammered Hochul on the issue of crime. Hochul ended up winning the closest general election for governor in decades. Also sworn in on Sunday were several fellow Democrats: Lt. Gov Antonio Delgado, who won his first term in November running alongside Hochul; James, who was first elected in 2018; and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who has served in the office since 2007, and has since been elected to the office four times. James was sworn in by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who praised her for taking on former President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association. Schumer said she was "blazing a trail for progressive prosecutors across the nation." One person not mentioned by James or anyone else was Cuomo, who resigned from office following a scathing report issued by James detailing alleged sexual harassment. In her remarks, James never mentioned the issue. James recently confronted her office's own sexual harassment controversy involving her longtime chief of staff, Ibrahim Khan, in early December. One of the women who leveled allegations against Khan alleged that James had sought to quietly bury the matter. Speaking about her priorities over the next four years, James emphasized areas where new technology was posing threats: She said she would protect young people "from the dangers and harms posed by Big Tech," regulate the cryptocurrency industry, stop companies that try to "evade our common sense gun laws by selling ghost guns," and regulate social media "shining the spotlight on the corners of the internet to root out the hatred and violence that is eroding the very foundation of our society." Joe Biden to Promote Infrastructure With McConnell in Kentucky Vehicles are at a standstill as they exit the Brent Spence Bridge near downtown Cincinnati on Feb. 9, 2021. (Cara Owsley/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP, File) President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) will make a rare joint appearance in Kentucky on Jan. 4 to highlight the presidents $1.2 trillion spending plan, the White House announced on Jan. 1. Joined by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the two are to appear at a ceremony highlighting the $1.64 billion in funding recently awarded to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. The federal grant is part of a more than $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law by Biden in 2021. To kick off the new year, @POTUS, @VP, @SecretaryPete, @MitchLandrieu46 will crisscross the country to highlight how the Presidents work bringing Republicans, Independents, and Democrats together is growing our economy, White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskend said via Twitter. Bidens bipartisanship blitz will come a day after Republicans retake a majority in the House on Jan. 3 following Republican gains in the November midterm elections. While the shift in control complicates the presidents legislative agenda, Biden and his team are also seeking cross-party support. McConnell, of Kentucky, was among the Republicans who voted for the 2021 infrastructure law, even as many House Republicans opposed it, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). McConnell said the project will be one of the bills crowning accomplishments. The long-awaited project, connecting Ohio and Kentucky across the Ohio River, includes a new bridge and rehabilitation of a heavily congested 60-year-old span constructed in the 1960s, carrying both Interstate 75 and Interstate 71 traffic through the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. Officials say the bridge has seen doubled traffic loads on its narrow lanes since the beginning, leading the Federal Highway Administration to declare it functionally obsolete. DeWine said both states have been discussing the project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) heads to the floor of the Senate in Washington on Jan. 26, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Groundbreaking on the project is expected in late 2023, with substantial completion in 2029. Former President Donald Trump criticized McConnell in a statement after Bidens spending bill passed, blaming the Republican leader for failing to pass his infrastructure bill while Trump was in office and Republicans led both the Senate and House. McConnell doubled down on his support of the bipartisan infrastructure law. The infrastructure bill did not raise taxes. It did not revisit the 2017 tax bill. From a Kentucky point of view, it was extremely good for our state. Im proud of my vote, he said. Nationwide Bidens visit to Greater Cincinnati is part of a wider campaign by his administration to tout its economic plan, including passing the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In Chicago on Jan. 4, Vice President Kamala Harris will discuss how the Presidents economic plan is rebuilding our infrastructure, creating good-paying jobsjobs that dont require a four-year degree, and revitalizing communities left behind, the White House stated. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is to deliver the same message in New London, Connecticut, also on Jan. 4. Mitch Landrieu, the White House official tasked with promoting infrastructure spending, will join outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Jan. 5 in San Francisco, which she represents in Congress. Before the president departed Washington for vacation at the end of last year, Biden appealed for less partisanship, saying that he hoped everyone will see each other not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of Team Red or Team Blue, but as who we really are, fellow Americans. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Lula Sworn in as Brazils President Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers an inaugural speech at Planalto Palace after his inauguration ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images) Leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president of Brazil on Sunday. In a speech to Congress, Lula said he would send a report about outgoing Jair Bolsonaros administration to all lawmakers and judicial authorities, revoke Bolsonaros criminal decrees that loosened gun control, and hold the prior administration responsible for its COVID-19 policies. We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who sought to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we are going to ensure the rule of law, Lula said, without mentioning Bolsonaro by name. Those who erred will answer for their errors, with broad rights to their defense within the due legal process. Lula, 77, narrowly defeated conservative Bolsonaro in October to win a third presidential term after a hiatus that saw him spend a year and a half behind bars on corruption convictions that were later overturned on a technicality. Now, Lula will have to navigate more challenging economic conditions than he enjoyed in his first two terms, when the global commodities boom proved a windfall for Brazil. In his first act as president Sunday, Lula signed a decree to tighten gun control and set a 30-day deadline for the comptroller-generals office to evaluate various Bolsonaro decrees that placed official information under seal for 100 years. He also signed a decree that guaranteed a monthly stipend for poor families, and reestablished the mostly Norway-financed Amazon fund for sustainable development in the rainforest. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on Friday, avoiding having to hand over the sash to his rival, whose victory he has yet to recognize. His supporters have protested for two months that the election was stolen and called for a military coup to stop Lula returning to office. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. More Than 60 Percent of South Korean Staff Infected With COVID-19 in Embassy, Consulates Across China Currency traders stand near the screens showing the foreign exchange rates at a foreign exchange dealing room in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 29, 2022. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo) More than 60 percent of Korean employees at South Korean diplomatic and consular offices across China have been infected with COVID-19 over the past two weeks, as a new wave of the virus sweeps through the country. South Korea has announced that it will suspend its issuing of short-term visas in China until Jan. 31. Rep. Lee Jae-jung, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party in South Korea, told the media on Dec. 30, 2022, that about 240, or 63 percent, of the 380 South Korean staff members at its 10 diplomatic and consular offices in China have tested positive for COVID-19, South Korean media Yonhap News Agency reported. Lee said her office verified the information with the South Korean foreign ministry. An official in South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that none of the infected staff have yet to develop severe symptoms, while more than 210 have recovered and returned to work. With the rapid surge of COVID-19 across China last month, the infection of more than half of the Korean staff also disrupted services at the South Korean Consulate General in Chengdu and the consulate general in Shenyang, which had suspended visa services from Dec. 19 to Dec. 23, 2022. Early last month, the Chinese communist regime abruptly reversed its draconian zero-COVID policy, which had battered Chinas economy and caused extreme suffering among hundreds of millions who endured sporadic lockdowns for almost three years. But the lack of preparation before lifting the policy has resulted in Chinas health services and mortuaries being overwhelmed and severe drug shortages in pharmacies. In late December 2022, the Chinese regime announced a sudden lifting of international travel restrictions, starting from Jan. 8. The governments of some countries have already taken measures to prevent the outbreaks spillover to their regions, including South Korea. South Korea Tightens Control of Entry The South Korean government announced on Dec. 28, 2022, that its Chinese diplomatic and consular offices suspending of short-term visas may be extended depending on the situation, except for diplomatic, official, essential business, and humanitarian visas. Meanwhile, South Korea suspended plans it had to increase flights from China. At present, the number of flights from China to South Korea is only 5 percent of what it was before the pandemic. At the same time, all flights from China are required to land at Incheon International Airport for pandemic control measures. Korean Air planes are parked on the tarmac at Gimpo domestic airport in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 2, 2020. (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images) The South Korean government also requires all personnel entering South Korea by plane from China to submit a negative PCR test result within 48 hours before departure, or a negative antigen test (rapid test) certificate within 24 hours of departure, starting from Jan. 5. However, those entering the country for humanitarian purposes, to attend funerals, or on official business trips, as well as children under the age of 6, dont need to submit a PCR test result. People wait in a line to undergo COVID-19 testing at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Heo Ran/Reuters) On Dec. 30, 2022, the South Korean government also added a requirement for on-the-spot PCR tests from Jan.2 to Feb. 28 for all visitors from China after landing, and they must wait for the test results in designated places. South Korean nationals and long-term residents arriving from China must be tested at the health station in the jurisdiction of the place of residence within one day of arrival and must wait for the test results at the residence. We need to urgently prepare for any domestic ripple effects following Chinas easing of quarantine rules, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on Dec. 30, 2022: We will prepare to take stronger measures in case the situation gets worse, if we see a rapid increase of infections from new arrivals or appearance of new variants. Morocco Bans All Arrivals From China Until Further Notice Amid Soaring COVID Cases Travellers walk with their luggage at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport on Dec. 30, 2022. Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travelers from China as COVID-19 cases there surge following its relaxation of zero-COVID rules. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Morocco has imposed an entry ban on all travelers from China due to the soaring COVID-19 infection rate in the country following Beijings abrupt u-turn on its strict zero-COVID policy. Moroccos Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the entry ban would apply to all arrivals from China, regardless of their nationality, and will take effect from Jan. 3 until further notice. This exceptional measure in no way affects the sincere friendship between the two peoples nor the strategic partnership between the two countries to which the Kingdom remains firmly attached, the ministry said. The ban aims to prevent a new wave of contamination in the country, it stated, adding that Morocco closely followed the virus situation in China through regular and direct contact with the Chinese side. Morocco also extended its state of emergency until Jan. 31 to allow local authorities to impose measures to tackle the virus spread. The African nation has continued to renew its state of emergency since adopting it in March 2020. Morocco became the first nation to ban arrivals from China after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lifted its zero-COVID policy last month. Other countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, have only imposed entry curbs on travelers arriving from China, such as requiring them to take COVID-19 tests before departure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Dec. 28 mandated COVID testing for all visitors flying from China to the United States, citing the Chinese regimes failure to provide adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data. The United States was among the first nations to bar entry of foreign nationals from China under the former Trump administration in January 2020 when the novel coronavirus began to emerge from China. Chinas COVID-19 Outbreak The CCP abruptly eased its strict COVID-19 restrictions in December after historic discontent over the draconian curbs. But without adequate planning and measures for a graduated retreat from the policy, the health system was left ill-equipped for a rapid rise in cases among a population that had little natural immunity to the virus. Frontline services in China quickly became overcrowded, pharmacy shelves stripped bare, and hospitals stretched. Law enforcement facilities and judiciary shuttered. People wait for medical attention at the fever clinic area in Tongren Hospital in the Changning district in Shanghai, on Dec. 23, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) As many as 37 million people per day were estimated to be contracting the virus in China, according to leaked minutes from a meeting of the countrys top health body confirmed by multiple news outlets. The cumulative number of infections in the first 20 days of December likely reached 248 millionnearly 18 percent of the populationofficials said during the National Health Commissions internal meeting on Dec. 21, only 13 days after the regime rolled back some of its toughest anti-COVID measures. The figure is exponentially higher than the regimes official virus tally, and if accurate, it would mean that Chinas outbreak is the largest in the world. Lisa Bian and Sean Tseng contributed to this report. Omnibus Law Will Create a Maternal Mental Health Task Force WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 23: U.S. Capitol Police officers stand at the base of the steps to the House Chambers as the House votes on a $1.7 trillion spending package on December 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives voted to pass the spending bill that will fund the government through 2023. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The end-of-year omnibus spending package includes the creation of a maternal mental health task force to support new mothers and their families. The law instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create the task force to identify, evaluate, and recommend ways to improve federal maternal mental health programs. The task force will include representatives from several federal agencies: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among others. The task force will also include non-federal members such as specialists with maternity or mental health expertise, nonprofit organizations with professionals trained in maternal mental health, and other relevant medical personnel. Here in the U.S., maternal health and mental health, as separate issues, are finally getting the attention that they deserve, Joy Burkhard, executive director of the 2020 Mom organization, told The Epoch Times in a phone interview. President Joe Biden signed the $1.65 trillion omnibus bill on Dec. 29 at a beachfront villa in St. Croix. Burkhards group supports new mothers dealing with maternal mental disorders such as postpartum depression. While the omnibus bill does not provide a specific amount of funding for the task force, a press release from the Committee of Appropriations (pdf) indicates that the omnibus spending bill includes $324 million for the HRSA, CDC, and NIH for the initiative aimed at improving maternal health and reducing the high maternal mortality rate. CDC will receive $108 million, a $25 million increase over the prior fiscal year, for programs related to safe motherhood and infant health. The State Maternal Health Innovation Grant will receive $55 million, a $26 million increase compared to last fiscal year, to increase maternal and postpartum care services. A new program called Integrating Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women will get $10 million. Another $10 million will go towards developing a research network for Minority-Serving Institutions, according to the appropriations committee. The law directs the task force to report to state governors with the goal of creating collaborations with the federal government. This forces an interdepartmental task force to come up with solutions to how we coordinate with the states and improve on where we are on maternal health, Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) told The Epoch Times. Expectant Mothers We believe that the OB-GYN and the obstetrician, which could also include the midwife, whoevers delivering the baby and responsible for the mothers care surrounding the pregnancy, should be detecting disorders, Burkhard said. Often, new mothers are passed from one doctor to another, Burkhard continued, adding that there should be medical accountability to support mothers accessing screening care. Right now, the standard of care involves a questionnaire,Burkhard said, where the mother is asked about her mood and similar details. But, she noted noted, that might not be enough. Cindy Herrick and her one-month-old son in Arizona, 2012. (Courtesy of Cindy Herrick) Cindy Herrick, a mother from Arizona, said she struggled with depression and anxiety before having her son in 2012. Herricks doctor told her to stop taking depression medication, she said, which worsened the condition. She developed postpartum depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), defined as unwanted and recurrent anxious thoughts, among other things, such as worrying for her infant and lack of sleep. Even my psychiatrist wasnt experienced in dealing with pregnant women or postpartum depression, Herrick told The Epoch Times. Screening alone does not help if there isnt a referral to treatment, Herrick said, continuing, there is a shortage of providers who are trained specifically in this [postpartum depression], or theyre not comfortable enough to treat it or know who to refer to. They say you can always see how a mom is struggling in her eyes, she said. Herrick recalled the three years after the birth of her son as the most challenging. The first year she struggled due to her change in medication and lack of sleep; in the second year, she dealt with the side effects of the drugs; and in the third year, she struggled with severe OCD. After that, Herrick said she joined the 2020 Mom organization and began to heal. She is currently the strategic partnership and project lead for the company. During her difficult recovery from postpartum depression, she said she found the greatest support from interacting with other women in similar situations. Herrick became a certified peer specialist to demonstrate that recovery is possible. She now runs campaigns to raise awareness about maternal mental health. Herrick said that her relationship with her husband strengthened after postpartum depression. Cindy Herrick and her family in Arizona, 2012. (Courtesy of Cindy Herrick) We dont love our kids any less because were struggling, she said, we really do care, but sometimes its just all too much, and its messy, not always pretty, and thats okay. She said a mother is the core of society; if the family is healthy, she continued, so will the children. The taskforce language of the omnibus bill was part of the Triumph for New Moms Act introduces in the House and Senate during the 2021-22 session. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and House Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) signed on as sponsors of the Triumph for New Moms Act. The bill called for the establishment of a national strategy to address maternal mental health disorders and integrate maternal mental health into federal activities, a press release from 2020 Mom organization reads. The Epoch Times contacted Hassan, Tillis, Barragan, Kim, and Rochester for comment. Paul Arteta Sworn In as Sheriff of Orange County, New York Paul Arteta (R) takes oath with his left hand on his mother's Bible to become the new sheriff of Orange County, New York, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) On the first day of the new year, Paul Arteta took oath as Orange Countys new sheriff and promised to build on the past to make the county a safer and better place. Weve done incredible things at the Sheriffs Office, and its just going to get better and better in the future, he said during his inauguration speech at the countys emergency services center. He highlighted the nine principles set forth two hundred years ago by Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police Service in London and widely known as the father of modern policing. Police are the public, and the public are the policethis was important 200 years ago, and it is so true today. Our communities matternot just the good people, [but also] the bad peopleeveryone matters, he said. Law enforcement is not simply locking up criminals, he said. [It] is about community engagement and educating our future generations of law enforcement officers and our children to keep this a great place to live, work, and play. Paul Artetas two children led the pledge of allegiance at their fathers inauguration ceremony for the countys new sheriff at the emergency services center in Orange County, N.Y., on Jan 1, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said there were two leadership qualities he saw in Arteta: that he is a problem solver who builds consensus for real solutions and that he is a bridge builder who can unite people of different ideas. He gets people to come around to see things his way without forcing them, without making them think that they are being forced. And he does it with a smile at the end, he said. County Executive Steven Neuhaus said Arteta would rebuild connections with other law enforcement agencies and government departments. Ive seen some division, and I think Paul is going to bring everybody together, he said. Thats what means the most to me: I want to see the job getting done. Get all the personalities aside and get to work. Wilfredo Garcia (L), Paul Arteta (C) and Evelyn Mallard (R) at their inauguration ceremony for the countys sheriffs office at the emergency services center in Orange County, N.Y., on Jan 1, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Wilfredo Garcia and Evelyn Mallard were also sworn in as the new undersheriff and assistant undersheriff, respectively. Garcia spent three decades in the New York State Police and was the countys chief criminal investigator. Mallard was the superintendent of Ulster County corrections and director of training at the state police. Arteta won the sheriff election on Nov. 8 as a candidate for the Republican and Conservative parties. He got 60 percent, or 69,807 votes, against the Democratic candidate Bernie Rivers. He spent most of his law enforcement career in the county sheriffs office, climbing through the ranks from a deputy to investigator, to sergeant-in-charge of daytime patrols, to sergeant-in-charge of investigations, to lieutenant, and to captain, earning dozens of awards along the way. After he retired from the office in 2020, he served as deputy chief at the Montgomery Police Department. The incumbent sheriff, Carl Dubois, is retiring after 20 years in office. Pedestrian Killed in Huntington Beach IDd HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.Huntington Beach police Dec. 31 released the name of the 49-year-old pedestrian killed when he was struck by a pickup truck. John Diaz was a Huntington Beach resident, Sgt. Anthony Pham told City News Service. The crash was reported about 6:50 p.m. Dec. 30 on Slater Avenue west of Keelson Lane, Pham said. The preliminary investigation revealed Diaz was walking outside a crosswalk when he was struck by the eastbound Chevrolet Silverado, Pham said. Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene. The 22-year-old man driving the truck remained at the scene and cooperated with officers, he said. Impairment did not appear to be a factor for the driver. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it was encouraged to call 714-536-5666. Police Fatally Shoot Man in Kansas City Suburb OLATHE, Kan.Police in Kansas shot and killed a man who approached them with an edged weapon after a New Years Eve disturbance, police said. Officers were called to a disturbance Saturday night at a home in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, Sgt. Joel Yeldell said in a news release. When officers arrived, a 27-year-old man inside the home pulled out the weapon and moved toward the officers, Yeldell said. Officers tried to use a stun gun on the man but he continued moving toward them. One Olathe officer shot the man, and he died at the scene, Yeldell said. No officers were injured. A Johnson County multijurisdictional team will investigate the shooting. The officer who shot the man has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. Pope Benedict XVI and Human Freedom Commentary The resignation of the Pope in 2013 was a decision that completely shocked the world, partially because for a traditionalist like Benedict XVI, it seemed like a highly untraditional thing to do. But as head of the Holy Office in the last years of the previous pontificate, Cardinal Ratzinger watched with deep pain as the great pope declined in mental power and therefore managerial skill. The crowds grew as he traveled the world but there was a growing crisis developing within the church that only grew worse each year. Benedict XVI made the difficult decision to retire at his prime in order that he would not repeat the error. Also, he became convinced that his literary work and scholarship could do more to restore the faith than his managerial leadership. Thus did he embark on a remarkable ten-year quest to re-understand the life and teachings of Christ. The result is a series of books that will surely last the ages. These books add to a vast literature that constitutes his brilliant legacy and gift to the world. To this day, people misunderstand the belief structure of Cardinal Ratzinger who became the Pope. The Second Vatican Council was a formative event in his intellectual life, and one that he celebrated for one central reason. This Council made a decisive and clean break with the past with its tremendously clear embrace of religious freedom as a human right. And probably that does not sound too radical to you, or maybe it strikes you as slightly embarrassing that the Catholic Church would have to go to such lengths to state the obvious. However, for various reasons both historical and theological, the principle of religious liberty has not always been central. The problem for the Church began in the years of the decline of the Roman Empire when persecution and martyrdom defined the life of the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. The conversion of Emperor Constantine the Great changed the fortunes of Christians but over time, the Church arguably learned too much from their former oppressors and adopted for itself the power of the sword along with all the symbols and signs of the old regime. To be sure, Catholicism over 2,000 years has proven itself remarkably adept in accommodating itself to the cultural forms of any society in which it is evangelizing for new adherents. This is why the practice of the faith looks and feels so very different in so many different lands. The Catholic way you find in Ireland is radically different from what you find in Japan or El Salvador or Haiti. Germany too has its own way as do Catholics in America. This impressive pliability dates probably from the experience of the 3rd and 4th centuries in Rome where it began this habit of granting as much as possible to native customs while insisting only on essentials. Lets skip forward to the late 19th century with the march of democracy in Europe and the decline of the Holy Roman Empire during which time the Roman Church was faced with declining hegemony over what were called the Papal States. Pope Pius the IX called a Vatican Council for reasons no one particularly understood until many months in when the Pope himself made his purposes clear: he wanted a clean declaration that the Chair of Peter had infallible power not only over doctrine and morals but also politics. He wanted a worldwide statement in favor of the idea that religious liberty was anathema and that the papacy must always possess the power of the sword. The gathered Bishops and Cardinals refused to grant that, however, settling on a much lesser claim but still leaving the question of religious liberty on the table. The movement for a liberal Catholicism that was orthodox on doctrine but accommodative to democracy and liberty continued to advance in both the UK and the United States (think of the writings of John Henry Newman and Lord Acton). Nearly a century later, Pope John XXIII called another Council that was named Vatican II, the primary purpose of which was to declare once and for all that the Church favors the right of religious freedom. Cardinal Ratzinger was a central figure in that Council and it was the proudest achievement of that generation of thinkers. Sadly, during and after the Council, the vision of an orthodox Church that chooses freedom over compulsion went off the rails, as a leftist faction used the cultural upheaval of the times to toss out the orthodoxy part and sell its new forms as an application of freedom. That introduced complete chaos to the rituals, calendar, and many other settled doctrines and morals. Ironically, these new champions of freedom had no interest in granting freedom for tradition itself, even to the point of using brutal methods to suppress historical rites and languages of the faith. The whole Catholic Church became quickly polarized starting as early as 1964 and continuing through the present day, with two sides in a forever struggle: revanchists vs. revolutionaries. Yes, Im here painting with a very broad brush and there are volumes to be written about this. But the main point here is that the Ratzinger school of orthodox liberals (meaning for truth but also for human liberty) was quickly marginalized and remained so until the Conclave that elected him pope. With his election, Benedict XVI now had the opportunity finally to restore the orthodoxy lost in the chaos of the 1960s while continuing to embrace the idea of human freedom that had shaped his intellectual life. That meant a great deal of restoration of the liturgical forms, the vestments, the music, and the rituals that had been brutally suppressed. The first time that Pope brought out the capa magnathe red papal cape that extended out half the length of St. Peters Churchfor the first time since the Second Vatican Council, there was nothing short of total hysteria that broke out among the leftist faction in media and ecclesiastical circles. They said that this cape was a symbol of the temporal power (in a sense, thats true historically) but the Popes point was to recapture these forms and symbols for the faith as such without reference to their historical complexity. That of course delighted the conservatives, but they were not so thrilled by the Popes continuing insistence on the truth of religious liberty as defined by Vatican II. As incredible as it might seem to outsiders, there is a faction within the Catholic Church that wants back the Papal States and longs for monarchs ruling on behalf of Rome, even to the point of crushing dissident. So contrary to the main media line, Benedict XVI never really had the backing of the most reactionary elements in the Church. He was attempting to recapture a vision lost sometime in the years between 1961 and 1964 of a modern Church that still practiced the old faith, a Church that embraced both the truth of faith and the truth of freedom. In this position, he was certainly in the minority. To understand his politics, there is no better book than Church, Ecumenism, and Politics from lectures given in 1969. He writes: The cry for freedom that is going through the whole world proceeds from a situation in which man has had a taste of freedom yet at the same time feels that this freedom is threatened and restricted on every side . But whereas he has attained a hitherto almost unimaginable freedom of movement in this regard, technological civilization, with the centralization of services and the anonymity of its ordinances, has created constraints that were formerly unknown, from the determination of the slope of the roof to rules about gravestones, from traffic regulations to an establishment for universal education that harnesses teachers and students to a network of legal prescriptions resulting fromwhat else?efforts to safeguard the citizens rights to freedom. So one may have doubts about whether the modern history of freedom has really produced an appreciable increase in freedom and whether the area of freedom and the area of compulsion have not just shifted. In any case, this abundance of regulations, reaching into everyday life, produces an odd sense of restriction, boredom with institutionally organized freedom, and a cry for a better, radical, anarchic freedom. A further observation comes immediately to mind. Formerly, an institution manifested itself to a great extent in persons. Restriction of freedom could be traced back to the arbitrary decisions of persons. The important thing was to limit the power of those persons through corrective institutions and a wide sharing of responsibility. Now that this has happened, the institutions appear to have receded into the gray anonymity of a faceless, indefinable power, as Kafka portrayed it in the bleak visions of his novels The Trial and The Castle. No wonder, therefore, that institutions in general are increasingly perceived as the opposite of freedom and that people try to fight against the ordering of freedom, too, so as to arrive at last at freedom itself. He goes on to say: The right to believe is the real core of human freedom; when this right is forfeited, it follows logically that all further rights and freedoms fail. This right is at the same time the authentic gift of freedom that the Christian faith has brought into the world. In an unprecedented way it cut asunder the identification of state and religion, thus depriving the state of its totalitarian claims, and, with its distinctive character vis-a-vis the governmental sphere, the faith has given man the assurance that his own being with God and in the presence of God is reserved for him, an assurance in which God calls him with a name that no one else knows. Freedom of conscience is the core of all freedom. Wow, so there we have it. All kinds of freedoms have come into question in our time, including the freedom to speak and even the freedom to worship. Here the work of Benedict XVI speaks very profoundly. He was absolutely correct to hold the line on the truth of freedom, the betrayal of the faith by the state, and the primary of the human conscience. As we try to rebuild the social and political structure following the disaster of these last three years, his writings can serve as a valuable guide to people of all faiths. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Sloan Gunter and Sandra Hulse attended Shen Yun at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, in Houston, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times) HOUSTONLearning about a new culture can be an exciting experience. Sloan Gunter, who works in private wealth management, was introduced to traditional Chinese culture when he watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts on Jan. 1. The dancing is incredible, said Mr. Gunter. Its a great representation of the Chinese culture, particularly to people like me who are American and dont know anything about Chinese culture. Its wonderful. Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Its mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and show its audiences the beauty of China before communism. Shen Yun now has eight equal-sized companies that tour the world simultaneously and are set to perform in more than 180 cities this season. Mr. Gunter expressed his appreciation for the dancers skills. The training that they had to do to create this production today is a lifetime of training and a lifetime of discipline, said Mr. Gunter. According to Shen Yuns website, China was once known as The Land of the Divine, and Shen Yun seeks to portray the connection between Chinese culture and the divine. Mr. Gunter and Sandra Hulse, an artist who attended the performance with Mr. Gunter, were able to resonate with this connection. We believe there is a power greater than ourselves, said Ms. Hulse. I think for all mankind theres a higher power, said Mr. Gunter. There is a power greater than us, and I think the expression that there is a Creator is aptly expressed [in Shen Yun]. We need to recognize that as human beings. Reporting by Sherry Dong and Wandi Zhu. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. The Erie County deputies who placed a former jail deputy in handcuffs during the Garth Brooks concert this summer give an entirely different version of the arrest than the defendant does. As we were escorting him out he began to lock his arms and grab his shirt in an effort to resist us from escorting him out of the gate, a reserve deputy with the security force that day, Aaron Binner, says in a sworn statement. More deputies began to walk up, and he kept trying to go weightless so we could not move him. Once he was outside the gate he again broke free and removed his shirt and took an aggressive posture and a fighting stance, Binner continued. At this point we were told to detain Mr. Gugino. Mr. Gugino is John A. Gugino, 46, of Hamburg, who had been a career deputy inside the Holding Center until June, when he was fired after pleading guilty to a cocaine-possession charge. Gugino and his union have gone to court in a bid to get his job back, and the deputies statements and other criminal court paperwork were recently entered as exhibits in the case. Gugino previously told The News that he willingly left the Garth Brooks concert, staged July 23 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, but nonetheless was taken to the ground and arrested by a team of deputies just outside a gate. On the advice of his lawyer, Gugino would not comment for this article. Gugino has said that his path toward ejection began when he saw a deputy who was involved in his cocaine arrest, narcotics unit Chief D.J. Granville, and the two began to argue. In his statement, Granville depicts Gugino as the aggressor. I acknowledged Mr. Gugino and shortly thereafter he began to yell and threaten me, Granville said. Among the insults, according to Granville, were 'youre a corrupt (expletive)' and 'Im gonna get you; youre going down.' Granville added: I advised Mr. Gugino to get away from me no less than two times and attempted to walk away from Mr. Gugino no less than two times, and Mr. Gugino continued to engage me. Another reserve deputy stationed nearby, Christopher Fisher, signed a statement saying he saw Gugino cursing loudly and yelling. Fisher describes Gugino growing more unruly as the throng escorted him to the gate. Fisher wrote, for example, that when one deputy grabbed Guginos waist he became agitated and claimed that his shoulder was dislocated, but he then flailed his arms, showing no signs of injury. Both Binner and Granville said Gugino threw himself to the ground on the way to the exit. Fueling one of the counts against Gugino harassment with physical contact is the allegation that Gugino scratched Binner's forearm. Binner's statement said it happened when Gugino grabbed him by the arm at the bottom of the stairs. The statements make no mention of body camera video being available, but a stationary camera is mentioned. With the criminal case pending, video images are not yet publicly available. The charges against Gugino are minor: two counts of harassment, a violation, and criminal trespass, a class B misdemeanor. But the stakes are higher for Gugino. After his conviction for criminal possession of a controlled substance, a judge in Hamburg sentenced him to community service with a conditional discharge if he stayed out of trouble. The District Attorneys Office has asked a judge to resentence him because of the incident at the July 23 concert. Pro-Trump MAGA Hat Is Free Speech: Court A teacher who wore a Make America Great Again hat to school was engaging in constitutionally-protected free speech, a U.S. appeals court has ruled. Eric Dodge, the teacher, wore the hat to two days of teacher trainings in 2019 at schools in Washington state, taking it off before entering the buildings but setting it near him. Caroline Garrett, the principal of one of the schools, WyEast Middle School, told Dodge on the first day to use his better judgement. On the second day, she allegedly said, What is the [expletive] deal with you and your hat! and called the teacher a racist and bigot before telling him to bring his union representative the next time they spoke. In respond to Dodges lawsuit claiming constitutional violations, Garrett said she was motivated by a desire to prevent disruptions to the school, which employed Dodge as a science teacher. But Dodges wearing the hat was speech protected by the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said in its Dec. 29 ruling. Principal Garretts asserted administrative interest in preventing disruption among staff does not outweigh Dodges right to free speech, U.S. Circuit Judge Danielle Forrest, writing for the majority, said. Several people attending the trainings complained about the hat but nobody, including the principal, presented evidence that Dodge had disrupted school operations. Political speech is the quintessential example of protected speech, and it is inherently controversial. That some may not like the political message being conveyed is par for the course and cannot itself be a basis for finding disruption of a kind that outweighs the speakers First Amendment rights, Forrest said. The panel consisted of Circuit Judge Forrest; Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins, a Clinton appointee; and Jane Restani, a Reagan appointee who sits on the U.S. Court of International Trade. The Court correctly found what Ms. Gomes and EPS have said all along they did not retaliate in any way against Mr. Dodge. Ms. Gomes and EPS are happy to have this matter behind them, Michael McFarland, a lawyer for Evergreen Public Schools (EPS) and Janae Gomes, a human resources official for the district, told The Epoch Times via email. A lawyer for Garrett declined to comment. A lawyer for Dodge did not return an inquiry. Reversal U.S. District Judge Thomas Robart, a George W. Bush appointee, had sided with the defendants in May 2021 and dismissed the case. Robart said the defendants were protected by qualified immunity, which generally protects government officials in civil cases unless their conduct violates clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known, citing a separate court decision. Robart said that the disharmony caused by Dodges wearing of the hat and the concerns put forth by Garrett and teachers meant Dodge was disrupting school operations, and that Dodge was insubordinate when he wore the hat the second day on the grounds of a different school after Garrett told him to use better judgement. Mr. Dodges right to wear his MAGA hat was not so clearly established as to defeat Ms. Garretts assertion of qualified immunity, Robart said. The circuit court disagreed, and remanded the case back to Robart. Taking the facts in the light most favorable to Dodge, a jury could find that Principal Garrett retaliated against him for engaging in political speech protected by the First Amendment. Moreover, any violation of Dodges First Amendment rights by Principal Garrett was clearly established where long-standing precedent has held that concern over the reaction to controversial or disfavored speech itself does not justify restricting such speech, the panels opinion stated. The panel noted that Garrett said she disagreed with the message the MAGA hat imparted, including an alleged anti-immigrant message, even while allowing other political symbols and speech at the school, such as a Black Lives Matter poster in its library and a Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sticker on her car. A key part of the ruling stemmed from Dodge being at the school while no students were present, the panel said. That meant Dodge was expressing himself as a private citizen, not a public employee. Dodge told the principal at one point that he would not wear the hat in class, around parents, or in front of kids. Affirmed in Part The new decision did affirm parts of Robarts ruling. The dismissal of the school district and Gomes, the human resources official who discussed with the principal how best to handle the situation, as defendants was upheld. The actions taken by Gomes were not likely to deter the teacher from engaging in protected speech, the panel concluded. And the judges said the board did not ratify any infringement of Dodges rights by dismissing a complaint he had lodged because of the finding that Garrett did not violate any policy or procedure. Gomes was named in part because she successfully had removed portions of a contractors investigation into Garretts handling of the situation from the final report, including the conclusion that Dodge was singled out because he wore the MAGA hat and that he was denied his freedom of expression. The contractor also said Garrett did not violate any district policies. Dodge appealed the finding by the school board, which upheld the findings. But Garrett ended up resigning after the board later investigated whether she acted professionally while dealing with Dodge. The board said it strongly believed she misrepresented the interactions and, referring to other complaints against her, said her credibility was called into question. Public Holiday Call as SA Survey Launched Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas at a press conference during a visit to Cabra Dominican College in Adelaide, Australia on May 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) South Australias (SA) public holidays are being reviewed as a major union pushes for Easter Sunday to join the list. The SA government on Monday called for residents to express their views on public holidays through a new survey as it moves to make Christmas Day one regardless of when it falls. When a public holiday falls on a Saturday in SA, it moves to the following Monday, leading to some workers not being paid penalty rates. Labor has pledged to amend the Holidays Act for the first time since 2012 to make both Saturday and Monday a public holiday when Dec. 25 falls on a Saturday. But the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association has upped the ante, calling on Easter Sunday to join the list of official public holidays. SA is the only mainland Australian state or territory not to recognise Easter Sunday as a public holiday, and the union said workers were being short-changed because of it. Victoria has fixed it, Queensland has fixed it, New South Wales has fixed it, the ACT has fixed it, and Western Australia has fixed it its time South Australia does too, SDA spokesperson Jordan Mumford said. Its only fair that South Australian workers have the choice to spend Easter Sunday with their family and friends or the benefit of public holiday penalty rates. There are 13 public holidays each year in South Australia, including part-days on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. The governments month-long survey will help shape its approach to amending the act before draft legislation is released and later introduced to parliament. The Labor government is committed to protecting the rights of South Australian workers, SA Industrial Relations and Public Sector Kyam Maher said. Our legislation will ensure we avoid the unfair situation experienced under the former Liberal government when many workers did not receive penalty rates for working on Christmas Day in 2021. Release Political Prisoners Sign Seen Atop Hong Kongs Lion Rock on New Years Eve 'We have never given up' On Dec. 31, while hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens participated in countdown activities across Hong Kong to cheer the arrival of 2023, a dozen or so Hong Kong people went to the top of the Lion Rock. They held up a luminaire combo showcasing the Free HK Political Prisoners slogan to the thousands of households below in the hope that freedom will return to Hong Kong with all political prisoners currently remanded in prison being released soon. With the relaxation of local COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures and the lifting of social distance restrictions, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens flocked to various locations in Hong Kong to participate in the countdown. According to official figures, more than 330,000 people were cheering the countdown on both sides of Victoria Harbour on New Years Eve. The regional weather data recorded was just 7.7 degrees Celsius (45.9 degrees Fahrenheit) at midnight on Tai Mo Shan (the highest peak in Hong Kong) and about nine degrees e (48.2 F) on top of the Lion Rock. More than a dozen Hong Kong people holding LED luminaires and electronic candles to display the words Free HK political prisoners atop Lion Rock in Hong Kong on Dec. 31, 2022. (Hui Tat /The Epoch Times) More than a dozen Hong Kong people braved the freezing wind and went to the top of the Lion Rock, a traditional symbol of the Hong Kong spirit to never give up. They waved their lights toward the Wong Tai Sin and Shatin areas expressing their desire for the early release of all those imprisoned under political persecution. Later, some of them raised and let flutter in the wind the banner Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times and chanted the slogan repeatedly. Hong Kong people holding flags and yelling slogans Liberate Hong Kong, Revolutions of Our Times, atop Lion Rock in Hong Kong on Dec. 31, 2022. (Hui Tat/The Epoch Times One protestor at the event, who did not want to be named, lamented that his family would leave Hong Kong permanently soon, and he was climbing the Rock for the last time on this New Years Eve to keep the scene of thousands of lights under the hill in his memory forever. Someone then shot a laser beam into the sky and down the slope. There were similar flashes from both directions very soon as replies, echoing each other in harmony. Protestors holding a Free HK sign atop Lion Rock in Hong Kong on Dec. 31, 2022. (Hui Tat/The Epoch Times) Another unnamed participant said, candlelight is a kind of hope for me, a hope to find the truth. There is no chance that I will give up hope. As long as there remains a candlelight, however small, it can still bring me strength, she added. She continued, I can still do a lot of things. In fact, I have continued doing everything that I did before. I just want to tell those who emigrated, those in exile, and those inside the walls (in prison) that we have never given up. The people of Hong Kong still miss everyone who participated in this revolution. Hong Kong citizens from Lion Rock Hill and Victoria Peak flashed lights at each other in unison with laser pointers and flashlights. They hurled down a banner calling for Bona Fide Universal Suffrage (for the positions of Chief Executive and the Legislative Council) on the Lion Rock in Hong Kong on Sept. 13, 2019. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) In 2019, the anti-extradition movement broke out in Hong Kong. Many Hong Kong people have climbed Lion Rock every now and then in protest, asking the world to pay attention to Hong Kong, which is losing its freedom. The one having the most turnout was on Sept. 13, 2019, when a large number of citizens climbed to the top and formed a long human chain of mobile phone lights. They used all such actions to reiterate the protestors terms of five demands, Not one less to the government. After 2019, Hong Kong people continued to climb up Lions Rock and hold up signs such as Save the 12 (the 12 Hong Kong people case) and FAITH to express their other demands. The protestors wanted to let the thousands of families down the hill know there were still people willing to persevere. On June 30, 2020, the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect. Media organizations that have always been regarded as representing the voices of the people, such as Apple Daily, Stand News, Citizen news, and the like, were forced to close and were purged one after another. Most of the pro-democracy political groups, trade unions, and civic organizations have also been disbanded one by one under various sorts of political pressures. Many Hong Kong people who had the courage to speak out for Hong Kongs freedom were charged with various crimes and imprisoned. Under such a harsh political environment, Hong Kong people have lost the freedom of expression they previously enjoyed and have resorted to expressing their opinions in low-key, ironic, and metaphorical ways. Republicans Who Poorly Handled Abortion Responsible for Disappointing Midterm Results: Trump Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 15, 2022. (Alon SkuyAFP via Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump blamed Republican candidates who mishandled the issue of abortion as the reason for the GOPs lackluster midterm performance. It wasnt my fault that the Republicans didnt live up to expectations in the MidTerms. I was 233-20!! Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Jan. 1, referring to his endorsement records for the November elections. It was the abortion issue, poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters, Trump added. Democrats defied expectations of a sweeping red wave on Nov. 8, doing better than expected in House and the governor races, while keeping their majority in the Senate. Since then, some have pinned the blame for the GOPs underperformance on Trump, including those within the Republican Party. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky.), and his leadership team arrive to speak to reporters following a closed-door policy meeting, at the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 13, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blamed Trump in mid-December, when he told reporters that the GOP couldnt field better nominees because of Trumps endorsements. Our ability to control primary outcomes was quite limited in [2022] because the support of the former president proved to be very decisive in these primaries, McConnell said. Hopefully in the next cycle, well have quality candidates everywhere and a better outcome. McConnell specifically called out nominees in three states. Look at Arizona, look at New Hampshire, and the challenging situation in Georgia as well, McConnell added. You have to have quality candidates to win competitive Senate races. Trump has 16 to 8 endorsement records in the Senate races, according to Ballotpedia. The losses include Blake Masters in Arizona, Don Bolduc in New Hampshire, Herschel Walker in Georgia, Kelly Tshibaka in Alaska, Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, and Adam Laxalt in Nevada. In his post on Sunday, Trump also blamed McConnell for GOP midterm losses over his campaign spending. Related Coverage Trump-Backed Alaska Senate Candidate Criticizes McConnell for Massive Spending Boost for GOP Opponent Sunday was not the first time that Trump has pinned the blame on McConnell. In November, he said McConnell blew the midterms when he chose not to support Republican candidates including Masters. The Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee with close ties to McConnell, slashed millions in campaign spending for the Arizona Senate race in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election. Also on Sunday, Trump said voters who pushed against abortion got their wish when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, but these people just plain disappeared. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24 following a 63 vote. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the courts majority opinion, said that Roe was egregiously wrong from the start, and It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the peoples elected representatives. 2024 In an interview with WABC 77 radio station on Sunday morning, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Democrats will continue to push for abortion and Republicans must fight back. The ostrich method doesnt work if theyre spending $30 million against you saying you wont protect a woman whos had a miscarriage or has had an ectopic pregnancy, McDaniel said. Republicans have to fight back. We have to push our consulting class to not ignore issues, she continued. And we have to be conversant and push back on the Democrats who are extreme on this issue. We dont believe in gender-selected abortions. We dont believe the baby should be aborted on its due date, she added. We should be able to talk about being pro-life in a way thats humanitarian and also talk about building consensus. We know that the Democrats are going to continue to push on this issue heading into 2024, McDaniel concluded. Related Coverage State Legislatures Brace for a 2023 Landslide of Post-Roe Abortion Bills Trump is currently the only known candidate for the 2024 presidential election, after he announced his bid for the presidency in November last year. Last month, the White House revealed that President Joe Biden was expected to make a decision on 2024 after the holidays. A recent poll by Vanderbilt University, when 1,180 registered Tennessee voters were polled between Nov. 8 and Nov. 28, showed 75 percent of Tennesseans across the political spectrum supported access to abortion in cases of rape or incest. When breaking down the response by party affiliation, 62 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Independents, and 93 percent of Democrats favored exceptions. The poll also found that Tennesseans did not want to see a repeat of the 2020 presidential election. Only 36 percent wanted Trump to run for president, while only 22 percent would like to see Biden run for reelection. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enjoyed more support in a potential head-to-head matchup against Trump in 2024, according to the poll. Fifty-four percent of registered Republicans said they would support DeSantis, while 41 percent favored Trump. However, Trump had an edge over DeSantis in another poll. McLaughlin & Associates, in a poll (pdf) conducted between Dec. 9 and Dec. 14, found that 58 percent would support Trump in a Republican presidential primary, while 36 percent threw their support behind DeSantis. Sensible Measures: Universities Australia Backs New Entry Requirements for Chinese Travellers The peak body for Australias university sector has welcomed the governments move to place new entry requirements on Chinese visitors. Health Minister Mark Butler on Monday announced Chinese travellers would have to return a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of departure from Thursday as cases spiked after Beijing dismantled restrictions. Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said the new policy is a sensible measure in response to the evolving situation in China and mirrors what other countries are doing. Jackson noted that the decision does not close the door to Chinese students returning to Australia to start or continue their university studies. China is our biggest market of international students, yet around 36 percent enrolled in our universities remain outside of the country, she said. Australias universities are ready to welcome back international students, and we will be working closely with the government and students to ensure their safe return to our campuses. She also noted that it was imperative for Australian universities to recover the position of strength they held in the market prior to the pandemic. COVID-19 is highly unpredictable and can have significant health, social and economic costs, as we have learned over the last two years, she said. Australian Education Sector Vital to Economic Growth Education is Australias largest services exportcontributing over $40 billion (US $27 billion) to the countrys economy and supporting 250,000 jobs in 2019. Australias onshore international education sector is expected to have 940,000 enrolments by 2025, which equates to a compounding annual growth rate of 3.8 percent, according to the Australian governments data. Meanwhile, the international education sectors contribution to export earnings is forecast to almost double in excess of $33 billion by 2025. Butler said he welcomed China opening its borders and allowing citizens to travel once again, with a spike in travellers expected in Australia. He also noted it was a very modest, balanced decision. I know that hundreds of thousands of Australians of Chinese descent, in particular, are particularly looking forward to the opportunity to reunite with family and friends, he told Sevens Sunrise program. So this is a very positive development, but we need to ensure that we have the information we need to protect the health of Australians. The move comes after the U.S. government announced on Dec. 28 that, starting on Jan. 5, all travellers from China will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before getting on their flight. U.S. officials said that the Chinese regimes lack of transparency during the current outbreak was a key factor for the imposition of the new travel restrictions. On Dec. 30, the UK government also announced from Jan. 5, people flying from mainland China to England will be asked to take a pre-departure test taken no more than two days prior to departure. In the first 20 days of December, 248 million people in China likely have become infected, according to an internal meeting memo of Chinas top health body that leaked online. The number dwarfs the COVID-19 data and death tally officially released so far, which international experts and evidence on the ground show to be vastly disproportionate to the actual scale of the outbreak. Alexander Zhang and AAP contributed to this report. Built inside a cliffside alcove ninety feet off an Arizona valley floor, an ancient American castle remained a mystery to settlers in the area for decades until historians discovered the unique structure had a much older, richer history than originally thought. When settlers and Mexican-American War veterans came to Verde Valley in the 1840s, they mistakenly assumed that the pre-Columbian fortress, nestled in the limestone embankment of Beaver Creek Canyon along what is now the I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff, was built by the Aztecs. They named it Montezuma Castle, after the 16th century Aztec Emperor Montezuma II. Montezuma Castle in Verde Valley, Arizona, depicted in 1887. (Public Domain) Today, Montezuma Castle, located in Verde Valley, Arizona, is a National Monument. (Paul R. Jones/Shutterstock) The book Conquest of Mexico, published by Walter Hickling Prescott in 1843, substantiated this claim, according to Owlcation contributor and historian Chuck Nugent. Prescott supposes the Aztecs and their Toltec predecessors had built numerous such dwellings in the American Southwest before migrating to Mexico. A number of articles written as late as the 20th century also attributed Montezuma Castle to the Aztecs, Nugent said. But while the Verde Valley dwelling has retained its Aztec name, its baffling history is now better understood. The cliff dwelling is not a castle and never had any connection to the 16th century Aztec Emperor, Nugent said. Montezuma Castle was built by a Native American culture known as the Southern Sinagua. These people resided in the Verde Valley for 800 years or more, and developed an advanced culture built on farming and trade. Montezuma Castle detail. (Zack Frank/Shutterstock) Detail of a structure of Montezuma Castle. (Peter Bowman/Shutterstock) While the origins of the Sinagua are unclear, they are thought to have settled Verde Valley around 600 A.D. to propagate crops for food using water from Beaver Creek, build homes, and develop fruitful trade routes. Montezuma Castle represented a Sinagua dwelling from the early 12th century, since earlier homes were pit houses built partially underground. The five-storey, 20-room cliffside structure was originally much larger than what remains today, Nugent said, and once included a larger section: Castle A, comprised of as many as 45 rooms built against the face of the cliff. The lowest storey of Castle A lay on the canyon floor, attached to the cliff, with beams inserted into sockets dug out from the limestone. A row of sockets can still be seen today. Montezuma Castle circa 1893-1900. (Public Domain) Castle A appears to have been destroyed by fire sometime before the area was abandoned by the Southern Sinagua, Nugent said. Since no signs of warfare have been detected, the cause of the fire was either accidental or the result of some natural cause, such as lightning. One mystery that remains is exactly why the Sinagua abandoned their settlement of eight centuries in the early 15th century, leaving the then-300-year-old Montezuma Castle to the mercy of time. One speculation is that flooding of the neighboring Hohokam peoples farmland may have prompted the Hohokam to invade Verde Valley and push the Sinagua out. Others believe the decline of the Sinagua settlement occurred gradually, as they merged with Hopi clans further north and Yavapai moved in. Originally a hunter-gatherer group, the Native American Yavapai still live in Verde Valley today. Access to Montezuma Castle today is restricted so as to preserve the limestone cliffside. (Jon Manjeot/Shutterstock) Montezuma Castle stood completely abandoned by 1425. It was rediscovered in 1583 by a small Spanish expedition from Mexico who, led by Antonio de Espejo and assisted by Hopi guides, were searching for precious metals. The next to settle Verde Valley were U.S. troops in the 1840s. With new life in the valley, Montezuma Castle was elevated from an abandoned dwelling to a site of national and historic interest. A family on a sightseeing trip to Montezuma Castle in Verde Valley, Arizona. (Margaret.Wiktor/Shutterstock) The site was declared protected by President Theodore Roosevelts Antiquities Act of 1906, becoming the first historic ruin to be named a National Monument and has since attracted thousands of visitors every year. Site managers led guided tours up the cliffside on ladders to see the interior of the castle until 1951, when surging numbers forced officials to consider preservation of the limestone. Today, only researchers are allowed access into the castle though there is a replica model, complete with furniture and inhabitants, on the path leading up to the site for tourists. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter South Korea Seeks Joint Exercises With US Using Nuclear Assets: PM Yoon South Koreas president said Monday that his nation is in talks with the United States about possible joint exercises using U.S. nuclear assets, after North Korea called for an exponential increase in its nuclear arsenal. Nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but information sharing, planning, and training must be jointly conducted by South Korea and the United States, President Yoon Suk-yeol told Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Yoon did not go into detail about their discussion, but he said that the U.S. side was quite positive about the idea. According to him, the U.S. strategy of providing a nuclear umbrella or extended deterrence to South Korea is not reassuring enough to guarantee public safety now that North Korea has developed its own nuclear weapons. In the past, the concept of a nuclear umbrella or extended deterrence was preparation against the Soviet Union and China before North Korea developed nuclear weapons, and a way of the U.S. telling us not to worry because it will take care of everything, he said. Now, it is difficult to convince our people with just that. The U.S. government understands this to some degree, Yoon added. When asked about the possibility of nuclear sharing between South Korea and the United States, Yoon claimed that the word nuclear sharing actually feels burdensome for the United States. Instead, if South Korea and the U.S. develop a plan for the operation of nuclear forces based on shared information, as well as the concept of joint exercises, training, and operations, it will be as effective as nuclear sharing, he added. A U.S. Army soldier stands on an armored vehicle during an annual exercise in Yeoncheon, near the border with North Korea, on March 7, 2016. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) Yoon said that he would be willing to hold an inter-Korean summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if it contributes to peace on the Korean Peninsula. We have to start with dialogue on humanitarian issues and open the door to contact and dialogue between South and North. The two countries should discuss the agenda to some extent and set the direction, he said. There is no reason to reject the meeting, but will a show-off meeting really help peace on the Korean Peninsula? North Korea Calls for Larger Nuclear Arsenal His remarks came just a day after North Korean state media reported that Kim had called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and a larger nuclear arsenal to counter enemy threats. Kim accused the United States and South Korea of trying to isolate and stifle North Korea with U.S. nuclear strike assets constantly deployed in South Korea, calling it unprecedented in human history. He vowed to develop another ICBM system whose main mission is quick nuclear counter-strike under a plan to bolster the countrys nuclear force, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is launched in this undated photo released on Nov. 19, 2022, by North Koreas Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters) It highlights the importance and necessity of a mass-producing of tactical nuclear weapons and calls for an exponential increase of the countrys nuclear arsenal, Kim said, adding these would be a main orientation of the 2023 nuclear and defense strategy. As part of the plan, the regime will also launch its first military satellite at the earliest date possible by accelerating its drive to build a spy satellite, with preparations in the final stage, KCNA said. North Korea also launched three ballistic missiles on Saturday, capping a year marked by a record number of missile tests. South Korea Warns of End of Kim Jong Un Regime The South Korean Defense Ministry issued a statement in response to the KCNA report, saying that any nuclear strike by North Korea would lead to the end of Kims regime, Yonhap News Agency reported. The ministry urged North Korea to return to denuclearization and warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea would trigger its three-axis defense systempreemptive strike, missile defense, and retaliatory attack capabilities. Our military will build a military readiness posture to sternly retaliate against any symmetric or asymmetric North Korean provocations based on the determination not to hesitate to even go to war, the ministry said in a text message to reporters. North Korea fired an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, pressing on with weapons development amid speculation it could test a nuclear weapon for a seventh time. In November, the North also resumed testing ICBMs for the first time since 2017, successfully launching the massive new Hwasong-17, potentially able to strike anywhere in the United States. Reuters contributed to this report. Prodigy Toddlers Past-Life Memories Give Mother Crisis of Faith, Then She Finds Out Who He Was The Undoing of the Unscientific Zero-COVID Policy in China What motivated the CCP to implement draconian pandemic measures? Health workers wait for people to scan a health code to test for COVID-19 in the Jing'an district in Shanghai, China, on Dec. 22, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary Communist China has been reeling due to the relaxation of its three-year-long zero-COVID policy, with as many as 250 million infected Chinese last month. That number includes an incredible 37 million who were infected on Dec. 20 alone. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) implemented its zero-COVID policy in an attempt to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2019, when it shocked the world by locking down the virus epicenter in Wuhan. The policy has evolved to include mass testing, quarantines of the sick in government facilities, and strict lockdowns wherever outbreaks are detected. In a highly unusual circumstance, the CCP has been forced to relax the protocols in response to mass protests across China. While the focus remains on why the CCP completely reversed its draconian zero-COVID policy, the current rates of infection and deaths in China, the origins of the virus, and its potential linkage to biowarfare research, there remains the unanswered question of why the policy was adopted in the first place since it was anti-science in nature. It is virtually impossible to stop the human-to-human spread of the coronavirus for the reasons noted here: The coronavirus can be present in asymptomatic carriers who can transmit the disease to others. The coronavirus can infect many different kinds of animals that can pass the disease on to humans. There is no highly effective vaccine or antiviral treatment for coronavirus despite efforts by governments to obfuscate the failures of mRNA shots to provide the requisite protections and immunity. If the premise is correct that zero COVID was anti-science, then that leaves other motivations, including political and geopolitical. Let us examine some of the possible reasons. To Contain the Outbreak Well, that didnt work, and well never know how many Chinese were infected and died over the past three years because the CCP suppressed the truth. Does anyone seriously believe the numbers reported to Worldometers, which tracks virus cases and deaths worldwide? The current Chinese numbers are 5,245 deaths in three yearsan absurd number out of a population of 1.4 billion people! Since the Chinese wont share information on the virus genome, we dont even know which variant(s) are in circulation in China. No wonder countries are requiring testing for any incoming Chinese visitors. A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) padlocks a fence securing a residential area under COVID-19 lockdown in the Huangpu district of Shanghai on June 13, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) To Convince the World About Chinas Leadership CCP leader Xi Jinping has implemented a campaign to show the world that the Chinese way is best. All topics are propagated with Chinese characteristics to reinforce and propagandize that claim. Total control of information sources and media data about the virus makes it easier to convince the world that Chinas virus control measures actually work (when no outsiders can prove otherwise). This also deflects pressure on the CCP for hiding information about the origin of the virus. To Reassert Authoritarian Controls The virus presented the CCP with a golden opportunity to reassert authoritarian controls over the population through the accelerated implementation of surveillance and social control methods throughout society. This has long been a goal of the communiststo monitor and control all the daily activities of the Chinese to thwart any dissent and to reward CCP-approved behavior. To Hide Chinas Emerging Economic Chaos The CCP probably determined that measures to combat the virus could be used to hide the emerging economic problems in the Chinese real estate market, the growing debt crisis, and the problems created by a declining birth rate. Some CCP cadres certainly understood that the zero-COVID policy would roil the Chinese economy because mass quarantines would interrupt supply chains and drag productivity down due to widespread absenteeism. What better way to obfuscate those problems than to propagandize zero-COVID measures and claim they work for the rest of the world? And other countries eagerly jumped on the zero-COVID bandwagon by implementing lockdowns and testing regimens. To Attack the US Whether the virus release in Wuhan was inadvertent or planned, the CCP aimed its propaganda directly at the United States to create maximum chaos in the American economy and society at large. The CCP understands that anything that disrupts America by causing divisiveness, economic turmoil, and outright fear advances its goal of supplanting the United States as the worlds economic and geopolitical hegemon by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the communist Chinese regime. Could This Be the Real Reason for Zero COVID? The above are logical reasons for implementing Chinas zero COVID, and all or some could have played a part in the decision-making as the policy evolved and was implemented in China over the past three years. However, there may have been a hidden and self-serving reason that the CCP leadership supported the policy. And that was personal fear of catching the virus. There have been reports over the years that many high-ranking CCP members and family members received organ transplants from the lucrative organ harvesting operations in China. China has long had an organ harvesting industry that has been condemned worldwide (examples here and here). Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to raise awareness about the Chinese regimes brutal persecution of the spiritual practice, including forced organ harvesting, in New York, on May 13, 2022. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times) Jiang Zemin accelerated the organ harvesting of Falun Gong adherents during his time as Chinese leader. Top CCP officials have long been rumored to extend their lives through organ transplants. Unsurprisingly, Jiangs son had three transplants. Those organ recipients are very likely immuno-compromised due to anti-rejection drugs taken to enable the transplants, as noted in a recent video by Epoch TVs Crossroads program. The quarantines and personal isolation created by the zero-COVID policy precluded the development of natural immunities among the population (and within the leadership), which could explain the explosion of new cases in China as the policy has been relaxed in recent weeks. The recent high incidence of deaths among the CCP members and top experts could be explained by the suppressed immune systems of those who received organ transplants, as noted in a video by Spotlight on China. Those people would be particularly susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 variants that are currently spreading everywhere in China. Concluding Thoughts Did Xi Jinping blink when spontaneous riots erupted protesting his draconian COVID measures? Whatever the reason for the abrupt policy change that is opening up China, Western media are currently focused on the virus outbreaks and deaths. An unanswered question is why the unscientific policy was implemented in the first place. There are several politically motivated possibilities that were summarized above. However, it is entirely possible that the virus presented an existential threat to the CCP leadership and elite themselves since a significant number of them and their families are immune-compromised from the drug therapy associated with having received organ transplants. Since those organs were probably harvested from unwilling donors per the current CCP policy on organ harvesting, this is indeed karma! Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Two Helicopters Collide on Australias Gold Coast, 4 Dead and 13 Injured Two cashed helicopters sit on the sand at a collision scene near Seaworld, on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP) Four people are feared dead and another 13 injured after two helicopters collided before one crashed into the Broadwater on the Gold Coast. One helicopter ended up upside down on a sandbar at the waters edge with debris strewn around the area after the crash about 2 p.m. on Monday near the Seaworld theme park at Main Beach. It is believed four people have been killed and two passengers critically injured, but authorities were unable to confirm more details in what the Queensland Ambulance Service called a major incident. At least two have been airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, police said, as paramedics treat patients at the scene. This image made from a video shows sand island island with crashed helicopter, victims and emergency services on Gold Coast, Australia, on Jan. 2, 2023. (CH9 via AP) Thirteen patients are being assessed at the scene were two helicopters have collided on #MainBeach. Please avoid the area, the QAS reported in a social media update. Police and Emergency Services said the crash occurred when two helicopters came into contact. One managed to land successfully after the incident. There are injuries in the other helicopter with emergency services working at the scene, Police and Emergency Services said in a statement. Witness Jonathon James Spagnol said the crash happened after helicopters got too close, with ones rear rotor sawing off the others. Yea 2 choppers hit each other. Look like one went up and one was coming back in. Chopped the back off the other landed on the sand bar. Was right behind us, he wrote on Facebook. Emergency workers remove a body from a helicopter collision scene near Seaworld, on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP) Carmen Renee Mallia wrote: I seen it also. I was absolutely shocked. Shook me to the core. I hope everyone was ok. Saw it hit something from the car and it just went straight down. Hope everyone is okay, Billie Tunks said on Facebook. Julie Cannock was also in the area and reported a huge bang as the aircraft collided. Awful watching this happen live in front of us, Ms Cannock said on social media. So lucky for the families and boaties on the beach under where they crashed huge bang as they collided and the rotors flew off and then watched in slow motion as the 1st chopper crashed to the sand bar still in shock so sad for the families on what was supposed to be a lovely days sight seeing tour. People on jetskis and in boats rushed to help the victims at the small sand island off the theme park before paramedics and police arrived on the scene. A LifeFlight Helicopter also circled over the scene before another was seen heading the scene just before 3pm on the Flight tracker website. A witness said one of the helicopters had been doing joyflights from SeaWorld in the hours before the accident, but AAP was unable to confirm with park operator Village Roadshow. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was investigating the collision, chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said. The ATSB asks anyone who may have seen the collision, or who witnessed the helicopters in any phase of their flights, or who may have footage of any kind, to make contact via witness@atsb.gov.au, he said. Krystle Babbs, like so many others in Western New York, took part Sunday in a belated Christmas celebration. Her dad, Tommie Babbs Sr., is pastor at Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, and Krystle joined that congregation on New Years Day in giving voice to Christmas songs silenced by the blizzard. Offered a chance to testify before the church, she spoke of a friend whose concern during the storm was as great a gift as she ever received. When I hear about all the death, when I hear about the looting, she reminds me that theres goodness in the world, said Babbs, 38, referring to Tina Mulkey, her neighbor. Three years ago, Babbs moved into the new People Inc. Jefferson Apartments on Jefferson Avenue. It was a major decision for Babbs, whose multiple sclerosis had reached a point where she needs a motorized wheelchair. After being on her own for years, she had needed to move home, with her parents, as her disease progressed. While Babbs again wanted to move into her own place, she knew it would require assistance from personal care aides who could help with such tasks as changing clothes, preparing meals or getting into the shower. She lined up that support, and made the move. The Jefferson is specifically designed for women and men with disabilities, and Babbs while remaining close to her mom and dad was grateful to again live an independent life. The blizzard upended everything. The aide scheduled to work that evening could not reach the Jefferson. At one point, Babbs fell from her chair and was unable to get up. If a guy named Edrick who lives across the hall had not heard her cries for help, Babbs fears she could have been there for hours, if not days. Sean Kirst: In storm's aftermath, a cop who has seen the worst looks toward courage, decency For the second time in seven months, a chance scheduling decision placed Buffalo Police Lt. Patrick McDonald at the center of almost untouchable heartbreak in his hometown. Shanell Davis, a neighbor in the complex, was in an equally desperate corner. Like Babbs, the Jefferson equates to independence for Davis, 28, who lived with her mother, Shantae Favors, until about three years ago. To make it work, Davis counts on an aide to help her with changing clothes and many other basic daily needs. On the afternoon of the storm, Davis aide worried about the severity of the blizzard left before her shift ended and managed to make it home, not far away. But there was no way for her to return. Davis had no choice except for spending the entire night in her wheelchair. The agency overseeing her aides warned her it was impossible for them to get to work, and told Davis if she had no other recourse she might need emergency transport to a hospital. Yet as people throughout Buffalo were realizing, even hospital access was cut off by wind and snow. Davis, born with spinal muscular atrophy, worried she would sleep in her chair for days, and she saw no way even of reaching food and water. The next morning day two of the storm her grandmother, Kasara McLeod, called with advice: She told Davis to see if another resident might be able to assist with at least some fundamental tasks, such as getting in and out of the bathroom. Davis had used the motorized chair to go into the corridor and was speaking with a neighbor, when Mulkey the woman Davis calls Miss Tina happened to walk past. Mulkey's buoyant personality makes her a vibrant presence in the building. While she spent most of her life in Niagara Falls, she moved into the Jefferson three years ago, after a string of surgeries left her seeking more accommodating space. She describes herself as a social person "I like to party," she said, laughing and she missed the bonds of her old community. Her fellow residents quickly became familiar with the way she will sing or dance to lift the mood in the halls or how she will spontaneously cook up a fish dinner for as many people as she can feed. In that way, she already knew Davis by name. When she overheard her talking about her plight, Mulkey stopped. She said she could fill the gap. Davis admits it: At first, she didn't fully understand the magnitude of Mulkey's promise. I look at this storm, and how so many people lost their lives, and I know this: That could have been me or that could have been you, Mulkey said. And its in my heart, when someones hurting, to do what I can do. In Niagara Falls, she worked for years as a personal care aide. So what she provided to Davis and to Babbs whom Mulkey also offered to help, after stopping by her room went beyond the best hopes of either woman. Sean Kirst: For mother and son, a two-month journey to travel a few blocks to Tops For Anna Smith and her son Malik Stubbs, the reopening of Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue marked a meaningful moment of healing. For three days, Mulkey devoted herself to their care. She assisted Davis with changing clothes, preparing meals and fundamental needs. On Christmas Day, when Davis and Babbs both were wistful about being away from their families, Mulkey brought them each full dinners of chicken curry and rice. At first, the whole thing had made me rethink living on my own, Davis said, but she made me realize I was stronger than I thought. For residents of the Jefferson, Babbs described the blizzard as the second phase of a one-two punch in 2022. The residents were all deeply affected by the racist mass murder last May in which 10 people died at a Tops supermarket, only a few blocks away. Babbs knew and loved Aaron Salter the warm and gracious security guard she called Sally Sal, in a teasing way who was killed when he saved lives by confronting the gunman. On top of raw grief, the closing of Tops for two months was a major logistical problem for the residents. Many pick up prescriptions at the store, and use it as a primary source of groceries. Until it reopened, some had to ride a bus or a shuttle to stores in other neighborhoods. So the storm was a brutal end to a traumatic year. Davis insists her own problems were minuscule compared to dozens of people who died in the blizzard, or even to others she knows in the disabilities community who had no access to any help. I had one friend with no power who had to drag herself across the floor to use the bathroom, in the cold, Davis said. She and Babbs shared this tale because they want to make it clear: What Mulkey provided is the definition of community, in Buffalo. Mulkey dedicated herself to them for three entire days, seeking nothing in return, and they don't know how they would have coped without her help. Davis, who works as an advocate for People Inc., said the storm has kindled urgent discussion about how to prepare in case of another winter disaster. Sophia Roberts, western region director for the Self-Advocacy Association of New York, said she knows of at least 10 people who were cut off for days from their aides, turning such tasks as cooking or using the bathroom into nightmares and common sense says that number is much larger. Roberts expects that advocates from within the disabilities community will speak with Erie County emergency service providers about creating a new means of crisis response perhaps a mutual aid system of people with direct care experience, in particular neighborhoods, who could be deployed to help. As for Mulkey, her 59th birthday was last Tuesday, and the two women she helped both wished they could find an appropriate way of saying thanks. While their families offered quiet thanks or gifts to Mulkey, Babbs came up with her own more celestial reward. Christmas is a jubilant day at her fathers church, with the music as joyous as it gets, but those services were put off by the storm. So Babbs told her fellow worshippers Sunday at Thankful Missionary Baptist about her new friend at the Jefferson, and a role that fits exactly with what they celebrated, a week late. I always feel like were singing with the angels, said Babbs, who now knows one face-to-face, just down the hall. UK Surveillance Tsar Voices Concern Over Chinese Equipment People visit a Hikvision booth at the security exhibition in Shanghai, China, on May 24, 2019. (Aly Song/Reuters) The UKs surveillance watchdog said a timeline should be set up to assess the risks of using Chinese-made equipment and to remove or replace them if appropriate. In an interview published on Monday in The Times of London, Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson likened the widespread use of Chinese cameras and drones to digital asbestos, saying the equipment had previously been installed widely because they were cheap and got the job done, but knowing they bring significant risk, the UK should probably stop installing any more until we understand the depth and breadth of those risks. And then we should set up a timeline for assessment and, if appropriate, removal or replacement, he told the publication. It comes after experts warned the UK government not to trust the pledge from social media giant TikTok that it wont share UK user data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Human Rights and Security Concerns According to an analysis by Comparitech, London is the most surveilled city in the Western world, after cities in China, a few cities in India, and Singapore, Moscow, and Baghdad. British civil liberties group Big Brother Watch said more than 60 percent of the UKs public bodies were using cameras from Hikvision or Dahua, both world leading security camera manufacturers controlled by the Chinese communist regime. Both firms are known to supply surveillance equipment that has been used to target Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region and have been blacklisted in the United States since 2019 for this reason. Hikvision cameras in an electronic mall in Beijing on May 24, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images) According to security and surveillance industry research group IPVM, Hikvision had also activated alarms that would be triggered by protests, religion, and Falun Gonga popular spiritual discipline that has been targeted by the Chinese regime for eradication since 1999. There are also security concerns around the Chinese companies as all Chinese organisations and citizens are required by law to support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts. In 2021, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission declared that Hikvision and Dahua, along with Huawei, ZTE, and Hytera Communications Corp., pose a threat to U.S. national security. Hikvision and Dahua has previously denied allegations of security risks and involvement in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Commissioner Questions Use of Chinese Equipment Sampson, who previously urged the UK government to ban Hikvision equipment, revealed on Nov. 14 that at least a third of British polices forces which responded to his survey had confirmed they were using cameras from the Chinese manufacturer. The UK government said on Nov. 24 that it had banned government estates from installing new Chinese cameras on sensitive sites. According to The Times of London, Sampson said many of the police forces that have Hikvision cameras had reached out to ask what was a sensitive site. The commissioner questioned whether Britons would want to be watched by untrusted companies and equipment at other public areas such as the Underground, airports, places of worship, or polling stations. He also highlighted the use of Chinese made drones in local policing, saying they are questions we need to ask. Sampsons survey found that 26 of the 28 police forces using drones were using equipment from DJI, a privately-owned company in China, according to its website. The UK governments ban on installing new Chinese cameras also included asking departments to replace existing cameras, but didnt set out a timeline or mandate their replacement. The House of Lords last month adopted an amendment to the Procurement Bill the compels the government to publish a timeline for the removal of physical technology or surveillance equipment from the governments procurement supply chain where there is established evidence that a provider has been involved in modern slavery, genocide, or crimes against humanity. The text did not name any particular country or company, but Lord Alton of Liverpool, who proposed the legislation, said its about committing the government to the removal of all Hikvision and Dahua cameras from the public sector supply. If Altons proposal becomes law, the government would have to publish a removal timeline within six months. The bill is set to commence its process in the House of Commons when MPs return on Jan. 9. Its unclear if the government intends to amend or remove the provision that would accelerate the replacement of Chinese cameras. What Are the Purest Gold Coins? A Quick Guide for Investors This U.S. Saint Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin was shot on a black background and is being held with white gloves. (a98ntfp/Shutterstock) Gold is a popular choice among novice and seasoned investors who want to diversify their investment portfolios. When buying gold, youll likely discover that varying purity levels can impact its value. So what are the purest gold coins available on the market? Below, we discuss some facts you need to know about understanding the actual gold content and face value of popular gold coins. Are All Gold Coins Made of Pure Gold? No, all gold coins contain an alloy mixture of primarily gold and other precious metals for optimal coin durability and strength. The purest gold coin in the world is 99.999 percent gold, which means that no 100 percent pure gold coins exist. Gold coin manufacturers purchase the purest form of gold extracted from ores and molded into gold bars. During the minting process, manufacturers melt these bars to create coins. Minting companies combine the melted gold with other precious metals into a coin before stamping on the identifying symbol. The final result typically ranges from 9099.99 percent pure. Common precious metals used in gold coinage are silver and copper. What Are the Purest Gold Coins? The purest gold bullion coins in circulation include the following: Canadian Gold Maple Leaf : The Canadian Maple Leaf, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, has the highest gold purity of all circulating coin options, with 99.999 percent gold purity. Gold Maple Leafs are extremely popular among bullion investors because of their gold purity. : The Canadian Maple Leaf, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, has the highest gold purity of all circulating coin options, with 99.999 percent gold purity. Gold Maple Leafs are extremely popular among bullion investors because of their gold purity. American Gold Buffalo : The American Buffalo, produced by the United States Mint, boasts 99.999 percent purity, though its gold content continues to increase yearly. : The American Buffalo, produced by the United States Mint, boasts 99.999 percent purity, though its gold content continues to increase yearly. Austrian Philharmonic : This fine gold coin produced by the Austrian Mint also features an impressive 99.99 percent gold content, each weighing half an ounce. Austria began producing gold Philharmonic coins in 1989, before adopting euros as the legal tender just a decade later. : This fine gold coin produced by the Austrian Mint also features an impressive 99.99 percent gold content, each weighing half an ounce. Austria began producing gold Philharmonic coins in 1989, before adopting euros as the legal tender just a decade later. Australian Kangaroo : The Perth Mint produces the Australian Kangaroo (also called the Australian Gold Nugget) at 99.9 percent purity. The face value for a quarter ounce of this Perth Mint gold coin is approximately $1 million. : The Perth Mint produces the Australian Kangaroo (also called the Australian Gold Nugget) at 99.9 percent purity. The face value for a quarter ounce of this Perth Mint gold coin is approximately $1 million. The British Sovereigns : With striking images of Queen Elizabeth II and St. George, the iconic gold Sovereign Coins offers 99.17 percent purity. Materialized by the Royal Mint, the spot price for this gold coin comes from its unique and matchless design. : With striking images of Queen Elizabeth II and St. George, the iconic gold Sovereign Coins offers 99.17 percent purity. Materialized by the Royal Mint, the spot price for this gold coin comes from its unique and matchless design. American Gold Eagle : The American Gold Eagle coin contains 91.67 percent fine gold, with 3 percent silver and 5 percent copper. The American Gold Eagle is one of the most popular gold coins on the market, offering excellent availability. : The American Gold Eagle coin contains 91.67 percent fine gold, with 3 percent silver and 5 percent copper. The American Gold Eagle is one of the most popular gold coins on the market, offering excellent availability. South African Gold Krugerrand: The South African Krugerrand offers 90 percent gold with a copper alloy. In 1967, the South African Gold Krugerrand became the first gold bullion coin, weighing precisely one troy ounce. As the legal tender in South Africa, these bullion coins remain widely available and accessible to many. Which Gold Coin Is Best for Investing? The best gold bullion coin for investing depends on your specific financial goals. Some investors prefer the purest gold coins, which may cost more upfront, though they offer optimal investment security. You can also diversify your investment portfolio with gold coins containing higher precious metal percentages that are rare, offering intrinsic value. Some investors also prefer gold bullion with low purchase values and high accessibility for easy trading. For example, the American Eagle gold coins are widely available and extremely popular among many investment groups. Before investing in gold coins, we recommend considering the products purity, weight, purchase price, age, and rarity. The value of a 1-oz. gold coin can vary significantly from product to product, depending on many factors, so review the coins details. We recommend consulting your financial adviser for further investment advice. Where Can You Buy the Purest Gold Bullion Coin? When shopping for gold bullion coins, youll find that many online retailers sell the most popular coins from major minters. You should purchase from a legitimate organization that sells verified, authentic products, as certain online sellers may list counterfeit coins. Most Expensive and Purest Gold Coins The most expensive gold coin in the world is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. The United States minted over 455,000 of these $20 gold coins in 1933, though all but 20 were melted down, making the existing coins extremely rare and sought-after. The coin, named after the designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens, depicts Lady Liberty carrying a torch on one side in front of the Capitol Building with a soaring American eagle on the other side. With 99.9675 percent purity, this gold coin is relatively pure and rare, allowing it to sell at auction for extreme prices. The highest auction price for a 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was in June 2021. A collector purchased the single coin for $18.8 million. If youre interested in a more accessible, less-expensive gold coin from our list of options above, consider the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf or Austrian Philharmonic. While the market prices for these coins constantly fluctuate, you can typically purchase one for a few thousand dollars rather than millions. What Is the Cheapest and Purest Gold Coin? One of the best ways to find affordable gold coins with decent purity levels is by purchasing lighter weights. Many coins come in different weight options that you can choose between, ranging in cost. A few options for cheaper gold coins with relatively high purity percentages include the following: Canadian MapleGrams : 1-gram packs of coins with 99.99 percent purity : 1-gram packs of coins with 99.99 percent purity Chinese Gold Panda coins : options for 30, 15, and 8 grams or 1/20-ounce weights : options for 30, 15, and 8 grams or 1/20-ounce weights Congo Worlds Wildlife Bald Eagle : under $100 : under $100 Fractional Britannia Gold Coins: available in 1/10 ounce weights Are Rare Gold Coins Made of Pure Gold? Like all other coins, rare gold coins are not 100 percent pure. Often, rare coins contain less purity than modern ones competing for the top position. What makes rare coins valuable is their limited availability. For example, the Chinese Gold Panda, produced by the Official Mint of the Peoples Republic of China, features a new design in each release, which makes every coin more valuable. A Gold Panda from last year will not look the same as this years series. Some popular rare options with impressive purity levels include the following: 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Chinese Gold Panda Lunar Series from the Perth Mint Canadian Call of the Wild Are Ancient Coins Pure Gold? Ancient coins also do not contain 100 percent gold. Like rare options, old coins maintain value from historical associations and limited availability. Many collectors will pay top dollar to add ancient artifacts to their portfolios. Popular ancient gold coins include the following: Roman Nero Imperials Phocaea Female Head Electrum Coson Gold Stater Constans II & Constant IV Gold Solidus Nero Gold Aureus The Oxford Gold Group helps investors protect and grow their wealth by purchasing physical gold and silver for their IRAs and for home delivery as effortlessly and securely as buying bonds or stocks. Thats why investors have turned to the security of gold and silver and the Oxford Gold Group. Call 833-600-GOLD or visit OxfordGoldGroup.com to receive a complimentary copy of Your Precious Metals Investment Guide. Third-party advertisements and links to other sites where goods or services are advertised arent endorsements or recommendations by The Epoch Times of the third-party sites, goods, or services. The Epoch Times takes no responsibility for the content of the ads, promises made, or the quality/reliability of the products or services offered in all advertisements. World Faces Millions More Infections as China Reopens Borders Amid COVID Surge: Pompeo China 'knowingly infecting' people around the globe, says former secretary of state Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a conference in Jerusalem, Israel, on Oct. 12, 2021. (Amir Levy/Getty Images) Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused the Chinese regime of knowingly infecting people all across the globe as the country prepares to reopen its border amid a record surge of COVID infections. China is grappling with an explosive COVID-19 outbreak that has yet to peak. About 248 million people, or 18 percent of the countrys population, were estimated to have been infected by the virus between Dec. 1 to 20, according to a memo from an internal meeting of the countrys top health regulator leaked online. As the virus swept through the nation of 1.4 billion, the regime announced last week it will reopen its borders on Jan. 8, scrapping one of the last remaining curbs from the strict zero-COVID policy that upended daily life for hundreds of millions and battered Chinas economy. During a Jan. 1 interview with entrepreneur and talk show host John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable, Pompeo warned about the reemergence of chaotic scenes such as those that occurred in Italy at the onset of the pandemic. The data is no good. But it sounds like we might have as many as a milliona million, John, a millionChinese people infected, he continued. Fifty percent of their population traveling, there is no reason that we should allow the Chinese to do this, again, to send Chinese-infected persons around the world, knowingly infecting people all across the globe. International Concern Since the onset of the pandemic, the communist regime has drawn mounting criticism for covering up COVID-related information. Amid the current explosive outbreak, the lack of transparent data has prompted international concern, particularly regarding the possibility of a new, stronger variant emerging out of China. Travelers on a flight from China enter the COVID-19 testing center of the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Roissy, outside Paris, as France reinforces health measures at the borders for passengers arriving from China, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images) Italy, the first European nation to be hit hard by COVID-19 after the virus surfaced in China in late 2019, has moved quickly to mandate COVID-19 tests for all travelers coming from China, including those traveling through Italy to other destinations. The measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population, Italian health minister Orazio Schillaci told parliament on Dec. 28. The main airport in Milan had already begun to screen arrivals from Beijing and Shanghai on Dec. 26. On the first flight from China to be tested, 35 out of 62 passengers tested positive for COVID-19, an Italian health official said. The United States last week announced it will require passengers to present a negative COVID-19 result or proof of recovery before boarding a U.S.-bound flight from China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the step is intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 in America amid the massive outbreak in China, given what it calls the lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data being reported from China. The agency is considering measures like sampling wastewater from international flights to track potential new variants. In Sundays interview, Pompeo lambasted Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, warning the virus unleashed by the regimes abrupt reopening could infect millions more. Xi got away with this once. I regret that he wasnt held accountable, the former lawmaker said. He hasnt been held accountable. But we should still do that for the 6 million people who died between spring of 20[20] and today, but hes doing it again. Just as in the spring of 20[20] he sent people around the world who he knew were infected. Hes doing the same darn thing again. Hes going to infect millions more, we shouldnt let that happen. Doubts Over Official Data Scenes of overwhelmed hospitals, people on intravenous drips by the roadside, and lines of hearses outside crematoria have stoked widespread distrust of the regimes official COVID-19 information. Regional data from Chinese provinces and cities recently estimated the infection rate may have exceeded 50 percent in some areas, painting a picture much grimmer than what the nations central authorities have disclosed. The infection rate in the southwestern province of Sichuan, which has a population of more than 84 million, is over 63 percent, according to a Dec. 26 statement by the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A patient with COVID-19 rests in a wheelchair in a hallway at Tangshan Gongren Hospital in Chinas northeastern city of Tangshan on Dec. 30, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Despite the spiraling surge in infections, China only recognized one new COVID-19 death on Jan. 2, according to Reuters, pushing the total fatalities to 12 since the regime abruptly reversed course on Dec. 7. Chinese health officials recently explained that they define a COVID-death to be an individual who dies from pneumonia or respiratory failure caused by COVID-19. That excludes deaths from other COVID-related causes, as well as the deaths of individuals with underlying diseases. Michael Ryan, head of health emergencies at the World Health Organization, has said the narrow criteria would very much underestimate the true death toll, reported the New York Times on Dec. 23. The World Health Organization on Dec. 30 once again urged Chinas health officials to regularly share specific and real-time information on the COVID-19 situation in the country, as it continues to assess the latest surge in infections. Lunar New Year Risk Expectations for holiday travel have grown as China lifts travel and other harsh requirements for the first time in nearly three years. Chinas biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, begins on Jan. 22 this year. During the holiday, the countrys railway network is expected to carry 5.5 million passengers, state broadcaster CCTV has said. Authorities at Tibets spectacular Potala Palace said it would open for visitors on Jan. 3, after shutting down last August due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Some hotels in the southern tourist resort of Sanya are fully booked for Lunar New Year, media have said. Travelers walk at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, on Dec. 30, 2022. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) In recent days, state media have sought to reassure the public that the COVID-19 outbreak is under control and nearing its peak. However, outside researchers predicted an alarming scenario for the first Lunar New Year festival after Chinas reopening. By Jan. 23, the second day of the Lunar New Year, the country may see as many as 25,000 people dying from COVID-19 each day, according to the latest estimate by Airfinity, a London-based health analytics firm. Infections are predicted to reach their first peak on Jan. 13, with 3.7 million cases a day. Currently, the virus is infecting 1.8 million people in China each day, with cumulative cases totaling 20.4 million since Dec. 1, Airfinity said in a statement released Dec. 29 and updated with even bleaker numbers Dec. 30. That indicates that China is likely seeing 11,000 virus-related deaths a day, Airfinity said, more than doubling its estimate from a week ago. Reuters contributed to this report. Students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have reportedly rejected the sudden hike in their tuition. The social media was agog on Monday as some of the students asked the school to reverse the hike or expect the mother of all protests. The students described the increase in tuition fees by the management of NOUN as ill-considered and outrageous while insisting on total reversal. With utmost humility, we write the general public on behalf of a coalition of others concerned to convey the sentiments and pains of the students of the National Open University of Nigeria over the recently communicated memo stating an outrageous increment in school for degree and postgraduate students of the University, a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by some students leaders in the institution reads. We are most assured and confident that the Directorate and authority of the University take her decisions after critical discussions, thoughts and review amidst the academic juggernauts and motherly minds that occupy and guide the activities of our academic life as students. To this understanding and in the context of the unravelling realities open to all, the released amount (a sum total of Undergraduate New Students From #36,000 to #55,000 minus courses and exam registration, Exam registration is #1,500 from #1,000, Project fee #25,000 and for postgraduate from #35,000 to #61,000 ), an increment of like 300% to be paid is felt outrageous and overwhelming for us, our parents and guardians and particularly for many of us who bear the risk of these challenging economic realities to send ourselves to school. As objective minds and members of the public, it is safe to research and review from our colleagues who run degree programmes with other Universities, none pay this much for tuition, even in some private universities. We are seriously alarmed and troubled that in our efforts of pursuing a first degree and postgraduate degree programs and to be responsible citizens who would in return give back to the society that has given a lot to us, we might be witnessing a serious roadblock to complete this exercise with the amount that has been charged if we are to further our education. These concerned students humbly appeal for a considerable reduction in this fee, to its previous amount and status quo. There is serious distress, fear and agony ravaging our colleagues as a result of this increment, some are on verge of losing hope and we will all be most gracious as always if this is resolved as quickest as possible, and just also to douse all tensions in the air. We are very hopeful and confident our requests will be considered and we will be made to smile again and aspire for greatness that we strive at all costs to be. Cathay Pacific steps up Hong Kong flights PHUKET: Airports of Thailand Senior management and staff at Phuket International Airport (AoT Phuket) saw in the New Year yesterday (Jan 1) by welcoming 118 arrivals from Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific flight. tourismtransport By The Phuket News Monday 2 January 2023, 10:15AM The flight, CX771, was called the inaugural flight of Cathay Pacific Airways, route HKG - HKT. Flight services CX771 actually resumed on Aug 10, 2021 as the first flight to return from Hong Kong under the Phuket Sandbox tourism entry scheme. Yesterday saw the flight service return to its daily routine. Present to welcome the arrivals from Hong Kong at Gate 15 of the International Passenger Terminal were Phuket airport General Manager Monchai Tanode along with airport and airline staff. Welcome gifts were handed to the arrivals as they disembarked. The arrivals from Hong Kong followed Phuket airport welcoming 11,027 international arrivals on the last day of the year. According to Phuket Airport Immigration Daily Report, a total of 578,926 international arrivals landed at Phuket airport from Nov 1 - Dec 31. During the last two months of the year, 161,504 Russians landed on the island, with Indian nationals far behind in second place with 63,510 arrivals. Rounding out the top 10 arrivals by nationality during November and December were the UK (31,974), Australia (31,531), Singapore (31,425), Kazakhstan (24,673), Germany (22,891), Malaysia (20,861), United States (15,281) and South Korea (14,112). No road deaths over Phuket New Year, report officials PHUKET: Seven people were admitted to hospital for injuries sustained in road accidents on the island but there were no deaths on New Years Day yesterday (Jan 1), Phuket officials announced this morning (Jan 2). transportSafetyaccidentstourism By The Phuket News Monday 2 January 2023, 12:08PM The tally for yesterday brought the total for the Seven Days of Danger safety campaign for New Year 2023 to 18 people injured (10 male, eight female) and one death (male) in 18 road accidents since the campaign began at midnight Thursday night. Day 1 of the campaign was from midnight to midnight last Thursday (Dec 29). Yesterday (Jan 1) marked Day 4 of the campaign. According to the report this morning by the Phuket provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), which is the office responsible for presenting the Seven Days daily reports for Phuket, there were only seven road accidents in Phuket recognised by officials. Six of the recognised accidents were in Muang District, with another recognised in Kathu District. Five of those injured were male, two were female, DDPM-Phuket reported. Of the 18 admitted to hospital for injuries so far throughout the campaign, 10 were male and the remaining eight were female, DDPM-Phuket also reported. The Seven Days daily briefing this morning, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, was led by Col Chaikiat Wiriyasathitkul, Deputy Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police. Present to deliver the report was DDPM-Phuket Chief Pridi Engseng. Motorbikes continued to be the most common type of vehicle involved in accidents during the campaign, an official report of the meeting noted. Risky driving behavior, drunk driving and speeding were the highest-ranking critical factors causing the accidents, the report added. At the 11 main police checkpoints set up across the island, driving without a licence remained the most common traffic violation, followed by not wearing a seatbelt and drunk driving, the report added. Unlike in previous years, so far this year police and DDPM-Phuket have yet to reveal the actual number of fines and arrests made for traffic law violations. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), intends to travel to Russia, Azernews reports citing TASS. "I will go to Moscow," Spoljaric Egger stated in a Sunday interview with the weekly Neue Zurcher Zeitung am Sontag. Such a trip has not yet been scheduled at a specific time. "It is important that we talk with Russia at all levels," she said. In particular, the focus is on contacts in the field. "We need to be able to get security guarantees on site for sending representatives to visit prisoners. For that we need contacts locally," she said. Spoljaric Egger recalled that the ICRC was in dialogue "with all parties on their obligation to comply with international humanitarian law." WASHINGTON After nearly three years of pandemic- and insurrection-related security restrictions, tourists this week will be allowed into the House gallery, and unescorted visitors on official business will be able to enter House office buildings. The changes will take place as Republicans, some of whom have vocally fought against COVID-19 restrictions, are sworn into a majority of House seats in the 118th Congress. The House gallery will open to the public at the conclusion of the opening session Tuesday, according to a letter sent to members from House Sergeant-at-Arms William J. Walker. Passes obtained from members' offices will be required, and visitors will be subject to security screening before entering, just as they were prior to the pandemic. Tours of the Capitol complex were suspended on March 11, 2020, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but they gradually resumed with numerous restrictions, including size limits. Many of those restrictions now will be lifted, and Saturday tours will resume. An estimated 3-5 million people from around the world visit the Capitol Hill campus each year, and spring is a busy season for school groups, advocacy organizations and tourists to visit. After House office buildings reopen to the public, staff members will no longer be required to escort guests. But staff will be required to accompany guests visiting the Capitol, as they were before the pandemic. Lobbyists have been sharply restricted from roaming the Capitol campus unescorted since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. For much of that time, they have been permitted to conduct in-person meetings on Capitol Hill, as long as a congressional aide signs them in and escorts them around the buildings. Rules have been especially strict on the House side, and some on K Street have been pressing for increased access. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican seeking the speaker's post, has long pushed for an easing of restrictions. "Reopening the House is more than just a symbolic measure a government of the people, by the people, for the people requires interaction with the people,'' he wrote to legislative branch officials shortly after Republicans won control of the chamber last month. "It is for this reason that we must welcome Americans from across the nation back to the Halls of Congress." Reopening the campus has been substantially hampered because of staffing shortages plaguing the Capitol Police. Walker, in his letter to members, said the decision to fully reopen the Capitol was made in consultation with congressional leaders, the Capitol Police Board, the attending physician, the U.S. Capitol Police and Visitor Services. Photos: Scenes from Pelosi's announcement that she won't seek leadership in next Congress Bill Gouveia is a Sun Chronicle columnist. Reach him at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @Billinsidelook . Hatzalah South Florida welcomed a brand new Ambulance to the Boca Raton community this week. This is the second Ambulance to join the growing HSF fleet in Boca, allowing for an even faster response time and wider coverage area of the ever-expanding Boca Raton/ Deerfield Beach area. The new ambulance is equipped with the very latest state-of-the-art medical equipment and many upgrades to ensure patients will be as comfortable as possible when they are in need of Hatzalahs services. The new ambulance will be welcomed with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming weeks but it was put into immediate service upon delivery due to the significant increase in daily call volume Hatzalah is experiencing in the Boca area. Hatzalah South Florida launched its first response service in Palm Beach County this past January and started ambulance transport right before Rosh Hashana. The call volume in Boca has been steadily increasing month over month as the community has grown more familiar with Hatzalah and its operation. The organization and the community are extremely grateful to the Friedman family for their incredible generosity. Well known for their many acts of charity and kindness, the Friedman family recognized the critical need for a new state-of-the -art ambulance and stepped up with a major investment to help HSF enhance its life saving operations in Boca Raton. Hatzalah is committed to providing the best possible care to the South Florida community, with their signature willingness to go the extra mile, and the addition of a second ambulance in Boca will help them meet their goals of even quicker and better patient care. For dedication opportunities or to find out how you can get involved in Hatzalah South Florida, please visit www.hsfems.org Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey beamed as an excavators heavy claw smashed through the windows of an old state office building and began tearing off the facade. In one of his last public appearances in mid-December, the outgoing Republican governor watched the physical manifestation of a project that has defined his eight-year tenure: tearing down state government. Ducey also cut taxes, vastly expanded school choice, restricted abortion and built a makeshift wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in defiance of a Democratic president, checking just about every conservative box. At a time when the conservative movement is almost singularly oriented around owning the libs, Ducey spent his two terms outmaneuvering Democrats to advance Republican priorities, reshaping his state in a decisively conservative direction. Yet he leaves office Monday with a limited national profile and the enmity of GOP foot soldiers less interested in the pile of things he accomplished than the one thing he would not do: overturn then-President Donald Trumps defeat in the states 2020 election. Ducey really gave the road map of how to govern, how to stay relatively popular and get things done, said Mike Noble, a Phoenix-based pollster who used to work for Republicans and now focuses on nonpartisan surveys. Democrat Katie Hobbs is becoming governor, but a Republican-controlled Legislature will limit her ability to undo much of what Ducey enacted. Duceys preferred successor, businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson, lost the GOP primary to Trump-backed former television anchor Kari Lake, who rose to prominence on the right as a fierce proponent of Trumps election lies. Ducey offered a tepid endorsement of the entire Republican slate but did not campaign with Lake, who lost narrowly to Hobbs and continues to claim the election was marred by intentional misconduct. She frequently attacked Ducey on her way to winning the GOP nomination. The governor also feuded openly with Kelli Ward, the state GOP chair. But despite the dominance of Lake and Ward in the current state GOP, he plays down their significance. They are inconsequential and have zero power, Ducey told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday. Ducey has said little about his plans after leaving the governors office. He is sometimes mentioned as a top-ticket recruit for Arizonas 2024 Senate race or as a dark-horse candidate for president or vice president if the GOP is interested in his brand of limited-government conservatism. He rejected a recruitment effort by establishment Republicans to run against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, who was reelected in November. Ducey also has largely eschewed the social media taunts that helped Republicans such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis build a national profile. Ducey offered his most candid assessment of the modern GOP in a September speech at the Ronald Reagan President Library and Museum. The governor warned that a dangerous strain of big government activism has taken hold within the party and he lamented that a segment of the conservative movement is driven by anger instead of substance. I look at the party and worry that candidates are more defined by their attitudes than the policies they propose, Ducey said. And yes, a good many small-government conservatives have morphed into bullies people who are very comfortable using government power to tell companies and people how to live their lives. Ducey walked a tightrope during Trumps presidency, initially forging a strong alliance with him and never issuing public criticism, even when his tweets or border policies threatened to be problematic for Arizona. But their relationship crumbled live on television, when Ducey silenced a call from Trump signified by a Hail to the Chief ring tone as the governor signed the paperwork certifying Democrat Joe Bidens narrow presidential victory in Arizona. Trump more recently called Ducey one of the worst governors in America. Democrats, including state Sen. Martin Quezada, say Ducey could have done more to help prevent Trumps lies about the 2020 election from taking root in the state Republican Party. Ducey avoided, for example, weighing in on an unprecedented partisan review of the 2020 election conducted by Trump supporters on behalf of Senate Republicans, an episode that became a widely mocked spectacle. He also raised millions of dollars for some of the most extreme voices in the Legislature to keep a GOP majority. He could have been a leader and stood on a platform and said, Our elections are safe, our elections are secure and people can trust our election system, Quezada said. Thats an opportunity he really missed. Democrats also fault Ducey for being slow to restore money for schools as the state rebounded from the Great Recession. Meager funding and stagnant wages led to a teacher walkout in 2018, culminating in a 20% raise for teachers that was brokered by Ducey. He took heat from the left for rapidly lifting his COVID-19 restrictions, which was followed by an immediate surge of deaths in the summer of 2020. Ducey said his approach to election denialism is to address it with facts and recognize that there are very good people who have been misled. Sometimes you need a clean up on aisle nine to focus the mind, he said. And I do think the candidates that you saw focusing on the future, rather than looking in the rearview mirror and talking about the past, were the ones that had great success. During his tenure, Ducey notched victories for just about every piece of the conservative coalition that defined the GOP before Trumps 2016 victory reshaped the partys tone and focus. He signed a first-in-the-nation universal school voucher law, which lawmakers approved just two years after voters decisively rejected a less ambitious measure. He backed new restrictions on abortion year after year, including a ban on terminating pregnancies after 15 weeks gestational age. A state appeals court ruled Friday the law takes precedence over a near total abortion ban that dates to the Civil War. He expanded the state Supreme Court and packed it with conservatives, creating a legacy that will endure long after he leaves office and could further constrain Hobbs ambitions. He rejects comparisons to a push by liberals to expand the U.S. Supreme Court because, he says, Arizonas high court was always expected to grow with the state. He presided over a diversification of the states economy, liberally offering tax breaks and a hands-off government to technology companies and manufacturers. He inherited a massive budget deficit in 2015 and leaves with a record surplus that allowed him to cut taxes. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Ducey graduated from Arizona State University and went on to run Cold Stone Creamery, which he built from a neighborhood ice cream shop near his alma mater into a franchised national brand. He sold the business and turned to politics, getting elected state treasurer in 2010 and governor four years later. As head of the Republican Governors Association, Ducey built his profile among conservative donors and GOP political operatives, relationships that could be useful if he decides to run for another office. Ducey said hes still considering his next move and did not rule out another run for elected office, adding, I do think Ive got another act or two in me. Ive loved being part of the conservative cause, and I care about it greatly, Ducey said. So Im open-minded to whats next. (AP) Exiled Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt has warned Jews in Russia to leave the country before they are made into scapegoats. Rabbi Goldschmidt made the comments in an interview with The Guardian, citing growing anti-Semitism and a deteriorating political climate in Russia as reasons for his warning. Goldschmidt, who fled Russia in 2019 amid threats to his safety, argued that Jews in the country are at risk of being used as a convenient target for those in power to distract from larger problems. When we look back over Russian history, whenever the political system was in danger you saw the government trying to redirect the anger and discontent of the masses towards the Jewish community, he said. We saw this in tsarist times and at the end of the Stalinist regime. Were seeing rising antisemitism while Russia is going back to a new kind of Soviet Union, and step by step the iron curtain is coming down again. This is why I believe the best option for Russian Jews is to leave, he said. Pressure was put on community leaders to support the war, and I refused to do so. I resigned because to continue as chief rabbi of Moscow would be a problem for the community because of the repressive measures taken against dissidents, he said. Rabbi Goldschmidt first urged Russian Jews to flee the country after a Russian official called Chabad a supremacist cult, warning that things would only get worse for Jews as the war in Ukraine plodded on. According to the exiled rabbi, 25%-30% of Russian Jews have left Russia, or are planning to leave, since the outbreak of war last February. Russia currently has about 165,000 Jewish people living in it out of 145 million total citizens. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) President Joe Bidens administration on Friday finalized regulations that protect hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, repealing a Trump-era rule that federal courts had thrown out and that environmentalists said left waterways vulnerable to pollution. The rule defines which waters of the United States are protected by the Clean Water Act. For decades, the term has been a flashpoint between environmental groups that want to broaden limits on pollution entering the nations waters and farmers, builders and industry groups that say extending regulations too far is onerous for business. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army said the reworked rule is based on definitions that were in place prior to 2015. Federal officials said they wrote a durable definition of waterways to reduce uncertainty. In recent years, however, there has been a lot of uncertainty. After the Obama administration sought to expand federal protections, the Trump administration rolled them back as part of its unwinding of hundreds of environmental and public health regulations. A federal judge rejected that effort. And a separate case is currently being considered by the Supreme Court that could yet upend the finalized rule. We have put forward a rule thats clear, its durable, and it balances that protecting of our water resources with the needs of all water users, whether its farmers, ranchers, industry, watershed organizations, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox told The Associated Press. The new rule is built on a pre-2015 definition, but is more streamlined and includes updates to reflect court opinions, scientific understanding and decades of experience, Fox said. The final rule will modestly increase protections for some streams, wetlands, lakes and ponds, she said. The Trump-era rule, finalized in 2020, was long sought by builders, oil and gas developers, farmers and others who complained about federal overreach that they said stretched into gullies, creeks and ravines on farmland and other private property. Environmental groups and public health advocates countered that the Trump rule allowed businesses to dump pollutants into unprotected waterways and fill in some wetlands, threatening public water supplies downstream and harming wildlife and habitat. Today, the Biden administration restored needed clean water protections so that our nations waters are guarded against pollution for fishing, swimming, and as sources of drinking water, Kelly Moser, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Centers Clean Water Defense Initiative, said in a statement. Jon Devine, director of federal water policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council, called repealing the Trump-era rule a smart move that comes at a time when were seeing unprecedented attacks on federal clean water protections by polluters and their allies. But Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito called the rule regulatory overreach that will unfairly burden Americas farmers, ranchers, miners, infrastructure builders, and landowners. Jerry Konter, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, struck a similar note, saying the new rule makes it unclear if the federal government will regulate water in places such as roadside ditches and isolated ponds. A 2021 review by the Biden administration found that the Trump rule allowed more than 300 projects to proceed without the federal permits required under the Obama-era rule, and that the Trump rule significantly curtailed clean water protections in states such as New Mexico and Arizona. In August 2021, a federal judge threw out the Trump-era rule and put back in place a 1986 standard that was broader in scope than the Trump rule but narrower than Obamas. U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez in Arizona, an Obama appointee, said the Trump-era EPA had ignored its own findings that small waterways can affect the well-being of the larger waterways they flow into. Meanwhile, Supreme Court justices are considering arguments from an Idaho couple in their business-backed push to curtail the Clean Water Act. Chantell and Michael Sackett wanted to build a home near a lake, but the EPA stopped their work in 2007, finding wetlands on their property were federally regulated. The agency said the Sacketts needed a permit. The case was heard in October and tests part of the rule the Biden administration carried over into its finalized version. Now-retired Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in 2006 that if wetlands significantly affect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of nearby navigable waters like rivers, the Clean Water Acts protections apply. The EPAs rule includes this test. Four conservative justices in the 2006 case, however, said that federal regulation only applied if there was a continuous surface connection between wetlands and an obviously regulated body of water like a river. Charles Yates, attorney for the libertarian group Pacific Legal Foundation, said the new rule shows the importance of the Supreme Court case since the definition for WOTUS shifts with each new presidential administration. Absent definitive guidance from the Supreme Court, a lawful, workable, and durable definition of navigable waters will remain elusive, Yates said in a statement. The Biden rule applies federal protections to wetlands, tributaries and other waters that have a significant connection to navigable waters or if wetlands are relatively permanent. The rule sets no specific distance for when adjacent wetlands are protected, stating that several factors can determine if the wetland and the waterway can impact water quality and quantity on each other. It states that the impact depends on regional variations in climate, landscape, and geomorphology. For example, the rule notes that in the West, which typically gets less rain and has higher rates of evaporation, wetlands may need to be close to a waterway to be considered adjacent. In places where the waterway is wide and the topography flat, wetlands are likely to be determined to be reasonably close where they are a few hundred feet from the tributary , the rule states. Fox said the rule wasnt written to stop development or prevent farming. It is about making sure we have development happening, that were growing food and fuel for our country but doing it in a way that also protects our nations water, she said. (AP) ReportLinker The Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market size was estimated at USD 3,128. 53 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 3,351. 60 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 7. 38% to reach USD 4,797. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market Research Report by Type, Material, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335937/?utm_source=GNW 35 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Aircraft Engine Nacelle to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the market was studied across Clipped at Wing, Pylons Under Wing, and Rare Mounted Nacelle. Based on Material, the market was studied across Aluminium Alloys, Composites, Nickel Chromium, Stainless Steel, and Titanium Alloys. Based on Application, the market was studied across Business Jet Aircraft, Civil Jet Aircraft, and Private Jet Aircraft. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Aircraft Engine Nacelle market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market, including ACT Aerospace, Aernnova Aerospace S.A., AKKA Technologies SE, Arkwin Industries Inc., Aviagroup Industries, Barnes Group Inc., Bombardier Inc., Cadence Aerospace LLC, Collins Aerospace, FACC AG, GE Aviation, GKN Aerospace Services Limited, Kawak Aviation Technologies Inc., Leonardo SpA, Magellan Aerospace Corp., MSM Aerospace Fabricators Ltd., Nexcelle, Nordam Group LLC, Safran SA, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., The Nordam Group LLC, Triumph Group Inc., United Technologies Corporation, and Woodward, Inc.. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Aircraft Engine Nacelle Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335937/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Motzei Shabbos responded to the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly on Friday night requesting that the International Court of Justice (ICC) discuss Israels prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Yehudah and Shomron and Jerusalem. Just like the hundreds of distorted UN General Assembly resolutions against Israel over the years, todays disgraceful resolution will not obligate the Government of Israel, Netanyahu said. The Jewish people are not occupying its land and is not occupying its eternal capital Jerusalem. No UN resolution can distort this historical truth. In recent days, I have spoken with world leaders who changed their votes as a result. Together with President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan and the personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have achieved something important. In the UN resolution that was passed in November, the Palestinians had an absolute majority of UN member states that supported their initiative. Those that did not support it that opposed, abstained or were absent were in the minority. Now, after our intervention, 11 countries changed how they voted and as a result there has been a turnaround: The countries that supported the Palestinian initiative were a minority of UN members and those that did not support the Palestinians were a majority of UN member states. I would like to thank President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Ambassador to the UN and the personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their cooperation in bringing about this important achievement. We will continue to fight for the truth, Netanyahu resolved. Prior to the vote, Israels Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan said: The outrageous resolution calling for the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice is a moral stain on the UN and every country that supports it. No international body can decide that the Jewish people are occupiers in their own homeland. Any decision from a judicial body which receives its mandate from the morally bankrupt and politicized UN is completely illegitimate. The Palestinians have rejected every peace initiative while supporting and inciting terror, Erdan emphasized. Instead of pushing the Palestinians to change, the UN is doing the opposite: helping them to harm the only vibrant democracy in the Middle East which recently signed four peace agreements with Arab countries. We will not take part in this disgraceful show of lies. The decision to hold a vote that deals with Israel on Shabbat is another example of the moral decay of the UN, which prevents Israels position from being heard in a vote whose results are predetermined. 4/ Yesterday the UNGA adopted its 15th resolution on Israel. The text condemns the Jewish state 35 times, ignores Jewish and Christian history by calling the Temple Mount only by its Islamic name, and launches a new ICJ proceeding targeting Israel. Only a minority voted for it. pic.twitter.com/T09MnaYgyy Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 31, 2022 2022 UN General Assembly resolutions on: North Korea 1 Afghanistan 1 Venezuela 0 Myanmar 1 Lebanon 0 Pakistan 0 Hamas 0 Algeria 0 Turkey 0 Russia 6 China 0 Qatar 0 Saudi 0 Israel 15 Cuba 0 Syria 1 Iraq 0 Iran 1 U.S. 1 Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 31, 2022 (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on Sunday evening visited the Kosel along with Kosel Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz and Western Wall Heritage Foundation Director Mordechai Eliav, to mark the swearing-in of Israels 37th government. Prime Minister Netanyahu said: I just wrote in the book: The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. ( ). I have summarized the two continuing actions that I have taken upon myself both yesterday and today. We will continue to do this on behalf of the citizens of Israel, the State of Israel and the Land of Israel, he proclaimed. I must say that I am also moved this time as well, to accept the position and lead the State of Israel. I have come here, the quarry from which we were shaped, to touch the stones of the Kosel, and to remember that we are charged with the obligation of safeguarding the heritage of generations and ensuring our future for the coming generations as well, and this we will do. Authorities in New York City are investigating whether a man who attacked three police officers at a New Years Eve celebration, striking two of them, was inspired by radical Islamic extremism, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The attack happened a little after 10 p.m. about eight blocks from Times Square, just outside the high-security zone where revelers are screened for weapons. Two of the officers were struck before an officer shot the man in the shoulder. The two officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull and the other with a bad cut, and were expected to recover. Police did not publicly identify the 19-year-old suspect, but the law enforcement official identified him to The Associated Press as Trevor Bickford, of Wells, Maine. Investigators believe Bickford traveled to New York City earlier in the week and are examining whether he came to New York specifically to attack police officers at one of the largest New Years celebrations in the world, the law enforcement official said. New York City police and federal officials are still trying to discern a motive, and investigators have been reviewing Bickfords online postings, which included some mentions of Islamic extremist views, the official said. The official could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Bickford was expected to recover from the gunshot wound. No charges against him were immediately announced. Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York field office, said the FBIs Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York City was investigating but investigators believe the attacker acted alone. The attack and sound of a gunshot briefly sent some people running, but the festivities in Times Square continued uninterrupted. Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference early Sunday that he spoke to one of the wounded officers as he was being stitched up at the hospital. He was in good spirits, Adams said. He understood that his role saved lives of New Yorkers today. The NYPD mounts a massive security operation every year to keep the New Years Eve crowd safe. Thousands of officers are sent to the area, including many new recruits. One of the injured officers just graduated from the police academy on Friday, the mayor said. The blocks where the biggest crowds gather to see performances and the midnight ball drop can be accessed only through checkpoints where officers use metal-detecting wands to screen for weapons. Large bags and coolers are banned. Barriers are set up to prevent vehicle attacks. The security perimeter extends only so far, though. The attack took place on 8th Avenue, which is often packed with people navigating around the frozen zone or trying to find one of the secure entrances. (AP) Both political parties are opening the new year confronting critical questions about the people and policies they want to embrace as the next election speeds into view. The challenges are particularly urgent for Republicans, who hoped to enter 2023 with a secure grip on one, if not both, chambers of Congress. Instead, an underwhelming midterm election yielded only a thin House majority that will expose fierce intraparty divisions this week as California Rep. Kevin McCarthy fights for the speakership. And before the end of the month, the Republican National Committee must resolve a divisive leadership battle of its own. A central figure in virtually everything is Donald Trump, the former president who transformed the GOP more than seven years ago and is still fighting to exert his will over Republicans in Congress, the RNC and Republican voters just as the next presidential primary season begins. RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel acknowledged, in an interview, that her partys greatest political challenge ahead may come from within as party leaders navigate Trumps outsized role. Theres so much at stake we cant afford to be divided heading into 2024, McDaniel said, promising that the RNC would be neutral in the looming presidential nomination process. If we are divided, we will lose. For now, at least, Democrats appear to be far more united than their Republican counterparts. But much depends on Joe Biden and whether the 80-year-old president will follow through on his plan to seek reelection. If he eschews another term and a formal announcement may be months away Democrats would be thrust into a murky future with no obvious popular alternatives. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who did not rule out another presidential bid of his own, said Democrats are also at a pivotal moment, facing cracks in their delicate political coalition among young people, African Americans, Latinos and working-class voters. It pains me very, very much that were seeing more and more working-class people voting Republican, he said in an interview. Politically, that is a disaster, and Democrats have to recognize that serious problem and address it. Though many voters may be tired of the never-ending campaign that is U.S. politics, especially after a high-stakes midterm election in 2022, the tense dynamics guarantee the political spotlight will only burn brighter in the new year. If history is a guide, the opening presidential primary debates are just seven months away. And the debate stage is expected to be crowded at least on the GOP side. No fewer than 10 high-profile Republicans are actively weighing 2024 presidential bids in open defiance of Trump, emboldened by the growing belief that the former president is as politically vulnerable as hes ever been. At the moment, Trump is the only announced candidate in the Republican primary. But a handful of candidates are expected to join by the end of March, while some higher-profile contenders Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, among them believe they can wait until late spring or even early summer to make their intentions known. Few believe Trump will be easy to topple in a GOP primary. Already, he has begun to lash out at would-be rivals by name, and he maintains a rock-solid grip among the partys most active voters, who will dominate GOP primary contests. Still, voters will have several options in a likely field that features DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among several others. Most have already begun actively courting donors and making connections on the ground in early states on the presidential primary calendar. Before the presidential nomination process begins in earnest, the GOP must first resolve a contentious leadership fight in the House. And by months end, the Republican National Committee will decide whether to elect McDaniel to a fourth two-year term. Much of the energy from Trumps Make America Great Again movement has rallied behind California attorney Harmeet Dhillon in an increasingly nasty leadership fight that will be decided at the committees winter meeting later in the month after three consecutive disappointing election cycles. Trump and his loyalists will figure prominently in each of the clashes. But prominent establishment Republicans are pushing back much more aggressively. Steven Law, a key Mitch McConnell ally who leads the Senate GOPs leading super PAC, vowed to play a much more assertive role in shaping future Senate contests. Thats just as the incoming head of the Senate GOP campaign arm, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., suggests that his committee will actively play in Republican primaries to ensure that candidates who can be more competitive with the broader general election audience advance. Thats a notable reversal from the committees current hands-off practice, which was blamed for elevating candidates who failed to expand their support beyond the base. On paper, Senate Republicans have major opportunities ahead in red states like West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, where Democrats are up for reelection in 2024. To take full advantage, however, the GOP must avoid the same candidate quality issues that plagued the party in the November midterms as a slate of deeply flawed Trump-backed candidates lost key Senate contests in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Recruitment is going to be job one, starting now, Law said. The first step is to do everything we can to get the best possible candidate in the field. Law was optimistic that Trump would stay out of Senate primary contests in 2024 given the needs of his presidential campaign. McConnell, R-Ky., the Senates Republican leader, offered a similar sentiment in a recent interview with NBC News. We can do a better job with less potential interference, McConnell said of Trump. The former president may have other things to do. Meanwhile, Democrats have issues of their own to sort out the most pressing, of course, is whether Biden will seek a second term. Already, he is the oldest president in U.S. history. Polling suggests that a significant number of voters in both parties dont want him to run again. The Democratic president, who spent new years weekend with family in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has said he aims to make a final decision over the holidays. Biden told reporters the day after the midterms that he intends to run, but that he is a respecter of fate. Aides and allies are already making preparations for a campaign launch, though they are avoiding overt steps that could be seen as getting in front of Bidens decision-making process. A formal campaign launch isnt expected until the second quarter of 2023, both to maximize the incumbency advantage offered to Biden allowing him to try to stay above the political fray for as long as possible and to avoid having to report fundraising during the historically weak first quarter. And while a 2024 Biden run is likely, some Democrats are working to change his mind. A progressive group has been running ads under the banner Dont Run Joe across Georgia, Michigan and South Carolina in recent days. The ad campaign features Democratic voters condemning the president as status-quo Joe, while highlighting his weak polling numbers. If he runs, the election is at serious risk, one voter says of Biden in the new ad, which will also begin running on CNN in Washington, D.C., on Monday, according to one of the groups leaders, Norman Solomon. There is no clear Democratic alternative should Biden not run, however. That may help explain why most Democratic officials are openly encouraging the president to run again. In an interview, progressive leader Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he wouldnt challenge the president in a primary and he discouraged anyone from the partys progressive wing from doing so. At this point, I dont think a candidacy from someone would do anything other than weaken the president. And why would you want to do that headed into an election thats going to be close? he said. Quentin Wathum-Ocama, president of the Young Democrats of America, has been critical of Biden in the past but said hes good if Biden wants to run again. Even if young people are not overly excited about the Biden administration, he said, they feel a sense of duty and obligation to support the party because of the threats to democracy that Trump and his allies represent. Were not always going to be super enthused, but were going to show the hell up, Wathum-Ocama said. Were obligated to show up because we know what happens next and that could be something even scarier than what we saw on Jan. 6. Sanders insisted that the Democratic Party has got to be more than the anti-Trump party. The Vermont independent said Democrats in Congress must move with real urgency to address the erosion of working-class voters who are increasingly willing to support Trump and his Republican allies. He called on Senate Democrats to adopt a higher minimum wage, among other worker-friendly legislation that would test the new Republican-controlled Houses commitment to working-class voters. As for his own 2024 intentions, the 81-year-old Sanders, who sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2016 and 2020, said it was not the right time to discuss whether he might launch another White House bid. Ill make a decision at the appropriate time, Sanders said. People need to breathe. (AP) Britain has a reputation for the integrity of its economic and financial management. That is why Trussonomics came as a shock to the markets last year. As we enter 2023 the concern must be that transparency and trust in the manner in which the Government and regulator Ofgem is tackling the serial collapses among energy firms is disgracefully opaque. The standing charge on household energy bills is being used by the regulator to reclaim some of the costs associated with the failure of more than 30 energy suppliers in the volatile energy market in recent times, as The Mail on Sunday disclosed at the weekend. Stealth tax: The standing charge on household energy bills is being used by the regulator to reclaim some of the costs associated with the failure of more than 30 energy suppliers This silent bail-out, being paid for by households hard pressed by the surging cost of living, has never been publicly scrutinised. It is in effect a tax jump which has never formally been approved in the Commons. We should not be surprised. The effort to introduce an element of competition into our energy markets has been an abject failure. The lack of scrutiny by the regulator Ofgem made the energy market a playground for the unscrupulous and has cost the public dearly. Choice has been gobbled up, customers moved with no certainty of future tariffs and previously ring-fenced customer credit balances are being abused. The bill is falling on households but we dont know precisely the sums involved. Gordon Browns government paid a heavy political price for the banking rescue in 2008. The bail-out, organised by the Treasury and the Bank of England, was fully costed. It was accompanied by swift managerial changes and limits on dividend and bonus payouts to bankers. No such clarity exists in the energy market. THE most extreme example of a lack of clarity and contempt for the taxpayer is the rescue of Bulb. Everyone understands that the wild swings in energy prices have caused serious problems. Nevertheless, when there is intervention the public has the right to know exactly what is happening. The first inkling that the failure of the self-proclaimed digital age supplier Bulb could prove the most expensive taxpayer rescue since the banks came in a footnote in the Office for Budget Responsibility Report (OBR) in October which estimated costs at a whopping 6.5billion. That is not the end of it, although the data is hugely confusing. In late December 2022 the Government acknowledged that it was providing 4.5billion of potential assistance to buyer Octopus to take on Bulbs 1.5m customers. No one knows how the 6.5billion was calculated and how it relates to the 4.5billion. The latter appears to be a separate forward estimate of wholesale purchasing costs from October 2022 to March 2023. As critically, we still have little understanding how Octopus became the preferred bidder in spite of challenges by Centrica in the courts. Once again the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Ofgem have shown disregard for the public accountability. If and when the National Audit Office gets its teeth into this fiasco it cannot fail to find ministers, BEIS and Ofgem officials seriously in breach of responsibilities to Parliament and the public. The episode represents a deep scar on the probity and transparency of government. Ice accretion from freezing rain could cause travel issues in Ontario The promise of an exceptionally warm start to the first week of January in Ontario won't pan out as exactly planned, thanks to an unforeseen stalling of a stateside warm front. Not only will it be colder than previously thought, but multiple systems trekking across Central Canada over the next several days will bring numerous shots of messy, winter weather. Talk about a dramatic reversal in fortunes. A few days ago, weather models strongly suggested the chance for record-setting warmth bathing much of southern Ontario. Unfortunately for those among us who long for a taste of a faraway spring, that doesnt appear to be in the cards anymore. ONFloodWatch SEE ALSO: Will winter stage a comeback this month? Find out in our official January Outlook A low-pressure system moving into the Great Lakes is dragging a warm front across the U.S. Midwest. This front will start to push into southern Ontario early Tuesday morning, bringing heavy rain from Windsor to Niagara. There is even the chance of a rumble of thunder and some lightning. The system will stall out not far from the northern shores of Lake Erie. A difference of just a hundred kilometres in the location of this stalling front meant the difference between unusual January warmth and a chilly, dreary day. Since the front will come to a halt, the days warmest temperatures will remain confined to far southwestern Ontario, where areas southeast of Windsor sitting just the double-digits at 9C. North of the warm front, temperatures will remain in the low single digits. CHECK IT OUT: How Colorado lows affect your weather in Canada Steady rainfall will accompany the warm front as it pushes into southern Ontario. The heaviest rain is likely along the Erie shores, where rainfall warnings are in effect through Tuesday. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Keep children and pets away from creeks and river banks, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its rainfall warning. Story continues The rain will continue for several hours before tapering to showers from west to east Tuesday afternoon. Rain moves into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by the late morning into the early afternoon. MUST SEE: Shop our best of 2022 list and be ready for any weather condition Dense fog is also possible as the warmer, more humid air tries to scour away the cooler air at the surface. ONMovie2 A renewed batch of precipitation will push deeper into Ontario on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Colder air sliding in from the north will undercut the warmer air over eastern Ontario and cottage country, forcing this precipitation to fall as a wintry mix, or as freezing rain and/or ice pellets. Freezing rain and ice pellets are possible for much of eastern Ontario, parts of cottage country, the northern shores of Lake Ontario and portions of southern Quebec starting Wednesday evening and lasting into Thursday morning. ONQCIce Thursday morning will see colder air filtering in, transitioning the precipitation to snow for the GTA, Grey-Bruce region and eastern Ontario. The ice accretion from freezing rain could cause travel issues, and possible damage to trees and power lines in the hardest-hit areas. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the event. Temperatures will start to fall back toward seasonal behind this system, with daytime highs around the freezing mark expected for much of the region by next weekend. Check back for the latest on conditions across Ontario and Quebec. Roice Anne Fox has been waiting in hotel lobbies in Varadero, Cuba, with her family. She says during the endless wait her youngest daughter fell sick to a respiratory illness, which was an added stress, and has to sleep on lobby chairs. (Submitted by Roice Anne Fox - image credit) For six days, Roice Anne Fox has slept only three hours a night while waiting in hotel lobbies in Varadero, Cuba, for a flight to take her family home to Saskatchewan or at least to Canadian soil. "I'm exhausted and there is zero help from Sunwing. There are more than 100 of us from Saskatchewan waiting here," Fox said, referring to the people who came in on the same flight as her. Fox was supposed to leave for Regina on a Dec. 27 flight, which kept being delayed. On Friday, vacationers were informed that their flight was supposed to depart on New Year's Eve, but the flight was delayed to Sunday. Even though they left for their trip from their home province, Fox and others are being flown back to Winnipeg following Sunwing's decision earlier this week to cancel all flights out of Saskatchewan's two major cities until Feb. 3 and effective immediately. The Weyburn pharmacist said the stranded travellers are receiving minimal information from the airlines and have to depend on one another to seek the latest information. They got kicked out of their hotel room on New Year's Eve because the hotel was fully booked for other guests "Each of us are looking into different travel websites keeping tabs on this flight. We take turns being awake each night tracking the flight status," Fox said. "I'm diagnosed with anxiety and in the last two days, I have had panic attacks every six hours. The uncertainty of whether the flight is coming or not is stressful." Submitted by Roice Anne Fox The 31-year-old said during the endless wait, her youngest daughter fell sick to a respiratory illness, which was an added stress. She said other Saskatchewan passengers are missing out on important medications like those for Crohn's disease. "I can't let my kids enjoy the hotel pool either, because we don't know that any minute we can be asked to jump into a shuttle to take us to the airport. Please just pick us up," she said with tears in her eyes. Story continues No arrival details for flight Their next flight is supposed to depart in the evening on New Year's Day, but Fox said it can "easily be delayed again." "There is no arrival information in Winnipeg today for our flight. Even if they take us there tonight, we'll have to find our transport to Saskatchewan," she said. "If nothing, we will take a WestJet flight but it will be close to $900 for each of us and we are four. There are families with 11 members who can't afford that. Many saved up through years for these trips and are now stranded." Submitted by Billie Deschene Billie Deschene, who is stranded there with her 15-year-old son, said she is tired of people on social media saying they should enjoy their extended vacation. "This is brutal. The trip was my son's Christmas present as it was his first time travelling. After all this, he says he doesn't want to travel ever again and I'm not sure I want to either," the Regina resident said. Another source of stress for some stranded travellers whom CBC spoke to is the need to return to Canada so they can get back to work. In an email statement on Saturday, Sunwing told CBC that they are continuing to work through the backlogged flights to serve the remaining customers as soon as possible. "We anticipate that most if not all delayed customers should return home by Jan. 2. We have now planned 43 recovery flights, 34 of which were completed as of end of day yesterday, Dec. 30, [2022]," the statement read. Wedding plan in jeopardy The cancellation of Sunwing flights out of Saskatchewan isn't just affecting travellers with present-day plans. Jilleen Kaal, 31, and Chris Morgan, 35, had booked 78 tickets through Sunwing for their wedding in Punta Mita, Mexico, on Jan. 29. Kaal said Sunwing did not inform them about the recent decision they learned about it from news outlets. "Since most of our guests are from Yorkton and were flying out of Regina or Saskatoon, in the past three days we have been informing all of them of these cancellations," she said. Now their guest list has trimmed itself down, as only 47 of the guests booked flights out of Calgary. She said many will have to spend their own money to get there first. "Our guests are upset. Saskatoon guests are now looking to book flights to Calgary and it is like $1,600 for two people. They will have to spend hotel stays, on the way there and back, and gas money," Morgan said. Submitted by Jilleen Kaal The couple are also worried about ripple effects on other regions. "If Sunwing cancels our Calgary flights, we'll be completely out of luck. Our wedding would be completely ruined," Kaal said. "Even with the current situation, we feel we will have to have another wedding in Saskatoon for the guests who couldn't come." Kaal said her $9,000 USD wedding service fee will go to waste if other guests drop too. "It has been a horrible week and we all were looking forward to it. Sunwing should be responsible for the extra costs our guests have to now bear," she said. "They cannot understand the amount of stress. We are worried and weddings shouldn't be like that." Above: Some of the 2021/22 volunteers are joined by Junior Achievement staff and members of the Boston Scientific STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) committee to celebrate their achievement in completing their programmes in local schools Boston Scientific and educational charity Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) recently celebrated 20 years of partnership, which has involved 7,559 primary and second level school students from Clonmel and the surrounding areas in programmes covering financial literacy, the value of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), entrepreneurship and employability skills. Since the partnership began, more than 250 employees from Boston Scientific have volunteered to teach a range of JAI programmes in local schools. These programmes, running from senior infants level up to senior cycle at second level, are designed to inspire and motivate young people to value their education and maximise their potential. One such volunteer, Stephen Dukelow said We had great fun learning about the functioning elements of the community and all the various jobs within it. They were all very eager to get involved in the activities, especially if there was role playing involved. The students from Ss Peter and Pauls were keen on activities that involved pretend money, and the position of the tax collector was especially coveted! Teacher Niamh Hayes, Sisters of Charity, Clonmel added: The girls really enjoyed seeing the Boston Scientific volunteer, Paula, every week for five weeks when they learned a different area of STEAM and hopefully now we have a few budding scientists in the class. Principal Yvonne Moran, Ss Peter and Pauls CBS said The programme has been running in our school for the past number of years and we feel that pupils really benefit from it. The boys look forward to the lessons and having an industry-based tutor, rather than a teacher, adds a new dimension to their learning. The implications of Junior Achievements programme cannot be underestimated. You may well be responsible for inspiring the entrepreneurs of the future. Speaking at the celebratory event, Chief Executive of Junior Achievement Ireland, Helen Raftery said: There is no doubt that getting to interact with other professional role models has a profound effect. Showing young people that they can enjoy a meaningful career locally, while underlining the value of education, is hugely complementary to the work of educators. We are very grateful to all at Boston Scientific Clonmel for continuing to volunteer to work with us to inspire and motivate the next generation. HR Director Helen Kearney added: We appreciate the support we get from the local Junior Achievement team in training and equipping our colleagues to work in the local schools. Getting the chance to work in our childrens classrooms is a special experience. Knowing that we are positively influencing local students to consider a career in STEM is a very worthwhile undertaking. We look forward to continuing to support JAI and our local schools heres to the next 20. Junior Achievement Ireland teaches young people about the world of work and specifically targets those at risk of early school leaving. Junior Achievement Ireland annually supports 70,000 Irish children in schools throughout the country. [January 02, 2023] YOFC Provides Optical Fiber Solutions to Customers Worldwide WUHAN, China, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lijing Zhou, Senior Vice President of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), a world-leading provider of optical fiber preforms, optical fibers, optical fiber cables (OFCs) and integrated solutions, recently arrived in Peru to meet with Pedro Bogarin, governor of San Martin, and accompanied him on a tour of YOFC's data center there. YOFC has been expanding its overseas footprint in countries and regions targeted by the Belt and Road Initiative since 2014 as a key part of its efforts to implement its globalization strategy. To date, the Company has established over 40 offices worldwide in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia. In 2022, sales revenue generated from YOFC's overseas business for the first three quarters accounted for over 30% of the Company's total revenue, outperforming the industry average in terms of growth. In Peru: As the lead contractor for a national broadband project in Peru, YOFC was responsible for the acquisition of land, the obtaining of related licenses, installation of OFCs, construction of support facilities, as well as supply and installation of communication and support equipment. In the meantime, YOFC has provided computer facilities and network services to over 4,000 local organizations and government agencies, including schools, hospitals, police stations and central squares. To date, the company has acquired over 1,000 plots of land and related licenses for the project in addition to completing the installation of 7,000+ kilometers of FCs, construction of over 800 sites as well as installation and commissioning of network equipment for most of the transmission sites. In the Philippines: Over the past few years, YOFC has been participating in the DITO project in the four regions of MIN, SLZ, VIS and NCR throughout the project lifecycle from the survey design of network solutions to the selection and production of OFCs and ODN products as well as from the acquisition of right of way to the construction and quality inspection of the project. Notably, in 2020, the Company, by working with local staff, continued the work on the project in order to complete it on time despite the whole world being in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, YOFC has installed over 6,500 km of backbone OFCs in the Philippines while assisting in the construction of more than 1,000 5G wireless sites that enable fiber optic communication and interconnection for over 2.6 million users. By doing so, YOFC has increased the percentage of fiber broadband users in the country from 3.4% to 19%. In Indonesia: YOFC delivered 1.8 million kilometers of OFCs in the country in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 30%. The Company's local customers range from major operators and data centers to national power networks. In the EPC project sector, YOFC has also made breakthroughs over the past two years by signing contracts for six nationwide projects in Indonesia. By addressing a number of challenges, among them the ongoing pandemic and a series of natural disasters, the team has ensured the quality delivery of the project. To date, YOFC has implemented engineering projects in 13 cities throughout the country and completed the construction of over 150,000 fiber-optic lines in Jakarta, Bandung and Palembang in tandem with completing the installation of nearly 1,000 km of backbone cables. By doing so, the company has become a key enabler of the country's digital transformation. In Poland: To expand into the European market and respond faster to market demands, YOFC started building an OFC facility in Poland in March 2021 and completed the construction of the facility within a year despite the challenges raised by the pandemic. In February 2022, the facility was put into operation and produced the first coil of qualified OFCs before reaching its design capacity in October when the 1 millionth km of qualified OFCs came off the production line. Based on its mission of "Smart Link Better Life", YOFC plans to continue implementing its globalization strategy while further expanding its global network, with the aim of better meeting the expectations of overseas customers by virtue of its strong local supply and service capabilities. YOFC was established in Wuhan, Hubei Province in May 1988. It is a technologically innovative enterprise and a global leading supplier, which specializes in designing and manufacturing optical fibre preforms, optical fibres and optical fibre cables, as well as providing integrated solutions and services to its customers. YOFC was listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 10, 2014(Stock Code: 06869.HK), and listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange on July 20, 2018 (Stock Code: 601869.SH). YOFC mainly produces and sells different types of optical fibre preforms, optical fibres and optical fibre cables that are widely applied in the telecommunications industry, customized optical modules, specialty optical fibres, active optical cables, submarine cables, RF coaxial cables and accessories, etc. YOFC is also equipped with some solutions and services such as system integration and communication engineering design. Providing a variety of different products and solutions for world's telecommunications industry and other industries such as Public Utility, Transportation, Oil & Chemistry and Medication. YOFC has offered its products and services to over 90 countries and regions around the world. SOURCE YOFC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] The Unique Business Strategy That Helped Blingvine Reach 1 Lakh Customers PUNE, India, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over a span of 5 years, the online fashion jewellery brand Blingvine , has set benchmarks in terms of the customer satisfaction with its traditional business approach towards sales and customer satisfaction. In the age of aggressive celebrity marketing and influencer brand deals, Blingvine has taken a rather unconventional approach to doing business. Their marketing strategies tend to focus on organic channels rather than payment based. In simpler terms, they increase their sales through means like making comprehensive guides and knowledge spaces, naturally networking with industry brands and spreading their name through the time-tested word-of-mouth ways. While these marketing strategies include time-consuming and elaborate processes, the plan has proven to be successful for the brand. According to co-founder Gaurav Bansal, "This way, the brand has maintained focus on delivering quality services to its customers, rather than the often-approached goals of quantity." The fast pace of the society often pushes organisations to cut corners and compromise on quality to meet the growing demands. However, Blingvine has proven to emphasise the quality of its products and has exercised great restraint from falling into this trap of quantity over quality. They do this by limiting the number of products available at a time. "We make sure to give substantial time to the quality assurance team," says Garima Singh, the other half of the founding couple. She continues, "We want the customers to feel thir importance, which wouldn't be possible if we were serving an enormous amount of jewellery." Blingvine has also elected to avoid selling its products on online marketplaces - a risk it has willingly taken to provide its customers greater value for money and to avoid any quality control lapses which might negatively impact the customer's experience. Online marketplaces have been known to provide the maximum reach among the masses. Blingvine seems to have traded off the large-scale audience for a complete control of the delivery and handling processes for a seamless experience for the customer. The jewellery market is one of the most competitive businesses out there today, and after braving through all the hurdles, Blingvine's story of perseverance in following the core values of business ethics has contributed to its success story. It is common knowledge that retaining a customer is much more difficult than getting a new one, Blingvine however, has navigated the competitive environment without much of a hitch. "We always ensure human interaction with our customers, rather than using automation services for customer care processes," emphasises Garima. With this friendly approach, the brand has formed quite a few personal relationships with their customers. The online store has a high retention rate thanks to its human centric customer care services. Blingvine has also shown fast-paced adaptability to ongoing trends, providing their customers with the latest fashion jewellery designs of the finest quality. A viral jewellery brand among celebrities across various industries, the brand has gained increasing popularity among the trend-following populations. Catering to a large audience, the brand provides fashion jewellery for groups from the office going minimalists to the wedding attendees and experimentalists. This range in jewellery designs has made Blingvine a go-to store for celebrities and customers alike. What started as a small business with big ambitions now caters to more than one lakh customers across the country through their website blingvine.com . With a rather unconventional approach of implementing old-school business strategies in this day and age has made this brand one of a kind. This combination of quality products, new designs and priority service makes Blingvine a great option for fashion jewellery online for almost everyone. About Us: Founded in 2016, Blingvine is a luxurious jewellery online store that started as a brainchild of Garima Singh (Co-founder) for her internship project. Soon, she and her husband, Gaurav Bansal (Co-founder) formed a dream team that uplifted the company and made it the brand that is presently the home to the internet's widest range of premium quality imitation jewellery. It is a one stop shop for the latest high quality fashion jewellery at affordable prices. Visit blingvine.com to know more. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976059/Blingvine_logo_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/the-unique-business-strategy-that-helped-blingvine-reach-1-lakh-customers-301711841.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] Media Advisory - CES 2023: Aurora Labs and Infineon Technologies Together to Demonstrate AI-Driven, Secure and Fully Redundant Over-The-Air Software Updates with Zero Downtime Aurora Labs, the leader in Automotive AI solutions, and Infineon Technologies, a world leader in semiconductor solutions, are jointly collaborating to bring new Over-the-Air (OTA) update capabilities to the automotive software industry. Aurora Labs will demonstrate its AI-driven OTA update and downtime prediction technology on Infineon's AURIX TC3xx and TC4xx microcontrollers to deliver efficiencies by lowering data costs and shorter error resolution times. OTA updates are already an essential requirement for today's software-defined vehicle, where most car features are implemented through software. As cars become more complex and the pressure to bring features to market more accurately, the number of updates per year will increase drastically. Automakers need to reduce the costs for OTA updates and ensure the update experience is as seamless as possible. Infineon and Aurora Labs' collaboration brings the expertise of software intelligence, semiconductor solutions, and AI-based-based technologies to drive efficiencies throughout the software lifecycle from development, quality assurance, certification, and software updates. "Infineon's sensors and microcontrollers make sure our environment interacts on a continuously more connected and more intelligent basis, paving the way for future-oriented mobility. We are excited to cooperate with Aurora Labs, an innovative Automotive AI company focusing on cost savings and the user experience that drive software innovations," said Lars Ullrich, Sr. Vice President of Automotive, Americas, Ifineon Technologies. Aurora Labs' AI-based Line-of-Code Intelligence technology integrates into the Infineon AURIX TC3xx and TC4xx chipsets early in the software development lifecycle to create the industry's smallest update files for 10x faster, more secure and fully redundant over-the-air software updates without the need or cost of additional memory. Aurora Labs' technology offers significant economic benefits to the auto industry with a clear cost-effective value proposition, saving up to 98% of device hardware and data transmission costs for software updates with zero downtime, even without dual flash banks. With Infineon's PPU architecture Aurora Labs' Line-of-Code Intelligence technology can monitor the device software for behavior deviations to enable pre-error detection and downtime prediction, increasing the vehicle software quality, even on-the-road. "Infineon's commitment to functional safety combined with Aurora Labs' Automotive AI is creating new cost-effective solutions for the safety and security of software-defined vehicles. With SDKs specifically developed for automotive software, developers can deliver state-of-the-art functional safety over the air to the entire car architecture," said Zohar Fox, CEO, Aurora Labs. About Aurora Labs Aurora Labs is pioneering the use of AI and Software Intelligence to solve the challenge of automotive software development. Aurora Labs brings AI-based Vehicle Software Intelligence to the entire lifecycle of a vehicle from software development to testing, integration, quality control, continuous certification and on-the-road over-the-air software updates. Aurora Labs focuses on the embedded systems that are key to the development of the software-defined vehicle and enables automotive manufacturers to more efficiently manage software costs and the resources required to develop and manage new vehicle features and mobility services. The Company's products have been adopted on customer platforms around the world, and with a commitment to conform and meet ISO-26262/ASIL-D and ASPICE-L2, will be in vehicles in coming car models. Aurora Labs, founded in 2016, has raised approximately $100m and has been granted 93 patents. The Company is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with offices in Germany, Japan, Sweden, North Macedonia, the UK, and the US. www.auroralabs.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005007/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] RGA Announces Charitable Grants in Honor of Its 50th Anniversary Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) today announced that it has pledged $500,000 to 50 global charitable organizations in honor of the company's 50th anniversary. Through the company and its non-profit foundation, RGA will distribute funds to organizations nominated by employees from its global offices, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to the communities in which it operates. "This year, we celebrate 50 years since our founding," said Anna Manning, President and Chief Executive Officer, RGA. "We are proud of the impact that we have made and are extremely grateful for the trust that our clients, partners, and employees have placed in RGA throughout the last half century. It is our great privilege to mark this occasion by supporting organizations nominated by our employees that are making a difference in our communities around the world." "At RGA, we are driven by our purpose to help make financial protection accessible to all. Through the company and the RGA Foundation, we are able to support numerous organizations' work with charitable causes that advance this purpose," says RGA's Matt Blakely, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Among the programs receiving funding are Frimley Health Charity's Little Stars in the U.K., FoodForward in South Africa, Satoyama Pioneers in Japan, and Dignity Ltd. in Australia. In addition to grants, RGA employees will be engaging with many of the 50 organizations being supported, and we will share these inspiring stories. Follow RGA social media channels to hear more about these charitable causes and the impacts they are making in communities around the world. For more information, please visit www.rgare.com. About RGA Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) is a global industry leader specializing in life and health reinsurance and financial solutions that help clients effectively manage risk and optimize capital. Founded in 1973, RGA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023. Over the past five decades, RGA has become one of the world's largest and most respected reinsurers and is guided by a fundamental purpose: to make financial protection accessible to all. RGA is widely recognized for superior risk management and underwriting expertise, innovative product design, and dedicated client focus. RGA serves clients and partners in key markets around the world and has approximately $3.3 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $82.7 billion as of September 30, 2022. To learn more about RGA and its businesses, visit www.rgare.com. Follow RGA on LinkedIn and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005024/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] Jumpstart Your 2023 Health Journey with MyFitnessPal Ayesha Curry partners with the leading food tracking and nutrition app MyFitnessPal to kickstart the New Year NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MyFitnessPal , a comprehensive nutrition and fitness tracking app that helps members reach their unique health goals, is kicking-off 2023 with an invitation to join their free two-week Jumpstart Your Health Challenge . This year, two-time New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, chef, television host and producer, Ayesha Curry, is collaborating on the challenge by lending her tips, tricks and recipes to help members build healthy habits and achieve their personal health goals. Along with insights from nutrition and fitness experts, and the best advice from the more than 200 million MyFitnessPal members, Curry shares how small, daily changes can translate to big, meaningful health transformations - whether your goal is to lose weight, gain weight, build muscle or simply change your eating habits. "Over the years and as a busy mom of three, I've always looked to MyFitnessPal as a partner on my personal wellness journey to track not only my meals, but also my fitness and hydration goals. I'm so excited to partner with MyFitnessPal on the Jumpstart Your Health Challenge to share some of the tips and recipes that have really worked for me," states Curry. "I've committed to the 14-day challenge with a goal of gaining more lean muscle and eating more plant-based protein. I hope everyone will take a beat in the new year to prioritize their own self-care no matter what their goals are and join me in this free challenge." From fitness to food, MyFitnessPal has collected the best tips and habits that have proven successful for many of its members and is sharing that knowledge with anyone who's ready to kick-start their wellness journey in the new year. There are also meal-prep tips and recipes, including a few from Ayesha like her tropical post-workout smoothie , naked turkey and smashed avocado burger , or grilled chicken with mango corn salsa. "The start of a new year marks an opportunity to reset and establish intentins for the next 12 months. Many people make resolutions about their health. Whether it's about weight, nutrition or fitness, MyFitnessPal recognizes that everyone's wellness goals are different and we have the tools to help navigate every journey," explains Tricia Han, CEO of MyFitnessPal. "The Jumpstart Your Health Challenge shares tips and advice over the course of two weeks small adjustments that can add up to big change." Some of the program's highlights include: Discovering Ayesha Curry's go-to pantry and fridge staples that she keeps on-hand to whip up easy, nutritious meals in a pinch. go-to pantry and fridge staples that she keeps on-hand to whip up easy, nutritious meals in a pinch. Learning about 'habit-stacking' and how to build on established, healthy habits to exponentially increase your success. Exercising mental preparedness for a physical workout to increase your chances of sticking to it. Simply download the free MyFitnessPal app and sign-up for the Jumpstart Your Health Challenge today. People can join at any time and commit to making minor modifications to their daily routine for 14-days to kick-start the new year off with a step in the right direction on their wellness journey. For more information on MyFitnessPal, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or download via App Store and Google Play . About MyFitnessPal MyFitnessPal is the No. 1 global nutrition and food tracking app for achieving health goals. Since 2005, MyFitnessPal has empowered over 200 million users in over 120 countries to log food intake, record exercise activity and weight, track wellness habits, and achieve their health and fitness goals. As one of the world's most trusted and leading resources on nutrition, MyFitnessPal's mission is to ignite powerful nutrition and wellness change in members by empowering them to succeed on their own terms through personalized data-led insights, guidance, and unwavering support. With one of the largest food databases in the world comprising over 14 million foods, access to over 500 recipes, over 150 workout routines, 200 exercise demos and over 35 connected fitness partners, MyFitnessPal provides users with tools for positive healthy change. The MyFitnessPal app is available on the App Store and Google Play store. To learn more, visit www.myfitnesspal.com or follow MyFitnessPal on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , TikTok and Twitter . About Ayesha Curry Ayesha Curry is a renowned restaurateur, chef, 2x New York Times bestselling author, producer, host, entrepreneur and was featured on the prestigious Forbes "30 Under 30" list. Her accessible approach to cooking has made her one of the most sought-after experts in food and lifestyle. Ayesha is the Founder and CEO of Sweet July, her burgeoning lifestyle brand with a focus to uplift an inclusive and eclectic array of creators through the products sold and stories shared. In 2019 Ayesha launched Sweet July, a quarterly lifestyle magazine that covers a range of topics such as wellness, fashion, fitness, beauty, entrepreneurism and food. Following the launch of the magazine, Ayesha opened a brick-and-mortar Sweet July storefront and cafe in Oakland, CA and its accompanying website, featuring thoughtfully created products alongside other carefully selected items from Black-owned and female-founded companies. In 2020, Ayesha launched Sweet July Productions, which focuses on creating content centered around food, family, faith and female empowerment. Most recently, Ayesha served as host and executive producer of HBO Max's ABOUT LAST NIGHT. In 2022, Ayesha announced Sweet July Books in partnership with Zando. Sweet July Books will acquire fiction and nonfiction work, with a focus on diverse authors and women's stories. Ayesha, along with her husband Stephen, is the co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play., an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child and making a positive impact for generations to come. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jumpstart-your-2023-health-journey-with-myfitnesspal-301711522.html SOURCE MyFitnessPal [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] SHAREHOLDER ACTION REMINDER: The Schall Law Firm Encourages Investors in Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. with Losses of $100,000 to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Gaotu Techedu Inc. ("Gaotu" or "the Company") (NYSE: GOTU) f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. ("GSX") (NYSE: GSX) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors who purchased the Company's securities between March 5, 2021 and July 23, 2021, inclusive (the ''Class Period''), are encouraged to contact the firm before February 28, 2023. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Gaotu was the subject of Chinese government regulations barring for-profit tutoring in core school subjects that would also impact foreign investment in the tutoring sector. These regulations would have a significant impact on the Company's operations and profitability. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Gaotu, investors suffered damages. Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005042/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] Wesley Vestal Named CAI's Chief People Officer; Joins Company Leadership Team INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Commissioning Agents Inc. (CAI) announced that Wesley Vestal has been named CAI's Chief People Officer. In this role, Wesley will be responsible for leading CAI's global human resources team, utilizing his background in leadership development, strategic workforce planning, and systems implementation to transform clients' human performance strategies to mitigate risk and promote operational excellence. Mr. Vestal brings over two decades of experience creating simple, pragmatic, and effective people programs, ranging from small startups to large public companies both in the US and abroad, where he partnered with the executive teams to solve challenging issues and achieve optimal outcomes through innovative human capital solutions. "I'm pleased and eager to serve the hundreds of employee-owners of CAI across the globe, working tirelessly with our clients to live up to our purpose: To build a better working world and improve the human experience," said Mr. Vestal. "I look forward to building on the amazing legacy built by our current and past leaders to drive engagement, enhance our capabilities, and keep CAI as an employer of choice." Mr. Vestal was most recently the SVP of Growth &am; Executive Consultant at Elsmere Education Inc., where he built a pipeline for scaling the organization and oversaw the new program launch stage gate process. Previously, he served as Weatherford Inc.'s VP of the Global Talent Center of Excellence and Corporate Human Resources, where he led a 52-person Center of Excellence supporting talent acquisition, talent management, technical development, and leadership development programs company-wide for 20,000 employees. At Weatherford, he was a pioneer in orchestrating an optimal HR response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the conversion of technical and sales training to online delivery in 2 weeks, a full roll-out of remote work best practices, and the development of back-to-office protocols. Mr. Vestal's expertise in operational leadership continues outside of his professional accomplishments. He is a corporate fellow at the University of Houston Downtown, Marilyn Davies College of Business MBA Program. He holds a patent on Drilling Rig Activity Accounting and Visualization, is the author of the books Knowledge Mapping: The Essentials for Success , and Communities of Practice and Associations as well as other pieces on talent management, leadership development, knowledge management, and process improvement. "I'm excited to have Wes on board and for the official establishment of a Chief People officer role," stated Mike Martin, CEO of CAI. "I see this role as a natural evolution of CAI's growth and our focus on people, an integral part of our culture. Wes's experience and vision are a great fit for this role, and I look forward to working closely with him to deliver for our employee-owners." About CAI Since CAI's founding in 1996, we have delivered nearly a billion dollars in services for hundreds of clients across thousands of projects globally. With offices in the US, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, UK, Korea, Switzerland, India, Ireland, Italy, China, and Singapore, we have built an international team of over 800 professionals providing local support from a global company. Our engineering, technical, and consulting services are fashioned to deliver mission-critical facilities with a high level of performance and reliability. When operational readiness and startup are critical, CAI delivers to a higher standard. Contact: David Shenberger +13177219847 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesley-vestal-named-cais-chief-people-officer-joins-company-leadership-team-301711910.html SOURCE CAI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 02, 2023] SOSLAB to Unveil 3D Solid-State LiDAR 'ML-X' Installed in Automotive Lamps at CES 2023 SOSLAB (CEO: Ji Seong Jeong) announced today the release of its next-generation 3D solid-state LiDAR 'ML-X' for automotive lamps at the CES 2023 to be held in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005029/en/ SOSLAB reveals its next-generation 3D solid-state LiDAR 'ML-X' at CES 2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) SOSLAB recently unveiled the ML-X, its new product that minimized size while enhancing range performance and resolution by over double compared to its previous version. ML-X tripled angular resolution (0.5 to 0.208 @ FOV 120), and is drastically reduced in its overall size and weight to 9.5x5.0x10.2 (cm3) and 860g, respectively, by adopting an exclusive SOC (system on chip) for laser control in the transmission unit. In addition, this product is expected to maximize the convenience of users as it does not require an additional external module for the operation of LiDAR. SOSLAB wil showcase exuberant LiDAR data to the audience by conducting an on-the-spot live demonstration after installing ML-X in front and rear lamps of a vehicle at its booth in CES 2023. The company is currently collaborating with SL Corporation, a tier 1 global parts supplier to Hyundai-Kia Motors, for the project of installing 'ML-X' in rear lamps. Under a partnership with Metrolla, a LiDAR solution company in the United States, SOSLAB is preparing a 'People Counting' solution that could scan the space inside the booths. As it is a solution that can be used for analyzing the floating population and extent of congestion in certain spaces, the company is seeking to commercialize the technology with Metrolla to be adopted in department stores, airports and train stations in South Korea and other countries. The company will also introduce LiDAR GL for robots that it began commercial production this year. Being a LiDAR sensor that is used for high-speed overhead hoist transports (OHTs) and robots, GL is a LiDAR for robots that deliver high angular resolution and fast scanning speed. In addition to robots for the OHT market, SOSLAB will expand into markets of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in the future. At the CES 2023, SOSLAB will provide an event zone where visitors can have first-hand experience on LiDAR. Considering that the solution based on recognition and decision-making functions using LiDAR data is widely applied in the industry, the company will operate a motion capture game that can detect movement using LiDAR data at the site. This game is a solution developed by Code Reach, a South Korea-based image-sensing software service provider using the mechanical LiDAR of SOSLAB. Also, SOSLAB will show and demonstrate the driving of a vehicle that installed LiDAR in its rear lamps. Upon reservation at the booth or inquiry in advance, visitors can ride on the vehicle. SOSLAB's CES 2023 Booth: TECH EAST LVCC WEST HALL #5361. "Global markets for autonomous vehicles and LiDAR are undergoing severely difficult days. Perhaps gems may be distinguished from pebbles during this period," said Ji Seong Jeong, CEO of SOSLAB. "I believe this is a good opportunity for recognizing the real value of LiDAR companies that deliver technologies optimized for commercialization, commercial products, and sizable sales like SOSLAB. We are fully prepared to exhibit and demonstrate vehicles equipped with lamp-integrated solid-state 3D LiDAR (ML) that deliver outstanding performance, mass production capability, and completeness in design. As we will operate a booth for experiencing industrial 2D LiDAR (GL), which has already sold thousands of units, we hope visitors to come to the booth and see the present and future of Korean LiDAR technologies." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005029/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Add these new streaming titles to your watch list this January. Images via Netflix. It's 2023, and the New Year promises a healthy dose of binge-worthy TV and films to satisfy everyone's palette on several different streaming platforms. The Ontario-filmed "Ginny & Georgia" series returns for a season two on Netflix, while M. Night Shyamalan's "Servant" returns for a final season on Apple TV+. Pamela Anderson tells her life's story in her own words in the documentary "Pamela, a Love Story" on Netflix, while Jennifer Lopez brings another rom-com with "Shotgun Wedding" to Prime Video. Mindy Kaling will voice Velma in the titular original story of the famed Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang on Crave, while the critics-favourite thriller "The Menu" starring Anya Taylor-Joy will premiere on Disney+. Below, check out the full list of our top picks to stream on Netflix, Disney+, Crave, Apple TV+, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video in Canada this month. Week of Jan. 1 Kaleidoscope. Image via Netflix A master thief and his crew attempt an elaborate heist worth $7 billion dollars but betrayal, greed and other threats undermine their plans. Streams Jan.1 on Netflix. The Menu. Image via Netflix Margot (Anya Taylor Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a young couple, travel to a remote, coastal island in order to dine at an exclusive restaurant where a mysterious chef has prepared a lavish menu. But it soon becomes clear that the pampered dinner guests are about to be served some shocking surprises. Streams Jan. 4 on Disney+. Ginny & Georgia. Image via Netflix New relationships and challenges await the mouther daughter duo, Georgia (Brianne Howey) and Ginny (Antonia Gentry), as they navigate life in Wellsbury until secrets from the past threaten everything. Streams Jan. 5 on Netflix. The Pale Blue Eye. Image via Netflix In West Point, 1830, a detective (Christian Bale) is hired to investigate the gruesome murder of a cadet. Stymied by the cadets code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe. Streams Jan. 6 on Netflix. Week of Jan. 8 Velma. Image via Crave Created by and starring Mindy Kaling, HBO Maxs 10-episode animated comedy series tells the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang. Streams Jan. 12. on Crave. Servant. Image via Apple TV+ A Philadelphia couple in mourning deals with a rift in their marriage, opening the door for a mysterious force to enter their home. Following its suspenseful season three finale, season four brings the final chapter of the Turner story to an emotional conclusion. Streams Jan 13 on Apple TV+ Week of Jan. 15 Mayor of Kingstown. Image via Paramount+ Season two follows the McLusky family, power brokers in Kingstown, Mich., where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at the attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither. Streams Jan 15 on Paramount+. That 90s Show. Image via Netflix Set in 1995, the series follows Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, who is visiting her grandparents for the summer in Wisconsin. Once there, she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Streams Jan. 19 on Netflix. Ambulance. Image via Crave Needing money to cover his wifes medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes wrong, the desperate thieves unknowingly hijack an ambulance carrying two injured patients. Streams Jan. 20 on Crave. Truth Be Told. Image via Apple TV+ The 10-episode third season stars Octavia Spencer alongside Gabrielle Union, and sees Spencer reprise her role as investigative reporter turned true crime podcaster to take on a new case. Streams Jan. 20 on Apple TV+. Week of Jan 22 Shotgun Wedding. Image via Prime Video Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasnt enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyones lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. Streams Jan. 27 on Prime Video. Pamela, a love story. Image via Netflix A portrait of one of the worlds most famous blonde bombshells, this docuseries follows the trajectory of Pamela Andersons life and career from small town girl to international sex symbol, actress, activist and doting mother. Streams Jan 31 on Netflix. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This is bad. This is REALLY bad. After the bloodiest mayoral tenure in Kansas City history, Mayor Q doubles down on a promise to reduce our town's homicide count under 100. It's a pledge that should evoke outright skepticism given current numbers trending to record highs. Here's our main takeaway . . . Mayor Q's murder count reduction repeat is a local "big lie" strategy that offers a terrifying vantage into the callous, cold and calculating world view of the current mayoral administration. It's not just that they don't care . . . Most people don't care. They're taking it a step further, they're willing to use the violent deaths of hundreds of people on local streets as a talking point. Seriously, this is one of the most cold-blooded rhetorical tactics we've witnessed in years. There are criminals, domestic violence victims, innocents and youngsters that are a part of this murder count but regardless of their standing . . . Kansas City's homicide numbers are comprised of REAL PEOPLE with lives cut short and irreparable damage sustained by so many families & communities who loved them. With this latest comment . . . Mayor Q succumbs to political newspeak and leverages election season standing rather than getting REAL with Kansas City. It's almost not worth mentioning that the worthless newspaper is letting him make this kind of hyperbolic pronouncement without posing any tough questions. The statement from Mayor Q is enlightening but it's also soul crushing. We haven't really been disappointed in Mayor Q on this topic until now. In many ways the KCMO murder count is out of his control and acknowledging as much is a level of honesty we would respect. It's okay to have a goal, make some kind of effort and then FAIL It's the story of most people's lives. However, THIS STATEMENT shows us the Mayor's top concern is optics, image and tactics rather than any kind of respect for humankind. But this politic chatter is more than just rhetoric, it's an insult to anyone who takes Kansas City public safety seriously. Take a look via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Tonight we finish right back where we started. Once again we gaze upon angel Candice as she endures another year and we check pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Local Element Restored KCMO precautionary boil water advisory canceled UPDATE, 10:38 p.m. | The city of Kansas City, Missouri, shared Saturday night that the precautionary boil water advisory has been "narrowed." The affected area now stretches from Main Street to Campbell Street along 17th Street. Water samples continue to be quality tested by the KC Water Lab. Cowtown Crash Course Report Driver involved in Dec. 20 rear-end crash in Kansas City dies of injuries, police say The driver of a car that rear-ended a vehicle at East 46th Street and Prospect Avenue on Dec. 20 has died of injuries suffered in the crash, Kansas City police said Sunday. Police responded to the area on a report of an injury collision and were told that a silver Buick LaCrosse was heading south on Prospect when it rear-ended an unknown vehicle, Capt. Tragic Golden Ghetto Aftermath Kansas woman charged with death of child JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. - A Johnson County woman faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in the November 2021 death of a child less than six-years-old. Sarah Schweiger, 32, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts first felony possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine, endangering a child under 18, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Show-Me 'Home Guard' History During WWI, Missouri's white, middle-class Home Guard filled in for the National Guard During World War I, Missouri was among a handful of states that implemented a volunteer, unpaid version of the National Guard. A new book from a Missouri University of Science and Technology historian examines the little-known Home Guard. The United States didn't have much of a standing army when it entered World War I. Dammit, It's Past Time To Say Goodbye To Junk Food Kansas City's most popular snacks in 2022 OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Anyone hosting a New Year's Eve party knows there needs to be snacks, and lost of them to keep the crowd happy while watching the Times Square ball drop. Pleasing partygoers this year may be much easier than you think. NextGen Rediscovers Angel Candice Swanepoel, Still A Forest Fire In the blogging world, The Daily Mail is a great amalgamation (I think I used that word correctly here... or at least directionally correctly) of stories from all over the globe. Many people at Barstool get the click bait-y stories they opine on from that site. TKC MUST READ: IN DEFENSE OF WAITRESS FIGHTER!!! Waffle House "Avenger" claims she was blacklisted by company following viral chair video - Dexerto The Waffle House "Avenger," a woman whose skillful chair deflection in a restaurant brawl has gone viral, revealed that she's been blacklisted by the company and "can't work at Waffle House ever again." Prez Talks Compromise Biden to laud economic wins as GOP takes over House By President Joe Biden will open the new year with a bipartisan show of force to tout one of his major legislative wins , signaling a dual focus for a White House aiming to stay above the political fray in 2023. The president will be joined in Kentucky by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) RINO Talk Or Real Fear?!? Republican says he 'fears for the future' if Trump is not charged over Jan 6 riot Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger said in an interview on Sunday that he believes the Department of Justice "will do the right thing" and bring criminal charges against Donald Trump for his role in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. REAL JOURNALISM ENDURES AMID CRISIS!!! Radio Free Europe: Cold War-era broadcaster's mission still relevant in 2023 CBS News Americans familiar with Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty might consider them Cold War relics, vestiges of a time when broadcasting straight news behind the Iron Curtain was considered key to promoting democracy. But with a new Cold War descending and a hot war blazing in the heart of Europe, RFE/RL - as they're also known - are back in vogue. Name Games Trending An inflection point for GOATs: Please quiet quit these 'banished words' moving forward When was the last time you called someone a GOAT? Or declared an "inflection point," or answered a yes-or-no question with "absolutely"? Probably too recently, say the faculty of Lake Superior State University, the Michigan college that releases an annual list of words that they say deserve to be "banished" from our vocabularies over "misuse, overuse and uselessness." Far East Rockets Forward 'We better watch out': NASA boss sounds alarm on Chinese moon ambitions He cited an Earthly example in the South China Sea, where the Chinese military has established bases on contested islands. "If you doubt that, look at what they did with the Spratly Islands." Nelson's hawkish comments follow NASA's 26-day Artemis I mission , in which an uncrewed Orion space capsule flew around the moon. Next Wave Already Arrived What is the XBB.1.5 subvariant? CDC reports a new strain of omicron taking over in the U.S. A new version of omicron has taken hold in the U.S., according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subvariant of omicron, named XBB.1.5, has raised concerns about another potential wave of Covid cases following the busy holiday travel season. Billionaire Breaks Internets?!? Slumping revenue, Tesla woes and a 'resignation': Musk's wild reign at Twitter so far hen Elon Musk walked into Twitter's offices on 26 October carrying a sink, one day before he bought the platform for $44bn (38bn), it was the first sign that the tale of his ownership would not be a conventional one. "Let that sink in!" he tweeted. Faith Life Endures Pope Benedict's vision of Catholicism, Vatican II, and the future of the Church endure through his teachings Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, left behind an extensive body of work examining and diagnosing ills in the Catholic Church. A theological and spiritual giant to many, Benedict's reflections on the Catholic Church are a roadmap for many seeking to keep the nearly 2,000-year-old institution on the correct path. Hometown Crowd Reflects Chiefs fans share New Year's resolutions for 2023 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Chiefs Kingdom kicked off 2023 with a victory over the Denver Broncos . Fans ringing in the new year at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium shared their New Year's resolutions. "To be good and kind and spread as much joy as I can to the world, and have a ton of fun and do a lot of travel," said fan Stephanie Render. Local Rain Tomorrow . . . Rain is likely to impact your Monday Hide Transcript Show Transcript WILL KNOW FIRST, THIS IS FIRST ALERT WEATHER. LEN: PETE, WE HAVE AN IMPACT MONDAY WITH RAIN ON THE WAY. PETE: RAIN SHOWERS AND A COUPLE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND DROPPING TEMPERATURES. IT CAN'T BE QUIET FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR SO. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. HOPEFULLY, we'll have more for the Monday morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!! Recently, we've been questioning the future of the Kansas City Star and today we have our answer. THE NEWSPAPER LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE TO HISTORIC HOMICIDE NUMBERS TRENDING UPWARD PROVES THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT SURVIVAL AS A NEWS ORGANIZATION!!! THEY'RE A NONPROFIT MOUTHPIECE IN THE MAKING!!! This data correlation is OLD . . . We first noticed similar arguments around 2019 and they made for funny headlines but not serious debate. Consider . . . KCMO remains embroiled in bitter, years-long debate betwixt city hall vs. the Missouri GOP & police leadership. Meanwhile, other hotter places in the U.S. haven't suffered the same historic spike in killing or a tragic disconnect betwixt police & community. Quick example: Utah hosts bigger & nicer cities than KCMO and they've endured this same "changing climate" but, not-so-strangely, haven't suffered any major rise in violence. Put simply . . . Linking homicide spikes to climate change is junk science and the newspaper isn't even having a good time discussing it. Instead . . . Today's missive looks like part of their "data driven reporting" effort that hasn't interested subscribers, advertisers or even casual readers. Check-it . . . On the hottest day of 2022 in Kansas City, three people were shot and killed. Three more were shot and survived, the Kansas City Police Department said. The temperature clocked in at 101 degrees on July 23, according to Jared Leighton, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Kansas City. With 171 homicides, this year became the second deadliest on record in Kansas City and some of those fatal shootings may be linked to an unexpected cause: climate change. Researchers analyzed more than 116,000 shootings in 100 cities and found that nearly 7% could be attributed to days with above-average temperatures, not only in the summer, but also at other times of the year when it was unseasonably warm. In Kansas City, Missouri, the percentage of shootings tied to days with above-average temperatures was 6.13%, while in Kansas City, Kansas, it was 7.86%, according to the study published earlier this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Forgive us for being just a bit too old school on this topic . . . But, have you ever tried to get a stoner to answer the phone?!?! I thought my phone game was weak . . . However, pardon the pun, but Kansas City stoners are so typically out of touch that they seem to only communicate by smoke signals. However . . . Beggars can't be choosy as the nation looks to lower expectations going into a new year and yet another recession. Check-it . . . Now, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners is looking at ways to recruit and retain more people. Among the ideas: Allowing marijuana use, now that its legal in Missouri. Its currently a deal-breaker. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Pan Pacific Hotels Group, a member of Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, announces the reorganisation of its global operational leadership team. (TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE - January 2nd, 2022 - This new structure will strengthen the Groups regional management as the company expands its global portfolio spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. By giving each leader closer access and working relationships with the best luxury hotels in each region, the reorganisation will boost the Groups pre-opening planning, operating performance, service enhancement, as well as effective implementation at its properties around the world. The new operational leadership team reports directly to Choe Peng Sum, Chief Executive Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group. It is organised into five regional clusters, each headed by a seasoned Vice President of Operations. The following are the newly appointed leaders and their areas of purview. Jeremy Aniere, Vice President of Operations for Singapore; General Manager, Pan Pacific Singapore Jeremy Aniere assumes the role of Vice President of Operations for Singapore, except Pan Pacific Orchard. In addition to his role as General Manager at Pan Pacific Singapore, Jeremy will drive the operational processes, standards, and performance of eight Singapore properties under the Pan Pacific Hotels Group. Marcel Holman, Vice President of Operations for China, Indonesia and Japan; Pre-Opening General Manager, Pan Pacific Orchard Marcel Holman joins Pan Pacific Hotels Group as Vice President of Operations for China, Indonesia and Japan; as well as General Manager for Pan Pacific Orchard, opening in the first half of 2023. Richard Tan, Vice President of Operations for Dhaka, Indo-China, Malaysia and Nairobi In addition to his current purview over Pan Pacific Hotels Groups properties in Malaysia and Indo-China (Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia), Richard has been appointed to also drive the operational performance of the Groups properties in Dhaka and Nairobi. In total, he will oversee 17 hotels, resorts and serviced suites. Margaret Paul, Vice President of Pre-Opening and Operations for Oceania Starting 1 October 2022, Margaret will steer Pan Pacific Hotels Groups global launches as the Vice President of Pre-Opening, overseeing a growing pipeline of hotels, resorts and serviced suites. In her role as Vice President of Operations for Oceania, she will also oversee six properties currently operating in Australia. Anne Golden, Vice President of Operations for United Kingdom & North America; General Manager, Pan Pacific London Anne takes on the role of Vice President of Operations for United Kingdom & North America. In this capacity, she will oversee the operational performance for a total of six properties in these regions. She also leads as General Manager of Pan Pacific London, the Groups flagship property in Europe that has achieved the prestigious Forbes Five Star hotel rating within its first months of opening in 2021. More Information - https://www.panpacific.com/en/about/about-pp.html ### NEW ORLEANS -- Alabama football wide receiver Jermaine Burton, speaking publicly for the first time about an incident in which he made contact with a female Tennessee fan during the storming of Neyland Stadium in October, called his actions a mistake. As Burton exited the field after the Volunteers' 52-49 upset victory, a female Tennessee fan crossed his path and moved to her left to avoid Burton, who reached out with his right hand and made contact with her head. The incident was captured on video, which the woman subsequently posted to social media. Alabama coach Nick Saban later called it a disciplinary issue, although it was never made clear what discipline was rendered. Burton was not suspended and played in the Crimson Tide's next game against Texas A&M. Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton makes a catch on the sidelines with Kansas State defensive back Ekow Boye-Doe defending. SUGAR BOWL: Bryce Young shines in likely final college game as No. 5 Alabama beats No. 9 Kansas State FIESTA WIN: TCU reaches College Football Playoff title game with defeat of Michigan STAY UP TO DATE: Sign up for our Sports newsletter now! "That whole situation, it was a mistake. I can't hold that against myself forever," Burton said Saturday after Alabama's 45-20 win against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. "... But a mistake is a mistake. You move past it. I'm not going to let situation frame me as a person or shape me as a person because I know who I am, and my team knows who I am." The woman never indicated she was injured, and no criminal complaint was filed. Burton, a junior, caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown against the Wildcats on Saturday, and finished the season with 33 catches for 540 yards and six scores. He confirmed Saturday that he'll return to Alabama next year, and will be the Crimson Tide's most experienced wide receiver. Alabama had to exit two fields that were stormed by home fans this season, following its loss to Tennessee and its loss to LSU. The Southeastern Conference policy on field storming levies a $50,000 fine against the host school, and the fine gets progressively stiffer ($100,000 and $250,000) for second and third offenses. The league could consider other options this offseason. Story continues "It can be hostile in a lot of situations," Burton said. "The (SEC) can do whatever they can, but it's not safe for a lot of people." Reach Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama's Jermaine Burton addresses Tennessee field-storming incident On the night of January 1-2, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 20 enemy targets over Kyiv. "During the air raid alert, 20 air targets were shot down over the capital. The data are preliminary and are being updated," the Kyiv City Military Administration reported as of 04:00. In general, the air raid alert in the capital and Kyiv region lasted four hours and eight minutes. A residential building was damaged and a 19-year-old boy was injured in Kyiv city. ol Western countries must be prepared to provide long-term support to Ukraine as Russia shows no signs of relenting. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC that military support would ensure the survival of Ukraine as a sovereign country and force Russia to sit down and negotiate an end to the war. Russia's partial mobilisation programme, ordered in September, showed Moscow had no desire to end the war at present, he said. "The Ukrainian forces had the momentum for several months, but we also know that Russia has mobilised many more forces, many of them are now training. All that indicates that they are prepared to continue the war and also try to potentially launch a new offensive," NATO Secretary General said. Though no let up in hostilities looks to be in sight, Stoltenberg said NATO must ensure Ukraine stays in a strong position in the event of negotiation talks between the two sides. "We need to provide support to Ukraine now, including military support, because that's the only way to convince Russia that they have to sit down and negotiate in good faith and respect Ukraine as a sovereign independent nation in Europe. What we do know is that what Ukraine can achieve around that table is totally dependent on the strength on the battlefield," NATO Secretary General added. As reported, NATO and the Allies have been providing political, practical and security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian military invasion. The Alliance supplies Ukraine with defensive equipment, fuel, medicines, personal protective equipment, winter clothing, counter-drone systems, etc. ol The Russians attacked Dnipropetrovsk region with missiles, kamikaze drones, and heavy artillery. No casualties were reported. "Our sky defenders from the Air Command East did not give the enemy a chance. They destroyed all four enemy air targets: a Kh-59MK2 missile and three kamikaze drones launched to destroy our energy infrastructure. Shahed drones were shot down in Dnipro and Kamyanske districts, the missile was downed when it was approaching Dnipro," Valentyn Reznichenko, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, posted on Telegram. In Kamyanske district, fragments of a downed loitering munition fell on a private enterprise, causing a fire. Firefighters already put it out. The Russians shelled Nikopol district with heavy artillery. Nikopol and Marhanets towns were hit four times. More than 20 enemy shells slammed into the towns. A recreation center was damaged. According to Reznichenko, there were no casualties. As reported, the Russian army opened fire on two communities in Nikopol district on the evening of January 1. ol Ukraine's air defense forces destroyed 39 Russian Shahed drones, two Orlan-10s and a Kh-59 guided air missile on the night of January 1 to January 2. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Air Force said this in a post on the messaging app Telegram. "On the night of January 1-2, 2023, the Russian occupiers launched a massive attack with Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones. Due to combat work by the air defense of the Air Force in cooperation with the air defense of other elements of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, all 39 attack UAVs were destroyed," the report said. Anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aircraft of the Air Force and mobile groups were involved in repelling the attack. Equipment and weapons provided to Ukraine by Western partners are increasingly involved. In addition, the defenders of the sky destroyed two Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles and a Kh-59 guided air missile. Ukrainian forces have already killed about 107,440 Russian troops in Ukraine between February 24, 2022 and January 2, 2023, including 720 in the past day alone. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 3,031 tanks, 6,093 armored fighting vehicles (+9 over the past day), 2,027 artillery systems (+6), 423 multiple launch rocket systems, 213 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 283 aircraft, 269 helicopters, 1,836 unmanned aerial vehicles (+44), 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships/boats, 4,725 motor vehicles and tanker trucks (+5), and 181 pieces of special equipment. The enemy suffered the greatest losses in the Lyman, Bakhmut and Avdiivka areas. The enemy this morning shelled a market in the center of Beryslav in the Kherson region, with at least five people wounded in the attack. According to Ukrinform, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Yaroslav Yanushevych, announced this on Telegram. "The Russian army carried out another terrorist attack on the Kherson region. This morning, the Russians attacked the center of Beryslav - they shelled the city market," the report said. Presumably, the attack came from a tank from the direction of the temporarily occupied Kakhovka. At least five people have been wounded in the attack. Three people are in serious condition. They will be evacuated to Kherson where they will receive the necessary medical assistance. The following editorial was run in the Hartford Courant: It is hard to think about a newborn baby allegedly left out on a chilly March day in Connecticut. It is hard because the reportedly premature and tiny infant was wrapped only in a towel on an early spring day when records show the temperature at most hit 50 degrees in parts of the state. But it also hard because it did not have to happen, no matter how frightened and desperate the boys presumed father was when the child was left on a car in Mansfield. Connecticut has had a Safe Haven Law since 2000 and it allows parents the option to drop off a newborn baby that is no older than 30 days to the nursing staff at any hospital emergency room in the state. That means a parent who voluntarily gives up custody of an infant will not be arrested for abandonment of that child. A parent would only be subject to possible prosecution if the infant has been abused or neglected, according to the state Department of Children and Families. The aim of the law is to save lives so that any parent who is desperate would not be motivated to abandon the child in a dangerous or even deadly way. About 35 infants have been turned over in this way since the program was started, according to the state legislature. But the law hasnt prevented all tragedies. In addition to other babies found abandoned who survived, in 2006, a Connecticut girl who had just turned 17 delivered a baby girl in the bathroom of her familys apartment. She drowned the newborn in a toilet by repeatedly flushing, then hid the body in a closet, prosecutors said. Her sentence of 18 years and nine months later was commuted. In 2014, in East Hartford, an 18-year-old gave birth in a bathroom and put the baby in a trash bag. She told investigators that the baby boy wasnt moving or breathing when he was born but she was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 2015 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The man who this year allegedly left the newborn on a car in Mansfield told police that the baby had been unexpectedly given to him by the childs mother, and that he drove around for two hours with the baby in his lap looking for a place to leave the boy. He also told police that he thought about dropping the baby off at a firehouse but didnt as he saw security cameras and people outside, documents obtained by the Courant show. Then, on a rural road in Mansfield, he saw another car and left the tiny child, who at that time was all of 2 pounds, 3 ounces, according to police. Luckily, a woman who happened to be nearby, and saw what occurred, also heard the man say what he had left on the car was a baby. A paramedic also luckily in the area took the baby to Windham Hospital to be stabilized before he was transferred to Hartford Hospital for specialty care, the arrest warrant for the father said. And getting back to the idea of the chill, the paramedic estimated the baby 24 or so hours old would not have survived more than 30 minutes based on the weather, his temperature and some respiratory issues he had, according to police. But an important question remains: Why did the father apparently not know about the states Safe Haven Law? He told police about considering the firehouse, so he clearly knew there were people there who would be willing to help the baby. The Safe Haven Law has been well publicized by The Courant and multiple other news outlets in the state on many occasions. Information about it is widely available online, including in Spanish. State and other officials on many occasions also have called for more education for the public about the law, Then-DCF Commissioner Joette Katz was not alone in her messaging when she said in 2017: We need to educate the public on an ongoing basis about the existence of the Safe Haven Law because every year there emerges a new group of parents who may not have been exposed to earlier messages about the law and how it works. It is a very difficult and courageous act for a parent who cannot take care of his or her infant to bring that baby to a hospital emergency department. The Mansfield case came five years later, but apparently proves Katz was right then and remains right now. The case shows that information about the law has not been disseminated enough despite the work of state agencies, schools, hospitals, lawmakers and news organizations. More needs to be done. The father in this case is charged with risk of injury to a child and intentional cruelty to persons, according to police. He has not been convicted, but if he did leave the baby who police say DNA proved was his child out in the cold, that was unquestionably cruel. What Connecticut must do is revisit its work to make sure everyone knows about the Safe Haven Law. Russia has in its arsenal all types of nuclear weapons, both tactical and strategic, but Ukraine's military intelligence constantly monitors their movement. That's according to the spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR), Vadym Skibitskyi, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, the agency's press service reports, as seen by Ukrinform. The GUR spokesman assured that intelligence is aware of all storage locations, numbers, and placement of tactical nuclear carriers. According to the official, Ukrainian intelligence constantly monitors the movement of all carriers and active measures that the 12th main Department of Russia's Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for the preparation and delivery of nuclear charges, can carry out or is carrying out. "This process is not easy, but we have experience in monitoring and reconnoitering strategic and other exercises of nuclear forces, which have been held since 2014 and earlier. That is, we know all the procedural issues. Because of this, the GUR constantly keeps the nuclear component of the Russian armed forces under control," Skibitsky emphasized. As reported by Ukrinform, Skibitskyi said that Ukraine is doing everything possible to prevent production of any type of weapons on the territory of the Russian Federation. Ukraine forces have delivered a blow to the Russian positions, from which the enemy shelled Kherson on December 31. Thats according to Serhiy Khlan, Deputy of the Kherson Regional Council, Ukrinform reports. "Kherson region. Yesterday, our Armed Forces gave a powerful response to the Russians for their terror on New Year's Eve. Oleshky four times, Oleshky forest three times, Radensk, Hola Prystan, and Henichesk district," the statement reads. He noted that it was from these positions that the enemy launched a massive artillery strike on Kherson on December 31. As reported by Ukrinform, a Naddniprianske woman, 82, who was wounded by enemy shelling on December 31, died in a hospital in Kherson region. A wounded teenage boy, 13 is currently in grave condition, while the life of his sister, 12, is not under threat. The joint training of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus has been prolonged at least until January 8. Thats according to the schedule for the Belarusian training grounds, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Telegram channel of the Belarus Gayun monitoring group. It is noted that December 31 and January 1 were days off for some training grounds. According to the monitoring group, the exercises were resumed until January 6 at the Gozhsky, Brest, and Niman training grounds, until January 7 at the Borysovsky, Obuz-Lsnovsky, and until January 8 at the Osipovichi, Domanova, and Lepelsky sites. The group notes that military exercises have been ongoing since April 29. At the same time, it is emphasized that "the Belarusian army has become more prepared for defensive operations, but it is still not ready for a large-scale offensive due to the lack of real combat experience." As of December 29, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there were 11,000 Russian troops and more than 400 units of Russian military equipment deployed at the Belarusian training grounds. Photo: Belarus Gayun Russia continues to use occupied Crimea to speed up the "integration processes" in the newly captured territories. "Russia continues to use occupied Crimea to speed up the integration processes in the newly occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. They [the occupiers] announce the construction of the Simferopol Mariupol Rostov-on-Don highway to form a so-called land corridor from the Russian Federation to the occupied peninsula," the Office of the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea posted on Facebook. It is noted that the occupiers forcibly evacuate residents of Enerhodar to Dzhankoy, initiate humanitarian crises, evacuate state institutions, close hospitals and pharmacies to make life unbearable for the locals. "And the propaganda presents it as the evacuation caused by the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civilians fleeing Ukraine," the Office notes. As reported, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya stated at the UN General Assembly meeting that Russia was using temporarily occupied Crimea as a military base and a springboard to seize other regions of Ukraine. ol Russian propaganda spreads a false narrative about the alleged participation of military units of the Polish army in the war on the side of Ukraine and "huge losses" among Poles. Stanislaw Zaryn, the Polish government commissioner for the security of the country's information space, said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "This topic is a constant element used in propaganda efforts in the Russian infosphere aimed at the Russian public," Zaryn wrote. He added that this time Kremlin political scientist Alexei Podberyozkin touched on the "problem" of mass casualties among Polish volunteers. In particular, he suggested "sending the bodies of Poles from the front in Ukraine to the Polish Embassy in Moscow" or creating a special cemetery for Poles in the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine. Zaryn said that the Russian propagandist is spreading the lie that "whole military units from Poland, dressed in Ukrainian uniforms, and not individual volunteers, are taking part in hostilities on the side of Ukraine." Zaryn stated that Russian "experts" spreading a false narrative about units of Polish servicemen fighting in Ukraine fits into the Kremlin's efforts to portray Poland as a "warmonger participating in the prolongation of the conflict." The Ukrainian authorities have information that Russia is planning a prolonged terrorist attack with Iranian-made Shahed drones, in an attempt to exhaust the Ukrainian air defense system. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his nightly video address, Ukrinform reports. I wish you health, dear Ukrainians! Only two days have passed since the beginning of the year, and the number of Iranian drones shot down over Ukraine is already more than eighty. This number may increase in the near future. Because these weeks the nights can be quite restless. We have information that Russia is planning a prolonged attack with "Shaheds". Its bet may be on exhaustion. On exhaustion of our people, our air defense, our energy sector. But we must ensure - and we will do everything for this - that this goal of terrorists fails like all the others. Today, I would like to mention the Air Commands "Center", "South" and "East" for the successful protection of the sky these days. And especially - the warriors of the 96th Kyiv, 208th Kherson and 138th Dnipro anti-aircraft missile brigades, the 301st Nikopol anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Forces, as well as the warriors of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ground Forces. Of course, I am grateful to our pilots, the pilots of our fighters and warriors of mobile firing groups. Now is the time when everyone involved in the protection of the sky should be especially attentive. The Russian regime needs mobilizing emotions. Something that they want to demonstrate to their country in order to continue lying that everything is going "according to the plan". And our task is to give Ukraine every day successes, achievements, even small, yet victories over terrorists and terror. Each shot down drone, each shot down missile, each day with electricity for our people and minimal schedules of blackouts are exactly such victories. And every step forward of our servicemen at the front, every saved position is such successes that are of strategic importance now. We must increase the price of new mobilization and war in general for the terrorist state as much as possible. I am grateful to every warrior of ours who ensures this! I am grateful to everyone who stands near Bakhmut! I am grateful to everyone who despite everything holds positions in Soledar and other areas! Thank you for the Luhansk region, for the south! No matter how difficult it is now, we must endure it. For it to be easier at the end of this winter. Today I spoke with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. I am glad that the first international conversation in the new year was held with the head of the European Commission. We equally understand the challenges of this winter, this year for Ukraine and the whole of Europe. We have discussed financial support for our state - in January, we expect the first tranche of macro-financial aid, as was agreed upon last year. This is extremely important right now, when Russia is trying to gather new forces for aggression. We have also discussed the preparation of the Ukraine-EU Summit to be held in early February. I believe that at this summit, we will be able to outline the key new steps for this year for our common resilience, for our common victory. Today, I held a special preparatory meeting with members of the NSDC and representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Verkhovna Rada and the Office on global trends for Ukraine this year and in the future. I instructed to elaborate draft decisions of the NSDC for the internal transformation of our state to continue and for us to ensure security and leadership of Ukraine under any external conditions. I am grateful to everyone who will be on duty at combat posts tonight! I am grateful to all who are fighting for our native Ukraine! I am grateful to everyone who helps! Glory to Ukraine! In the first two days of the new year, the Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made drones, with more than 80 of them destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Russia is planning a new long-term attack with Shaheds, so now everyone involved in the protection of the sky should be especially attentive. According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a nightly video address. "Only two days have passed since the beginning of the year, and the number of Iranian drones shot down over Ukraine is already more than eighty. This number may increase in the near future. Because these weeks the nights can be quite restless. We have information that Russia is planning a prolonged attack with Shaheds. Its bet may be on exhaustion. On exhaustion of our people, our air defense, our energy sector. But we must ensure - and we will do everything for this - that this goal of terrorists fails like all the others," Zelensky said. The head of state thanked the Air Commands Center, South and East for the successful protection of the sky these days. He also noted the work of the warriors of the 96th Kyiv, 208th Kherson and 138th Dnipro anti-aircraft missile brigades, the 301st Nikopol anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Forces, as well as the warriors of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ground Forces. Zelensky also added that currently everyone involved in the protection of the Ukrainian sky should be as attentive as possible. "Now is the time when everyone involved in the protection of the sky should be especially attentive. The Russian regime needs mobilizing emotions. Something that they want to demonstrate to their country in order to continue lying that everything is going 'according to plan.' And our task is to give Ukraine every day successes, achievements, even small, yet victories over terrorists and terror," Zelensky said. According to him, each shot down drone, each shot down missile, each day with electricity for the Ukrainian people and minimal schedules of blackouts are exactly such victories. "And every step forward of our servicemen at the front, every saved position is such successes that are of strategic importance now," Zelensky said. Portugal has promised to help Ukraine in the reconstruction of educational facilities and to strengthen economic and political cooperation between the states. These issues were discussed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Economy Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Economy Ministrys press service. "We feel the sincerity and completeness of Portugal's assistance to Ukraine. This conversation has further developed the agreements discussed during the meeting between Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in Lisbon, as well as during the visit of Prime Minister Antonio Costa to Kyiv. Portugal will help in the reconstruction of educational facilities in Ukraine. We are also grateful for the assistance in strengthening our cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking community around the world. I am grateful to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for his personal involvement and diplomatic efforts in achieving victory and peace," Svyrydenko said. According to her, economic and political cooperation with Portugal will only grow stronger. For good reason we count on assistance in our countrys movement towards the European Union and on Portugals participation in the restoration of Ukraine, Svyrydenko noted. President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reaffirmed full solidarity with Ukraine and readiness to expand cooperation. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of cooperation in the economic sphere, the situation in Ukraine, in particular in connection with the missile attacks on the energy infrastructure, practical issues of restoration, etc. iy Polands authorities are offering to accept movable cultural valuables from Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Deputy Minister for Culture and National Heritage Jaroslaw Sellin spoke of the proposal on Radio Poland, Ukrinform reports. "We have prepared warehouses in libraries and museum archives that are ready to receive mobile collections if the Ukrainians decide to evacuate them," Sellin said. He noted that currently Ukrainians are reluctant to do so, trying to a large extent to transport cultural valuables to safer locations within Ukraine. "However, it is known that there are not so many of these safer locations in Ukraine, since the Russian strikes target the entire territory of Ukraine," the deputy minister emphasized. He noted that the paintings of artist Jacek Malczewski were taken from the Lviv Art Gallery for storage to the National Museum in Poznan, where they are now exhibited. According to Sellin, since the onset of Russia's full-scale aggression, Poland has been actively helping Ukraine to preserve objects of cultural heritage, in particular by sending supplies to protect monuments, facades, churches, museums, etc. from explosions and fires. "We also help Ukrainians to make an inventory of destroyed cultural objects. There are many sacred sites that were destroyed. We will help Ukrainians to rebuild these facilities when the war ends," Sellin emphasized. Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko recently stated that more than 1,200 objects of cultural infrastructure had been damaged or destroyed in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression. The city of Kyiv has received the first two of 20 planned high-power generators (300800 kVA) as part of the implementation of a memorandum between Kyiv and Taiwan, according to the Kyiv City State Administration. "The first two generators have already been handed over to Kyivteploenergo. They will be used in city's boiler houses. In total, the project envisages the transfer of about 20 generators to power capital's critical infrastructure facilities. We are very grateful to our partners for their support of Kyiv and Ukraine," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The Kyiv City State Administration reminded that in December 2022, Kyiv and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding on providing assistance to the capital of Ukraine to purchase diesel power generators. Within the framework of the memorandum, the Darnychany Charitable Foundation receives $1 million for the purchase and transfer to the city's balance of alternative power sources. iy Online schooling may have reduced suicide rates in LGBTQ+ teenagers in Dane County during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study from UW-Madison's School of Education, possibly because the school environment for some teens was harmful. But suicide rates for LGBTQ+ teens are still two to three times higher than their cisgender and straight peers. "I don't want any other parent to ever, ever, ever feel like this," said Dia Caulkins, whose child Graciella-Sawyer Caulkins-Feltz died by suicide in November. Graciella-Sawyer, who was non-binary, was only 14 when they died. They loved the colors pink and yellow, and unicorns. They had just picked up photography, snapping photos of flowers, sunsets and ice cream. They cared about animals and had just started piano lessons. They were also extremely kind and compassionate, almost to a fault, Caulkins said. "They didn't do this to hurt us, they did this because they couldn't see a way out," she said. "And we have to be doing more so that they have a place where they fit, where they're accepted." World events such as the war in Ukraine and George Floyd's death deeply affected Graciella-Sawyer. They stopped to talk with people experiencing homelessness, volunteered in the community and checked in on their siblings often. They were nice to everyone, even to those who were unkind to them. "Their capacity for love, except for themselves, was amazing," Caulkins said. "I think we need to be doing more," she said. "Our study highlights that we need additional organizational supports and reforms for queer and trans kids who are getting pushed out of school and aren't safe in school," McQuillan said. At the start of the pandemic , there were "two stories" about how LGBTQ+ youth were fairing, Gill said. "We were hearing that some kids were really thriving not being in school anymore because they were out of harmful school environments," she said. "But we'd also been hearing this other story where youth were really struggling at home, whether they were in a harmful home environment or they lacked the supports they had in school." The study Those divergent experiences are borne out in the UW study, in which McQuillan and Gill compared results from the Dane County Youth Assessment from 2018 and 2021. The assessment is a survey given to students every three years, asking them about different behaviors and risk factors, such as drug use and bullying. Gill and McQuillan's study found that LGBTQ+ youth reported "significantly fewer" attempts of suicide in 2021 than in 2018, but greater anxiety. Specifically, in 2021, nearly 39% of gay or lesbian high schoolers reported seriously contemplating or having attempted suicide, compared with nearly 42% in 2018. That rate was nearly 47% for bisexual students in 2021, compared with nearly 51% in 2018. And for students questioning their sexual identity, the rate was just more than 35% in 2021 and just above 38% in 2018. Corresponding rates for straight students, however, were much lower: 14% of them in 2021 and 17% in 2018. Meanwhile, anxiety in high schoolers rose from nearly 30% in 2018 to more than 32% in 2021. McQuillan said environmental factors may help explain why anxiety increased in students while suicidal thoughts may have decreased. Anxiety is thought to be linked to a home environment and additional pandemic-related stressors families were facing, while other supports in school and the community were cut off, McQuillan said. But suicide is thought to be linked more to peer victimization, or bullying. "So, victimization doesn't explain all of this increase in suicidality among queer and trans kids, but it explains some of it. And when kids were out of school and experiencing potentially less victimization, we saw that link of suicidality and not anxiety," McQuillan said. 'Very lonely place' Caulkins wonders if students whose mental health improved during online schooling already had friends and peer support. "If you don't have any friends, that's a very lonely place to be at 12 and 13." For Graciella-Sawyer, "the pandemic was terrible," their mom said. "It wasn't like life was easy for them before that, but it was like they were treading water okay," Caulkins said. "And as the pandemic went on, they got lonelier and sadder." Once in-person learning returned, Graciella-Sawyer tried to make friends by joining clubs and staying involved. But some kids bullied them verbally, and some even took photos of them and threatened to post them online. "We as adults, we as the grown-ups, have to teach kids that their words matter and they stick with kids who are lonely and sad and isolated," Caulkins said. "As parents, we have a responsibility to make sure that our kids know they are not OK." What she hopes to see: More community building in schools, to expose students to different backgrounds and identities, and better mental health services. The process to get counseling for Graciella-Sawyer was slow, and now as Caulkins is trying to find counseling for her other children as they grieve, the waitlist is months long. Gill said the study reinforces the importance of bolstering and multiplying ways to support LGBTQ+ youth. And McQuillan said there should be more support to "disrupt" bullying that's likely happening again now that kids are back in schools. "I'm really inspired by LGBTQ youth who have been standing up to this political pressure," Gill added. She said that while students may be struggling because of the increased rhetoric, there is also an increase in peers and LGBTQ+ youth "championing" one another. McQuillan and Gill hope to expand their study next by looking at statewide data. As for Graciella-Sawyer, they were giving to the last: Their organs were donated. "And all moms love their kids, of course, but really, Sawyer really wanted to make the world a better place, and they should have been here to do that as an adult," Caulkins said. "They would have devoted their life to making it better." [Editor's note: Some photo captions accompanying this story have been updated to clarify Graciella-Sawyer gender identity.] PolyITAN-HP-30 nanosatellite, designed by the specialists of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute to mark the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, will be released into Earth's orbit in the USA on January 3. "PolyITAN-HP-30 nanosatellite was created by the scientists of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" exclusively using budget funds provided by the Ministry of Education and Science within the framework of the implementation of the winning projects of scientific research and development competitions and the core funding agreement," the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine informs. The nanosatellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral on SpaceX Falcon-9 launch vehicle. After the launch into the planned orbit, the nanosatellite will ensure the implementation of a scientific experiment to study the effectiveness of the functioning of heat pipes of various designs as the main element of the thermal stabilization systems of space vehicles. The Ministry informs that the delivery of the satellite to the United States was sponsored by Boeing Ukraine. At the same time, a spinoff company of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands provided financing and technical support for the launch. The State Space Agency of Ukraine also joined in, helping to resolve logistics and export issues. The launch will be livestreamed on the official YouTube channel of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute from 16:00 on January 3, 2023. ol Last Friday, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023), steering the federal government closer to its cloud-first mission. Quite significantly, outlined in the NDAA is the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Authorization Act, which formalizes cybersecurity certification that CSPs are required to obtain prior to working with the United States government. This codifies secure market expansion into law. Additionally, it features whats being hailed as a game-changer in reciprocity. With its formalization, agencies can not only more quickly to certify vendors, but will also be able to access more cyber-secure services. Commercial cloud and software providers will now have easier access to multiple agencies across the federal marketplace. Moreover, the NDAA also mandates the creation of a Secure Cloud Advisory Committee that will coordinate with the existing FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board. This is set to streamline the selection and assessment of processes that shorten the time of what is known as Authority to Operate (ATO). With the Presidents NDAA signing came news and prescient guidance from Coalfire, a global cybersecurity consultancy for CSPs, commercial businesses and government entities. Coalfire provided an in-depth interpretation of the bill and key steps on how to ensure the progress of this cloud-first mission. Tom McAndrew, Coalfires CEO, said that this is the federal government sending a very bold message that FedRAMP is here to stay. The passage of FedRAMP Authorization Act will stimulate innovation and drive agencies to seek more cloud-first technology solutions, making for a safer, more security-conscious country." According to Coalfire, its time for SaaS (News - Alert) businesses to take fresh looks at the growing FedRAMP market. With federal spend on cloud services expected to surpass $11 billion (and all of this FedRAMP reform language, to boot), more vital framework is now in place to head towards a dramatically improved cloud-centric future. Edited by Alex Passett ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jan, 2023 ) :Veteran industrialist Meher Kashif Younis, who is also the Coordinator to Federal Tax Ombudsman, has been appointed as Chairman Kyrgyzstan Trade House to promote bilateral trade between the two Muslim states. He is also the former senior Vice President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice President of Gold Ring Economic Forum, said a press release issued here on Monday. The Kyrgyzstan Trade House (KTH) was inaugurated by Ambassador Kyrgyzstan, Ulanbek Totuiaev in the last week and was attended by top businessmen and leading industrialists representing different sectors. Meher Kashif Younis said all-out efforts would be made to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and importers and exporters of either side will be fully encouraged to avail all possible opportunities and explore untapped potential with frequent exchange of visits of business communities. He said various products of Kyrgyzstan will be displayed at the KTH to attract the business community and brief them on the scope of expanding the volume of trade. He said Ulanbek Totuiaev, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, had assured availability of KTH and the Kyrgyzstan embassy for facilitating the Pakistani traders to visit Kyrgyzstan and providing assistance for result-oriented one-on-one and B2B interaction meetings. The National Security Committee on Monday reiterated its resolve to have zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirmed its determination to take on any and all entities that resort to violence ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jan, 2023 ) :The National Security Committee on Monday reiterated its resolve to have zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirmed its determination to take on any and all entities that resort to violence. "This will be dealt with full force of the state. Pakistan's security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of Pakistan's territory," the Committee resolved, according to a press release issued after the meeting concluded. The 40th meeting of the National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by relevant Federal cabinet members, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, all services chiefs, and heads of intelligence services. The forum was apprised of the security situation of the country with a particular focus on recent terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The prime minister emphasized that the war against terrorism would be led by federal and provincial governments as per National Action Plan in accordance with National Internal Security Policy with people-centric socio-economic development as a priority while the armed forces would provide resolute deterrence and secure conducive and enabling environment. He said the provincial apex committees were being revived in full earnest and law enforcement agencies especially the counter-terrorism departments would be brought up to the required fighting standards with requisite capabilities. The forum concluded that no country would be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserved all rights in that respect to safeguarding its people. The Committee underscored that comprehensive 'National Security' revolved around economic security and that sovereignty or dignity came under stress without self-sufficiency and economic independence. The forum undertook a comprehensive view of the ongoing economic situation vis--vis challenges being faced by the common people of Pakistan, particularly the lower and middle-income classes. The finance minister briefed the forum about the economic stability roadmap of the government including the status of discussions with international financial institutions, exploring other financial avenues based on mutual interests as well as relief measures for common people. In order to strengthen the economy, the Committee agreed on undertaking concrete steps including import rationalization as well as preventing illegal Currency outflows and hawala business. The emphasis will be specially made to improve agricultural output and manufacturing sector to ensure food security, imports substitution and employment. It was resolved that people-centric economic policies with trickle-down effects on common people would remain a priority. It was also agreed to involve all stakeholders for consensus to realise effective and fast-track economic recovery and road map. While taking into account the efforts for mitigating the challenges of 33 million flood-affected people, the forum resolved to mobilize all resources for their rehabilitation and reconstruction in coordination with the provincial governments and multilateral financial institutions. The Committee also appreciated the ongoing relief efforts led by the prime minister and federating units. Secretary Energy Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nisar Ahmad Khan on Monday called for adopting a well-planned security strategy, including establishing close contacts with the relevant district administration, police, and other agencies, for the restart of working on hydropower projects in Swat and Shangla districts PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Jan, 2023 ) :Secretary Energy Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nisar Ahmad Khan on Monday called for adopting a well-planned security strategy, including establishing close contacts with the relevant district administration, police, and other agencies, for the restart of working on hydropower projects in Swat and Shangla districts. He was chairing a high-level meeting here to discuss various options for making better security arrangements for the closed hydropower projects. Special Secretary Energy Tashfeen Haider, Chief Executive Officer PEDO Engineer Naeem Khan, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, District Police Officer Shangla Aqeeq Hussain, SDPO Swat Akbar Hayat, Chief Planning Officer Ayaz Khan and other senior officers attended the meeting. It was decided to provide bullet-proof vehicles for foreign engineers with fool-proof security arrangements. It was emphasized that an integrated strategy would be adopted for the timely completion of projects worth billions of rupees. PEDO Chief Executive Engineer Naeem Khan told the meeting that work on 11.8 MW Karora hydropower project in Shangla district and 84 MW Mitiltan hydropower project in Swat district had been stopped in May and July 2022 respectively due to shifting of foreign engineers to Islamabad. Tehran played a significant role in supporting the Syrian government, the territorial integrity of this state and the process of political settlement of the Syrian crisis, which was recognized by both Russia and Turkey, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2023) Tehran played a significant role in supporting the Syrian government, the territorial integrity of this state and the process of political settlement of the Syrian crisis, which was recognized by both Russia and Turkey, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday. "Iran has always considered the solution to Syria's problems to be political, not military, and now emphasizes the same principled point of view. Russia, Turkey and Syria have recognized Iran's decisive role in the fight against terrorism in Syria, support for the government and people, as well as the territorial integrity of Syria and completion of the process of political settlement of the Syrian crisis," Kanaani said at a press conference. The war in Syria has been ongoing since 2011, with various armed insurgent groups, including terrorist organizations, fighting the Syrian Army in an attempt to topple the government of President Bashar Assad. Since 2016, the Turkish armed forces have also been conducting air and ground operations in Syria against armed Kurdish groups. Moscow and Ankara have been acting as mediators in the conflict within various frameworks, such as the mediation group on the Syrian settlement in Astana launched together with Iran in 2017 or the Congress of the Syrian national dialogue hosted in the Russian city of Sochi in 2018. North Korea could have produced from 20 to 60 nuclear warheads, South Korean media reported on Monday SEOUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2023) North Korea could have produced from 20 to 60 nuclear warheads, South Korean media reported on Monday. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become tenser as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system last week to conduct a quick nuclear retaliatory strike. He also noted the need to increase the number of nuclear warheads at the disposal of the country. The news agency analyzed data published in 2022 by the specialized Western universities, including the US Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and the Japanese Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (RECNA). According to the report, Western experts agree that North Korea had about 20-30 nuclear warheads by September, but INSS noted that in November their number could rise to 60. At the same time, SIPRI believes that Pyongyang has enough material, namely uranium-235 and plutonium-239, to produce 45-55 nuclear warheads. On the same day, the news agency added, citing footage from North Korean Central Television, that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, together with his daughter inspected a warehouse with KN-23 missiles that can carry a tactical nuclear charge. In the released photograph, they are seen inspecting about 10 Hwasong-12 medium-range ballistic missiles about 10 mobile launchers for KN-23 tactical ballistic missiles, the news agency said. BRASILIA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2023) Russia is keen to expand and strengthen relations with Bolivia and both countries have the same view of the future in anticipation of a more just multipolar world, Russian upper house chairwoman Valentina Matvienko said on Sunday. "Both Russia and Bolivia share the same view of the future in anticipation of a more just multipolar world. Our approaches perfectly coincide here," Matvienko said during a meeting with Bolivian President Luis Arce in Brazil. She added that Moscow was set to "further deepen and expand relations in various spheres." Russian upper house chief also proposed launching an intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation with Bolivia, with a meeting of co-chairs as the first step. "And we should try, without delay, to hold the meeting this year. We would also like to hear your proposals on the content of the intergovernmental commission on those decisions that need to be taken," Matvienko said. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote for its next speaker, and Virginia may have a lot to do with who that will be. Rep. Bob Good of Virginias 5th Congressional District is leading a charge by six hard-right, MAGA Republicans to block California Rep. Kevin McCarthy from winning the gavel. They have the votes to do it if they stick together. Its a deja vu experience for McCarthy, who in 2015 had his first attempt to win the speakership derailed by members of another hard-right group, the Tea Party. Good laid out his case against McCarthy in a Dec. 28 opinion piece for the Richmond TimesDispatch. His main complaint? The same predictable clap-trap hes been spewing since earning his seat in 2020 Democrats are the devil and must be stopped. Minority Leader McCarthy, he wrote, promised us that we would use every procedural tool at our disposal to thwart the radical Democrat agenda. However, that did not happen. His case against McCarthy said more about Good and his utter lack of ideas than the man he opposes. Good has one play hating Democrats and obstructing legislation. As our sister paper the Daily Progress in Charlottesville, which sits in the 5th District, has written: In his first term, Good voted against almost everything. This earned him a dubious distinction as the fifth least bipartisan member of the 435-member House. Perhaps, however, theres a way Goods stubbornness may actually prove good for the country. If he succeeds in obstructing McCarthys goal of becoming speaker and obstructing is the one thing Good knows how to do another Virginian may have an opportunity to help elect a speaker who can push Congress away from gridlock. Abigail Spanberger of the 7th District is a vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, the PSC exists to do what Americans say they want Congress to do work in a bipartisan fashion to solve the countrys problems. Spanberger was no fan of out-going Speaker Nancy Pelosi, voting against her run for speaker on two previous occasions. And she has a long record over the past four years of working with Republicans to get bipartisan bills passed. I asked Spanberger in November, before the controversy over McCarthy boiled over, if she thought the caucus could flex its muscles in a narrowly divided Congress to get constructive legislation through. The Senate and the presidency are in Democratic hands, after all, so any legislation coming out of the House that plays strictly to the Republican base has no chance of becoming law. Thats a formula for two years of nothing happening on Capitol Hill. At the time, she stressed that there were still a lot of moving parts how many new members would the PSC actually have in the new Congress, for example so it was too early to say how big a role it could play. But she recognized that there may be windows of opportunity. I think for Republican members who are trying to pull things toward effective governance, she said, having [PSC] as partners, where they can say Listen, there will be Democrats who will come with us if we work on certain targeted issues like border security or public safety could prove important. If there are issues where PSC Democrats would cross over to support effective legislation, might they also cross over to support an effective speaker? To be sure, its a longshot, but if the voting drags out and Goods Freedom Caucus backers refuse to yield, its not impossible to imagine a scenario whereby a Republican member of the PSC becomes a candidate. Should Spanberger and a handful of other PSC Democrats coalesce around a Republican PSC member (or even a more-mainstream non-PSC Republican) that the rest of the party sans Good and his cohort could support, we could see a speaker elevated whose first priority is problem-solving. That would spell bad news for FOX News and MSNBC, who would have to start thinking constructively about Congress as opposed to attacking their ideological enemies. But it would be a welcome change for the rest of us. And quite an exhilarating start to the New Year. Political leaders across the world send their condolences for the passing of the Pope Emeritus, praising his devotion to the Church and commitment for world peace. By Vatican News staff reporter From the United States, to Germany, to Japan, world heads of state and government are grieving the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. German President and PM Germanys President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier , in a message praised the the German-born Pontiffs dedication to dialogue between Christian denominations and other religions. For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remembered him as a formative figure of the Catholic Church. Read also 02/01/2023 Churches remember Benedict XVI as a man committed to ecumenism Christian Churches across the world express deep sorrow at the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and remember him as a fine theologian committed to ecumenical dialogue and a very ... US President Biden U.S. President Joe Biden said the late Pope will be remembered as a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith. In a statement released on Saturday, Biden recalled Benedicts generosity and welcome and meaningful conversation when he met him in the Vatican in 2011 . May his focus on the ministry of charity continue to be an inspiration to us all, the statement concluded. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to Benedict XVI describing him as a humble man of prayer and study, and remarking that he was principled in his faith, tireless in his pursuit of peace, and determined in his defence of human rights. Italian President and PM Italian President Sergio Mattarella said the death of the Pope Emeritus is a cause for grief for the entire country. He said that his sweetness and his wisdom had benefitted our community and the entire international community. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Pope Benedict XVI a giant of faith and reason that history will never forget. The Dalai Lama In Asia , Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida joined in expressing his condolences to Pope Francis and the Catholic Church, highlighting Benedicts great contributions towards world peace. He also said Japan was greatly moved by a message Benedict sent after the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster, spiritually uplifting the people of Japan. His Holiness the Dalai Lama too has shared his condolences. In a message sent to the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi, India, the Buddhist religious leader expressed sadness on learning of his passing away. At a time when we are seeing tension in several parts of the world, we can take a lesson from the life of Pope Benedict and do what we can to contribute to religious harmony and global peace., he said. In January, 83-year-old liberal Justice Stephen Breyer announced he was stepping down from the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of the term. The announcement paved the way for President Joe Biden to deliver on a long-touted campaign promise to put the first Black woman on the nation's highest court. Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Harvard-educated federal judge who once clerked for Breyer, was confirmed by the Senate in April. At 52, she could help shape the court for decades to come. But Jackson's trailblazing elevation to the Supreme Court did not change its ideological balance. Through three appointments by former President Donald Trump, the nine-member high court remains dominated by six Republican-appointed justices who often vote as a bloc on hot-button issues such as abortion and gun rights. From ending the constitutional right to abortion in June to weighing an end to affirmative action in college admissions in October, 2022 has been a consequential and controversial year for the court. The year straddled the end of one term and the beginning of another. Although the court sometimes returns to a period of relative quiet following a term of big cases, this has not been the case this year. In a string of 6-3 decisions during the term that ended in June, the court ended the constitutional right to abortion, limited the government's ability to fight climate change and expanded gun rights. Abortion In a case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, justices overturned nearly half a century of Supreme Court precedent. For many conservatives, the decision came down to whether the right to abortion constitutes an "unenumerated right," meaning a right that is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but has nonetheless been recognized by the Supreme Court. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said unenumerated rights are those that are "deeply rooted in the Nation's history and tradition," and that the right to abortion is not among them. The Dobbs ruling represented the culmination of a decadeslong conservative campaign against the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe decision. "I would resist the characterization of the decisions as ideologically based as opposed to jurisprudentially based," said Joel Alicea, an assistant professor of law at the Catholic University of America and a nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "I think that at the end of the last term and going into this term, we are seeing a significant shift in the direction the court is taking in its approach to constitutional adjudication. And that shift is more toward history and tradition and text-based approaches to constitutional adjudication and away from judge-empowering balancing tests in a lot of different areas of law," Alicea said. But liberal constitutional scholars say the conservative wing's approach to jurisprudence makes its rulings in Dobbs and other high-profile cases no less radical. "What they're saying is they're justifying their radical departures by suggesting that they're based in something other than precedent, stare decisis, and a long-standing understanding of what our Constitution has meant," said Caroline Fredrickson, a visiting professor at Georgetown Law Center and a senior fellow at the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice. "I think especially once you start adding the word tradition, it becomes extremely malleable." In Dobbs, Fredrickson noted, Alito cites 13th-century English cleric Henry de Bracton on "whether women in the United States of America in the 21st century should have the right to control their bodies. Thats radical, and I don't know where a 13th-century theologian sits in terms of our constitutional understandings, but it's not part of the original understanding, Fredrickson said. The abortion decision has sparked concerns that the high court could undo other protections such as the right to same-sex marriage. Upcoming rulings While no one expects the Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage anytime soon, observers expect the justices to strike down other precedents. In the two months since the term started in October, the justices have heard oral arguments on affirmative action, congressional redistricting, the intersection between gay rights and free speech, and a constitutional interpretation known as the independent legislature theory. The affirmative action dispute before the court involves lawsuits brought against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina by a group called Students for Fair Admission. The lawsuit against Harvard claims the university's admissions policy discriminates against Asian American applicants, while the UNC complaint makes a similar claim on behalf of white students. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that colleges and universities can use race as a factor in their admissions decision-making as part of an effort to build a diverse student body. But during oral arguments in late October, the court's six conservative justices questioned the court's precedents on affirmative action, suggesting they're inclined to vote down the practice. Another case that is likely to lead to a conservative outcome pits a Colorado web designer against the state. Lorie Smith, a devout Christian, says she wants to build wedding websites but only for opposite-sex couples and wants an exemption from Colorado's anti-discrimination law that mandates equal treatment for all people in public accommodations. Allowing her an exemption, Colorado argued, could lead to other forms of discrimination. But the court's conservative wing appeared unconvinced, suggesting that forcing the web designer to build websites for gay couples would violate her First Amendment right to free speech. Not all conservative causes are likely to receive the court's imprimatur. One case is centered on the so-called independent legislature theory. The theory holds that the U.S. Constitution gives state legislatures nearly unfettered power to regulate federal elections without any oversight from state courts. During oral arguments earlier this month, however, a majority of the justices appeared unwilling to embrace the theory, despite some support from several conservatives on the bench. Reshaping the law The high court's conservative rulings have led some critics on the left to disparage it as the "radical Trump court." But when it comes to the litigious former president, the court has exhibited a degree of independence. In October, it rejected a request by Trump that an independent auditor be allowed to review classified documents seized by the FBI from his Mar-A-Lago estate. And in November, the court rejected an attempt by Trump to prevent Congress from obtaining his tax records as part of an investigation. "I think any suggestion that they are beholden in some way to the former president is clearly wrong and without any foundation," Alicea said. Fredrickson said the court's rejection of Trumps requests suggests they are more independent than they are perceived to be. "I think they are, however, embarked on this project to radically reshape our law, and it really is irrelevant whether they support Trump or not," Fredrickson said. Starting on Thursday, January 5, passengers leaving China will have to undertake a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of travel to Australia and show evidence of a negative result. Officials in Canberra said the measure is in response to the significant wave of infections in China and the potential for emerging viral variants in that country. Australia is following other countries in imposing the restrictions on travelers leaving China. They include India, Malaysia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Canberra government has said the arrangements are precautionary and temporary. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler told local media Monday that he was concerned about an absence of comprehensive information about the [COVID-19] situation in China, especially the lack of genomic sequencing being shared by authorities in the capital, Beijing. Australia believes that the sharing of information is vital if the emergence of new variants of the virus is to be identified at an early stage. Butler told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday that Canberra is in step with other countries, and that There is no restriction on travel from China. All we are asking is that there be a COVID test submitted before departure. He described this as a modest, balanced measure in line with countries across North America, Europe and Asia pretty much all of the countries to which we would usually compare ourselves have done something similar to what we have down, or exactly what we have done, and we are confident will give us that access to information that the World Health organization has said is currently lacking. Butler said he was not aware of any reaction from China regarding the mandatory testing policy that will come into force on January 5. COVID-19 has previously been a source of friction between Australia and China. In 2020, the former center-right Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded an inquiry into the origins of the virus that was first detected in China. The call infuriated the government in Beijing, and bilateral relations rapidly deteriorated. There are also disagreements over Chinas stance on Taiwan, which it regards it as its own territory, and Chinas increased military tensions in the South China Sea. Australia has also been critical of Chinas human rights record, including crackdowns on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and Chinas abuse of its Uighur Muslim minority. Restrictions were imposed by China on Australian commodities, including coal, wine and barley. Beijing was accused of economic coercion, while claims of anti-China hysteria were made against Australia. Diplomatic ties appear to be improving since the election in May of a center-left government in Canberra with several high-profile meetings of senior government officials. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in December that while Australia sought stability and cooperation with China, its biggest trading partner, there would also be disagreements. The latest government data has shown about 15,000 COVID-19 infections are being reported each week in Australia. Married for over a decade, Alia Abdel-Razak is one of a million Iraqis deprived of crucial civil status documents, often caught in legal limbo in a country paralyzed by bureaucracy and the ravages of war. The 37-year-old must overcome countless hurdles just to get her children into school, and she cannot register her family to obtain the food subsidies she and her husband so desperately need. A mother of four, Abdel-Razak relies on a pro-bono lawyer from aid group the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help her navigate the labyrinthine processes required to get her papers in order. Like many others, she struggles with endless red tape but also the fallout from the country's grueling battle to defeat the Islamic State group to obtain documents like marriage and birth certificates. "I don't have the means, lawyers want $300-500. Where can I get this money when I don't even have enough to eat?" she told AFP. Her dilapidated Mosul apartment bears witness to her daily struggle, with its bare concrete floors and broken windows patched up with cardboard. She was married in 2012 and gave birth to her first daughter a year later. But in 2014, IS seized Mosul and declared it the capital of its "caliphate," driving out local officials in favor of their own administration. Restricted freedom The absence of civil status documents obstructs access to basic services such as "education, health care, and social security benefits," according to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. It can also "lead to restricted freedom of movement, increased risk of arrest and detention," the agency says. Abdel-Razak's lawyer has launched a legal process to have her marriage and children officially recognized, with a decision expected in January. In the meantime, they have scored one small victory at nearly 10 years old, her firstborn, Nazek, has just joined school for the first time. But to obtain some of the documents requested by the judge, it took three visits just to get the intelligence services' seal on some papers. One major hurdle has been the fact that her jailed brother is accused of having ties with IS. According to the U.N., 1 million Iraqis are living with at least one missing civil status document in a country still struggling to recover five years on from IS' defeat back in 2017. Marriage contracts agreed under the jihadi group's rule have yet to be recognized, along with the children born out of these unions. On top of that, many of the civil bureaus that kept such documentation on record were destroyed when IS rose to power or in the yearslong battle to drive the jihadis out, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Migration and Displaced Persons. In cooperation with the interior ministry, his ministry coordinates mobile missions in camps to allow displaced people to obtain their missing documents, Ali Jahangir said. IRC communications coordinator, Jordan Lesser-Roy, pointed to the work of nongovernmental organizations in raising awareness among state bodies and reducing the waiting time for such paperwork. "You need mayoral approval for these processes... and then of course you need policy change," she said, calling for budget increases to the Civil Affairs Directorate and for more "mobile missions." I can't go anywhere In a report published in September, aid groups including the IRC pointed to the added complexities faced by families "with perceived ISIS affiliation." To obtain a birth certificate, mothers must provide DNA samples from up to three male relatives, and these documents can only be obtained in Baghdad. They must also provide "evidence of the whereabouts of the child's father in the form of a death certificate or evidence of incarceration." This is "an impossibility for many households where the head of household died or disappeared during the conflict," according to the report. Hussein Adnan, 23, lost his ID card while fleeing the battle against IS in 2017. He was subsequently arrested and spent five months in detention before he was declared innocent. He was married and had a son under the jihadi group's reign. With the help of an IRC lawyer, Adnan was able to obtain a divorce after having his marriage and his six-year-old recognized, though he has yet to obtain a birth certificate for his son. The process was further complicated as his ex-wife remarried and became pregnant again in the interim. He was "beaten and tortured" while in detention and, despite family pressure to work, he remains frozen by fear of another arrest. "I can't work or go anywhere... I'm staying at home until my ID card is issued," he said. Over the phone on Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed strengthening bilateral ties and advancing regional security, Azernews reports citing Xinhua. The leaders expressed a desire to advance bilateral ties "in all areas, including in light of developments in the regional and international arenas," according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. According to the statement, they emphasized "the importance of promoting peace, stability, and security for the benefit of both peoples and all Middle Eastern countries." Three days after taking the helm of an extreme-right coalition government, Netanyahu held the discussion. The first peace treaty Israel signed with an Arab country was with Egypt in 1979, but relations between the two nations have remained chilly and distant ever since. Democrats outnumbered Republicans in Albany by a tally of 11,810 to 11,234, according to Dec. 12 data. But Oregons largest voting bloc is unaffiliated those constituents who registered to have their ballots counted but not attached to any organized party. The same is true in Albany: They numbered 14,646 on Dec. 12. Unaffiliated voters tend to break with the overall views of their community. That means theyre likely as moderate as Albanys party-affiliated voters. In Lebanon, as in much of the rural state, the unaffiliated voters probably helped push the city to the right. One only needs to look at the race for a U.S. Senate seat to notice Albanys subtle differences with its neighbors. The citys voters have elected both Republicans and Democrats to the Capitol. In 2022, incumbent Democrat Ron Wyden won over Albany, whose voters rejected Republican challenger Jo Rae Perkins, a far-right candidate who lives in Albany. The race for a seat in the state Senate in Salem went the other way for Albany voters, but by a very thin margin: Democratic Party incumbent state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin lost Albany by 250 votes to Republican challenger Valerie Draper Woldeit. Looking at senator elections, and Democrats and Republicans winning those races, demonstrates Albanys purpleness, Taylor said. When tested, Linn Countys urban Republicans tend to shirk candidate platforms that verge too far toward either pole of the electorate, he added. Historically, the city was comfortably Republican, said Ben Roche, vice chair of the Linn County Republican Party. Statewide, Christine Drazan came within 4 points of Governor-elect Tina Kotek by the end of her gubernatorial bid, the first time a Republican came that close to the governors mansion in 12 years, although the entry of a well-known nonaffiliated candidate, Betsy Johnson who made an Albany stump stop surely played a role. Polling in September placed the two major party candidates in a dead heat with Oregon voters. Albany felt that urgency Roche estimated more than 80% of local Republicans responded to midterm races for federal and state offices. Drazan won the city by about 11 percentage points. We are very pleased with that turnout, Roche said. So why did local seats go the other direction? Roche said voters in moderate Albany selected some candidates, Democrat and Republican, as the choice against polemics and bombast. Kotek, for example, was painted in the runup to November as the hardline leftist successor to Kate Brown. She vowed to maintain Brown-era executive orders, establishing herself as a head executive who will prioritize tough emissions standards over the woes of business owners who see cap-and-trade laws as unfair. Republican legislators walked out of both chambers in Salem over bills in 2019 and 2020 that sought to place a limit on pollution. That was with some urging by Timber Unity, a corporate owner-backed lobbying group with mid-Willamette Valley trucking industry connections, Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection appearances and support from militias. The walkouts led to Browns decree and was a dividing line for parties in 2022. And Timber Unity made endorsements in November, including sheriff candidate Jon Raymond and Drazan for governor. Before the polarization Old-timers say Republican doesnt mean what it used to. Or is it that conservative means a lot more? Legislators and staffers who knew Liz VanLeeuwen painted the former state House representative as a willing champion for rural Oregon causes. VanLeeuwen was among organizers in her caucus who flipped the chamber in 1991, when Oregons representative body gained three Republicans for a 32-28 majority over Democrats. VanLeeuwens granddaughter said her grass seed farmer and agriculture advocate grandmother didnt champion every conservative cause VanLeeuwen very much was opposed to anti-abortion movement in the state Legislature. Actually, she took a lot of flak from her party for it, Arwen McGilvra said. McGilvra cared for VanLeeuwen in the former state House representatives final months. She said her grandmother was unimpressed with gubernatorial candidate Drazan, the former House minority leader who ran in part on a religion-based, pro-birth platform. Early in the race, Drazans campaign pushed messaging to potential supporters, coloring the candidate as the only anti-abortion choice out of three. She switched right then to supporting Betsy Johnson, McGilvra said of VanLeeuwen. McGilvra is worried Oregon voters increasingly conflate Republican values with conservative values. I think the party actually used to be much more libertarian, she said. McGilvras sentiment echoes that of former VanLeeuwen colleague Carolyn Oakley, who said the Republican party contains multitudes. Long before the Democratic Party of Oregon began its 16-year executive-legislative trifecta, and a half-century before supporters of President Donald Trump took to the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Republican Gov. Tom McCall made the case for abortion access as individual rights equal before the law. Women are discriminated against by abortion laws that are callous tools of shame instead of useful social instruments, McCall said in a 1969 Legislative address. Lawmakers rolled back century-old restrictions, passing a law to allow abortions in cases of fetal anomaly, incest or rape. McCall was two years into his first term at the states helm. Then language shifted. Legislative priorities shifted. State and federal Republican cadres became more combative, more brash, more extreme in an effort to seize and hold power. Some credit Newt Gingrichs success torpedoing bipartisan congressional coalitions in the 1980s with the partys new modus operandi. Republicans in Oregon held on to a House majority until 2004. They held the Senate from 1995 to 2002. And the states GOP lost its libertarian flare. Some chart a middle path In the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District, Oregon voters given a novel choice sent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer to the U.S. House. Her competition, Jamie McLeod-Skinner also was portrayed as a far-left political player. Those same voters likely bucked at the firebrand messaging of Jo Rae Perkins in the race for U.S. Senator. They said, No, I want to stay down the middle, Roche said. Meanwhile, Wyden instead was elected to his fifth term in the U.S. Senate. Roche said the Democrat incumbent has logged a Congressional record that doesnt break toward partisan ends of the political spectrum. Hes not a left-wing, socialist Democrat. Hes not a (U.S. Sen.) Bernie Sanders Democrat, Roche said. Hes not an (U.S. Rep. Alexandria) Ocasio-Cortez candidate. But in rural Linn County, voters rallied to Perkins and Drazans anti-abortion messaging. Some dont Lebanon supported Perkins who attended the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt, though she said she didnt breach the Capitol, and who was booted off the Albany citys Human Relations Commission by 20 points. Chavez-DeRemer led her opponent by 28 points among Lebanon voters, who chose Drazan over Kotek by 30 points. Returned ballots in Albany tend to stay within 5 points of center, flowing to blue or red candidates depending on the year. Before congressional redistricting, Albany chose Peter DeFazio, a Democrat whose 36 years in the chamber gets him into the all-time Top 50 list of longest-serving House representatives, over Art Robinson, a climate change denier who famously asked 4th Oregon District constituents to donate their pee for a health study he was conducting. Albany backed DeFazio by 10 points in 2016, and more than 9 points in 2018. That split shrank to 3 percentage points in 2020 against Republican challenger Alek Skarlatos. On the other hand, Lebanons love of Republican gubernatorial candidates grew, 18, then 24, then 30 points in races between 2016 and 2022. Perkins support grew as well, from 15 percentage points in 2020 when she ran against U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. Election results show already conservative Lebanon moved to the right in the last six years. It gets more complicated at the local level, when residents go to elect the mayor and City Council members. While nonpartisan, even if the voters know the candidates political affiliations, that doesnt mean theyll simply vote the party line. Local elections, such as mayor and city council, tend to hinge more on the individual candidates or specific issues, Mark Henkles, professor of political science at Western Oregon University said via email. He established Trump as a possible bellwether for far-right commitment. A citywide electorate swinging its support away from Trump in 2020 after initially supporting the former president in 2016 could also mean less support for conservative causes in general. Thats what appears to have happened in Albany, which broke by 6 points for ex-President Donald Trump in 2016. Four years later, Joe Biden took the city by nearly 3 points. Meanwhile, Trumps support in Lebanon was by a spread of 22 points in 2016, diminishing by just 2 in 2020 to 20 points, indicating a continued majority. Those numbers echo national polling that showed religious and rural Republicans tended to gravitate toward Trump and Trump-adjacent politicians in 2016 and 2020. Nearly one in four, or 23% of, Republicans, identified as faith and flag conservatives according to a 2021 Pew Research Center report. Those are the Republicans the nonpartisan social research outfit characterize as right-wing hardliners, the furthest to the fringes who believe national policy should reflect their religious values. Another 23% identified as the populist right contingency of the Republicans, those unlikely to have a college degree and overwhelmingly live in the rural United States. Unlike faith and flag conservatives, the populist right is more critical of corporate power in the U.S. economic system and deems soaring profits of publicly traded companies as unfair. But a majority of both factions not only backed Trump in 2016, they continued to support Trump and those Trump endorsed in 2022. Zooming in on the local For local government positions, there is a tendency to embrace familiarity incumbents and well-known family names tend to garner more support independent of local issues. One local operative in the Oregon Democratic party described the tendency for voters to fill the bubble next to a name they know as a sort of local sweetheart effect. In Albany, incumbent Dick Olsen served in city government on and off for 50 years. Bessie Johnson represented Ward 3 for 20 years. In 2022, however, both were swept out of office. Albany is growing and growing cities tend to shift their voting, said Jim Moore, political analyst and professor at Pacific University. What drives a more progressive change, Moore said, depends on two variables: population and economic growth. In Oregon, there is a tendency for the larger the city is, the more democratic it leans, Moore said. At 57,000, Albanys population is the largest of any in Linn County. Lebanon had about 19,000 according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. It also has a different economy. Albany holds a lot of weight in manufacturing and has some big players in the metals and aerospace parts. The Hub City businesses that draw the most employment are Target, ATI and Pacific Cast Technologies. Theres also Oregon Freeze Dry, creating a diverse industry that doesnt just rely on one type of business, said an Albany Area Chamber of Commerce spokesperson. Cities with newer, often more techy economies tend to skew more progressive than cities whose business landscape may have localized economies with lumber or factories, Moore said. This may be why a city like Albany would vote more progressively than other cities in Linn County, he added. A conservative machine Voters in Lebanon chose a slate of city councilors who ran on branding that seized on words like constitution and conservative. They ran as a check on the citys expanding population, briefly among the fastest-growing in the United States. Their opponents had sought investing in the citys partially-abandoned strategic plan and encouraging expansion of the local economy, diversity, and city services for Lebanons unhoused population. Lebanon headquarters Entek, the countrys most prolific manufacturer of insulating components called separators used in lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. Lowes selected the city for a 1.4 million square-foot warehouse that distributes goods to dozens of the chains stores throughout the Northwest. And Lebanon courted Western University of Health Sciences when the Pomona, California-based school was looking to establish an Oregon footprint. The city now has two campuses, a medical school and another for health care occupations. Yet much of the 2022 political discourse became wrapped up in a failed petition in the spring to have Lebanons mayor declare June as Pride Month. Kenneth Jackola, the citys mayor-elect, comes from a family with decades of living in Lebanon and working in logging. The name also was propelled to visibility in some local government conflict. His relatives are named in a case with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division from 2021, when state inspectors investigated 10 complaints that Sugar Vibes, co-owned by Janice Jackola, who is Kenneth Jackolas sister-in-law, wasnt enforcing state masking rules. The bakery wasnt. Sugar Vibes owners had not paid Oregon the $8,900 levied against the bakery as of October 2022. The state has sent the fine into collections. Pushback became a galvanizing force in Lebanon in the run-up to November. Some of those involved in the furor over Sugar Vibes backed a conservative political action organization, Candidate Identification and Selection Committee, a not-so-behind-the-scenes player in the 2022 local elections. The PAC shares space in the Lebanon Plaza strip mall with Free Linn County; Linn County Parents for Academic Excellence; and Parents Rights in Education. The groups activism in the local public schools eventually spilled over to the City Council elections, even though the council does not oversee the schools. Messaging and organizing strategies from the state-level version of Parents Rights, based in Tigard, became entwined with protests in early 2022 over a proposed health clinic in Lebanon schools that some feared would indoctrinate students into the LGBTQ+ community, refer students for sex hormone treatments and allow for abortions. Course curriculum plans require students to respect and accept these lifestyles as NORMAL, the groups website reads. Critics of Lebanon Community Schools, including Lindsay Pehrson, a licensed practical nurse, helped organize local support for Parents Rights. Although she announced in local right-wing media content producer Rogue Splice that she would run for mayor, she never filed her candidacy with the city. A mailer sent to Lebanon voters in the fall conflated some of the anti-woke, homophobic messaging of Parents Rights with the keep-Lebanon-small messaging of council candidates. The mailer, featuring candidates including Jackola, called the failed proclamation one based on sexual and lifestyle preferences. Candidates argued that elected officials shouldnt have to hear about the sexuality of their constituents and that a Pride proclamation would elevate LGBTQ+ people over everyone else. Jackola and city councilor-elect Dave Workman both had similar stumping points in interviews with Mid-Valley Media that referenced times when Lebanon had a smaller population, affordable single-family homes and timber jobs. Both also campaigned under the auspices of the Candidate Identification and Selection Committee PAC. Social media mania Roche, the Linn County Republican Partys vice chair, describes himself as a Constitutional Republican. He sees the general population of voters charged by messages on social media. Weve fractured into tribalism because of the public square, Roche said. He was on Gab, briefly, and Parler, and Rumble Ive tried them all. He tried to stick it out on Trumps Truth Social but said users on each of the platforms generally stuck to insular conversations where differing viewpoints were excluded. If youre following people who confirm your biases, youre not going to seek to understand an issue, Roche said. Roche said listening sessions and town halls are better formats venues where people have to talk face to face about concepts like critical race theory or school-based health centers. Roche sees the response by conservatives in 2022 in rural Linn County as one of fear rather than hate. Those things tend to spook parents who are more conservative, and certainly Christian conservatives, Roche said. So, what happens when people live somewhere or are given more venues to have those conversations? Trail blazing Albanys triumphant triumvirate did their share of shoe leather burning and door knocking to keep the conversation going in person. For Jackie Montague, the news of the three new candidates, McGhee, Steph Newton and herself, was not a surprise. It was the result of a lot of hard work, she said. The three would support each other and bounce off ideas. She never felt alone in the campaign, she said. She believes the new council is now more representative of the city itself. As city demographics change, the City Council reflects that, and I see a diverse perspective even within parties, she said. McGhee is the first Black female city councilor in Albany. That means there are a lot of eyes on her, and a pressure to set a precedent for all the Black women who may follow, she said. When blazing a trail, there are sacrifices, McGhee said. This isnt the first trail shes blazed. Being the first person in her family to get a doctorate degree, she said she has had to give up a lot of her time and opportunities for her successes. Anyone who has done something great, it has come at a cost, she said. Theres no room for mistakes, McGhee acknowledged. She isnt afforded the same grace as her white counterparts. Black people dont get that grace; you make one mistake, youre a screw up, she said. When McGhee first ran for City Council, she was prepared for it to go either way, she said. She didnt underestimate the incumbent, Bessie Johnson, she said. The night preliminary election results were released, she made peace with whatever outcome she would be presented and visited religious scripture, she said. Newton, who has been affiliated with the Linn County Democrats for about seven years, believes she won because she had a strategy. She targeted her home visits to people who voted in off-year elections. She believes Albany may be voting more progressively because there are more people moving to Albany for its affordable housing options and access to medical services and grocery stores. I feel like things are changing, she said. And Albany is only going to attract more people as it grows as a city. Cameroons military says it deployed scores of troops to Oku, Kumbo and Kakiri districts Monday in the central African states English-speaking Northwest region. The military says armed gangs over the weekend sealed markets, chased people and vehicles from the streets and abducted scores of civilians who did not comply with their orders. Motorcycle taxi driver Lukong Genesis, 54, said armed men seized his motorcycle. He said the separatists, who call themselves Ambazonians or Amba, pointed guns at him and demanded he go home. "The situation in Kumbo for the past two days has been very, very precarious," he said. There has been serious gun firing between the Amba and the state forces and today being Monday, the ghost town has been reinforced and the streets are dry. No movement of vehicles and people. Everybody is indoors." Lukong said battles between troops and rebels intensified after President Paul Biya's New Year's Eve speech. Biya said many rebel groups have been crushed and the threat from separatists has been significantly reduced. He praised the central African states military for protecting civilians and property during the six-year conflict and said peace would pave the way for the regions reconstruction. The rebels say they want to carve out an English-speaking state they call Ambazonia from Cameroon and its French-speaking majority. Capo Daniel is self-declared deputy defense chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, one of the rebel groups. He dismissed the allegation that their forces have been significantly reduced. "That Paul Biya mentioned that peace is returning is laughable. Ambazonia-controlled areas have largely increased. Nineteen Cameroon military men were targeted in Bui and some of them were airlifted for treatment. There have been some arson attacks by the Cameroon military in Bui as well as in Oku. Ambazonia will not give up their fight until we have achieved our goal of independence," said Daniel. Civilian people Cameroons military admits that troops have been in running battles with rebels in several western towns and villages but says their forces did not suffer any casualties. The military says it killed at least 11 separatists in battles in Kumbo and Oku, a claim which VOA could not independently confirm. Bernard Okalia Bilai, the governor of the English-speaking Southwest region said civilians should denounce members of armed gangs and hoodlums causing havoc in the community to the military and government officials. Bilai said armed gangs are harassing people, stealing, and abducting civilians for ransom claiming it is a fight for freedom and liberation. The separatists deny their fighters are abducting and harassing civilians. Rebels on social media posts Monday said their fighters were enforcing the curfew to counter Biyas claim that fighters were being defeated. Separatists in English-speaking western Cameroon launched their rebellion in 2017 after what they said was years of discrimination by the countrys French-speaking majority. Biya says Cameroon is indivisible and anyone attempting it will be crushed. The U.N. says the conflict has killed more than 3,500 people and displaced more 750,000. Europe's wholesale natural gas prices fell Monday to their lowest level since Russia invaded Ukraine, which had driven them to a record high last year. A mild winter has enabled countries to tap less gas from stocks that were built up in anticipation of cuts in supplies from Russia, which was Europe's main supplier before the war. The benchmark European contract Dutch TTF gas future for the coming month soared to a record $367 per megawatt-hour in March. It still reached as high as $364 in August. But prices have been falling since then, hitting $77 on Monday 50% down from a month ago and the lowest level since before the war on February 21. Gas exports by Russian energy giant Gazprom to the European Union and Switzerland fell by 55% last year, the company said Monday. Europe was previously Gazprom's main export market, but supplies have been drastically reduced because of sanctions following Russia's offensive in Ukraine in 2022. European nations filled up their gas storage facilities and launched campaigns to encourage consumers to save on energy during the winter. European storage levels were at 83% on Monday, reducing the need to buy more gas for now. The EU has scrambled to find new sources of natural gas in efforts to cut its heavy reliance on Russian supplies. EU nations have also adopted a mechanism to cap natural gas prices, but analysts say it will likely have only a limited impact on reducing what businesses and households pay. Experts have warned that a cold snap could send gas prices rising again. Russian President Vladimir Putin could also cause more commotion in the markets. "He could send less [gas], but he could also send more to certain destinations in the hope of dividing European countries," said Thierry Bros, an energy market analyst who teaches at the Sciences Po school in Paris. Europe will struggle to fill up stocks this summer if it does not receive 30 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, Bros said. "Prices risk rising again," he said. Europe is better prepared than in January 2022, when storage was only at 54% capacity, Bros added. Competition between Europe and Asia for imports of liquefied natural gas could also send prices higher, said Nicolas de Warren, president of the French association of industries that consume the most energy. Germany has warned Iranians living in the country who have been critical of the Iranian government to be careful about traveling to Iran. Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, told the Germany Press Agency that for some years the Iranian government has worked to identify critics, and that those people could face serious consequences if they go to Iran. Haldenwang also said friends or family members of Irans critics face the same threats. He highlighted protests in Germany, such as those that brought tens of thousands of people demonstrating against the Iranian government in Berlin in October, as a possible source for Iranian government agencies to try to identify critics. Indias Supreme Court has upheld the legality of a sweeping currency ban imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government in 2016 that had abruptly removed most cash from the economy. The government had defended scrapping high value currency notes, saying the measure was meant to root out illegally hoarded cash and to crack down on corruption and terrorist financing. Critics took aim at the shock move that removed 86 percent of cash from circulation. They said it caused massive disruption in Indias huge informal economy and created hardships for tens of millions of poor people. Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party hailed the top courts verdict, but some political analysts said that it should not be seen as a vindication of the controversial measure as it was ruling on the limited issue of the legality of the ban, popularly known as demonetization. Mondays judgment came in response to petitioners who had argued that the government did not follow due process before it implemented the radical measure which they said should have been taken in consultation with parliament. The petitioners said that although the currency ban could not be reversed, the top court should lay down the law for the future, so that "similar misadventures" are not repeated by future governments. Four of the five judges on the bench said the decision was taken after consultation with the Central Bank for six months and did not suffer any flaws. One dissenting judge, B.V. Nagarathna, however, called the decision unlawful and an exercise of power, contrary to law. She said parliament should have been consulted on an issue of critical importance to the country. The court earlier said that its judicial review of demonetization would be restricted to the way in which the decision was taken by the government and not examine issues of economic policy. Modi had framed his decision as a fight against corruption and said it would target tax evaders with large stockpiles of illicit cash. Critics pointed to the hardships it created for ordinary Indians. For months, they stood in snaking lines outside banks to exchange their old currency for new notes. Economists said millions of livelihoods in the informal sector were impacted an estimate by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy said 3.5 million livelihoods were lost in the year following the currency ban. Economists also blamed the arbitrary move for an economic slowdown and raised questions on whether it achieved its objective of stamping out illicit cash, pointing out that virtually all the money in circulation before the ban was exchanged for the new currency in subsequent months. Modis BJP said Mondays judgment had upheld the historic scheme. This whole exercise was done for a valid cause, namely removing fake currency, terror funding, blacking marketing, etc., party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters. The government had the right to take this decision. The court found the decision-making process to be fair and reasonable. In a statement, a leader of the opposition Congress Party, Jairam Ramesh, said that the court had not said anything about the impact of demonetization which was a singularly disastrous decision, or on whether the measure met its objectives. Political analysts also pointed out that the court was looking at the limited issue of whether the imposition of the currency ban by the government was legal and not at the broader issue of whether it was a beneficial move. The debate on whether it was a good or a disastrous measure cannot be settled by the court. The judges were simply looking at the paperwork that was presented to them on the decision-making process, points out political analyst Rasheed Kidwai. But beyond the mere legality of the measure, we must also look at issues of propriety, which should take precedence over just legal issues for governments. We have to see the impact they had on society. Iranian dissident journalist Keyvan Samimi, jailed in December 2020 for "plotting against national security," has been released, reformist daily Shargh reported Sunday. Samimi, 73, was in December 2020 sentenced to three years in prison and was held in Semnan, nearly 200 kilometers east of Tehran. Shargh did not specify the date of his release. Samimi had been granted permission to leave prison on medical grounds in February 2022. But he returned to prison in May after being suspected of carrying out activities against national security, the Mehr news agency said. In December, he issued a message from prison supporting the protest movement following the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Iranian Kurd died after being arrested by the police for an alleged violation of country's dress code for women. Samimi has served prison terms both before and after the Islamic revolution of 1979. Islamic State said Monday its Afghanistan-based affiliate was behind Sundays suicide bomb attack outside the military airport in the countrys capital, Kabul. The bombing was the third high-profile attack in the city in the last month claimed by the terror groups regional branch, IS-Khorasan. The morning blast at the airports entrance left several people dead and wounded, a Taliban-led Interior Ministry spokesperson said shortly after the attack. He shared no further details while Taliban forces prevented filming and photography at the crime scene. Media reports quoted unnamed security sources as claiming the attack had killed at least eight Taliban forces and injured numerous others. The militant group posted on Telegram that Sundays attack killed 20 people and wounded 30 others. Taliban officials dispute those figures, and the interior ministry said it would release an official death toll later. IS-Khorasan claimed Monday that the attacker had participated and survived last months raid on a downtown Kabul hotel where Chinese nationals were staying, among other guests. The December 12 attack killed or wounded several Taliban forces, while China confirmed five of its nationals had also suffered injuries. Beijing swiftly advised Chinese citizens and companies to leave and evacuate the country as soon as possible. Taliban authorities claimed at the time that the three shooters involved in the hotel attack were killed in ensuing gunbattles with security forces. But IS later released a video of two men, claiming they assaulted the Chinese nationals. IS-Khorasan also claimed a December 2 assassination attempt on Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, head of Pakistans embassy in the Afghan capital. Nizamani escaped unharmed in the shooting incident, but his Pakistani security guard was injured. Last week, a car bomb in the northeastern Badakhshan border province killed the Taliban regional police chief and his two guards. IS-Khorasan took responsibility for plotting that attack in the provincial capital, Fayzabad. Critics say the repeated attacks in Kabul and beyond raise questions about claims that Taliban security forces have degraded the presence of IS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including a man claimed by an armed group as a member, during a confrontation that erupted early Monday when troops entered a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said. The two men were killed in the village of Kafr Dan near the northern city of Jenin. The Israeli military said it entered Kafr Dan late Sunday to demolish the houses of two Palestinian gunmen who killed an Israeli soldier during a firefight in September. The military said troops came under heavy fire and fired back at the shooters. It was the latest bloodshed in the region that has seen Israeli-Palestinian tensions surge for months. On Monday, the Israeli rights group B'Tselem said 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2004, a period of intense violence that came during a Palestinian uprising. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified those killed as Samer Houshiyeh, 21, and Fouad Abed, 25. Houshiyeh was shot several times in the chest, according to Samer Attiyeh, the director of the Ibn Sina Hosipital in Jenin. Attiyeh initially said Abed was 17, but the ministry later gave his age as 25. An armed group, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, later claimed Houshiyeh as a member. The group, an offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, published an older photo in which Houshiyeh had posed with rifles. Video on social media showed his body wrapped with the armed group's flag as his mother and other mourners bid farewell. It was not immediately clear whether the second Palestinian killed was also affiliated with a militant group. Israel says it demolishes the homes of militants as a way to deter potential attackers. Critics say the tactic amounts to collective punishment. The Israeli military has been conducting near-daily raids into Palestinian cities and towns since a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis killed 19 last spring. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem last year, according to B'Tselem's figures, making 2022 the deadliest since 2004, when 197 Palestinians were killed. A fresh wave of attacks killed at least another nine Israelis in the fall. The Israeli army says most of the Palestinians killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in confrontations have also been killed. Hamoked, an Israeli rights group, said that Israel is holding 866 Palestinians in administrative detention, a form of imprisonment without trial. That figure is up from around 500 a year ago, the organization said, the highest since 2003, during the peak of the last Palestinian uprising. It said that a total of 4,658 Palestinians are imprisoned by Israel on security related charges. Israel says the raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see them as further entrenchment of Israel's 55-year, open-ended occupation of the West Bank. Israel captured the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war and the Palestinians seek those territories for a future state. Mexico's Supreme Court elected the first female chief justice in its history Monday. Justice Norma Lucia Pina was sworn in for her four-year term at the head of the 11-member panel, pledging to maintain the independence of the country's highest court. "Judicial independence is indispensable in resolving conflicts between the branches of government," Pina said Monday while laying out her plans. "My main proposal is to work to build majorities, leaving aside my personal vision." As chief justice, Pina will also head the entire judicial branch. She is not considered an ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and opposition parties welcomed her election. The 6-5 vote by her fellow ministers Monday came despite Lopez Obrador's pressure on them. Lopez Obrador had backed another female justice, Yasmin Esquivel, for the top post. But indications emerged recently that Justice Esquivel might have plagiarized an academic paper to get her bachelor's degree in the late 1980s. The public university where she got that degree is still studying the case; her thesis, presented in 1987, was identical to one presented a year earlier. Esquivel claimed the earlier thesis copied her later work. The president has pushed a number of controversial laws through Congress only to see them blocked by the courts, and getting an ally elected as chief justice was seen as key for Lopez Obrador. On Monday, he claimed "the judicial branch has been kidnapped ... has been eclipsed by money, by economic power." However, Senator Olga Cordero, Lopez Obrador's former Interior Secretary, welcomed Pina's election. "Now is the time of human rights, the time for women," Cordero wrote in her social media accounts. A member of Iran's security forces has been shot dead during protests in the city of Semirom, state media said Sunday, more than 100 days after Mahsa Amini's death sparked nationwide unrest. Iran has been rocked by protests dubbed "riots" by the authorities since Amini, 22, died in custody September 16 following her arrest for an alleged breach of the country's strict dress code for women. "A Basij member was killed in the city of Semirom by armed criminals," official news agency IRNA reported, referring to the paramilitary force linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. IRNA said protesters had gathered late Saturday in the city, about 470 kilometers (290 miles) south of the capital Tehran in the central Isfahan province. They rallied in front of the regional administration building and other locations in Semirom, it added. "Security forces were deployed to establish order in the city, and in some cases, clashes occurred with several rioters," the report said. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in the nationwide unrest, including members of the security forces, and thousands have been arrested. Tehran accuses hostile foreign powers and opposition groups of stoking the unrest. Last month, Iran executed two men, both 23, who had been convicted of attacks against security forces in connection with the protests. The judiciary has said nine others have been sentenced to death. Campaigners said this week dozens of protesters also face charges that carry a potential death sentence. The faithful are lining up at St. Peters Basilica Monday to pay their respects to Pope Benedict where he is lying in state. Some had been waiting for hours when the doors were finally opened. The 95-year-old retired pontiff died Saturday morning. Benedict was the first pope in 600 years to step down from his Vatican post. Filippo Tuccio, 35, told The Associated Press that he came from Venice on an overnight train to view Benedicts body. He was very important for me: for what I am, my way of thinking, my values. This is why I wanted to say goodbye today, Tuccio said. Benedicts body, dressed in traditional red liturgical garments with a miter, will lie in state until Wednesday. On Thursday, Pope Francis will become the first pope in modern history to preside as Pope at the funeral of his predecessor, according to Vatican News website. Lord, I love you, are reported to be the last words Benedict uttered shortly before his death, Vatican News reported. The retired popes personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, said a nurse was the only person with Benedict at the time. I was not there at the moment, but the nurse told me about it shortly afterwards, Ganswein said. These were his last comprehensible words, because afterwards he was no longer able to express himself. Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger, was 95 at the time of his death. Some information in this report came from Reuters. Police in New York City on Monday arrested a man on charges of attempted murder in an attack with a machete on officers near Times Square on New Year's Eve. Police say the 19-year-old suspect, identified as Trevor Bickford, injured two officers during the attack, which took place at a security screening area outside Times Square set up to protect revelers gathered on New Year's Eve. Authorities say the suspect allegedly struck one officer with the blade of the machete and hit another officer in the head with the handle. Police shot the suspect in the shoulder during the confrontation. The suspect and the two injured officers were treated at a hospital. Police are recommending the suspect be charged with two counts of attempted murder as well as two counts of assault. The attack took place two hours before midnight Saturday, briefly sending people in the area running for safety. The festivities in Times Square continued after the incident. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that officers are still working to determine a motive for the attack and are reviewing the suspect's online postings, some of which included mentions of Islamic extremist views. The official said investigators believe Bickford, who is from Maine, traveled to New York City earlier in the week and are looking into whether he made the trip specifically to carry out the attack. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press. The Syrian military said Israeli missile strikes hit Damascus International Airport on Monday, putting it out of service. A Syrian military statement said the early morning strikes also hit targets in southern Damascus, and that two soldiers were killed. Israel did not immediately comment on the strikes. Its military has repeatedly hit targets in Syria in recent years without publicly acknowledging the actions beyond saying it has acted to prevent Iran-backed militants such as Hezbollah from operating freely in Syria. An Israeli strike last June shut down the Damascus International Airport for two weeks. Another set of strikes in September put the airport in Aleppo out of service for several days. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Increased harassment over the past year directed at journalists and analysts who are women and of Asian descent is likely the result of an orchestrated campaign by the Chinese government, research by a think tank shows. Harassment largely played out on Twitter and ranged from insults about an individuals appearance to accusations of being a traitor or threats of violence and rape. The aim of the abuse is to silence the women and discredit their critical coverage of China according to the non-partisan Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). The ASPI identified hundreds of spam accounts that appeared to be created with the sole purpose of targeting Asian female journalists and human rights researchers, including those in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many repeated Chinas narratives on issues such as human rights in Xinjiang, and mainly posted content during Beijing business hours, researchers found. The harassment illustrates how online attacks can be used by authoritarian governments beyond borders to intimidate and silence journalists, Nadine Hoffman, deputy director of the Washington-based International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF), wrote in an email to VOA. According to June and November reports from ASPI, a network popularly dubbed Spamouflage is likely behind the harassment. Spamouflage refers to an extensive network of Beijing-linked accounts first identified in 2019. Activity from the network has been focused on Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, as well as Taiwan, COVID-19 and human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to VOAs request for comment. But embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told VOA in June that China condemns the harassment of female groups and opposes linking it to the Chinese government without evidence. Twitter first attributed a significant state-backed operation to China in 2019 when the social media company identified over 900 accounts it said were linked to Beijing. And in June 2022, a Twitter spokesperson told VOA that the activity ASPI identified was part of the Spamouflage network, and the company had suspended more than 400 accounts in response. Digital toolkit The latest report from ASPI determined that graphic online depictions of sexual assault, as well as homophobia, racist imagery and life-threatening intimidation like telling targets to kill themselves are a growing part of the Chinese Communist Partys toolkit of digital transnational repression. People like you who betray the motherland, smear and slander at will, are really inferior to dogs, one tweet cited in the report said. Another read, I advise you not to run around. Stray dogs are easy to kill. Journalists and researchers who concentrate on China are familiar with the pattern of abuse. Yaqiu Wang, who focuses on issues including internet censorship for Human Rights Watch (HRW), has experienced online harassment over her work. Although I generally dont read Twitter, I know people are harassing me, Wang told VOA Mandarin. Sometimes there are 200 comments on Twitter. In the eyes of the Beijing, Wang said, it is viewed as especially unforgivable if women are perceived as betraying China. Journalists who also have experienced abuse told VOA that triggers are often coverage of U.S. foreign policy on China, as well as reporting on Hong Kong, Taiwan or human rights. Some of the worlds top China analysts and reporters have faced harassment over the past year, including journalists from The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Quartz, according to ASPI. Tracy Wen Liu, a U.S. correspondent for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, is among those targeted. She told VOA Mandarin she regularly received abusive direct messages on Twitter before restricting who could message her on the platform. At a glance, I can tell that some of them are bots, she said. They call you shameless things and say you are a bitch. Online threats and harassment of female journalists is not restricted to China. A 2022 report by the International Center for Journalists found nearly three-quarters of women journalists it surveyed had experienced online threats. Of those, 30% said they self-censored on social media and 20% had quit posting entirely. Some said the harassment led them to quit their jobs or even their profession altogether. The IWMF has found similar results in its research. As well as self-censorship, the IWMF has seen negative mental health repercussions for those targeted, Hoffman said. Online violence is a tool intended to silence womens voices in public spaces, whether by misogynists, authoritarian governments or other kinds of trolls, Hoffman wrote. And, it works. Liu said the harassment is likely part of Beijings broader efforts to delegitimize Western media in general and quell criticism of China. Organizations including the International Federation of Journalists have reported on Beijings efforts to enhance its global reputation by influencing coverage in its favor and silencing criticism. The reporters who come under attack do good reporting on China. Attacking these journalists is part of their broader attacks against Western media, Liu said. Hoffman told VOA that preventing harassment of journalists is simply not possible. But she pointed to the importance of separating personal and professional online presences, practicing good digital hygiene and device security, and conducting regular digital risk assessments. Hoffman believes that platforms should do a better job responding to reports of abuse of journalists, including by disabling trolls accounts and providing better safety tools for users. China is not going to stop trolling journalists because of an advocacy campaign, Hoffman wrote. What we can do is put in place strong digital safety measures and online abuse policies in newsrooms that will help to mitigate the impact of these attacks. This story originated in VOAs Mandarin service. For decades, if not longer, intelligence agencies worldwide have worried about disinformation, whether from adversaries or their own efforts to influence others. It was persistent, and at times pitched, though it was not often on the minds of everyday people. In 2022, however, that seems to have changed. "In this age of misinformation of 'fake news,' conspiracy theories, Twitter trolls and deepfakes gaslighting has emerged as a word for our time," the Merriam-Webster English language dictionary announced in November, naming it the official word of the year. Online searches of the word, which means "the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one's own advantage," jumped by 1740% throughout the year, the dictionary said, noting consistent interest in the word and modern efforts at deception. In the United States, such concerns consistently dominated the public discourse, starting with President Joe Biden's appeal to defend democracy on the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. "Are we going to be a nation that lives not by the light of the truth but in the shadow of lies?" he asked. "We cannot allow ourselves to be that kind of nation," Biden said. "The way forward is to recognize the truth and to live by it." The U.S. president's comments came just weeks after U.S. Homeland Security officials warned of ongoing and more volatile efforts by foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations to seed the country with disinformation. And those concerns grew as Russia prepared for its invasion of Ukraine. Russia - Ukraine "We're seeing Russian state media spouting off now about alleged activities in eastern Ukraine," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in late January, as 100,000 Russian troops took up positions along Ukraine's border. "This is straight out of the Russian playbook," Austin said of the Russian disinformation efforts. "And they're not fooling us." By mid-February, senior U.S. Homeland Security officials were warning that Moscow had fine-tuned its disinformation operations, "trying to lay the blame for the Ukraine crisis and the potential escalation in that conflict at the feet of the U.S." Russian disinformation efforts took another turn in the days following the invasion, according to U.S. defense officials, with the Kremlin publicizing false reports about the widespread surrender of Ukrainian troops to erode Ukrainian morale and resistance. Russian-government affiliated news outlets also sought to use the war in Ukraine to boost Moscow's standing in Africa, amplifying accounts in late February and early March of Africans and other people of color being subjected to racism as they sought to evacuate. Other Russian disinformation campaigns focused on claims the U.S. was running biological weapons labs in Ukraine and on efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine by targeting countries perceived as weak links. Countercampaigns Russia's disinformation efforts and influence campaigns, however, did not go unanswered. Even before the first Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine in February, U.S. intelligence officials made a decision to fight disinformation with evidence and facts, taking the unprecedented step to declassify assessments to share with allies and even the public. "The work that we've done, and it's not without risk as an intelligence community to declassify information, has been very effective," CIA Director William Burns told lawmakers in early March. "We hopefully can provide some credible voice of what is actually happening," added U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. "That's both for the domestic population, but that's also for the international audience." Other Western countries and allies of Ukraine followed with pushback of their own. In early March, the European Union banned broadcasts and websites affiliated with Russian state-funded media outlets. Ukraine also ran its own counter-disinformation efforts, targeting audiences in Russia and Belarus, hoping to sow doubts and erode support for Moscow's invasion. "I'm not realistic about changing their minds," Heorhii Tykhy, with Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, said during a virtual forum in March, though he added that overall, Kyiv was "winning this information war and winning it massively." U.S. domestic fears At the same, the U.S. intelligence agencies and their Western allies were focused on Russia's disinformation efforts surrounding Ukraine, U.S. Homeland Security efforts were focused on disinformation at home. In June, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reissued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin, citing the pervasive disinformation environment, much of it originating in the U.S., as a key concern. "It's really the convergence of that myth and disinformation with the current events that creates those conditions that we're concerned about in terms of mobilization to violence," a senior DHS official said at the time. Some of those fears had already manifested a month earlier when 18-year-old Payton Gendron, who consumed online conspiracy theories, shot and killed 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Other acts of violence across the U.S., such as the shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado in November, an attack against the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a rash of threats against religious institutions, also had links of various sorts to the online disinformation environment. "One of the things we've seen with violent extremist ideologies is that they often commingle or cross over," a second senior DHS official said this past November. "It just contributes to an environment where individuals might grab on to those narratives in a way that motivates and animates their violent or potentially violent activity." U.S. elections Some of the most targeted disinformation efforts, though, centered on the U.S. midterm elections in November. "We are concerned malicious cyber actors could seek to spread or amplify false or exaggerated claims of compromise to election infrastructure," a senior FBI official said in early October. Other senior U.S. officials warned that adversaries like Russia, China and Iran would seize upon false narratives, originating in the U.S., questioning the integrity of the electoral process, and seek to amplify them. Researchers also found evidence that Russia and China, in particular, had resurrected dormant social media accounts as part of intensified disinformation campaigns to spread doubts about the U.S. election. And as the election neared, top U.S. officials called the threat of foreign influence operations and disinformation sparking violence a "significant concern." In the end, fears of potential violence never materialized into actual incidents, though U.S. officials did find themselves pushing back against domestic and largely partisan efforts to take scattered malfunctions and cast them as evidence of a larger conspiracy. A report by the cybersecurity firm Mandiant concluded that in the end, efforts by Russia, China and Iran, some targeted specific contests but were mostly "limited to moderate in scale." A number of experts warn the threat of election disinformation is here to stay. Future disinformation threats "Narratives like the Big Lie have become systemic," Graham Brookie, senior director of the Digital Forensic Research Lab at the Atlantic Council, said about former President Donald Trump's disproven claims that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen from him. "[There is] not a huge amount of audience growth on that narrative, but for the audiences and communities that are engaged in and believe in that narrative, their engagement has gone up and become more hardened," Brookie told VOA. Some U.S. lawmakers are likewise warning the threats are not dissipating. "After each election cycle, social media platforms like Meta often alter or roll back certain misinformation policies, because they are temporary and specific to the election season," Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse wrote in a letter to the social media giant December 14. "Doing so in this current environment, in which election disinformation continuously erodes trust in the integrity of the voting process, would be a tragic mistake," they added. "Meta must commit to strong election misinformation policies year-round, as we are still witnessing falsehoods about voting and the prior elections spreading on your platform." Other lawmakers are looking at social media apps from China and Russia, calling for some, such as TikTok, to be banned in the U.S. "TikTok is digital fentanyl that's addicting Americans, collecting troves of their data, and censoring their news," Republican Representative Mike Gallagher said in a statement regarding a bill designed to block such apps. "This isn't about creative videos," Republican Senator Marco Rubio, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee said in a statement regarding TikTok. "This is about an app that is collecting data on tens of millions of American children and adults every day. We know it's used to manipulate feeds and influence elections," he said. "We know it answers to the People's Republic of China." Anita Powell contributed to this report. Russia said Monday that 63 of its troops were killed on New Years Eve in Ukrainian missile strikes on their quarters in the town of Makiivka in the Russian-controlled part of the Ukraines Donetsk region. The unusual casualty announcement by Russias Defense Ministry came as Russia continued its barrage of air attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, although Mayor Vitali Klitschko said all 40 drones targeting the city and its environs had been shot down. Russias Defense Ministry said Ukraine hit the Makiivka site with four of the six rockets fired from the precision High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that the United States has dispatched to Ukraines forces. Russia said it shot down two of the incoming missiles. The Ukrainian military did not directly confirm the strike but tacitly acknowledged it and claimed it was more deadly than Russia reported. The Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraine's Armed Forces said Sunday that about 400 Russian soldiers were killed in a vocational school building in Makiivka and about 300 more were injured. The Russian statement said the strike occurred "in the area of Makiivka" and didn't mention the vocational school. Daniil Bezsonov, a senior Russian-installed official in the Moscow-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, said the building housing the Russian troops had suffered a "massive blow." "There were dead and wounded, the exact number is still unknown," Bezsonov said on the Telegram messaging app. "The building itself was badly damaged." Pro-Russian nationalist bloggers seethed at the attack and blamed military officials. "What happened in Makiivka is horrible," wrote Archangel Spetsnaz Z, a Russian military blogger with more than 700,000 followers on Telegram. "Who came up with the idea to place personnel in large numbers in one building, where even a fool understands that even if they hit with artillery, there will be many wounded or dead?" he said. Ukraines military command in the countrys eastern region said air defense systems destroyed nine Iranian-made drones that Russia fired into the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. But five people were wounded in the Monday morning shelling of a Ukraine-controlled area of the southern Kherson region, Ukrainian Governor Yaroslav Yanushevich said on Telegram. The Russian forces attacked the city of Beryslav, the official said, firing at a local market, likely from a tank. Three of the wounded are in serious condition and are being evacuated to Kherson, Yanushevich said. The attacks on Kyiv were the latest in a series of airstrikes that Russia has launched as the calendar turned to 2023 and to the 11th month since Russia invaded its neighbor last February 24. Moscows relentless assault appeared aimed at an attempt to demoralize the Ukrainian people in the midst of the winter-time freezing temperatures. Klitschko said the falling debris in Kyiv injured one person and knocked out some power and heating. Kyiv said the Russian barrage of attempted airstrikes was a sign of Moscows desperation as Ukraine's ability to defend its air space had improved. Presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Telegram, Now they are looking for routes and attempts to hit us somehow, but their terror tactics will not work. Our sky will turn into a shield." President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Ukrainians for showing gratitude to the troops and one another and said Russia's air attacks would prove useless. "Drones, missiles, everything else will not help them," he said of the Russians, "because we stand united. They are united only by fear." Some information for this story came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The United Nations said its envoy to Afghanistan had pressed the Taliban rulers Monday to reverse bans on work and education for women and girls to prevent further isolation of the crisis-ridden country. Markus Potzel, the acting head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), conveyed the international community's call in a meeting in Kabul with Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. "The ban on Afghan women aid workers will deepen the humanitarian crisis creating greater economic misery and further Afghanistan's isolation," UNAMA wrote on Twitter after the meeting. Late last year, the men-only Taliban administration ordered national and foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to immediately suspend Afghan female staff for allegedly not wearing the Islamic hijab and breaching mandatory gender segregation at work. The global community swiftly denounced the move, saying it would have "immediate life-threatening consequences" for all Afghans. Haqqani's office confirmed in a post-meeting statement that Potzel shared his concerns about the education of girls and the imposition of other restrictions. The statement quoted the influential Taliban minister as telling the U.N. delegation "that efforts are being made to solve the problems," and that "a reasonable and permanent solution is being worked on which is compatible with Sharia rules and the culture of our people." Haqqani maintained that the Taliban leadership "thinks for the well-being of the people and is committed to it." The restriction on women aid workers has prompted the U.N. to temporarily halt some "time-critical" programs, and several of the largest foreign NGOs have suspended their operations, saying they cannot reach the millions of children, women and men in need of assistance without female staff. The Taliban already have rejected calls for reversing the NGO ban and other restrictions on women as meddling in Afghan domestic matters, saying Islamic law or Shariah-based governance mandates them. "In line with a general Islamic Emirate edict seeking implementation of Shariah in the country, it is mandatory for women not to go to NGO offices, just like government institutions, which have been functioning without women for the past year-and-a-half," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA on Friday. The U.N. estimates about 28 million people more than half the population including 14 million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. About 97% of Afghans are at risk of falling below the poverty line this year, with more than 1 million children younger than 5 acutely malnourished. "The ban comes at a time when over 28 million people require aid to survive as the country grapples with risk of famine conditions, economic decline, entrenched poverty and a brutal winter," warned the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan in a statement Monday. The Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021. In the run-up to the December 20 ban on women NGO workers, the hardline rulers abruptly banned female students from accessing universities and other institutions of higher learning. The move effectively imposed a complete ban on girls' education in the country after the Taliban in March barred teenage girls from attending secondary schools. The Taliban require women to wear hijabs when in public and avoid road trips beyond a certain distance without a male relative accompanying them. Women are not allowed to go to public places such as parks, gyms and public bath facilities. President Joe Biden says the United States is not discussing holding joint nuclear exercises with its ally South Korea, even though South Korea's president told a local newspaper that such talks were underway. In an interview published Monday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the discussions centered on joint planning and exercises with U.S. nuclear forces an arrangement he said would have the same effect as "nuclear sharing." Any such plan would amount to a significant change in U.S. policy toward Korea and would have almost certainly further raised tensions with North Korea. Asked on the White House lawn late Monday whether such talks were occurring, Biden replied, "No." He offered no further details. Yoon made the comments in a New Year's interview in the conservative Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "The nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but South Korea and the United States should jointly share information, plan, and train together. The United States also feels quite positively about this idea," Yoon said. The United States has not stationed nuclear weapons in South Korea since the early 1990s, when it pulled tactical nukes from the peninsula as part of a disarmament deal with the Soviet Union. Instead, South Korea is protected by the U.S. "nuclear umbrella," under which Washington vows to use all of its capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its ally. In the interview, Yoon suggested such ideas were outdated. "What we call 'extended deterrence' means that the United States will take care of everything, so South Korea should not worry about it," Yoon said. "But now, it is difficult to convince our people with just this idea." Faced with an increasingly hostile and nuclear-armed North Korean neighbor, a growing number of prominent South Koreans have called for the country to acquire its own nuclear deterrent. According to a poll published Monday by the Seoul-based Hankook Research organization, 67% of South Koreans support South Korea getting nuclear weapons, including 70% of conservatives and 54% of liberals. The poll is consistent with many other public opinion surveys in recent years. As a presidential candidate in 2021, the conservative Yoon said he would ask the United States to either redeploy tactical nuclear weapons or enter a NATO-style arrangement in which South Koreans would be trained to deliver U.S. nuclear weapons in a conflict. The U.S. State Department quickly shot down the proposal. Since becoming president, Yoon has become quieter about such ideas. Instead, he has focused on areas of agreement for instance, praising the United States for increasing its deployment of strategic assets, such as nuclear-capable long-range bombers and aircraft carriers, to the region. In the interview, Yoon said that while the United States remains uncomfortable with the phrase, his proposals would "in effect beas good as nuclear-sharing." However, many analysts are skeptical the United States would enter such an arrangement, noting it would go against Washington's stated global non-proliferation goals, as well as its support for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. "I don't think the United States would be receptive to including South Korea in nuclear planning," said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. "And it's ultimately not necessary to deter nuclear use by North Korea, which can be largely done through conventional means." The matter has grown more urgent as North Korea becomes more belligerent and expands its nuclear arsenal. In year-end comments published Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to "exponentially increase" his number of nuclear warheads and to build yet another new long-range missile. North Korea is already believed to have enough fissile material to build around 50 nuclear bombs, and has a growing number of both short- and long-range weapons that could be capable of delivering them. If North Korea can destroy a major U.S. city, some South Koreans fear Washington may be reluctant to respond to a North Korean attack on the South. Many South Koreans were also rattled by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who regularly questioned the value of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and even threatened to pull U.S. troops from Korea. To deal with South Korean concerns, Panda said the United States should be more willing to share information about its defense capabilities. But the decision of whether to use nuclear weapons in any given crisis will ultimately depend on the president of the United States, he added. "South Korean concerns and wishes are understandable, but the US won't be able to jointly discuss nuclear plans to the degree that Seoul wants. That's still a bridge way too far," said Duyeon Kim, a Seoul-based Korea specialist at the Center for a New American Security. "I think Seoul should instead focus on asking for table top exercises that incorporate North Korean nuclear-use scenarios. Seoul would be able to learn quite a lot about American thinking if they run these exercises together, rather than hoping for nuclear planning or even nuclear sharing right now," Kim added. Even if Yoon's nuclear-sharing proposals were to be implemented, they may not satisfy many South Koreans who question the long-term U.S. defense commitment. "In reality, there are many limitations because the United States has never shared its authority to use nuclear weapons with other countries," said Cheong Seong-chang, one of the most outspoken advocates of South Korea getting its own nuclear weapons. "The United States has the final say regarding nuclear weapons and whether to involve South Korea more. It's doubtful how much practical progress can be made by such discussions," said Cheong, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute foreign policy research organization outside Seoul. Officials in both countries have repeatedly stressed the U.S.-South Korean alliance remains rock-solid, noting both sides have agreed to several recent steps to reinforce defense cooperation. However, even Kurt Campbell, White House policy coordinator for Asia, last month acknowledged the U.S nuclear umbrella in Asia was being "being challenged" by many factors, including North Korea's nuclear weapons development and China's major nuclear upgrade. Many analysts warn South Korea's nuclear armament would be disastrous, leading to international sanctions, increased tensions with its neighbors, and the creation of a "nuclear domino effect" that could lead other Northeast Asian countries to acquire nuclear weapons. Lee Juhyun contributed to this report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might regret having tweeted: "These are the fundamental directives of the national government that I lead: The Jewish people have an exclusive and indisputable right to all areas of the Land of Israel. The government will encourage and expand settlement in all parts of the Land of Israel in the Galilee, the Negev, the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria. In response, the United Nations General Assembly adopted - by 87 votes in favor (clustered around Russia and China), 26 against (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany and Italy), and 53 abstentions (including France, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and notably Ukraine) - a resolution requesting, under article 18, the International Court of Justice (i.e. the UN Court in the Hague) to rule on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The question is formulated as follows: "(a) What are the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures? (b) How do the policies and practices of Israel referred to in paragraph 18 (a) above affect the legal status of the occupation, and what are the legal consequences that arise for all States and the United Nations from this status?" This procedure should lead to a decision by the Court declaring the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories illegal under international law. Since 1948, some forty United Nations resolutions have been violated by Israel with total impunity. However, in 2004, the International Court of Justice clarified the matter by declaring the illegality of the Israeli settlements located on Palestinian territory as well as those parts of the Separation Barrier encroaching on the same territory. The resolution just adopted had been under discussion for two months. It was passed chiefly to prevent the new government of Benjamin Netanyahu from carrying out its revisionist Zionist program described in the tweet quoted above. The debates pitted proponents of international law, led by Russia and China, against those of a rules-based order, led by the Anglo-Saxons. The latter turned out to be in the minority. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Mariam Rastanawi fled Homs, Syria, in 2012, hoping to escape a protracted civil war amid fears that remaining in her native country would amount to a death sentence. Seeking refuge in the United States, a country she saw as sympathetic to her plight, she and her husband waited years in exile without a permanent home. In March, they were shocked to learn that they were being admitted to the United States as refugees, and their spring arrival in Indianapolis was akin to winning the lottery. The country used to allow thousands of Syrians to immigrate, but the flow of Syrian refugees is at an almost complete stop. We are so happy, thank God, Rastanawi said through a translator. We didnt think it would be this long. Under the Trump administration, the number of refugees allowed into the United States has fallen to its lowest level since the resettlement program began in 1980. And few groups have been as affected as Syrians, who have been fleeing a brutal civil war that has left hundreds of thousands of people dead since it began in 2011. The number of Syrian refugees allowed into the United States in fiscal 2016 was 12,587. In fiscal 2018, the United States admitted 62. Syrian refugees are the largest population of refugees seeking resettlement, said Nazanin Ash, vice president of policy and advocacy for the International Rescue Committee. Their vulnerability is increasing while U.S. policy is reducing admissions. The drop is largely the result of the Trump administration slashing the total number of refugees allowed into the country each year to 30,000, a historic low, and because of enhanced security screenings instituted for refugees from 11 countries, including Syria, that the United States consider threats to national security. The decline has been most precipitous among refugees from Muslim-majority countries, where admissions fell by 90 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to the International Refugee Assistance Project. That includes countries where the United States has long been involved in military conflict, such as Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The group said the number of Christian refugee arrivals, including members of persecuted Christian groups, has plummeted by 42 percent during the same time period. There has been a 98 percent drop in the number of admitted Yazidis, an ancient religious minority group the United Nations considers victims of an Islamic State genocide. Many Yazidis were killed when the extremist group overran their community in northern Iraq, while others were kidnapped, raped and forced into servitude in Syria. Some Yazidis who have instead sought refuge in Canada have been harassed by their former captors from afar. Those who work with refugees said further limiting the number allowed into the United States imperils the worlds most endangered populations, denying them a chance at safety in a country that has traditionally protected the persecuted. The number of displaced people worldwide remains at crisis levels: 68 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes, and more than 25 million are refugees. The message weve been sending to the administration is: youre basically undercutting your entire religious freedom agenda because youre shutting the door on persecuted people, said Jenny Yang, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, a Baltimore-based refugee resettlement organization. In remarks last year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the dramatic cut in refugees allowed into the United States does not mean that the country is turning its back on a worldwide humanitarian crisis. He said the country is committed to protecting the vulnerable while maintaining national security. Advertisement Some will characterize the refugee ceiling as the sole barometer of Americas commitment to vulnerable people around the world, he said. This would be wrong. The State Department declined to comment on the countrys approach to Syrian refugees, referring to Pompeos remarks. It said the United States remains the largest donor to those affected by the Syrian crisis, providing $9.5 billion in humanitarian assistance. The sharp decline in refugees has led some resettlement agencies to dismantle the infrastructure that has helped place those seeking assistance within the United States and leaving struggling U.S. towns short of workers they are eager to welcome. The nine organizations that resettle refugees in the United States have all had to lay off staff or close offices, sometimes both. Yang said World Relief closed five offices in 2017 and shuttered its Akron, Ohio, office in March. Those who work with refugees said the greatest number now are coming from Congo, Myanmar, Eritrea and Ukraine. While the number of Syrians allowed to enter has risen to 218 for the first half of fiscal 2019, it represents less than 2 percent of the refugee population that sought help in the United States just a few years ago, meaning thousands of people are being shut out. Advertisement In 2016, Exodus Refugee Immigration in Indianapolis resettled refugees from 13 countries, including Syria, Iraq and Sudan. Last year, Exodus placed refugees from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Congo and Eritrea, said Cole Varga, the groups executive director. The drop in refugees means the groups funding has been cut almost in half, and the group laid off or did not backfill more than a dozen positions. One of the most striking things, I think, is just how much disruption this has caused to the network, Varga said. The top level is all the missing refugees who are not in the U.S., but its also about how [the president] is dismantling the infrastructure of this program. Rastanawi and her husband, Khaled Assaf, are the first Syrians that Exodus has brought to Indianapolis in two years. In 2017, the group helped 100 Syrians settle in the city. Vice President Pence tried to bar Syrian refugees from resettling in Indiana while he was governor, but his move was blocked in court. The couples daughter, Malak Assaf, arrived in Indianapolis as a refugee in May 2015 and petitioned for her parents to join her a few months later. Three more of the couples 10 children also came to the United States as refugees. Advertisement The screening process for Rastanawi and Assaf moved quickly. Each was granted two interviews part of a lengthy process to become a refugee that also includes security and medical screenings. But after the president announced a ban on travelers from countries including Syria, everything stopped. After we heard about the travel ban, we always wondered where our next home would be, Miriam said through a translator. They ended up in Jordan and didnt think they would ever make it to their family in the United States. We would have been better off dying in Jordan than going back to Syria. Malak Assaf became resigned to the idea that her parents would be shut out of her adopted country: I lost hope about my parents ever coming to the United States, she said. Rastanawi, 73, and Assaf, 76, spent 2017 moving from place to place in Jordan. They hated ourselves, Rastanawi said, because they had no sense of security. The couple both have medical issues and could not work. There was a glimmer of hope last year, when the couple had an additional interview with U.S. authorities. Rastanawi was riding a bus to pick up diabetes medication in March when she got the phone call telling her that she and her husband were eligible to come to the United States. She immediately called her daughter. It was 4 a.m. in Indianapolis, and Malak Assaf was so excited she couldnt go back to sleep. Advertisement The process moved quickly: the couple had to go to a hospital the next morning for a medical exam, pack their bags, pick up medication and get ready for a new life. The couple arrived at the Indianapolis airport on March 23. Malak Assaf waited with 13 family members, including her three children and three brothers. The moment the group saw the couple, who were using wheelchairs, the family swarmed them, showering them with hugs and kisses. Rastanawi and her husband began to cry. Rastanawi said the reunion was bittersweet. She still has children in Syria and Jordan, and a son was killed in the conflict. But she and her husband are thrilled to begin their new life and spend time with their children and grandchildren. Im so happy, Assaf said through a translator. I cant even believe that Im here. Freelancer Barb Berggoetz in Indianapolis contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Moving your workout outside can be a simple way to magnify its benefits, not only for thinking, but also for health, happiness, fitness and motivation. A Denver judge did not follow the law when he sentenced a defendant as a habitual domestic violence offender instead of asking a jury to evaluate the man's prior offenses, the state's Court of Appeals ruled this month. Sheldon M. Ryan stood trial in 2018 for physically attacking his romantic partner, and a jury found him guilty of misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief, with both offenses including an act of domestic violence. District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones then sentenced Ryan for two felonies after determining his prior convictions rendered him a habitual domestic violence offender. However, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals agreed the law did not permit Jones to unilaterally transform the misdemeanor convictions into a felony in Ryan's case. "We agree with the parties that, under the circumstances, the HDVO statute required the jury to determine whether Ryans prior convictions included an act of domestic violence and that the trial court erred by making that domestic violence finding," wrote Judge Rebecca R. Freyre in the panel's Dec. 1 opinion. Although the habitual domestic violence offender law provides a detailed procedure for elevating a misdemeanor conviction to a domestic violence-related felony, Ryan's case was the first time the Court of Appeals interpreted the statute since the General Assembly amended the law in 2016. Misdemeanor offenses that include an act of domestic violence become felonies if the defendant has three or more prior domestic violence convictions. The "trier of fact," which is generally a jury, must determine whether a prior conviction involves domestic violence. There is an exception if a defendant admits to domestic violence or a previous jury has found there to be domestic violence. Otherwise, a jury must determine beyond a reasonable doubt that prior offenses involved domestic violence. In Ryan's case, Jones initially agreed to let jurors make the habitual domestic violence offender findings, but ultimately dismissed the jury following Ryan's trial and examined for himself the paperwork prosecutors presented of Ryan's prior convictions. There were four plea agreements in which other judges found a "factual basis of domestic violence," but Ryan did not explicitly admit to domestic violence. Ryan objected to Jones' use of the documents, but the judge found the prosecution had shown "beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has been convicted of at least four prior convictions pursuant to guilty pleas in cases that included domestic violence factual basis." On appeal, Ryan argued the General Assembly's change to the habitual domestic violence offender law was prompted by concerns that it was unconstitutional to transform a misdemeanor to a felony offense without jury findings. "Given that Mr. Ryan did not admit he had three prior convictions that included a domestic violence factual basis, under the language of the statute, the finding of a factual basis of domestic violence had to be made by the trier of fact in this case: the jury," wrote Deputy State Public Defender Elyse Maranjian to the Court of Appeals. The prosecution conceded Jones did not follow the law, but claimed the judge's error was harmless because there was clear evidence that Ryan had at least three prior domestic violence convictions. Not so, the appellate panel decided, as Ryan did not even have the chance to rebut the prosecution's allegations. "For that reason, we conclude that the trial courts erroneous resolution of the domestic violence question so undermined the fundamental fairness of the proceeding as to cast serious doubt on the reliability of the HDVO adjudication," wrote Freyre. The panel ordered Ryan's convictions to be reduced to the misdemeanor offenses his jury convicted him of. Alternatively, it permitted Denver prosecutors to retry Ryan for habitual domestic violence in accordance with state law. Separately, the panel overturned a $253.50 restitution order to the victim because Jones had not honored Ryan's request for a hearing. The case is People v. Ryan. First, it is a matter for each democratically elected parliament to decide what laws it makes, within the scope of its power. It will depend on who is in government, who has the balance of power in the Senate, how influential public pressure is, what negotiations occur and what compromises are made. Different laws will be made to suit the community expectations of the time. But if that constitutional change empowers parliament to make certain types of laws in the future, you only need to know the scope of the power not every law that will be made under that exercise of power. This is for two reasons. What you need to know is the nature of the amendment to the Constitution. What words are being changed? What will it permit or prohibit? This is important because once a change is entrenched in the Constitution, it can only be changed by another referendum. The devil is in the detail so it is said. But how much detail do you need before you vote on a constitutional amendment? Second, the laws parliament makes are not entrenched in the same way as constitutional changes. They can be changed relatively easily if they turn out to be ineffective or have unintended consequences. If the people dont like the laws, they can influence their local MP or vote them out at the next election. The ordinary democratic process ensures parliament is responsible to the people for the laws it makes. When it comes to the proposed constitutional amendment for an Indigenous Voice to parliament and the government, the people are being asked to approve what is in the amendment. That involves the establishment of a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, which may make representations to parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The purpose behind it is to allow parliament and the government to be better informed when making decisions affecting Indigenous Australians. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney have faced criticism over a lack of detail on the Voice. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The proposed amendment will then give parliament the power to make laws about the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Voice. The detail that people are currently agitating for is not something that falls within the proposed amendment itself, but is something that parliament will enact in the future. Matters such as how many members the Voice might have, how they are chosen and how the Voice operates, are left for parliament to decide. The politicians currently demanding this detail are the ones who will vote on it in the future. This amendment will make them the decision-makers. This is a sensible approach. Constitutions are not places where you want to freeze details. It is appropriate to leave it to parliament as this gives greater flexibility to adjust for future needs. If the Voice is not working well, its composition or procedures can be changed to improve it. If people dont like what parliament has done, they can impose pressure to get change or exercise their rights at the ballot box. Ultimately, it is left to the democratic process and the will of the people. London: Extinction Rebellion, the UK-based radical climate change protest group that has led a worldwide movement, says its temporarily halting its controversial tactics in a bid to win more public support. Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell said the movement was putting its polarising techniques aside to encourage a broader cross-section of the public to join its major rally in April. Extinction Rebellion activists are removed by City of London Police after they blocked the road during the Lord Mayors Show 2021 in London. Credit: Getty Farrell denied the change in tactics was recognition that the group had turned off the general public who might otherwise share its concerns about the need to limit global warming. What it is, is a call to arms for the ordinary citizens who are saying along with the media, I like what they say, it [climate change] is really bad but I dont like what they do, she told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Mobile police are investigating whether disputing neighborhood gangs played a role in the New Years Eve shooting, and if there might be a connection with a shooting that occurred on December 27 at a Walmart store that remains under investigation. Mobile Police Paul Prine said Monday that its safe to say that a gang activity played a role in a shooting that occurred in downtown Mobile around 11:14 p.m. on Saturday that resulted in at least one fatality and nine injuries. The shooting in the 200 block of Dauphin Street led to a chaotic scene of people scrambling for safety a few blocks from Bienville Square where thousands of revelers gathered for the annual MoonPie Over Mobile festivity. Prines comments come one day after Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said a task force had been launched to handle the shootings investigation, and suggested that gang activity played a role. Were not dealing with organized gangs, Prine said. Thats important to know. Its not the MS-13s or the Bloods or the Crips that people commonly know. They can be violent as you can see, but they can be loosely connected. Prine declined to name any of the gangs involved. He said he does not plan to do so as the investigation, which he describes as fluid, continues. We know with international gangs that recruiting goes through the roof with naming, Prine said. There is not benefit and nor would the general public benefit knowing the (names of the) gangs. Most people would not have any clue as to how these gang factions work. But we wont deny there is gang activity. But we are not naming gangs either because it does give them a hand up in recruiting and we wont be part of that process at all. The details about the motive behind shooting remain unknown, but Prine confirmed there were two shooters involved. He said the victim, 24-year-old Jatarious Reives, was not one of the shooters, but is known to the alleged gunman. There was an altercation between the two and it did cost the life of Mr. Rieves at 24, said Prine. Regardless of how people end up in situations ... its unfortunate a young man lost his life. The suspected killer, who police have not yet named, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest at a local hospital. Upon being discharged, he will be transported to Mobile Metro Jail and booked on a murder charge. Hes under guard right now, said Prine, declining to give additional details other than to say that more criminal charges could be forthcoming. We do have two shooters, he said. There will be more information to come. There is a reason we have not given out the shooters name. There are investigative things we need to accomplish (before we) release (the name). The shooting injured nine others. They ranged in ages from 17 to 57. Prine said that aside from the suspected killer, two victims remain hospitalized. One of them is in critical condition. Meanwhile, Mobile police continue to investigate a separate shooting that occurred on December 27 at a Walmart store near Interstate 65. Arrested last week was 18-year-old Karmelo Derks. He is being held at Mobile Metro Jail on charges of attempted murder, assault 1st degree and reckless endangerment. Police are continuing to ask for the publics help in locating 19-year-old Jimaurice Pierce and 19-year-old Darrius Rowser, who are also suspects in that shooting. The shooting left two people injured with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Prine said he believes the December 27, and the New Years Eve shootings are separate and isolated but share a common element with neighborhood gang activity. Loosely speaking, it could be a retaliatory type of shooting on New Years Eve in regard to the Walmart (shooting), Prine said. But its speculative at this point. We cant prove it. But the individuals (involved in both cases) are loosely tied to these neighborhood gang (organizations). Prine said the task force includes representatives within his agencys criminal investigation, cyber and intelligence units along with federal FBI and ATF agents and the Mobile County District Attorneys Office. He said the goal is to levy federal charges against the shooters. We do know one of our shooters had a switch (on his gun), said Prine, describing a small device that can transform a handgun into a mini-machine gun that is capable of shooting until the trigger is lifted. He declined to say what kind of gun the shooter possessed. The switch itself is illegal to possess under federal law, but Prine said there are no state laws addressing it. Weve had 15 switches or weapons that are modified from semi-automatic weapons to an automatic weapon (in recent incidences), Prine said. This is where you have a lot of casualties. Its causing havoc. Prine said that city officials plan to reach out to state lawmakers about pushing for state legislation that would assess stiff penalties against people who possess the devices. Whether its politicians or our prosecutors on the state and federal level, we need to come together and say enough is enough and were tired of the violence being perpetrated on innocent bystanders, Prine said. People say they want a healthy city. Now is the time for the people to ante up. Prine said that despite the shooting, he believes downtown Mobile is safe and that the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration in downtown Mobile will also be safe. Im confident in the men and women of our law enforcement, Prine said. Im very confident well have a successful Mardi Gras. He said that his agency will be releasing crime statistics in the coming months comparing 2022 with 2021, which he said will illustrate a downswing in the violence. But he said that the public should have a plan for their own safety whenever attending an event. We had 25 percent more officers downtown during New Years Eve, he said. Its important to note, and Ive said it all along, that if someone is intent on hurting or killing another individual, there is very little law enforcement can do to stop it altogether short of knowing who the players are and when this will take place. He added, People have to have a plan. Your safety should not be solely dependent on law enforcement. MoonPie Over Mobile, the annual downtown event that culminates with a giant 600-pound electric MoonPie descending on the RSA Trustmark Building, continued despite the shooting the chaos that unfolded a few blocks away. Prine said the event, attended by 12,500 people, had only 13 minor incidences aside from the shooting that occurred on Dauphin Street away from the epicenter of the celebration at Bienville Square. We have at least two individuals who decided to be there for nefarious reasons and were not there to enjoy the celebration of New Years, said Prine. NWS Weather Alert NOTE: This information is provided by the National Weather Service. Forecast may differ from local information provided by our own 69News Meteorologists ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA... The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Delaware, Philadelphia, Western Chester, Eastern Chester, Western Montgomery, Eastern Montgomery, Upper Bucks and Lower Bucks. * TIMING...Wednesday. * WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 30 percent. * TEMPERATURES...In the lower 80s. * IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected. There will be increased risk for rapid wildfire growth and spread. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidities, and dry fuels. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions, and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state forestry or environmental protection website. && Days after police said the man responsible for killing four University of Idaho students in November was arrested at his parents' home in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, his family is speaking out. In a statement issued through the public defender for 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger, his family said: First and foremost we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions. We respect privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process. Kohberger attended Pleasant Valley High School, Northampton Community College and DeSales University. He is a PhD student and teaching assistant in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University. "We're trying to build this picture now of him: who he is, his history, how we got to this event, why this event occurred," said Moscow Police Captain Anthony Dahlinger. Kohberger is currently being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility. His public defender said Kohberger is eager to be exonerated and will waive extradition at a hearing on Tuesday. "As far as procedurally, we're waiting on this extradition in the short term," said Dahlinger. Moscow Police in Idaho said they cannot release more details surrounding the alleged murders per state law, until Kohberger appears in Idaho court. Ms. Cheap: Wildflower Week at Beaman Park offers chance to learn about Middle Tennessee wildflowers I think we all know that wildflowers are a welcome sign of spring. But did you know that according to Petal Republic, wildflowers can also symbolize happiness, joy, and remembrance.... Cumberland University sustained water damage in just a few parts of the campus after pipes froze and burst on Christmas Eve. I think a lot of people have had these issues all across Middle Tennessee, Cumberlands vice president for facilities and services Ron Pavan said. Weve fixed a lot of things in different buildings that werent that bad. Itll take some time. Pavan said the campus had water damage in some residence halls, off-campus houses and other rooms. He said he doesnt expect the damage to affect classes when students return Jan. 17. Its a blessing that the students werent here, said Pavan, who said the only students on campus are athletes and international students. We will have to move some students around when they return to campus to fix their rooms. Pavan and Cumberlands Lee Company site manager Joey Leach toured the campus on Christmas Day to assess damage following the leaks. Some of it will be restoration where we have to take a wall out or a ceiling out, but its not like a whole dorm. Its just a couple of rooms or a suite. Were very lucky we didnt have more damage, said Pavan Pavan said Memorial Hall, the cafeteria and classrooms went unaffected, as well as the auxiliary and satellite sites for the university. Its unfortunate, Pavan said. How many times in Middle Tennessee does it get to minus-19 degrees? Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" bolstered the nation's international status amid global crises, said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Unfamiliar security risks such as climate change, natural disasters and epidemics are part of everyday life now, and the long-term impacts of the Covid outbreak are hampering global recoveries everywhere, he said. However, Vietnam continues to retain its stability and growth thanks to "resolute independence, autonomy, multilateralization, diversification and support for the essential principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, for the national interests and its people." Vietnam is firm in its beliefs, flexible in its strategies, and committed to loyalty, justice, peace, cooperation, and the betterment of humanity, according to the minister. Son said in a statement published Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Vietnam's foreign policy is "flexible and creative but consistent, valiant and resilient" and is based on the idea of "immutable, improvised, equitable, and mutually beneficial cooperation." He said the most notable achievement of Vietnam's foreign affairs activities last year was to firmly consolidate favorable foreign affairs policies amid moveable global situations in order to maintain a peaceful and stable environment, protect independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, serve socio-economic development, and improve the country's international position and prestige. Vietnam also continues to promote its active and responsible participation in and contributions to important multilateral organizations like the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, and cooperation projects across the Mekong region. Vietnam was elected to many positions by important international organizations last year, including as vice president of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 term. Economic diplomacy on the part of Vietnam has helped to maintain macroeconomic stability by promoting the nations economic growth, increasing exports, and drawing upon various external resources, all the while supporting economic reform and long-term development in the country. Cultural diplomacy had worked in tandem with economic diplomacy to promote Vietnam's image, people, culture, and development achievements around the world. Vietnam also achieved significant results in citizen protection, including the safe evacuation of over 6,000 citizens and expatriates from Ukraine and the return of approximately 1,200 citizens subjected to forced labor in Cambodia. Son said that Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" has been apparent in each of the nations foreign activities. The policy "affirms a brave, sincere, loyal, reliable, and responsible Vietnam." Commenting on the global events last year, Son said that a lot of fast, complicated, and unexpected events happened around the world in 2022. These big changes posed many challenges but also opportunities for countries and people to work together for peace, cooperation, and development. He said these issues are due to "the increasingly strong strategic competition between major countries, the emergence of the Russia - Ukraine conflict, the arms race, and an increase in socio-political instability in many countries." Eight residents of Wisconsin Dells, including a family of four, were arrested just before the turn of the year in a large Adams County drug investigation. According to a Dec. 30 release from Adams County Sheriff Brent York, nine individuals were arrested when department deputies conducted a search warrant at the 3600 block of 11th Lane in Dell Prairie during the evening of Dec. 29. All charges were referred to the Adams County District Attorneys Office following the warrant, which prompted the seizure of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia at the searched residence. The nine individuals, ranging in age from 19 to 57, were charged with varying offenses. They include: Darius White, 24, Isabella Kilmartin, 19, Mister Walker, 26, Joseph McDonald, 57, Toni Trotta, 33, Teresa McDonald, 55, Katelynn McDonald, 20, and Joseph McDonald, 29, are all Dells residents. 29-year-old Baraboo resident Dylan Belk was also arrested. The younger Joseph McDonald and Katelynn are the two children of Teresa and the elder Joseph. All nine occupants were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a drug trafficking place. Seven of the nine (the exceptions being the eldest McDonald and Walker) were charged with varying counts of felony bail jumping charges. Kilmartin had five counts, Trotta had four, the younger Joseph McDonald had two, and White, Belk, and Teresa and Katelynn McDonald all had one. White, Kilmartin, Belk, and Katelynn McDonald were all charged with possession of Schedule II narcotics. White, Kilmartin, and Teresa and the elder Joseph McDonald all received possession of methamphetamine charges. Teresa and the eldest McDonald also were charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug without a prescription. As of Dec. 30, Katelynn McDonald, Trotta, and Walker are all being held at the Adams County Jail. The Adams County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Juneau County Sheriffs Office Special Tactics and Response (START) Team, as well as Dells-Delton EMS and the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force. Columbus Area Historical Society 1972 After having been reportedly sold, unsold, and put out for bids again the county teachers college property was sold to L. M. Anthon Construction Company of Columbus for $25,500. The Walter Lewke farm has been in the family for the past 100 years. Walters grandfather, Charles Lewke, emigrated from Germany and bought the 40 acre farm Dec. 26, 1872, for $1,400. 1982 Kurt Kraft, who passed away in July, fed the resident mallard duck population along River Roads for more than 20 years. Upwards of 100 ducks gather at the open water below the bridge on the Crawfish River looking for food. Kurts wife Hilda planned to continue the tradition but needed donations of corn for the ducks. Sarah Beier, 14, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Beier was named the Citizen Publishing Co. Carrier of the Year. A newspaper carrier since November 1981 was selected from 120 eligible carriers. 1992 Columbia County Conservation speech winners for fifth grade at Dickason Middle School were Andrew Basler, Spring Krause, Lindsey Schoenherr, and Andrea Reyknovski. St. Jeromes held its Christmas Concert entitled A Diary of Christmas Joy. Narrators were Carolyn Becker and Michael Choudoir. 2002 Columbus Middle School students raised $2,000 with their Student Council annual penny war. The money collected was sent to the Columbus/Fall River Food Pantry, The seventh-graders won and were treated to a pizza party. Marilyn Grueneberg, treasurer of the Greater Columbus Recreation Committee, gave Lee Columbus a $2,500 check for the restoration of the Columbus Scout Cabin. Lee Columbus was chairman of the Scout Cabin Restoration Committee. Visit www.columbuswiareahistory.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/columbuswiareahistory or email info@columbuswiareahistory.com to reach us. The Columbus WI Area Historical Society is looking for a new home for its museum. If anyone has ideas on where to locate, please contact the society. Gift of giving provides food and essentials for people in need across north Wales This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 2nd, 2023 Tenants and staff at ClwydAlyn Housing Association recently joined together to support those in need over the festive period. As part of the ClwydAlyns Reverse Advent Calendar Challenge in November, tenants and staff collected and donated to local foodbanks across North Wales to help families this Christmas. Originally the idea of Louise Smith-Aldous, Operations & Project Co-ordinator at ClwydAlyn, the challenge is to collect items every day in November and donate whats been gifted to a local food bank or charity. The drop off boxes were placed in all seven of ClwydAlyns Extra Care schemes, its head office at St Asaph, and Penrhos Village in Pwllheli. Staff volunteers then collected the donations and distributed them to the foodbanks. Louise said: Back for the third year running, Im glad that staff and tenants are again supporting ClwydAlyn to host this popular appeal. Since its humble beginnings taking donations at Pen Alyn in St Asaph, where the Maintenance team were based at the time, it has grown, and we now collect items for across North Wales. All the residents and Extra Care managers have been great with their support, and as its grown, we now have a pool of staff volunteers on hand to help us distribute across the region. It really helps local families and by doing it in November it means the foodbanks can get the food out in time for Christmas. With the cost-of-living crisis this Winter weve also been really touched by how generous everybody has been with their donations at this challenging time. The foodbanks have been really appreciative of all weve done and have sent letters of thanks for our response to the Reverse Advent Calendar Challenge. No one should go hungry the Trussell Trust is here to help. Food banks in its network welcome and support everyone who is referred to them, always acting with respect and without judgment. Volunteers will give a minimum of three days emergency food and offer support to resolve some of the difficulties you might be facing. To find out more visit the Trussell Trust website. January 1, 2023 | 03:37 pm PT I walked into a supermarket in the U.S. searching for some instant pho, a glimpse of my cuisine and culture in a faraway land. Upon entering the instant noodle rows, I only saw Chinese, Thai, and Japanese versions of pho. None of the packets was a Vietnamese brand. I settled for two packs of instant pho, one beef and the other chicken. They are sold in the average American supermarket chain for $5 and $6 respectively. The noodle was unnecessarily thick, and in combination with the bland and tasteless soup, it was a horrifying experience. I have had better experiences with instant pho that cost less than $1 in Vietnam. In Atlanta, where I live, I usually visit a Vietnamese restaurant in a food court in my local shopping mall. A bowl of beef pho costs me roughly $17, with tip included. Costly as it might be, it carries a taste of home, as the restaurant owner is a born-and-raised in Vietnam. He made the northern Vietnamese version of pho, with very little sugar added. A bowl of pho at a higher-ended restaurant would cost me roughly $20. Although most Vietnamese restaurants in the United States make pho with dry noodles, and not the fresh version we usually see in Vietnam, I still savor each bowl with enthusiasm as if I were buying a ticket straight home. It is a comforting warmness after days of Western bread and meaty American meals. A bow of pho bo (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) is served at a restaurant in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Phuong Anh Pho in the United States is not only enjoyed by the homesick Vietnamese dispora. The popularity of the dish has spread wide and far, becoming a favorite of many American looking for savury but healthy alternatives to their common fast food meals. Pho is not the only Vietnamese product that has made its mark in America. A few years ago, I met the CEO of Starbucks in Vietnam. She said to me that Vietnam is one of seven main sources of coffee for Starbucks, the most famous global coffee chain with branches peppered around every American city. Though Americans consume Starbucks coffee on a daily basis, not many of them know about the origin of their coffee. According to the U.S. Coffee Association, 70% of coffee consumed in the country are arabica coffee beans from Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, while the other 30% are robusta coffee beans from Vietnam and Indonesia. Though American people consume Vietnamese products regularly, the word "Vietnam" still reminds them more about a bloody war than the cultural and social contributions that Vietnam has made to the country. "We were deeply saddened by what the war had brought to Vietnamese and Americans alike. I wished it had never happened," Willie R. Tubbs, a professor at East Florida University, and a dear friend, told me. "But as Americans, we love what you brought to the U.S. We love pho." The more I heard about how American friends love our pho, the more I became concerned about how "Vietnamese" the dish actually is being served in many American restaurants across the country. As I entered Vietnamese restaurants, I saw bottles of fish sauce and chili sauce with descriptions written in Thai, Chinese, and English. Strangely, nowadays, Cambodians, Thais and Filipinos are also selling "Vietnamese" pho in their restaurants. Globalization has brought Vietnamese coffee to the United States and Starbucks to Vietnam. Why can't we bring the authentic Vietnamese pho to America as well? As the people of other Asian countries have brought their ramen, sushi, kimchi, tom yum and other instant products to all supermarkets and restaurants in all corners of the the United States, why cant we Vietnamese do that as well? Vietnamese pho, if brought to the America in an organized effort, would not only fill the belly of the Vietnamese diaspora, but also become an economic opportunity for Vietnam. As a country, we need to take responsibility for delivering the most authentic version of our culture and cuisine to the world, before some Chinese or Thai conglomerate spreads a distorted version of our dish of pride. Theres history between Vietnam and the United States, and I think that will never change. Nevertheless, we can create a new bond through cuisine and culture, through a bowl of pho or a cup of coffee that brings joy to people. *Hong Phuc is a Vietnamese journalist. North Wales health board declares critical incident due to unprecedented demand This article is old - Published: Monday, Jan 2nd, 2023 A critical incident has been declared across health services in North Wales as the health board deals with unprecedented demand. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said there are huge pressures across the health system in North Wales, caused by flu, COVID and other respiratory viruses and is struggling to cope. All but the most urgent procedures and appointments in hospitals for tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd January, have been cancelled. Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery said: This morning we have declared an internal critical incident as we are struggling to cope with prolonged, unprecedented demand across the health and social care system. We are currently seeing a very high volume of patients presenting at our hospitals with flu, COVID and other respiratory viruses, as well as in increase in the most seriously injured or unwell patients requiring emergency care. This, together with a lack of available beds in our hospitals and significant staffing shortages, is leading to extremely long waits for patients to be seen particularly at our hospital Emergency Departments. Similar pressures are being experienced in other Health Boards and English Trusts. Ms Wood said: We are continuing to work closely with Local Authority colleagues to support medically fit patients to be discharged from hospital and we are making use of all available staffing. This is an exceptionally challenging time for colleagues across our health services and we are hugely grateful for the continued efforts being made in such difficult circumstances. The health board is urging members of the public who need help to contact NHS Wales 111 in the first instance to be advised about the most appropriate service, which might be self-care at home, a visit to the pharmacy, a GP appointment, a Minor Injuries Unit, or, in life threatening circumstances, the hospital Emergency Department. As always, our Emergency Departments will remain open and will see patients in order of clinical priority. However, we regret that those who do attend will face extremely long waits to be seen while staff on duty do all they can to keep patients safe. The health board has said. Advice for those with planned procedures or appointments tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd January) We have postponed all but the most urgent procedures and appointments in our hospitals for tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd January). We sincerely apologise to all those affected, who will be contacted directly today and rescheduled as soon as possible. Those who are due to receive a planned procedure or appointment from Wednesday 4th January onwards should assume that this is still going ahead, unless they are contacted directly by the Health Board. A spokesperson said. A statutory inquiry investigating allegations of unlawful killings by British special forces of scores of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and a subsequent cover-up is to begin in early 2023. Commissioned by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Defence Minister Andrew Murrison told parliament it will in part investigate and report on alleged unlawful activity by British Armed Forces and the adequacy of subsequent investigations into such allegations by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). British soldiers storm a building in Afghanistan, 2007 [Photo by Defence Imagery / Flickr / CC BY-NC 4.0 The government has made clear the inquirys aim is to protect the guilty, not to bring them to justice. Wallace said, While there have been several comprehensive investigations into the events in question, if there are further lessons to learn it is right that we consider those fully, to ensure all allegations are handled appropriately and in equal measure, to ensure our personnel are adequately protected from unnecessary re-investigations. In a letter to veterans and their families, Veterans' Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer said he was aware of the impact of this news on those involved, and full legal and pastoral support for anyone called up by the inquiry would be available. In a following tweet, he remained intensely proud of our service in Afghanistan. In the Commons, Conservative former minister Sir Edward Leigh warned that the bar for prosecutions must be very high otherwise we are going to inflict a severe blow on the morale of the veterans of our brave armed forces. Labours Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey was careful to get priorities in order for the party of NATO, saying, Allegations of unlawful killings and cover-ups could not be more serious and this inquiry is essential to protect the reputation of our British special forces, to guarantee the integrity of military investigations and to secure justice for any of those affected. In October 2001, under the manufactured pretext of retaliation for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States carried out an invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Cloaked in a spurious mission to destroy Al Qaedaa creation of the CIA-orchestrated war against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1970s and 1980s--the real objective of the US military was to seize control of a country bordering the oil-rich former Soviet republics of the Caspian basin, China and Iran. The British military played the leading supporting role. The invasion inaugurated the war on terror under which Washington claimed the right to pre-emptively invade any country it perceived as a threat to its global interests as well as to establish black sites used for torturing and interrogation. In March 2003, the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq commenced based on lies about weapons of mass destruction. The British government and military signed off on all of this in defiance of mass protests by millions in the UK and around the world. Subsequent regime-change wars were launched under the hypocritical banner of human rights, in Libya, the country with the largest oil reserves in Africa, and Syria. These wars killed and injured millions of civilians, turned tens of millions more into refugees and destroyed entire societies. In Afghanistan alonethe longest official war involving the US military before its ignominious departure in August 2021conservative estimates are that at least 175,000 civilians were killed since the 2001 invasion. The true death toll when including deaths caused indirectly by the war, such as disease and cold, are believed closer to a million. In 2021, it was estimated that 18.4 million people across Afghanistan needed humanitarian relief. Up to 750,000 US troops were sent into Afghanistan (the number of NATO forces peaked at around 140,000 in 2011) to wage a dirty colonial war characterised by mass murder through air strikes and night raids. The killing and torturing of detainees, intended to terrorise the population into submission, swelled a growing anti-occupation insurgency until Taliban militias were able to overrun six provincial capitals within the space of barely one week, before ousting the hated and isolated US-backed Kabul regime in August 2021. UK forces stationed in Afghanistan reached a peak of 10,000 a decade into the occupation and were deployed to the southern Helmand province, between 2006 and 2014, where many of the eventual 457 British fatalities took place. These were predominantly soldiers in their 20s or younger fighting a futile but bloody battle to stop the insurgency spreading to the nearby capital. It was during this period that British special forces were operating and to which the current inquiry will focus. In July, the BBC screened an episode of its Panorama documentary series titled SAS Death Squads Exposed: A British War Crime? The programme aired interviews and evidence based on official files from police investigations and a four-year probe showing that one Special Air Service (SAS) unit in Helmand province had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances between 2010 and 2011. The units tour of duty resulted in a total Afghan death toll more than double that number. None of the units members sustained any injuries in the raids, indicating they had faced no threats to their own safety. Also revealed was evidence that senior officers were aware of concerns within the SAS but failed to pass on evidence to the military police. The government denounced the BBC programme for being engaged in irresponsible, incorrect journalism. But within 24 hours it was forced to initiate a formal fresh investigation into the allegations, in which the BBC and other organisations were asked to share information, and which led to the recent announcement of a statutory inquiry. The inquiry was announced by the government a day after the BBC released a follow-up investigation into a night raid on the south western Nimruz province in 2012 in which the SAS killed two young parents and severely injured their infant sons. The inquiry is tasked with looking specifically at special forces raids known as Deliberate Detention Operations (DDOs) between mid-2010 and mid-2013. Disclosures required by the court indicate that Afghan men detained on SAS night raids were often separated from their families and shot dead after a hand grenade or rifle was unexpectedly produced by the detainee. The announcement of an independent statutory inquiryas opposed to the review previously proposed by the governmentexpands the scope and powers available to the judge leading it. According to the Guardian, a high court case brought by the law firm Leigh Day on behalf of one man, Saifullah, alleged that his father, two brothers and a cousin were killed during an SAS raid on a compound in southern Afghanistan in February 2011. It was called Objective Tyburn by the SAS, referring to a historic place of execution in London. Internal SAS correspondence revealed that the morning after the report on the mission that led to the deaths of Saifullahs family members was filed, an SAS sergeant-major described it in an email as the latest massacre. In 2014, the Royal Military Police launched Operation Northmoor, an investigation into allegations of over 600 offences by British forces in Afghanistan, including the alleged killing of children by the SAS. It began winding down in 2017 and was terminated in 2019. The MoD said it had not found sufficient evidence any prosecutions. Court proceedings in July heard that a military police officer wrote that political pressure was applied in 2016 to narrow the focus of a military police investigation into allegations of summary killings by SAS soldiers to limit their inquiries to tactical-level command responsibility. According to the Guardian, documents cited in court earlier this year revealed there were significant concerns within the Armed Forces that a number of the RMP [Royal Military Police] investigations were flawed. Britains ruling elite specialising in protecting the guilty through the mechanism of the independent public inquiry. Even so, never has such an inquiry begun with such restrictive caveats or such blatant indications of an intended whitewash. The July proceedings were given impetus by the political objective of accusing Russia of war crimes in Ukraine by a country supposedly in possession of a clean pair of hands. Those in charge of this and previous inquiries are motivated by the sole principles of protecting the integrity of the armed forces and the state they defend. They will not condemn as war criminals the political and military elite that has inflicted a 30-year cycle of imperialist military violence across the globe. We traveled to Melbourne from London via Vietnam at the beginning of December 2022. I did not recognize any of the complaints many are making. Our flights were with Vietnam Airlines. We had to transit via Hanoi and HCMC. Our luggage came through quickly at Hanoi, we cleared immigration quickly as an official was managing the queue system and - maybe we were just lucky - she diverted us to a new lane that was just opening. We were then greeted by specialist Vietnam Airlines transit staff who dealt with the transfer of our bags from the international terminal to the domestic terminal for our next flight to SGN. We didn't have to handle our bags after that until we collected them off the conveyor at Melbourne after our third flight from HCMC! At Hanoi we were directed to the terminal transit bus and all check-in activity for flights was handled quickly. The domestic terminal at Hanoi was busy but had plenty of choice in terms of shopping and outlets. However the international terminal at SGN/HCMC was the only basic in comparison, with a poor selection of shops and food outlets. Before departure from the U.K. we had been in regular contact with the Vietnam Airlines reservation team who had always answered our questions promptly. We had hoped that the visa-free transit tours might have been reinstated since their cancelation owing to Covid, but sadly this has not yet happened. 7+ hours in SGN airport could have been avoided though, like one of our fellow travelers who had booked herself a nearby budget hotel room for the layover. On that day there was a torrential thunderstorm and rain so we probably wouldn't have enjoyed the city tour as much as we would have hoped - had it been available! Please Vietnam, reinstate this tour! Our flights back to the U.K. will only involve one shorter layover in Hanoi within the international terminal. We'll let you know how that goes. However our experience of Vietnam and its airline as fleeting transit passengers had been excellent so far, so let's see a little more optimism. We'd return, and we'd spend more time in Vietnam next time we're traveling from the U.K. to Australia or Fiji. In light of an outbreak sweeping the Asian country, France is urging all member states of the European Union to begin testing travelers arriving from China for COVID, Azernews reports citing Euronews. As a result of EU officials failing to reach a consensus at a meeting in Brussels before Christmas, only France, Italy, and Spain as well as the United Kingdom outside the bloc currently require testing. This week will see more discussions with the EU. France will test visitors at random starting on Sunday and will demand that travelers from China present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained less than 48 hours prior to departure. "France will push for this methodology to be applied across the EU," Health Minister Fransois Braun said as he and Transport Minister Clement Beaune checked on the new procedures at Paris' Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport on Sunday. Beaune responded, "This is why we must coordinate (across the EU), to be more efficient," when questioned about the possibility that a Chinese traveler with COVID could temporarily land in another EU country before traveling unchecked to France. Braun noted that entry into France would not be prevented by the passenger arrival controls but described them as "a more scientific control, which will allow us to follow the different variants extremely precisely." Six flights per week from mainland China and up to ten if flights from Hong Kong are included will count toward the new restrictions that will remain in effect in France until January 31. Most Chinese travelers only use the hub airport at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle. Sixty of the 300 passengers on the Beijing-Paris flight touched down on French soil on Sunday. Before leaving to pick up their luggage, everyone agreed to take a quick PCR test. Agents at the terminal screening center take travelers' identities before administering any tests. The travelers are required to self-isolate for seven days if any test results are positive. On December 7, China ended its harsh "zero COVID" policy, which had been in place since the first coronavirus cases appeared in the central city of Wuhan three years earlier. Chinese hospitals have been overrun by an influx of patients since the restrictions were lifted, the majority of whom are elderly and vulnerable due to lax vaccination protocols. Travelers from across the globe are pouring into HCMC, Hue, Hoi An, Khanh Hoa, Quang Binh and elsewhere as of the early morning of New Years Day. As 2023 began, Vietnam welcomed large droves of foreign tourists not seen since the pandemic started two years ago. The Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport rang in the new year with the landing of a Vietnam Airlines flight from Frankfurt at 7:25 a.m. on Sunday, while a budget airline Vietjet Air flight from Taiwan touched ground at 8:05 a.m. Passengers from the two territories were lucky to be the first to grace Vietnams golden shores in 2023. A visitor from Frankfurt is greeted at Tan Son Nhat Internatinoal Airport in HCMC, January 1, 2023. Photo by Vietnam Airlines Cam Ranh Airport in the central Khanh Hoa Province also served its first group of foreign tourists for the new year via a flight from Seoul, South Korea. In addition, more than 170 travelers also flew Vietjet Air from Seoul to Da Nang. On the same day, domestic flights from Hanoi and HCMC brought the first groups of international tourists of the year to Da Nang, Hoi An, Dien Bien, Hue, Da Lat and Quang Binh. And 185 travelers from Hanoi also set foot at Hue's Phu Bai International Airport. Passengers Fautscheck Laura and Haas Daneil from Austria received gifts and free admission tickets to the Center for Conservation of Hue Monuments from the local Department of Tourism. Vietjet Air's first 2023 flight from HCMC brought 180 people to Quang Binh, including 35 foreign tourists. Rajesh Samdani from India and his wife said they planned to spend two days exploring the central province. They said theyd also like to travel the rest of Vietnam another time. "Vietnam has many beautiful places to visit and people here are friendly and helpful. We're going to check out some caves here," Samdani said, adding that he appreciated the warm and enthusiastic welcome from the reception on New Year's Day. Quang Binh, Vietnam's "Kingdom of Caves," boasts a cornucopia of limestone caves including Son Doong, the world's largest. Meanwhile, a group of 34 Mongols and some Koreans landed in the ancient town of Hoi An, where they were greeted with songs and dances from local performing troops. Foreign tourists arrive in Hoi An ancient town on January 1, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh Mongolian Enkhtuya has never been to Hoi An before. With such warm and welcoming people, she said she quickly felt at home. "I can't find words to describe how I feel right now. Performances are unique and interesting. I hope that the trip will bring back lots of good memories," she said. "Thank you for the warm welcome." Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, who is in charge of the Hoi An Center for Culture, Sports, and Broadcasting, said that more than 70,000 people are expected to come to Hoi An for the New Year holiday. Vietnam aims to serve 8 million international visitors in 2023. The industry eyes revenues of VND650 trillion (US$27.3 billion), according to Ha Van Sieu, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, who spoke at a conference last month. HCMC hopes to attract more than 5 million foreign tourists this year, while Hanoi targets 3 million. Meanwhile, Hue looks forward to more than 1 million and Quang Binh may see as many as 100,000 overseas visitors. Many localities have launched programs to promote and improve the quality of tourism services. These include training and developing tourism human resources, "building tourism culture," "developing and diversifying markets," and "applying science and technology to tourism development." Vietnam only received 3.6 million foreign tourists in 2022, or around 70% of its target. Marty Stuart opened the revamped Ellis Theater in Philadelphia with a sold out show in December. There are more shows scheduled for the venue. Dr. Daniel Barnard said it was the intention to create a big splash with the opening of the Ellis Theater in Philadelphia. Mission accomplished. Phase one of the $40 million project that will eventually house Marty Stuarts immense collection of country music artifacts, opened its doors in December with a four-night grand reopening weekend. Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs and Bill Gather in four days was quite the scene, said Barnard, the executive director of the Congress of Country Music. There were a lot of people in town that came for the entire week. I think we created the splash we intended to. More: Hospital bucks trendA ray of hope: Mississippi Delta town may see hospital reopen when others are closing More: Jackson Water CrisisJackson water crisis forces some restaurants to close. Mayor hopes system fixed by Saturday The Ellis is a 100-year-old venue that has been restored and is serving the community again. The Ellis Theatre was originally built as a silent movie theater in 1926 by the late Henry Bell Hutchison. In recent years it has served as a performance space for the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Arts Council. Now, its more of a long-term situation as we are waiting to see the impact on the community as we go forward, Barnard said. The long-term impact seems to be in good position as a new restaurant is opening just steps away from the Ellis Theater on the square in Philadelphia. Barnard also says the David Vowell and the Community Development Partnership of Philadelphia is in negotiations with multiple hotel chains to build and open a hotel in the downtown footprint. Many of the people came for the grand opening stayed at the reservation at the Golden Moon and that is fine, Barnard said. But there really is a need for a hotel in Philadelphia and this seems to be the tipping point for that and many other economic development opportunities. The updated and revamped Ellis Theater in Philadelphia opened to rave reviews in December. Barnard said its even a bigger mark for the Congress of Country Music because once this project opens fully, its going to be a regional draw. Story continues People will come from all over to see the collection and to see performances here, he said. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured three prayers of invocation delivered by Philadelphia Mayor James Young, Choctaw Chief Cyrus Ben, and State Sen. Jennifer Branning. Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, along with other VIP attendees, joined the Choctaw Dancers for a special performance in the streets of downtown Philadelphia, and Mayor Young, Chief Ben, Marty Stuart and others gave speeches to honor the momentous occasion. The opening night performance was headlined by Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives with special performances by Connie Smith and Jontavious Willis. The weekend continued with Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Bill Gaither highlighting the star-studded season for the Ellis Theater in downtown Philadelphia. As for the opening weekend, Barnard said returns have been positive with an eye to the future. We had a big debrief about it. There are always one or two things you could do better, but in general we accomplished what we wanted to, he said. Our intention was to be as inclusive to everyone as we could. We feel like we did that and that we will continue to do that in the future. The Ellis Theater will continue its inaugural season with a variety of shows, including Mississippi native, HARDY. Performances in the historic Ellis Theater offer an intimate setting, creating a spiritual home for country music in the Magnolia State, promoters said. Barnard said the mission of the Congress of Country Music is to reclaim, redefine and reintroduce the true heart and soul of country music. As country musics most notable ambassador and the cultures main archetypal crusader, Marty Stuarts mission is to preserve and propel the authenticity of the culture of country music to future generations, he said. They claim the Congress of Country Music is the home of the largest private collection of country music artifacts in the world. Up next for the Ellis is the Old Crow Medicine Show on Jan. 8, followed by Dervish on Feb. 24. The North Mississippi All Stars will perform April 14. Phase 2 of Marty Stuarts Congress of Country Music will see the construction of a new community center and meeting space on the lot just north of the theater. Featuring a giant, cathedral-style window arched to a center point at the top, the building will pay homage to the legendary Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville from 1943 until 1974. Then in the final stage, a museum and the educational building will be completed in the back that will serve as an exhibit space for Stuarts personal collection of more than 20,000 pieces of country music memorabilia. Included are boots, hats and other clothing items, personal belongings, hand-written manuscripts, vehicles and vintage guitars owned by musicians including Charley Pride, Pop Staples, Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rogers and others. Some of those items are currently on display in Jackson through December as part of "The World of Marty Stuart" exhibit at the Two Mississippi Museums. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: New businesses springing up after opening of revamped Ellis Theater For years, public health experts warned of the possibility of an illness spreading across the globe killing millions. After all, it had happened before. Measures were in place around the world to spot early signs of a never-before-seen bug with dangerous potential. That's why on Dec. 31, 2019, China notified the World Health Organization that a novel pathogen was circulating in Wuhan, the most populous city in central China. A day later, in that city of 12 million, a wet market selling live animals was shuttered because of fears it was the source of the virus that would later be named SARS-CoV-2. Three years later, the risk of a deadly pathogen spreading around the world remains. Now, in addition to worrying about a virus that might jump from animals to humans, experts are concerned about research accidents and what should be unthinkable the possibility of someone intentionally unleashing a highly contagious and lethal pathogen. A pandemic has long been known to be far riskier for global security than conventional, nuclear or chemical warfare, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University and a leading expert in global health. "We've seen that play out with COVID and COVID is far from the worst pandemic threat that we face," he said. In this Jan. 27, 2020, photo, workers in protective gear catch a giant salamander reported to have escaped from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. Although it has so far killed more than 6.6 million people worldwide, other pandemics have been more lethal. The 1918 flu, for instance, is estimated to have cost 50 million lives across the globe, and in the 14th century, the Black Death killed between 30% and 60% of all Europeans in just four years. Public health and national defense experts worry the next pandemic will come at an even higher price than this one. And the nation needs to be ready. "It's incumbent on the United States and other countries to be prepared for whatever comes from biology, whether it's from nature or from engineering or a laboratory accident," said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Story continues The next pandemic could be worse Gostin sees nature as the most likely source of the next pandemic. A highly lethal strain of bird or swine flu could mutate naturally to become contagious to humans. That scenario kept health experts like Gostin awake at night long before COVID-19. But other causes are possible. "We have a whole host of threats from lab leaks to bioterror to bioweapons to naturally occurring zoonotic spillovers," said Gostin, author of the 2021 book "Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future." "All of that leads to quite a high probability that we're going to have more frequent pandemic-like threats and we need to take them seriously as a national security threat." Dr. Joseph Varon hugs and comforts a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit during Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center on November 26, 2020 in Houston, Texas. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the third coronavirus to pose a major health threat, following the first SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome both of which are far more lethal. Another coronavirus with the contagious potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the 30% death rate of MERS would threaten the economy, supply chains and the health care system, not to mention human life. And those are just the direct impacts. With COVID-19, we're likely to see indirect impacts for years, as people who skipped routine medical care are diagnosed with more advanced and deadlier cancers and children who missed routine vaccines fall ill with preventable diseases, among other consequences, Gostin said. "If you think of a far worse pandemic, you can multiply that by 10- or even 50-fold in terms of the economic and social harms the United States would suffer," he said. That means the world needs to have a better ongoing capacity to fight these threats, not spending money only after the crisis arrives, he and others said. Right now, only about 5% of the country's health care dollars are spent on public health and preventing the next crisis. "That's a rounding error in the U.S. budget," Gostin said. Ernie Chacon's wife Celia, left, and daughter Sarah Chacon Mendoza attend the candlelight vigil on March 10, 2021, outside Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso. He died of COVID-19 on Dec. 11, 2020. Manmade threats are real The idea of engineering a deadly pathogen that sickens the world sounds like the stuff of science fiction or superhero movies. But it's no longer a fantasy. Kevin Esvelt, an MIT biologist, said people in his own lab could theoretically assemble a dangerous virus from DNA ordered on the internet for under $1,000. Once pandemic-capable viruses are identified, thousands of people worldwide have the scientific training to make them from mail-ordered synthetic DNA. "Imagine a world where you can order weapons-grade plutonium in the mail," he said, "and there are thousands of engineers who have the skills to put together something that might be a bomb." In less than 100 days last fall and winter, the omicron variant spread from southern Africa to the rest of the world, infecting 26% of Americans, Esvelt said, illustrating how fast a pandemic response needs to be. Esvelt warned Congress earlier this year that pandemic virus identification would make pandemics widely accessible and recently released a 30-page plan preparing for a world in which it's feasible to unleash one. The risk is real and growing over time as engineering biology becomes easier, agreed Jaime Yassif, vice president of the Nuclear Threat Initiative's Global Biological Policy and Programs. Still, it's not "trivial to create a biological weapon that would cause significant harm," she said. COVID-19 made the threat more real, she and others said, by showing how much chaos a global pandemic can sow. "Some people may have taken note of the impact and paid more attention than before," Yassif said. "It's reasonable to assume that the intentions are already there and they may be growing and that capabilities are increasingly within reach. That's my rational calculus about why I take it seriously." Residents from St. Joseph's Senior Home are helped on to buses in Woodbridge, N.J., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The pandemic hit the elderly especially hard. The potential for bioterrorism The global Biological Weapons Convention was enacted in March 1975 to prevent countries from ever developing or producing biological weapons. It has largely held ever since, though a few countries that signed onto the treaty are believed to have or have had secret programs. The Soviets once tried to engineer Ebola into a more contagious pathogen, for instance, but it didn't work well, said Christine Parthemore, CEO of the Council on Strategic Risks, a nonprofit, nonpartisan security policy institute. China and Iran may have come right up to the line, if not crossed it, making offensive weapons, she said. Based on U.S. government public assessments, for example, Iran may be using "botulinum toxin that we don't think is for Botox, at least not solely." "The history is there," Parthemore said. "Countries have engineered pathogens." The Defense Department initially became interested in mRNA vaccines, which were used to fight COVID-19, as a rapid way to counter state-based biological threats and engineered pathogens, she said. And the vaccine that proved effective this summer against mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) was developed to counter the possibility that someone might try to unleash it's deadlier cousin smallpox on the world. But the vast majority of countries are unlikely to try to unleash a deadly pathogen, she said, because it would be hard to protect their own people during a massive outbreak. Still Parthemore worries nations are losing faith in international institutions and treaties. Russia's war against Ukraine and the United Nations' inability to stop it have weakened international agreements in the eyes of many nations, including those focused on biosecurity. "The loss of faith in cooperation and the U.N. and collective action and Russia and others acting as they have further degrading the norms we've held onto so dearly for decades it's pretty scary," she said. Should research be regulated? One question is how much regulation should be imposed on scientific work and researchers involved in synthesizing potential pathogens. Yassif supports "more rules of the road" to safeguard the scientific advances that might be misused by bad actors. In 2012, the scientific community and others debated research in the U.S. and the Netherlands that explored five mutations making avian influenza more contagious to humans. Some in the virology community defended that research as essential for understanding naturally emerging risks. Yassif and others worry it made creating a global hazard one step easier. Lab manager Rita Smith processes blood samples as part of the ongoing Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. "The systems we have in place are not as broad in scope or as robust as they need to be," Yassif said. The construction of new biosafety labs also has raised concerns among experts. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a dozen countries have announced plans to build Level 4 labs, the highest level of security, designed to investigate the most dangerous pathogens. These labs lack strong international oversight, Parthemore said. "Obviously, if you had an offensive program and you were trying to engineer pathogens in certain ways, a BSL-4 laboratory is where you would do the work," she said. "The lack of transparency in these labs and their proliferation is a huge problem." It's also too easy to order the building blocks of a pathogen on the internet, Yassif said. Some companies screen orders to make sure they're not selling dangerous DNA sequences to bad actors, but they're not required to do so. "There's probably a sizeable market share that's not being screened and we're trying to close that gap," she said. How to prepare for the next one No single action can reduce the pandemic risk to zero, the experts said. But there are plenty of options for actions and a "layered defense." Intervening at multiple points in the process a bad actor would use to create a biological weapon will make the world much safer. Technology can solve the problem created by biology, Esvelt said. He envisions better protective gear, especially for health care and other essential workers, as well as germicidal lights that kill pathogens without harming the people who use the same indoor space. He wants wastewater and air surveillance at airports to detect new pathogens that might have a long incubation period before showing symptoms, as HIV does. Capt. Brandy Lee prepares to administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Mississippi National Guard's 172d Airlift Wing facility in Flowood in 2020. Preparedness isn't just about scientific breakthroughs. It also involves investing in people, said Dr. Raj Panjabi, senior director for global health security and biodefense on the United States National Security Council. For decades, the U.S. has underinvested in those who deliver public and animal health, he said, including epidemiologists, veterinarians, public health nurses and community health workers. In October, the Biden administration launched what it called a National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security. Panjabi described some of the strategy's goals and timelines in a webinar this fall: Testing : Enable testing for a new pathogen within 12 hours, surge testing within a week and pathogen-specific testing within 30 days Vaccine : A new vaccine should be developed within 100 days, enough manufactured for the entire U.S. population within 130 days, and for high-risk populations around the world within 200 days. Treatments: Drugs should be repurposed within 90 days and new therapeutics developed within 180 days. "Time is lives in an emergency," he said. "How well we respond depends on how well we prepare. The administration has asked for $88 billion over the next five years to implement the plan. "Billions to be invested now to save trillions in the future and an incalculable amount of human lives both American and around the world," Panjabi said. A Co-Diagnostics lab technician holds COVID-19 test components Friday, March 27, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Congress has not yet followed up with adequate funding to pursue this agenda. "It makes no sense that Congress has not taken up the administrations proposed pandemic preparedness agenda," said Inglesby, who recently co-wrote a proposal for the development of diagnostics in a health emergency. He hopes the money will be allocated soon. Another disastrous pandemic is not inevitable, he and others said, but prevention requires preparation and forethought. "Pathogens of various forms are very good at adapting and changing form. But modern science is very good at countering that," Gostin said. "If we're smart and well prepared and invest strongly and robustly in it, we can substantially lower the risk." Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As COVID turns 3, experts worry about next pandemic and if we're ready Foo Fighters to Make a Comeback Following Taylor Hawkins' Death Foo Fighters have hinted at future touring plans in a New Years Day post on Twitter. The tweet describes 2022 as the most difficult and tragic year the band has ever known following the death of bandmate Taylor Hawkins. Hawkins, who had drummed for Foo Fighters since 1997, died in March 2022 at the age of 50 while on tour with the band in Colombia. The tweet continues, Foo Fighters were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life. And for the past 27 years our fans have built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that has helped us all get through the darkest of times together. Foo Fighters and Shane Hawkins Perform My Hero While they havent announced any concrete touring plans, Foo Fighters statement suggests new shows are in the pipeline. Without Taylor, we never would have become the band we were and without Taylor, we know that were going to be a different band going forward. We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you. And we know that when we see you again and we will soon hell be there in spirit with all of us every night. Two tribute concerts to Taylor Hawkins were staged in 2022: the first in London, UK, on 3rd September and the second in California, USA, on 27th September. Dozens of artists came to celebrate the life of Hawkins, including his contemporaries and his heroes, such as Liam Gallagher of Oasis, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Alanis Morissette, Brian May of Queen, and Paul McCartney. The London concert is available for streaming on Paramount+. Further Reading Heres What Happened at Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in London Chad Smith, Matt Cameron Regret Participating In Misleading Taylor Hawkins Article Musicians React To The Sudden Passing Of Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins The post Foo Fighters to Make a Comeback Following Taylor Hawkins Death appeared first on Music Feeds. The post Gangsta Boo, Pioneering Figure in Southern Rap, Dead at 43 appeared first on Consequence. Gangsta Boo has died at the age of 43, according to Fox 13 Memphis. A pioneering figure in the Southern Rap scene and one-time member of Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo was found dead in her hometown of Memphis at around 4:00 p.m. local time on January 1st. Her cause of death was not immediately known as of press time. Gangsta Boo was born Lola Mitchell in Memphis, Tennessee. She began rapping at the age of 14, and within two years she became a member of Memphis horrorcore rap group Three 6 Mafia. During her six-year tenure, Three 6 Mafia crossed into the mainstream with albums like Chapter 2: World Domination and When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. The latter release featuring hit singles Sippin on Some Syrup and Who Run It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum after selling one million units. As a member of Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo released her first solo album, Enquiring Minds, in 1998. Her 2001 follow-up, Both Worlds *69, cracked the top 10 of Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop chart and reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200. By the end of 2001, Gangsta Boo decided to leave Three 6 Mafia to further pursue her solo career. Gangsta Boo put out a third solo album in 2003. Over the next two decades, much of her musical output came in the form of mixtapes, including collaborations with DJ Drama and BeatKing. In 2013, she reunited with Three 6 Mafia members DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Lord Infamous to form an offshoot group called Da Mafia 6ix and was heavily featured on their first mixtape, 6ix Commandments. However, she left the group the following year. Most recently, Gangsta Boo collaborated with Blood Oranges Dev Hynes (Gold Teeth from his 2019 album Angels Pulse) and Run the Jewels (Walking in the Snow from 2020s RTJ4). Story continues At a time in the 90s where it felt like lots of folks didnt respect Southern rap or women rapping, Gangsta Boo was a force of nature at the intersection of both those subgenres who let folks know neither the South nor women were to be fucked with in this rap shit, noted DragonFly Jonez of the podcast Jenkins And Jonez in a tweet reacting to her death. Gangsta Boo was the witchy godmother of rap. A real, raw voice for women in the south. Her fingerprint is ALL OVER modern hip-hop, added Essence editor Brooklyn White-Grier in a series of tweets eulogizing the rapper. Gangsta Boo shared her own take on her legacy in a 2012 interview with Passion of the Weiss. When its all said and done, I want to be remembered as Gangsta Boo from Three 6 Mafia. The first lady of Three 6 Mafia. The first lady of crunk music. The first lady who brought a platinum plaque back to Memphis. The first lady who brought a gold plaque back to Memphis. Im the only female rapper in Tennessee that has ever did that and probably I will be the only one that ever will. I just want to be known as someone that put her heart into her music and who really really appreciated her fans. A quarter-century later and it still doesn't make any sense how Gangsta Boo was rapping this hard at 17 years old. pic.twitter.com/1hQch8jVv5 Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) January 1, 2023 The news about Gangsta Boo really hurts. She gave countless women within the South & beyond a blueprint to retool and rework for themselves. Her influence is incalculable and still so present today. A legend in every sense, who was committed to encouraging future innovators. Kiana Fitzgerald (@KianaFitz) January 2, 2023 Gangsta Boo, Pioneering Figure in Southern Rap, Dead at 43 Alex Young Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed Sunday to exponentially increase the number of nuclear weapons in his country and further advance his antagonistic intercontinental ballistic missile program. Kim delivered the message after a meeting of his ruling party this weekend, declaring South Korea the countrys undoubted enemy and amping up his aggressive posture amid a slate of recent missile launches that will likely set the tone for the year. North Korea followed up those statements with a test of short-range ballistic missiles on New Years Day that Kim said could reach anywhere in South Korea. The efforts are largely seen as an attempt by Kim to force the international community to negotiate with North Korea and offer legitimacy to his government. The country is still subject to harsh economic and diplomatic sanctions and has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol responded to the threat this weekend with a firm statement of his own, saying Seoul would punish any provocations to prevent a war on the peninsula. Yoon has taken a much harder line on the North than his predecessor, Moon Jae-in, calling the Souths northern neighbor a principal enemy. A TV screen shows footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Yongsan Railway Station in Seoul. Kim stressed the need to A TV screen shows footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Yongsan Railway Station in Seoul. Kim stressed the need to "exponentially" increase the number of the country's nuclear arsenal and develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the new year, Pyongyang's state media reported on Jan. 1. Our military should certainly punish any enemy provocations with a firm determination not to avoid going to war, Yoon said, per Yonhap News. I call on you to bear in mind that our troops firm mental readiness posture and realistic training can only guarantee strong security. North Korea fired about 70 ballistic missiles in 2022, Yonhap reported, the most in a single year. Speculation has grown that the country could conduct a nuclear test in the coming months, what would be its first in years and a guaranteed uptick in international tensions. Story continues As we greet the New Year, we urge North Korea to come out onto a path for peace on the Korean Peninsula and common prosperity for Koreans rather than sticking to a wrong path, the South Korean military said in a statement Monday. Related... WASHINGTONThe 118th Congress is making history before a single vote has been cast, promising a Jan. 3 battle between the "never Kevins" and "only Kevins." The smile on Rep. Kevin McCarthy's face as he left the Capitol Monday and predicted "a good day tomorrow" may indicate he thinks the "only Kevins" are winning in his bid for House speaker. But there are more than a dozen members within his Republican Party who say they are voting against him, raising concerns or remaining on the fence about whether to support him. The outcome this week is unknown, but the math is clear: In a House with a narrow Republican majority, McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes if he wants to hold the speaker's gavel. How it works: What happens if McCarthy can't get votes needed for speaker? Here's how the election works LIVE UPDATES: Follow our live coverage of the House speaker selection If McCarthy is not elected on the first ballot, he would be the first speaker candidate in 100 years to fail. If the voting goes to multiple ballots, voting rounds and drags on for days, it would be the first time something like this has happened in Congress since the Civil War. And McCarthy supporters, such as Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, have not ruled out galvanizing moderate Republicans and some Democrats to get McCarthy the needed 218 votes. A new Congress with new priorities: What to know on investigations, the fate of Biden's agenda and more House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks to the House Chambers of the U.S. Capitol Building on December 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. House Republicans who could stand in McCarthy's way There are two main blocs in the Republican House caucus that could stand in his way during the Tuesday vote to elect the next speaker: the five "never Kevins" who have publicly said they will not vote for him and nine conservative members who are withholding support as they push for changes to House rules. The "never Kevins" include Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Montana. Story continues "McCarthy has gone into total bargaining mode to acquire last-minute votes for House Speaker," Biggs said in a statement Monday afternoon. "There are no principles anymore. It's become a take-whatever-you-need motto. This is what a McCarthy speakership would look like and would put our country last." A group of nine conservative lawmakers pushing for concessions includes Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Chip Roy of Texas, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Harris of Maryland, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, and three representatives-elect: Eli Crane of Arizona, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Andy Ogles of Tennessee. In a letter Sunday night, those nine lawmakers noted that McCarthy has made some concessions but not enough. For example, they want a single member rather than five to be able to remove a speaker. And they don't want House leadership to spend money against or campaign against conservatives in open primaries. "Nothing changes when nothing changes, and that must start from the top," Perry said in a statement Monday. "Time to make the change or get out of the way." The pressure campaign against McCarthy continued Tuesday night, with the conservative group Club for Growth urging its members to vote against a speaker candidate who doesn't meet its demands. One demand involves holding a vote on term limits that include three terms in the House and two in the Senate "to expose the career politicians that only serve their own interests and to enrich themselves, not public service in the best interests of the American People." Culture wars: House Republicans attack Defense Department for 'woke' social policies Candy Woodall is a Congress reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at cwoodall@usatoday.com or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Republicans voting against Kevin McCarthy as House speaker Brooklyn Beckham, Nicola Peltz, and Selena Gomez. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/FilmMagic Selena Gomez celebrated New Year's with a group of friends on a tropical getaway. She shared a slideshow of photos with newlyweds Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz. "Fine calls us a throuple," she wrote in the caption, adding the hashtag "forever plus one." Selena Gomez celebrated New Year's in Cabo, Mexico, with a group of close friends, including newlyweds Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz. Gomez shared several sets of photos from the tropical getaway on Instagram, where she is the fourth-most followed person in the world. One slideshow features shots of Gomez, Beckham, and Peltz cuddling on a boat and getting their hair done together. "Fine calls us a throuple," Gomez captioned the post. She also added the hashtag "foreverplusone." In another slideshow, Gomez and Peltz hold hands and wear matching "angel dresses" by Valentino. "Felt like a fairy!" Gomez wrote in the caption, thanking the designer as well as a spray tan expert, "for making us look good!" Peltz also wore a custom Valentino Haute Couture gown when she tied the knot with Beckham in April 2022. It's unclear whether Gomez attended the wedding at Peltz's family estate in Palm Beach, Florida but Peltz was by Gomez's side to celebrate the release of her documentary, "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me," in November. The two women posed for photos in matching pink pajamas. "Girls night celebrating your beautiful documentary congratulations selena!" Peltz wrote on Instagram. In the documentary, Gomez named Taylor Swift as her "only friend in the industry," which surprised fans. Gomez shut down criticism with a curt comment on TikTok: "Sorry I didn't mention every person I know." Read the original article on Insider Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. voluntarily recalled four lots of blood pressure medication Quinapril after concerns they might have more than the accepted daily intake level of nitrosamine impurity, N-Nitroso-Quinapril, which may increase the risk of cancer. "Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is voluntarily recalling four (4) lots of Quinapril Tablets to the patient (consumer/user) level due to the presence of a nitrosamine impurity, N-Nitroso-Quinapril, observed in recent testing above the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level. To date, Lupin has received no reports of illness that appear to relate to this issue," the FDA said in a statement. "Lupin discontinued the marketing of Quinapril tablets in September 2022. "Nitrosamines are common in water and foods, including cured and grilled meats, dairy products and vegetables. Everyone is exposed to some level of nitrosamines. These impurities may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels over long periods of time." People taking the drug were advised to keep taking it until they could get an alternative from their doctor. "Patients taking Quinapril Tablets USP, 20mg, and 40mg are advised to continue taking their medication and contact their pharmacist, physician, or medical provider for advice regarding an alternative treatment. Wholesalers, distributors and retailers that have Quinapril Tablets USP, 20mg, and 40mg that are being recalled should discontinue distribution of the recalled product lots immediately." So what does it take for a drug to be recalled? "A drug recall is the most effective means of protecting the public from a defective or potentially harmful product," says Yvette C. Terrie, BS Pharm, RPh. "According to the FDA, a recall is defined as an action executed by a manufacturer at any time to remove a defective or harmful drug product from the market when the drug is discovered to be in violation of laws and regulations administered by the FDA. Drugs may be recalled for an assortment of reasons including safety, mislabeling, contamination, and deviations in strength or potency. Recalls may be conducted as a voluntary action by the manufacturer or supplier; by request from the FDA; or by a legally mandated order from the FDA." Here are five other drugs that were recalled for causing serious harm. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID. Story continues 1 Vioxx VIOXX was a painkiller recalled in September 2004. "Vioxx is a COX-2 inhibitor that was originally approved by the FDA in 1999 to be used for pain relief and reducing inflammation for patients with osteoarthritis, as well as for menstrual pain. It was later approved to be used for rheumatoid arthritis," says Peter Ullrich, MD. "Vioxx was voluntarily pulled from the market by Merck on September 30, 2004. The Vioxx recall occurred based on findings from the APPROVe trial (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx). The trial showed that after 18 months, those who took 25 milligrams of Vioxx had an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those receiving the placebo. The study did not show an increased risk of cardiovascular problems for patients taking Vioxx during the first 18 months." 2 Fen-Phen The combination drug fenfluramine and phentermineknown as Fen-Phenwas a weight loss drug recalled in 1997 after research showed it damaged heart valves. Fenfluramine is an appetite suppressant and phentermine is a mild stimulant. "Our conclusion is simple," Dr. Heidi Connolly of the Mayo Clinic said in 1997. "We are concerned that the Fen-Phen combination may have important implications regarding heart valve disease. It's really important that patients discuss these findings with their physicians and weigh risks and benefits." A study documents the experience of 24 women with no history of heart issues who took the drug for 18 months and experienced heart valve issues. "We began to notice that otherwise healthy young women, presenting with this unusual form of valve disease, were also on Fen-Phen," Connolly said. "We don't know how Fen-Phen may cause injury to the heart valves," Connolly said. "We do know that fenfluramine and phentermine alter the way the brain chemical serotonin is metabolized, and serotonin that circulates in the blood can cause [heart] valve injury." 3 Bextra Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) painkiller Bextra was recalled in 2005 after data showed it caused an increased cardiovascular risk and skin reactions that were potentially life threatening. "Today's actions protect and advance the health of the millions of Americans who rely on these drugs everyday," Dr. Steven K. Galson, acting director of the FDA.'s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement at the time. The FDA also passed a law where all prescription NSAIDs included a "black box" warning. "There is a growing body of evidence that NSAIDs may increase the risk of harmful cardiovascular events including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation," says Christian Ruff, MD, MPH. "There are several factors to consider when evaluating the potential risk of NSAID therapy. The first is the duration of treatment. The risk of having a heart attack or stroke is extremely small over a short course of therapy (less than one month), such as would be the case in treating acute pain from a musculoskeletal injury like tendonitis. Another important consideration is dose and frequency. The risk tends to increase with higher doses and increased frequency. The third factor is whether the person has existing cardiovascular disease. In people without known cardiovascular disease, the absolute increase in risk is incredibly small (one to two excess cardiovascular events for every 1,000 people who take NSAIDs)." 4 Baycol Bayer withdrew cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol in 2001 due to an increasing number of reports to the FDA of rhabdomyolysis in people who took the medication. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare disorder where muscle tissue breaks down, potentially resulting in organ failure and death. Doering blames the FDA's approval process for today's recall: "This recall highlights a broader problem, and that is the inability of the drug approval process to predict what the true nature of any drug is, based solely on the data required for an NDA [new drug application]," Paul Doering of the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy said at the time. "It has taken this long for enough data to accumulate for the FDA to finally drop the ax. This begs the question: What is the threshold after which the benefits no longer outweigh the risks? The answer, of course, would depend on the drug and the disease which it treats." The public was assured that statin drugs in general were still safe. "My primary concern is that patients will stop taking all statins because of fears about the safety of statins. The other statins such as Zocor and Pravachol have been shown to be safe and efficacious in excellent large outcome studies," said Dr. Colleen Conroy, vice chair of Colorado Health Sciences University. 5 Rezulin Diabetes drug Rezulin was taken off the market in 2000, with the FDA citing potential fatal liver toxicity. "The message today is not that there is an emergency, that people should stop taking the drug immediately," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said at the time. "Patients have known for a long time that Rezulin can cause liver toxicity in some people they get a sheet about that every time they go to the drugstore. We are asking them now to talk to their doctors about using a different medication." There were reports that company Warner-Lambert played down the dangers of the drug. The FDA concluded Rezulin "possibly or probably" was linked to 90 liver failures (including 63 deaths) and seven liver organ transplants. At the time of its recall, 300,000 Rezulin prescriptions were being sold each month. A bride missed her wedding after a Southwest cancellation. Newsday LLC / Contributor / Getty Images Katie Demko was supposed to get married in Belize on Friday. But she told Insider she missed the wedding after Southwest canceled her Tuesday flight. Thousands were stranded across the US over the holidays because of Southwest cancellations. A bride said she "cried all morning" on her wedding day after she missed the event because of a canceled Southwest flight. Katie Demko, who lives in St. Louis, told Insider that she and her fiance, Michael, had planned a destination wedding in Belize for Friday. He went to Belize ahead of Demko, and she planned to take a Southwest flight on Tuesday with her children to join him, she said. She described herself as a frequent Southwest flyer, taking the airline almost weekly for work. But just before Demko's flight was supposed to board, she said, the captain announced it had been canceled. Demko told Insider the passengers were told the flight was short three flight attendants. She was unable to find another flight for her and her children to make it to Belize in time for the wedding. "I had about seven travel agents, and my whole family sat for 18 hours searching for a way to get us there," she said. "We even looked at flying to Cancun and getting a bus to drive us to Belize. There was nothing." A departure flight board at an airport showing cancelations. Getty Images She also tried to swap tickets with friends who were flying out Wednesday, but Southwest was unable to make the switch. "I cried all morning on December 30," Demko said. Southwest refunded Demko's flights, and she was able to postpone many of the services she bought for the wedding, like photography and decor, though she wasn't issued a full refund. She will have to get married in Belize eventually to recoup the costs. But the resort where she and her guests were planning to stay, Victoria House, doesn't postpone reservations or issue refunds, which means Demko, her fiance, and their guests are losing thousands as a result of the cancellation. "In total, it is well over $70K lost in rooms at Victoria House," she told Insider. Story continues Demko is just one of thousands of Americans whose Southwest flights were canceled around Christmas weekend amid storms and the airline's operational meltdown, as the company's CEO, Bob Jordan, described it. Southwest accounted for half of worldwide canceled flights on Monday, December 26, leaving customers stranded across the US. Southwest has canceled thousands of flights in recent days. RaksyBH/Shutterstock The chaos led to countless stories like Demko's, including a couple who missed their $4,000 honeymoon and a family who lost $7,000 and a trip to Tokyo because of their canceled flight. In the wake of the cancellations, Southwest issued a statement saying the company had been "fully staffed and prepared" for the slew of holiday traffic until the winter storm "forced daily changes to our flight schedule." "We recognize falling short and sincerely apologize," the statement went on to say. But airline experts told Insider that Southwest's staffing and a dated scheduling system also contributed to the chaos. When contacted by Insider for this story, a Southwest representative said in a statement, "We value the continued patience and support of our valued customers, and we apologize for the inconveniences of the past week." The statement also directed customers to the travel-disruption support page and luggage-information page on the Southwest website, adding that it would strive "to return to our previous level of Southwest Hospitality and reliability" in the coming days. Demko told Insider that Southwest hadn't contacted her, even after she appeared on CNN on Thursday to discuss her experience. "Not once has Southwest tried to contact me even to just apologize," she said, adding she was particularly surprised by the lack of contact because she had flown Southwest so often. "I know they are probably dealing with a ton because of the whole mess, but not one single person from that company has reached out." Demko and her fiance spent New Year's Eve apart and unmarried because of the debacle. "On New Year's Eve, I sat at my house and talked to Michael, who was sitting in Belize, and we said Happy New Year," she said, "knowing that we were not ringing in 2023 as husband and wife as we had hoped to do." Read the original article on Insider President Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Australian Ambassador Andrew John Lech Goledzinowski. (Photo: VNA) In an over-three-minute video clip sent to the press on the occasion, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said his first year as an ambassador has been hectic, but together we have achieved great things in 2022. He highlighted many wonderful achievements in bilateral relations, including high-level meetings between Vietnamese and US leaders such as those within Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip to the US in May 2022 and the bilateral cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic. Knapper mentioned the sides people-to-people exchanges, including US volunteers of the Peace Corp coming to Vietnam to teach English. With regard to educational cooperation, he said Vietnam currently ranked fifth among international student communities studying in the US. The US will also continue its efforts to provide security assistance to Vietnam, said the ambassador, adding that last year saw the US training nearly 2,000 Vietnamese law enforcement and justice experts, and completing the construction of two training facilities, including one for fishery activities monitoring. According to him, another notable point in the bilateral relationship was collaboration on climate change, typically a 36 million USD project to help accelerate Vietnam's efforts for energy transition and net zero by 2050. US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (Source: vn.usembassy.gov) The amazing results of cooperation across various fields are testament to the fact that both sides are working strategically together to solve the most pressing issues, Knapper said, noting that he is looking forward to new gains that the sides will achieve together in 2023. Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya is optimistic about cooperation between the two countries this year, especially in the economic field. According to the diplomat, flourishing economic collaboration between the countries has been promoted and strengthened with efforts from both sides towards a milestone of 15 billion USD in two-way annual trade turnover. With their strengths, Vietnam and India absolutely have many opportunities to open up the possibility of effective trade ties in the coming time, serving as a solid basis for lifting their comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. The ambassador also expressed his hope that next year, Vietnamese and Indian senior leaders will have high-level exchanges and interactions to further strengthen joint works, especially in the fields of infrastructure development, and digital transformation. Therefore, more businesses of the sides will cooperate, and more extensive commitments will be made in all fields, bringing mutual growth achievements to both countries. Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew John Lech Goledznowski, for his part, said that Vietnam is a dynamic nation, full of optimism, and one of the fastest growing countries in the region. He expressed his wish to continue building and developing the Vietnam-Australia cooperation relationship, especially in the context that the two will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023. He said the past five decades have seen close people-to-people exchanges, and increasingly developed political, strategic, and economic collaboration between the nations, which share many similarities and mutual trust. Australia wishes to work with Vietnam to maintain stability in the region, contributing to ensuring order and sovereignty of each country based on international law, he affirmed. He said he wants to give boost to their mutual trust, and stressed the three promising areas for bilateral engagements, namely economy, education and innovation, and strategic cooperation and security issues./. A Russian Su-25 at its base after being struck by a man-portable air-defense missile over Ukraine in March 2022. Russian Ministry of Defense Russia's air force has struggled in combat over Ukraine It entered the war lacking fully trained pilots and used the ones it has poorly, a British think tank says. Other decisions by Russian commanders are setting the air force up for future problems. The Russian air force lacks fully trained pilots and has made poor use of the few good pilots that it has, according to a report by the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. "Ukrainian assessments concluded that given limited flight hours and the practice of training being delivered in units, the VKS entered the conflict with fewer than 100 fully trained and current pilots," the report said, referring to the Russian air force by its initials. But Moscow is doing something even more dangerous for the long-term health of Russian airpower. It is committing instructor pilots to battle, which means that pilots being trained now and in the future will have fewer experienced mentors. A Russian pilot at the Army 2022 forum near Moscow in August. avel Pavlov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images "The mobilization of trainers from their flying schools to frontline formations has also hampered the ability to generate new pilots," according to the report, which covers events between February and July. "The Ukrainian military has noted a rise in both very young and very old pilots in the VKS, with ageing pilots returned to frontline service." It is normal practice in many air forces for experienced pilots to be rotated from frontline duties to training units, where they can pass expertise to rookies. One reason Nazi Germany lost World War II was because a desperate Luftwaffe committed its instructor pilots to combat operations, which led to a progressive decline in pilot quality. Russia, too, is relentlessly committing its experienced pilots to combat. "With a military culture that assigns the most dangerous missions to the most experienced crews, attrition in the VKS has fallen disproportionately on this cadre, reducing the overall effectiveness of the force and its ability to train new pilots," the RUSI report says. Story continues That's one reason Moscow has sought the return of veteran pilots in negotiations over prisoner exchanges with Ukraine. The tail of a downed Russian Su-25 attack jet on display in Kyiv in May. Aleksandr Gusev/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images It is possible for an air force to have well-trained pilots but otherwise be hobbled by obsolete aircraft or lack of spare parts. However, an air force that lacks qualified pilots is likely to have other problems. Sure enough, the RUSI report pointed to issues with Russian ground crews. Among the most glaring was a failure to remove covers from aircraft sensors prior to combat operations over Ukraine "an easily avoided mistake which has a severe impact on effectiveness and should be considered negligence. This suggests challenges in discipline and junior leadership among maintenance crews in the VKS," the report says. Another sign of poor discipline is the habit of stacking munitions next to aircraft parked at Russian air bases. With Ukraine now using drones to strike airfields hundreds of miles inside Russia, the failure to store ammunition safely could mean the loss of more precious aircraft and pilots. How badly are all these problems undercutting Russian airpower? RUSI believes they have "corresponded with a significant reduction in the scale and complexity of VKS air operations over Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict." An Su-57 fighter jet takes off the 15th MAKS air show in Russia in July 2021. Mihail Siergiejevicz/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Still more ominous are the implications for future Russian air operations over Ukraine. With a peace treaty or ceasefire appearing unlikely in the near future, the war could drag on for years, which may mean Russia will wage a protracted air campaign. Long air campaigns including the Battle of Britain, the Allied bomber offensive over Germany, and the US bombing of North Vietnam required careful management to avoid wearing out aircraft and aircrews. Russia needs to maintain a flow of properly trained pilots, as well as competent and disciplined ground crews. If it squanders its pool of veteran pilots for short-term gains, the skies of Ukraine will become even more unfriendly for Russian airpower. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider Tennessee Police Find 77 Neglected Dogs Living in Abandoned Home neglected dogs Photo: Roz Todaro / Getty Images Dozens of neglected dogs were rescued from horrendous living conditions recently in northwestern Tennessee. 77 pups total were seized from a property that was quite literally rotting. Neglected Dogs Living in Squalor The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, was called upon, in partnership with the Dyer City Police Department, to rescue the dogs. The animals seized there were mostly small and medium-sized fur babies who ranged in age from a few weeks old to seniors. Some pups were pregnant and others were suffering from dementia. The nonprofit deemed the rescue mission Operation Holiday Heartbreak, and called the situation a large and urgent cruelty case in a Facebook post. It went on to say that the property owners moved but left the dogs in the home, returning only to feed them. The canines suffered from overcrowding, untreated injuries, bite wounds, fur loss, infections, inflammation, dental disease, and some of the worst ammonia levels ARC has recorded to date. The home was deemed structurally unsound, with crumbling walls and rooms littered with chewed-out furniture. Apparently, one could smell the house from across the street. In another Facebook post, ARC shared that the house was so destroyed and in such a state of disrepair inside that ARCs Field Team had to carefully search the furniture, walls, and floors for survivors using thermal imaging. Four dogs were found hiding in the floorboards between the basement and the main floor. The Fire Department had to remove sections of the floor in order to free them. Cruel and Unusual It appears the dogs may have been victims of either hoarding or a puppy mill. This is a cruelty case, the ARC stated. The animals have been seized and ARC is documenting the cruelties and creating evidence packets, with all animals headed to ARCs Rescue Center outside Nashville for urgent care. ARC is asking for donations to help support this and other rescue missions. You can contribute to their cause on the Operation Holiday Heartbreak page here. The post Tennessee Police Find 77 Neglected Dogs Living in Abandoned Home appeared first on DogTime. A Texas man is asking the Supreme Court to overturn his murder conviction, believing that a comedy special influenced a jury and led to him being sentenced to death. Gabriel Hall, 29, murdered a Texas A&M professor and seriously injured his wife inside their home in 2011. He is awaiting execution by lethal injection. This week, his legal team argued that the taping of a Comedy Central special inside the prison where Hall was being held violated his Constitutional rights. Read on to find out why, what an expert says about the case, and how likely it is the Supreme Court will consider the appeal this month. 1 The Crime On October 10, 2011, Hall entered the College Station home of 68-year-old Ed Shaar, a Navy veteran who suffered from Parkinson's disease, intending to burglarize it. He stabbed Shaar several times, then shot him at point-blank range, killing him. Hall attempted to shoot Shaar's 69-year-old wheelchair-bound wife, Linda, but the gun jammed. He stabbed her while she called 911 and pleaded for her life. Hall then fled; Linda survived and was able to describe Hall to the police. He was quickly arrested and indicted for the murder. 2 A 17-Minute Interview In 2015, while Hall was awaiting trial in the Brazos County Jail, comedian Jeff Ross filmed a Comedy Central special featuring maximum-security areas of the prison. Known as "the Roastmaster" for his brash, confrontational style, Ross interviewed several inmates, including Hall. Ross's 17-minute conversation with Hall never airedwhen the prison heard about its content, they asked the network not to broadcast it. But prosecutors subpoenaed the footage and presented it to a jury as evidence that Hall felt no remorse four years after the murder. The jury ultimately sentenced Hall to death. 3 "No Contact" Letter Sent Before Interview After Hall was indicted for the murder, his appointed attorney sent the Brazos County sheriff a "no contact" letter specifying that Hall's lawyers had to provide written approval if officers wanted to talk with Hall. Today, Hall's legal team argues the Comedy Central taping was done without the knowledge of Hall's lawyer and violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Story continues "The case is about when the state can interfere with the attorney-client relationship between an accused person and their counsel," Robert Owen, Hall's lead attorney, told The Washington Post. "No one has addressed this question of whether the state violates an accused person's right to counsel by giving a third party access to the defendant." 4 What The Interview Contained One of the exchanges between Hall and Ross went like this: Ross to Hall: What are you in here for? Hall: Ah Ross: Hacking somebody's computer? Hall: Something like that, yes. Another inmate: 'Hacking' being the operative word. Hall: Yeah. Yeah, used a machete on someone's screen, so. Hall's lawyers have called the video "highly prejudicial." 5 Case May Be Considered Next Week In their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hall's lawyers described the comic who interviewed Hall: "Ross rose to prominence in the 'comedy roast' format, which places a premium on the host's ability to deliver 'outrageous' jabs that provoke a subject into responding. He has been described as 'the new millennium Don Rickles.'" According to Hall's petition, the video also included "hostile and dehumanizing statements about inmates and confinement generally." The case may be taken up by the Supreme Court in their Jan. 6 conference. 6 Appeal Unlikely, Expert Says But the Supreme Court is unlikely to review the case because it involves one individual; the court prefers to take on cases that have wide-reaching legal impact, Fordham Law professor Bruce Green told the Post. "That said, I think it's pretty outrageous," said Green. "It would be pretty inappropriate for the prison authorities to allow a reporter without permission of Hall's lawyer. That's essentially what they did, but it was worse. It was an insult comic whose job it is to provoke people." This article originally appeared on Backpacker Finally, a "where to go next year" story that isn't qualified by a "...hopefully." As of October, Japan, one of the final COVID holdouts, has opened its borders to travelers for the first time since 2020. With so many pent-up daydreams, we wanted to seek out some advice on where to go hiking this year. We rang up a few hiking experts--writers, influencers, and travelers who've trekked all over the world--and asked, simply: where are you going in 2023? As for me, I recently moved from Colorado to London, and I'm eager to get to know my new country. I'm planning to start a section-hike of the England Coast Path. At 2,795 miles, it will be the longest coastal trail in the world once a few final sections are connected--longer than both the AT and PCT. But unlike most hiking back home in the States, there are trailheads easily accessible by public transit all along the trail--not to mention more than a few pubs along the way. Need some inspiration for your New Year's hiking list? Read on. Lauren Gay, travel influencer and founder of the Outdoorsy Diva blog & podcast Based in: Tampa, Florida "I'm planning a trip so I can go hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Calaveras Big Trees State Park in California. They have the biggest trees in the world, the oldest trees in the world. I'm excited to see the vastness of them, to feel like this little ant, with all this history. I am a literal treehugger, so I'm going to hug a tree, I'm going to listen to it, and lean in and meditate and really take it all in. We're very connected to nature, so I want to make time and make space to really connect in that environment. I fully expect to laugh, and cry, and twirl around like I'm 5 years old." (Photo: Quan Yuan/Moment via Getty Images) Jessie Leong, Montane athlete and adventure travel writer Based in: Sheffield, England "I started Munro-bagging as a way of seeing different parts of Scotland. A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height of over 3,000 feet. There are 282 and I've started ticking them off. Some of them can be more technical, but most of them are mainly hillwalking peaks. So next year, my aim is to go to Scotland and continue Munro-bagging. Some areas of interest are around Ben Lawers. These are mountains that are less than an hour away from Glasgow, so they're quite accessible to hike up to the top and come back down within a day. I've also got my eye on the peaks in Torridon and Assynt, and I want to go to the Shenavall Bothy and do the Fisherfield 6. There's quite a lot of info these days about how to find different bothies (mountain shelters) around Scotland, but bothies still feel a bit secret, because people want to keep it that way. They're often in quite remote locations. Story continues "I'm also planning to hike part of the Dalsland Pilgrim Trail along the west coast of Sweden. It's about 62 miles long and the terrain is a mixture of forestry, woodland, and agricultural land. It's just a really interesting landscape." Hiking Ben Lomond in the Scottish Highlands (Photo: Matthew Williams-Ellis via Getty Images) Richard Campbell, founder of trek-planning and booking site 10 Adventures Based in: Calgary, Canada "The best trip I've ever done was the GR-5 in France, which goes from Lake Geneva to Nice along the Mediterranean Coast. It takes about 28 days and it's just spectacular. You cross the French Alps and sleep in refuges or bivouac. You sleep high up and you can come back down to the villages for a croissant and a great meal--it's just really special. "I have three young kids now, ages 7, 9, and 11. Every year, we've been doing longer and longer backpacking trips. This year, we're going to hike into Assiniboine, which is like the Matterhorn of Canada. It's the culmination of three years of getting little kids to carry bags and go longer and longer. You start the trek in Banff National Park from a ski hill called Sunshine, and it takes about three days. It's in a part of the park that few people go to, and it's one of the gems of Canada." (Photo: Mekdet/Moment via Getty Images) Lauren Mazzo, full-time traveler and senior fitness editor for Popsugar Based in: New York, currently in Buenos Aires "I've been living in Buenos Aires with my partner and I am so excited to see more of Argentina after the holidays. It's giant and has amazing nature. At the top of my list is El Chalten, in southern Argentina near the border of Chile. You go out by boat to get onto the glacier and you need crampons and helmets to climb around on it. It is absolutely massive. We all know what glaciers look like, but to see one in real life is wild. "The number one overnight trip on my bucket list right now is the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile. It takes four to five days, and there's also a longer version of the trip you can do called the Q Trek. Views from the W trek. (Photo: Christine Nanji/Moment via Getty Images) Alice Keegan, founder of the Adventure Girls Club, an outdoors club for women and non-binary hikers Based in: Frome, England "This year, the Adventure Girls Club is doing a trip to the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. It's an underrated destination with lots of cute mountain huts and alpine lakes and waterfalls with ladders. We'll be hiking around Tatra Mountains National Park and Slovak Paradise National Park, with a local guide. The trip is sold out, but we might put on another one if enough people get on the waiting list. We're also planning a trip to the Rockies in Colorado, doing a few hikes scattered between Great Sand Dunes National Park and Maroon Bells. It'll be a camping trip where we travel all over and do some sandboarding and e-biking, too. Closer to home, we've also got a weekend trip down to Tintagel, Cornwall, in southwest England. There's a lot of history in the area (legend has it that Tintagel Castle is associated with King Arthur). It's underrated and stunning, and we'll do a lot of coastal hikes. Great Hinczowy Pond in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. (Photo: ewg3D/E+ via Getty Images) For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. A woman has gone viral online after she documented her missing luggages wild adventure, from an apartment complex to a McDonalds, after United Airlines lost her suitcase. On Thursday 28 December, Valerie Szybala arrived in Washington, DC after transferring flights in Chicago, Illinois through United Airlines. Upon landing, she was informed through the United app that her bag had been delayed. The app said her luggage would arrive in DC on Friday and gave her the option to have her belongings delivered. I said OK, and that was a big mistake, she told The Independent. The third-party company that they contracted with took my bag on quite a ride and I could tell because of the AirTag I had. It all began when Szybala tweeted on Sunday in a now-viral Twitter thread that United Airlines had lost her luggage. She used AirTags to track down her suitcases bizarre location outside a residential complex, and discovered that her luggage wasnt the only one being randomly stored at the apartment complex. Outside, she found others tossed by the dumpster and emptied. Despite telling Uniteds customer support that her luggage was missing, she was told to calm down and that her bag was safe at the delivery services distribution center. Unsurprisingly, that was not the case. Id just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it, she began the viral Twitter thread, which now has 125k likes and 15.3m views. My Apple AirTag shows that it has been sitting in a residential apartment complex for over a day. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags, she wrote. Along with the tweet, Szybala included a picture of other suitcases strewn about the concrete complex. Id just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it. My apple AirTag shows that it has been sitting in a residential apartment complex for over a day. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags. pic.twitter.com/fcoq4nj3zb valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 1, 2023 On Friday evening, Szybala noticed that her luggage was located in the parking lot of a suburban shopping center for an hour, before moving across the street to an apartment complex where it stayed for almost three days. Story continues I actually went over to investigate that night to see if this was really, as I thought it was, a residential apartment building. And it was, Szybala said. While Szybala couldnt get a signal from her AirTag, she did confirm that this was definitely not a distribution center like United had said. The next day, Szybalas suitcase was still at the apartment complex and she went back again to search for her bag. Although she didnt find anything on Saturday, Szybala returned on Sunday to find two empty suitcases sitting by the dumpster. I walked around the back of the complex and I found two other empty bags, she explained. They looked clean. They didnt look like there were bags you would throw out. It was then that she was chatting with a United Airlines customer service representative and told them what she saw. In the screenshots of her conversation from the support chat, Szybala wrote: The Apple AirTag tracker that I have in my luggage indicates that it has been sitting in this residential apartment complex for several days. Szybala informed the customer service representative that there were empty United customer bags out by the dumpsters and asked why her luggage was taken to this location. Anyone wondering why I felt compelled to take this to social media, check out my most recent chat with one of their support reps through the @united app: pic.twitter.com/hxUu3jQaxj valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 After not receiving a response, Szybala asked if the representative was still there, to which they replied: Calm down you [sic] bag is at the delivery service. We will deliver the bag to you, dont worry. Perhaps it was the response from the United customer service representative that enraged Twitter users the most, as many people pointed out the audacity in telling Szybala to calm down. The calm down would have had me seeing red, replied one Twitter user. This is wild, said someone else, before mentioning how they saw rows and rows and rows of luggage at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. A total mess. Another person said: That condescending calm down would have had me acting an absolute fool in the DMs. The calm down would have had me seeing red. https://t.co/F8fjwNBtgf Mark Boulevardez (@MarkoftheGODS) January 2, 2023 This is wild. Did I mention I saw rows and rows and rows of bags at terminal C baggage claim in Newark? A total mess https://t.co/qxEK34k3W8 Jashvina ShaaAAAH (@icehockeystick) January 2, 2023 That condescending calm down would have had me acting an absolute fool in the DMs. https://t.co/RqfQz3fxUg Whoremione Granger (@BuzzFeedObi) January 2, 2023 Even Szybala was stunned by the response from the United customer service representative. I told them what I saw and they totally just gaslit at me, she told The Independent. It was obvious they were lying. That wasnt true because this tracking device was telling me my bag was inside the building and I saw two empty bags outside. After filing a police report about the missing luggage, Szybala decided to post about it on Twitter. A few hours after posting her initial tweet, Szybala informed her followers that her AirTag appeared to be on the move and stopped at a McDonalds restaurant, only to return to the same apartment complex where its been held hostage for the past two days. MAJOR UPDATE: for the first time since Friday my AirTag (and hopefully luggage) appears to be on the move its at a McDonalds? The plot thickens cc: @united pic.twitter.com/y8pDwb6VDd valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 It wasnt until Monday that Szybala was finally reunited with her bag. I realised, Oh, it has to be in the trunk of a car. Its going on these trips, she said. I was looking in the wrong place, I needed to get into the garage. Szybala tracked her bag through AirTag once more, following its trip from the suburbs, to the shopping center, and back to the apartment complex. I decided, this is my chance. Im going to get it. Its in the garage, she said. And that is what I did. Along with a crew from two local news stations, Szybala also received help from a resident of the apartment building who had been following her Twitter thread. They helped us navigate the garage, because you need to swipe through, and we got a faint signal using the iPhone for the bag, Szybala recalled. But when she stepped out of the garage and regained cell service, she received a sketchy text message from a delivery service courier, who she said was named Milton. Taking to the popular Twitter thread, Szybala shared a screenshot of the text message, which said: Im delivering the luggage missing from your flight with AA/UA. I want to apologise for the inconvenience that youve had with your bag. Imma deliver it to you today. The courier explained that the bag was given to me under a different passenger and I delivered your [sic] in a different address and had to go back to that place and pick it up. After creeping around the buildings garage with a little posse trying to get a signal, I stepped outside for service. Thats when I received this text message. Its sketchy, and it doesnt really match with what my AirTag tracking said, but I immediately called the number. pic.twitter.com/5IAs4cQq2u valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 However, Miltons message didnt match with what Szybalas AirTag tracking had shown. It didnt make any sense. It still doesnt, she said. So, she decided to call Milton. When he picked up the phone, he told Szybala that he was just around the corner and drove back to meet her near the apartment complex where she received her bag. Despite her luggage now being home safe and sound, Szybala was left with many confused questions and not a lot of answers. I still feel like something pretty untoward was happening at this address, she said. Szybala suggested that, with the chaos of the holiday season, the backlogs of missing luggage makes it easy to steal someone elses suitcase. I think that makes the most sense, that there was no intention to return my bag to me, she said. Szybala also revealed that the two empty bags which she found outside the apartment complex by the dumpster were gone by later on Monday. A building resident told Szybala that the suitcases werent picked up by trash collection, but rather brought back inside by someone in the building, which adds to the sketchy factor for sure, she tweeted. The past three days were a wild journey for Szybalas once-missing luggage, so she concluded her viral Twitter thread by sharing some of the lessons she learned ever since United Airlines lost her bag. Among the three lessons learned was that using a tracking device in your luggage can be a lifesaver, travellers should take photos or inventory of their belongings in case they need to file a reimbursement claim, and to never choose delivery over the pickup option if their bag arrives on a later flight. Thanks again for all of the interest and support. If I get any further interesting details Ill report back, but for now Ill end with some lessons learned: pic.twitter.com/R7OimNfwvV valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 United Airlines has yet to publicly comment on the case of the missing luggage, beyond Szybalas initial interaction with Uniteds customer support chat. In a statement to The Independent, United Airlines said: We are working with our baggage delivery vendor to understand the details of this situation. Despite being offered some miles by United Airlines, Szybala was told the company has launched an investigation into the mysterious apartment complex saga but has received no information since. Its really for United, at this point, to hold their subcontractors accountable giving it to a service and trusting them to deliver peoples bags when one of the most frequent horror stories people shared in the responses was, my bag got delivered to a different address, Szybala said. For me, its a happy story. But I feel really bad for people because everyones going through something like this right now, or tons of people are. Its really upsetting and not everyones going to be able to go viral and get their bag back. Benedict Cumberbatch attends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022. Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images A Barbados task force is seeking reparations from the descendants of wealthy slave owners. A task force official did not rule out targeting Benedict Cumberbatch's family, per The Telegraph. Cumberbatch's ancestors owned a sugar plantation in Barbados that housed 250 slaves. The family of Oscar-nominated actor Benedict Cumberbatch faces the prospect of facing demands to pay reparations for slavery over historical links to a sugar plantation in Barbados, according to The Telegraph. The Caribbean nation of Barbados is starting to hone in on the wealthy descendants of slave owners as part of a campaign to get reparations for slavery. Barbados's National Task Force on Reparations, part of the Caricom Reparations Commission (Caricom), previously focused on seeking reparations from colonial powers and wealthy institutions that made hefty profits from slavery, The Guardian reported. Recently, however, it singled out a specific family for the first time, targeting the British Conservative MP Richard Drax over his family's ownership of a vast sugar plantation on the island, per The Guardian. David Comissiong, the Barbados ambassador to Caricom and deputy chairman of the state's task force, told The Guardian last month that Drax and other families could face litigation if they don't agree to pay reparations. "It is now a matter that is before the government of Barbados," he told the newspaper. "It is being dealt with at the highest level." Now, the Cumberbatch family faces being targeted for a reparations claim. When pressed by The Telegraph on whether Cumberbatch's family would be pursued, Comissiong did not rule it out. He said: "This is at the earliest stages. We are just beginning. A lot of this history is only really now coming to light." David Denny, a leading campaigner for reparations and the general secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, told The Telegraph: "Any descendants of white plantation owners who have benefitted from the slave trade should be asked to pay reparations, including the Cumberbatch family." Story continues Cumberbatch's ancestor, Abraham Cumberbatch, bought the Cleland plantation in the 18th century. According to The Telegraph, it housed some 250 slaves until slavery was abolished in 1834. Per The Daily Mail, the Cumberbatch family made a fortune from the plantation. After slavery was abolished, the family received a payment of 6,000 from the British government a sum worth approximately $1m in today's money. The actor has spoken publicly about his family's slave-owning history. He told The Telegraph in 2018: "We have our past you don't have to look far to see the slave-owning past. We were part of the whole sugar industry, which is a shocker." Cumberbatch previously portrayed a slave owner in the Oscar-winning 2013 movie "12 Years a Slave." He also portrayed William Pitt the Younger in the 2006 movie "Amazing Grace" about the battle to abolish slavery in Great Britain. According to The Daily Mail, Cumberbatch viewed the role in "Amazing Grace" as a "sort of apology" for his family's role in the slave trade. The newspaper also reported that Cumberbatch's mother once advised him not to use the family's last name professionally in case it made him the target of a campaign for reparations. Cumberbatch did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the Biden administrations commitment to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine in a phone call on Monday with his new Israeli counterpart. During the call, Blinken congratulated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on his appointment and emphasized the alliance and partnership between the U.S. and Israel, according to a White House readout. But the secretary of State also expressed a commitment to a two-state solution in the West Bank amid heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions, saying the U.S. is opposed to any efforts that would endanger the solution. Cohen was appointed as foreign minister after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in last week. Netanyahu returned to power after securing a parliamentary majority of far-right and religious lawmakers who share a hard-line view on Palestine, a state that claims the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as its territory despite Israeli occupation. In order to form his new majority, Netanyahu made concessions to allies, including expanding settlements in the West Bank and annexing parts of the region, which includes east Jerusalem. The potential for Netanyahus government to increase hostility toward Palestine, which is already locked in intermittent violent conflict with Israel, could alienate the Israeli government on the world stage and risk new tensions with the U.S. and other long-standing allies. Anti-Netanyahu protesters traveled to the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Monday to protest the new government in Israel. We protested against the felons, fascists and fundamentalists who make up the current Israeli government, tweeted Americans for Peace Now, a nonprofit seeking to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that organized the protest. We are for an Israel that respects democracy, pluralism, and religious diversity, the group continued. We are for an Israel where there is peace, justice and equality for all citizens. And we are for an Israel that lives in peace, and with justice and equality, with its Palestinian neighbors. Story continues Last week, President Biden congratulated Netanyahus government and said the U.S. would continue to seek a two-state solution in the West Bank. From the start of my Administration, we have worked with partners to promote this more hopeful vision of a region at peace, including between Israelis and Palestinians, Biden said in a statement. The United States will continue to support the two-state solution and to oppose policies that endanger its viability or contradict our mutual interests and values. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifying before Congress about Jan. 6 Getty Images North America Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is releasing his book "Courage Under Fire" on Jan. 3. The Washington Post got an advanced copy and released some of the contents Sunday. The book will detail what went wrong on Jan. 6 and how it could happen again. The country is not adequately prepared for another domestic terror attack, according to the man who helmed the Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 attack in 2021. In his new book "Courage Under Fire," the police department's former Chief Steven Sund claimed there was a lack of communication and a neglectful response from federal agencies such as the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI responsible for protecting the US against terror. This ultimately resulted in the violent attack on the Capitol in an attempt to halt the certification of the election, The Washington Post, which had early access to the book, reported. "The security and information-sharing policies and mandates put in place after September 11 failed miserably on January 6," Sund said in the book, according to the Post."We failed miserably to see the apparent warning signs and the danger, like a 'gray rhino,' charging right at us." Sund revealed shocking new details of the day including how the Pentagon sent teams to protect military leaders in their homes, while a desperate Sund requested aid back at the Capitol as his department fought to protect hundreds of lawmakers and their staff. Help from the military did not come for another three hours, The Post reported, after the building was already clear. "The Pentagon fully understands the urgency and danger of the situation even as it does nothing to support us on the Hill," he wrote, per The Post. "For the past several hours, we have been battling a mob at the Capitol and the fight has been televised around the world. "We have multiple fatalities including a shooting inside the Capitol," he continued. "We have had to secure members of Congress, the vice president and his family and the next three levels of succession to the president of the United States. And the military has made no effort whatsoever to help end this." Story continues He also said that the national security agencies did not give him notice of the severity of the threats they had known about, and that politics often take priority over security within the Capitol Police, something he claims is a "recipe for disaster," according to the Post. The book's revelations come as the Jan. 6 committee released new documents from its final report. Read the original article on Business Insider An Ohio inmate who escaped custody in Columbus last week was captured by state police in West Virginia late Sunday evening. Jacob Davidson, 38, was arrested by state police in Chapmanville, West Virginia, according to the Crawford County Sheriffs Office. On Dec. 29, Davidson escaped from the Twin Valley Behavioral Heath Hospital located at 2200 West Broad Street in Columbus, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: U.S. Marshals offering reward for information leading to arrest of dangerous escaped inmate On Nov. 10, the Crawford County and Morrow County Sheriffs Office responded to shooting incidents where one person was injured. A suspect vehicle description was given to local law enforcement. A Bucyrus Police Officer later spotted a vehicle matching the vehicle description and stopped it. Upon making the traffic stop, gunshots were exchanged between the driver, identified as Davidson, and the officer. Davidson was taken into custody without injury to himself or the officer. He was indicted for felonious assault, discharging a firearm on/or near prohibited premises, disrupting public services and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. He was ordered to be held on a $2 million bond. On Dec. 20, Davidson was to transferred from the Crawford County Jail to Twin Valley Behavioral Health Hospital before escaping on Thursday. He is currently being held at the Western Regional Jail in West Virginia and is waiting to be extradited back to Ohio. The family of Idaho killings suspect Bryan Kohberger has released a statement promising to cooperate with law enforcement in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence. Kohberger was arrested last week in northeastern Pennsylvania for the deaths of four University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Ethan Chapin who were found stabbed to death in their beds at an off-campus home in November. He is currently being held without bond for extradition to Idaho on four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary. On Sunday, his family issued a statement to media that began by saying they care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. Boise State University students and people who knew the University of Idaho students who were killed in Moscow, Idaho, pay tribute at a vigil on Nov. 17, 2022, at BSU. Boise State University students and people who knew the University of Idaho students who were killed in Moscow, Idaho, pay tribute at a vigil on Nov. 17, 2022, at BSU. The family then explained that they will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. According to the statement, the family has fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to see the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions. The family than asked for privacy in this matter as our family and the families suffering loss can move forward through the legal process. You can see the complete statement below. Bryan Kohbergers family released a statement saying there are no words that can adequately express the sadness they feel for the victims families. They say they have cooperated with law enforcement to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence Full statement: pic.twitter.com/rWnS87oqY8 Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 1, 2023 Investigators believe Kohberger broke into the University of Idaho students home with the intent to commit murder. Story continues Kohbergers attorney, chief public defender Jason LaBar, said his client plans to tell a Pennsylvania judge that he will waive his extradition hearing so he can be quickly brought to Idaho to face the charges and is eager to be exonerated. Related... Drones and missiles will not help the occupiers, since the Ukrainians are together, and the Russians are alone with their fear, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said. "Some 45 Shahed drones were shot down on the first night of the year. I thank our Air Force - pilots and anti-aircraft gunners: 33 Shahed drones on their account," he said in a video on Sunday. "I thank the air defense of our Ground Forces for another 12 downed Iranian drones," he said. According to Zelensky, "Russian terrorists, as pathetic as they were, have entered this year. Our sense of unity, authenticity, life itself - all this contrasts so much with the fear that has reigned in Russia. "They are afraid. It is felt. And they are right to be afraid. Because they will lose. Drones, missiles, everything else will not help them. Because we are together. And they are perhaps together with fear," he said. It is very important, the president said, "how all Ukrainians fed their internal energy on this New Year's Eve. How we thanked our soldiers. How we thanked our loved ones. And like millions of times all over Ukraine, all over the free world, our wish has sounded and still sounds with you the wish for victory." Following the arrest of suspect Bryan Kohberger in the murders of four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho, investigators are combing through every aspect of his life. A possible motive has not been publicly shared yet. "We're trying to build this picture now of him, who he is, his history, how we got to this event," Anthony Dahlinger, a captain at the Moscow Police Department, told CBS News. Law enforcement sources say FBI agents tracked the 28-year-old's movements days leading up to his arrest at his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania. It's located more than 2,500 miles from the house in Moscow, Idaho, where Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin while they were sleeping on November 13. Goncalves' father, Steve Goncalves, says the arrest brings some relief. "This is the first bit of joy that we've had in close to seven weeks," he said. "We hope they picked the right guy and that gives us hope, and we haven't had hope for a long time." Kohberger is a PhD criminology student at Washington State University and lived in Pullman, Washington, about a 15-minute drive from the victims' house. Police haven't said if Kohberger knew the students. Law enforcement sources say forensic analysis allegedly linked him to the murders. Jason LaBar, the public defender representing Kohberger in the extradition, said that about a month after the murders, his client went on a road trip home to Pennsylvania with his father that was planned at the beginning of the semester. They were in a white Hyundai Elantra, the same make and model of the vehicle spotted near the scene of the murders. "The police department believes that the person we have in custody, which would be Kohberger, is the one who is responsible for these crimes," Dahlinger said. In a statement released by LaBar on Sunday, Kohberger's family said they "have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence." Story continues Food banks struggle to meet demands as inflation raises the cost of goods Marvel movies, franchise sequels expected to dominate box office in 2023 MoneyWatch: Financial predictions for 2023 A man is still at large after a shooting in Palm Bay, police said Sunday. In a social media post, Palm Bay police said there is a significant law enforcement presence near Malabar Road and Eldron Boulevard. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of couple at senior living community They ask residents to look out for a white 40-year-old male who may be traveling through the area on foot. Police said he has a full beard and is wearing a dark shirt and jeans. Investigators said he is considered armed and dangerous. Read: 2 people killed, 4 others injured in early morning shooting at large gathering in Ocala, police say Palm Bay police said that anyone who sees a man who fits this description should call 911. Police said its important that people do not approach him. Check back for updates. See a map of the scene below: 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. Krzysztof Szczerski, Polands Ambassador to the United Nations, believes that Western attempts to allow the Russian President to save face will completely kill off the international order that was established after World War II. Source: Krzysztof Szczerski in an interview with the Polish outlet PAP, cited by European Pravda Details: According to Szczerski, the key question regarding how the new year will go is whether there will be a turning point in the war in Ukraine and under what circumstances. Quote: "For the essence of peace, the most important question is how the issues with Russia will be sorted out. Is it possible that Russian imperialism will be recognised as an ideology that threatens the world order on the same basis as German Nazism was in the past? Because if that happened, it would pave the way to repeating the decisions made after World War II: depriving Russia of the instruments that allow it to play the role of a global superpower (including at the UN); handing over war criminals in uniform and in suits, including Putin, to the international court; paying war reparations, and other similar measures." Details: If, as Szczerski says, the option of "restoring order" and allowing Putin to save face prevails, it could be "the last nail in the coffin of the postwar order as symbolised by the principles of the UN Charter". Background: In early December, French President Emmanuel Macron said on TV that the West would need to think about how to address Russias need for security guarantees if Putin agreed to negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. This statement was criticised in Ukraine and a number of European capitals. Polands Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that if anyone needed security guarantees, it was Ukraine and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Helsinki also declared that under the current circumstances, guarantees are needed against, not for, Russia. Story continues Estonias Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, pointed out that it would be dangerous, and not only for Ukraine, to start peace negotiations with Russia prematurely. In response to the backlash, Macron said his words had been exaggerated. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Can a bourbon brand retain its cult status after a new master blender takes over, and is that status even merited in the first place? Fans of Kentucky Owl have been pondering these questions over the past few years, and the release of the new Batch #12 shows that the answer is a definitive yes and a wavering maybe? Kentucky Owl was founded in 2014 by Dixon Dedman along with a few partners. It was a relaunch of a whiskey brand that his ancestor C.M. Dedman started in 1879 that ultimately shuttered in 1916 because of Prohibition. Of course, the new Kentucky Owl has little to do with the original aside from pedigree and name, but it quickly reached cult bourbon status because of the high quality of the sourced whiskey in the bottles, which came with equally high prices. In 2017, Dedman sold the brand to Stoli Group, and a year later ground was broken on a new distillery that is being built in Bardstown, Kentucky, the epicenter of bourbon. In May of 2021, it was announced that Dedman was departing Kentucky Owl, and he has since launched 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey which is just hitting the market. More from Robb Report In June of 2021, John Rhea joined Kentucky Owl as master blender after 40 years in the whiskey industry, including a job as COO of Four Roses. Since coming onboard, he has worked on Batch #11 of the core bourbon lineup and two special releases, the St. Patricks Edition and Takumi Edition. Which brings us to the current bourbon, Batch #12. This is a blend of young (four-year-old) and older (seven to 14-year-old) bourbon, bottled at 115.8 proof and priced at $400. And that price tag is a relevant piece of information here, because there are many who might wonder why they should consider paying so much for sourced whiskey that falls within the age range of bottles that cost less than a quarter of that. If quality matters first and foremost, as it should, lets start out with the fact that this new bourbon is very good. Indeed, this blend showcases a nice balance between young and old, which is certainly the point of using this range of ages. Greener, spicier notes mingle with flavors that come from the more mature whiskeys like deep cherry, vanilla, caramel and a touch of oak, and the palate is undercut with spice and a hit of heat on the finish. Story continues Overall, this is a very satisfying whiskey that continues the trajectory of previous Kentucky Owl batches, and is proof that Rhea is doing everything he can to keep the unicorn status of the brand alive and kicking. And yes, the same people that balked at paying $400 (or much more on the secondary market) for a bottle of bourbon that Dedman blended will feel similarly about this new whiskey. To be fair, its kind of a hard sellexcept I guess it really isnt because the reality is that people snap up bottles like this as soon as they hit the shelves. Based on flavor alone, this is an excellent bourbon that is great for sipping and has layers of flavor. As far as its value and worth, thats a judgment call youve got to make based on your means and appetite because there are plenty of other options out there. But if you do decide to take the plunge, you wont be disappointed with this new high-end bourbon. Score: 90 Buy Now What Our Score Means 100: Worth trading your first born for 95 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet 90 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram 85 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market 80 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable Below 80 Its alright: Honestly, we probably wont waste your time and ours with this Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Two people were killed in separate crashes over the weekend in Flagler and Volusia counties, authorities said. The first traffic fatality occurred in Deltona on Saturday, and the second occurred on Interstate 95 near Palm Coast on Sunday, traffic homicide investigators said. New Year's Eve Deltona crash On Saturday just before midnight, Brandon Michael Morales, 24, was southbound on Howland Boulevard, when he turned left on Fort Smith Boulevard into the path of a northbound Dodge Charger, Volusia County sheriffs investigators said. After hitting the Charger, Morales then crashed into a pickup, deputies said. Morales was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Charger was transported to the hospital with minor injuries The occupants of the pickup were not injured, said Volusia County sheriffs spokesman Andrew Gant. I-95 New Year's Day crash The second fatality occurred on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on I-95 near Palm Coast, Florida Highway Patrol officials said. A 30-year-old man from Burnsville, North Carolina, was traveling north on I-95 when he lost control of his SUV near Matanzas Woods Parkway, troopers said. Troopers say the driver rotated counterclockwise and overturned his SUV, crashing into a tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, investigating troopers said. Both crashes remain under investigation, authorities said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Holiday crashes kill one in Volusia, a second in Flagler Yara Zaya, Angela, Usman Umar Yara Zaya/Instagram; TLC; Usman Umar/Instagram It's Angela Deem's world but not everyone's happy to be living in it. Sunday night's 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? tell-all episode showed how much of an impression the Georgia native has had on the cast members, though not necessarily in a good way. At the top of the hour, suspenseful music played as Angela spritzed herself with holy water before stepping into the bullpen. She immediately started a cast-wide screaming match a "first" for the 90 Day franchise, considering filming for the special hadn't even technically begun. She approached the screen showing Usman "Sojaboy" Umar who was attending virtually from Nigeria with a middle finger and issued a "f--- you bitch" as a greeting. She added, "Look whose here. That lying son of a bitch." Usman fired back, "It's not gonna be good, stupid assh---." 90 Day Fiance Usman TLC Plenty of shouting ensued, with Usman calling Angela the "worst thing that's ever happened to Nigeria." He continuously urged Michael Ilesanmi to leave Angela, even saying she was holding him "hostage." "It's so unfortunate that my Nigerian brother would hook up with somebody like you," Usman told Angela. "You're scamming him. You hold him as a hostage." Meanwhile, Kim Menzies tried to get the pair to stop fighting, and Ed "Big Ed" Brown looked on in bewilderment and eventual laughter. RELATED: 90 Day: Angela's Old Wounds Reopen When She Thinks Michael Broke Her Trust but He Blames an 'Impostor' The fight didn't stay between Usman and Angela, though. Angela went after Yara Zaya next when the Ukranian woman asked Angela to "sit down and respect us, please." Telling Yara to "shut up," Angela approached her couch and towered over her while Yara demanded Angela sit down after being "unrespectful." yara zaya yara zaya/ instagram But Angela did not sit down instead, she stormed off the set and began walking around the block. Again, even though cameras were rolling, this was all before filming for the special had officially gotten underway. Story continues RELATED: 90 Day Fiance's Angela Cusses Out Michael's 'Goofball' Friends Who Tell Her to 'Calm Down' Of course, Angela's blowup wasn't exactly surprising to her 90 Day castmates before she stepped on set, Ed warned cast members of her combative nature. "You guys, listen," Ed told the rest of the cast,. "When Angela comes in here, I want you to ignore her. She wants attention and if you don't give her attention, she'll look like a frickin' idiot." Jenny Slatten laughed and added, "It's kind of hard to ignore her." 90 Day Fiance Recap: Angela Questions Michael's 'Shady Behavior' After 2 Years of Long-Distance Marriage. TLC TLC Angela Deem Ed wasn't the only one thinking of leaving Angela out entirely. Other cast members expressed concern for sitting in the room with her, knowing Angela was generallyprone to intense knee-jerk responses. RELATED: 90 Day: Angela Confirms Worst Fears and Threatens Divorce After Finding Michael 'Flirting' on Instagram Kim and Jenny bonded over their similar life stories, but questioned if Angela a woman of the same age would ever fit in, with Jenny saying. "Angela, she's such a strong personality, I just feel like she's gonna take over the entire tell-all." Kim agreed, "I'm a little worried about that too. And part of me dreaded coming here because of that. Yara told cameras she wasn't excited to meet Angela either: "I am nervous, of course. I don't want her to jump on me and beat me or something that's the only thing I'm nervous about but I am nervous." She joked, "I just fixed my boobs. I don't want her to jump on me and destroy them." 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. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC and discovery+. ReportLinker The Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market size was estimated at USD 1,365. 57 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 1,566. 78 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 14. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Advanced Phase Change Materials Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335788/?utm_source=GNW 91% to reach USD 3,144.04 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Advanced Phase Change Materials to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the market was studied across Bio-Based PCM, Inorganic PCM, and Organic PCM. Based on Application, the market was studied across Building & Construction, Electronics, HVAC, Shipping & Transportation, and Textile. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Advanced Phase Change Materials market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Advanced Phase Change Materials Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market, including Advansa B.V., Ai Technology, Inc., BASF SE, Beyond Industries (China) Limited, CIAT Group, Climator Sweden Ab, Cold Chain Technologies, Inc, Coolcomposites, Inc., Croda International Plc., Cryopak Industries Inc., Dow Corning Corporation, E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company, Entropy Solutions, Henkel AG & Company, KGAA, Honeywell Electronic Materials, Inc., Insolcorp, Inc., Kaplan Energy Sas, Laird Plc, Microtek Laboratories Inc, Outlast Technologies LLC, Parker Hannifin Corp., Phase Change Energy Solutions, Pluss Advanced Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Puretemp Llc, SALCA Bv, Sasol Limited, Sonoco Products Company, and Ubitherm Technologies Gmbh. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Advanced Phase Change Materials Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335788/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Baltic Horizon Fund / Northern Horizon Capital The owner of Europa Shopping Centre in Vilnius, BH Europa UAB, an SPV of Baltic Horizon real estate fund, signed and closed a real estate sale and purchase agreement with UAB "Prime Location Property Fund" on Friday, 30 December 2022, following the end of the Nasdaq trading day, to sell its share in the parking house of Europa Shopping Centre which was previously co-owned with the purchaser. The agreement stipulates certain guarantees to ensure sufficient number of parking spaces required for the proper operation of the shopping centre as well as possibility to ensure free parking for the clients od Europa Shopping Centre. Baltic Horizon Fund remains as the sole owner of the Europa Shopping Centre. The sales price is EUR 4 million (excluding value added tax, if applicable). The proceeds of the transaction were used to optimise balance sheet structure and reduce the financial leverage of the Fund. Following the transaction, the Funds outstanding loan balance will decrease by EUR 3.5 million. This signifies a positive change in the relations of the neighbours. The sale and purchase agreement includes a clause whereby the purchaser undertakes to waive all historic disputes in regards to the parking house. We are satisfied to have completed the sale of half of the Europa parking house to the co-owner. Under sole ownership, our neighbour will complete renovation of the entire parking house for the use of both Europa shopping centre and office building, stated Tarmo Karotam, fund manager of Baltic Horizon. For additional information, please contact: Tarmo Karotam Baltic Horizon Fund manager E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com www.baltichorizon.com Baltic Horizon Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. Story continues Distribution: Nasdaq Tallinn, Nasdaq Stockholm, GlobeNewswire, www.baltichorizon.com Zelensky holds 18 conversations with African leaders in 2022, nine of which, for first time in history of bilateral relations MFA In 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held 18 conversations with African leaders, nine of which were the first in the history of bilateral relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) has said. "Since February 2022, the President of Ukraine has had 18 conversations with African leaders, nine of which are for the first time in the history of bilateral relations (Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, DRC, Zambia, Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Botswana). President of Guinea-Bissau and acting head of the Economic Community of West African Countries Umaro Embalo visited Ukraine in October, the first official visit of a leader of a sub-Saharan African state since 2004. The Foreign Ministry also said that during the year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had 35 phone conversations and meetings with African colleagues. In October 2022, the first African tour of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine took place in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy, covering Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya. In addition, Special Representative of Ukraine from the countries of the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subh, appointed in July 2022, additionally visited five African countries. During the tour, important agreements were reached, primarily in the sphere of economy and education. "Ukraine needs further consolidation and buildup of international support in countering Russian aggression in order to implement the Peace Formula, establish and maintain sustainable economic ties with the countries of the Global South. It is important to expand our diplomatic presence on the continent to a level that will allow us to interact smoothly and effectively with African capitals," the department said. The Foreign Ministry said that for this it is planned, in particular, to open a number of new embassies in Africa. The plans for 2023 also include measures to increase the volume of Ukrainian exports of goods and services, the implementation of joint Ukrainian-African projects in the areas of trade, economic, investment, scientific and technical cooperation and industrial cooperation. Jan. 2The massive $1.7 trillion congressional omnibus spending bill signed into law Thursday by President Joe Biden contains billions of dollars in support of military infrastructure and diplomatic initiatives in Hawaii and the Pacific as the U.S. seeks to compete with China for influence in the region. The massive $1.7 trillion congressional omnibus spending bill signed into law Thursday by President Joe Biden contains billions of dollars in support of military infrastructure and diplomatic initiatives in Hawaii and the Pacific as the U.S. seeks to compete with China for influence in the region. "This measure strengthens our national defense and bolsters our commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy throughout the Indo-Pacific, where the future of our country and world is being determined, " said U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who pushed for the inclusion of many of the provisions. "It also recognizes Hawaii's continued critical role through investments in facilities, personnel and institutions that are integral parts of our overall efforts, in addition to major contributors to our local economy." Projects that will be funded include $87.9 million for a new barracks on Marine Corps Base Hawaii ; $103 million for upgrading the missile storage facilities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam ; $111 million for a new company operations facility on Schofield Barracks ; and $29 million for the planned Army National Guard Readiness Center in Kapolei. Over the past year, tensions have boiled in the Pacific as China clashes with neighbors over maritime territorial and navigation rights, while military activity has increased around Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers a rogue territory and has vowed to bring under its control by any means. The U.S. military, for its part, has continuously conducted "freedom of navigation " operations in disputed territories and stepped up support of Taiwan, further stoking tensions with China. Story continues The bill includes funding for two SSN-774 Virginia class attack submarines that are expected to conduct operations in the Pacific and receive maintenance at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The Navy is in the process of building a new $3.5 billion dry dock at the shipyard to service new submarines, which also received $621 million in funding from the bill. The shipyard, which employs about 6, 000 people, is the state's largest industrial employer. Last year was also a historic year for North Korean missile tests. The country launched more than 90 cruise and ballistic missiles throughout 2022including three final ballistic missiles launched on New Year's Eve. North Korea's missile program and Hawaii's potential vulnerability to attack has been a source of discussion in the islands ever since a 2018 false missile alert amid heightened tensions between Washington and Pyongyang. The bill includes $164 million for the continued operation of the X-Band Radar, a sea-based missile defense radar known to some Hawaii residents as the "golf ball " because of its large, white-domed appearance. The radar moves between Alaska and Hawaii. The Hawaii congressional delegation has pushed for beefed-up missile defense for the islands. For years Hawaii lawmakers pinned their hopes on the $1.9 billion Homeland Defense RadarHawaii, a costly and controversial program that the congressional delegation fought to fund despite efforts by the Pentagon under the Trump and Biden administrations to zero out funding. The project was touted as an opportunity to boost Hawaii's economy with defense dollars and keep the islands safe, but received backlash from residents who argued the costly program would take up space and threaten irreplaceable wildlife habitats and Hawaiian cultural sites. Some critics also argued that the proposed system was unable to detect the latest hypersonic weapons used by China and Russia, and would be rendered redundant by the time it was finished by more efficient space-based systems. This year the congressional delegation finally stopped pushing the funding for the defense homeland radar, but the bill also calls for an assessment of what should be done to protect Hawaiiwhich some analysts say could be hit within 20 minutes of a North Korean long-range missile launch. The omnibus also includes $393.2 million to fund missile defense in Guam, which falls within range of a wider variety of Chinese and North Korean weapon systems than Hawaii. The bill adds an additional $1 billion toward the defueling and eventual shutdown of the Navy's underground Red Hill fuel facility that in 2021 caused the contamination of the Navy's water system that serves 93, 000 people on Oahu and sits just 100 feet above a critical aquifer that most of Honolulu relies on for clean water. It also includes a provision directing that the secretary of defense work with the state government to address the growing chasm between military leaders and surrounding communities. "The military must foster a better relationship with our local community to repair the damaged trust of Red Hill and rebuild support for various critical defense initiatives in our state, " Case said. The bill also calls for $317 million for environmental restoration of "formerly used defense sites " across the country, including funds intended to accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawaii. Progress has been slow, and an investigation by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and ProPublica published in November found that the effort in Hawaii, overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been plagued by shoddy work and multiple regulatory disputes. Beyond military spending, the omnibus also seeks to beef up funding for dialogue, diplomacy and development in the region with an eye toward promoting U.S. interests. The bill includes $22 million in funding for the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The Hawaii congressional delegation has sought to play up the importance of the Oahu think tankwhich was formally established by Congress in 1960as their fellow lawmakers express renewed interest in Pacific island nations. China has been investing heavily in the Pacific islands with business and infrastructure projects, and poured money into cultural and education programs to court influence with political and business leaders as well as students and educators in those countries. The omnibus includes language encouraging the U.S. State Department to increase the number of scholarships available for students from Pacific island countries to study in the United Statesmany of whom chose to study at the University of Hawaiiand increases funding for the State Department's Young Pacific Leaders Program, an initiative for emerging leaders between the ages of 25 and 35 hailing from Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations and territories. The measure also includes a $20 million increase over the past fiscal year for the Peace Corps, bringing it up to $430.5 million, along with language encouraging the Peace Corps to prioritize the Pacific islands in the return of volunteers. Under former President Donald Trump, the Peace Corps announced it would leave Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, which have both since signed agreements to host new U.S. military facilities. As Chinese investment and influence has grown in Oceania, U.S. officials have been trying to play catch-up. In a virtual address to the Pacific Islands Forum in July, Vice President Kamala Harris announced new investments in the Pacific, including new embassies in Kiribati and the Solomon Islandstwo countries where China has made particular gains. The omnibus calls for continuing the expansion of the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific islands and requires the State Department to create a strategy on trade capacity building in the Pacific islands. It also recommends expanding the State Department's International Law Enforcement Academy program to the Pacific islands. The program, which was launched in 1995 by former President Bill Clinton to bring law enforcement professionals together to share knowledge and tactics, currently has academies in New Mexico, El Salvador, Hungary, Thailand, Botswana and Ghana. But as the U.S. and China jockey for influence, many Pacific island nation leaders have said that climate change is their biggest concern. The omnibus includes $2 billion in its state and foreign operations section for addressing climate change and other environmental programs, and has language recommending $20 million or more to support the Pacific islands. Despite efforts by Pacific Islanders to weather the storm, entire communities already have been finding themselves forced to move by rising tides, and many islands and atolls in the Pacific risk being swallowed by the sea by the end of the century. The Cowboys defense will be without its second-leading tackler in the regular-season finale, but hell be back for the playoffs. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who has been sidelined the past two games with a neck injury, will also miss the teams Week 18 meeting with Washington, even as the team attempts to win the NFC East and perhaps improve their playoff seeding, an admittedly tall task that necessitates a win over the Commanders. The 26-year-old suffered a pinched nerve in his trapezius in the first quarter of the Cowboys Dec. 18 game in Jacksonville. Subsequent MRI and CT scans indicated that the injury was not related to the neck surgery Vander Esch had in 2019, but he has not played since as he waited for the nerve inflammation to subside. The Idaho native told reporters at The Star on Monday, though, that hes doing good with his current workouts and is eager to get back on the field in the postseason. Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) said he is doing good but will miss his third game Sunday at Commanders. Its about the playoffs. Theyre just giving me a little bit extra time to get rest. Defensive leader is fully expected to be on field for first playoff game. Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 2, 2023 Though the former first-round draft pick will miss this Sundays divisional game in Washington, Vander Esch confirmed that he is on track to suit up for Dallas when they begin their playoff run. Vander Esch had been the team leader in tackles heading into that Week 15 contest versus the Jaguars, having logged a season-high 14 stops just the week prior against Houston. He has one sack, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble on the year as well. List 3 Outcomes: Cowboys opening odds, NFC playoff scenarios for Week 18 List Cowboys playoff floor set, ceiling still sky high after Week 17 early slate Story continues List Cowboys only team to have achieved this statistical feat so far Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire House Minority Leader McCarthy and Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming appeared together at a 2020 press conference, prior to landing on opposite sides of the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021 siege at the US Capitol. Drew Angerer/Getty Images The January 6 committee deposed over 1,000 witnesses about Trump's 2020 election fraud scheme. Seven House Republicans elected not to answer the committee's questions. Defying this probe could empower Democrats to do the same when Republicans take control in 2023. While some Trump administration officials have been indicted for refusing to cooperate with the January 6 select committee's investigation into the deadly siege at the US Capitol, several prominent House Republicans who'll soon have subpoena power of their own assailed the panel's legal authority and refused to testify. The highest profile holdouts include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan of Ohio, who are vying to become House speaker and Judiciary chairman, respectively, in the next Congress after flipping control of the chamber this fall. Fellow subpoena-defier Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona serves on the Judiciary panel as well as the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which is gearing up to investigate presidential scion Hunter Biden's business dealings and, by extension, President Joe Biden. Many of the GOP members who disregarded the January 6 probe offered varying reasons for not participating ranging from complaining about the committee's public outreach to assailing the "baseless witch hunt." Their arguments could come back to haunt them if they try to flex the new majority party's powers next year only to have House Democrats recycle the precedent-setting rejections. January 6 committee members unanimously voted on December 19 to refer McCarthy, Jordan, Biggs, and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania to the House Committee on Ethics for failing to comply with the subpeonas. "The Rules of the House of Representatives make clear that their willful noncompliance violates multiple standards of conduct and subjects them to discipline," House investigators wrote in the executive summary of their final report. "The Committee also believes that each of these individuals, along with other Members who attended the December 21st planning meeting with President Trump at the White House, should be questioned in a public forum about their advance knowledge of and role in President Trump's plan to prevent the peaceful transition of power." Story continues Investigators urged the ethics panel to consider sanctioning the four Republican lawmakers. It remains unclear whether the famously secretive panel, which is composed of an equal number of members from both parties, will take up the recommendation. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy talks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, DC on April 6, 2022. Scott J. Applewhite/AP The select committee in a January 12, 2022 letter asked McCarthy to testify about his communications with Trump before, during, and after January 6, 2021 regarding challenging the election results. McCarthy has acknowledged having at least one conversation with Trump while MAGA supporters were swarming the Capitol, but has, so far, declined to discuss it with the committee. The committee subpoenaed him about it on May 25. McCarthy told reporters that he's sent the committee two official responses through his attorney, Elliot S. Berke, and said he's considering releasing said letters to the press. McCarthy aides did not respond to Insider's request for copies of the letters. CNN reports that in one letter, Berke accused the committee of playing partisan politics. "Its only objective appears to be to attempt to score political points or damage its political opponents acting like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee one day and the Department of Justice the next," Berke wrote. When asked why Democrats should comply with any congressional investigations House Republicans choose to pursue next year given the defiance he and others have shown about January 6, McCarthy said the difference is "we won't be illegitimate." "We won't issue subpoenas going after our political opponents," McCarthy told reporters at a June 9 press conference. "We'll do exactly what Congress is supposed to do. We'll uphold the Constitution." Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio at a Capitol Hill press conference. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Jordan's got the longest-running paper trail with the committee to date. The select committee got things rolling on December 22, 2021 by asking Jordan to testify about his communications with Trump before, during, and after January 6, 2021 regarding challenging the election results. In his initial response on January 9, 2022, Jordan said he had "no relevant information" to offer the committee, and took investigators to task for even asking. "This request is far outside the bounds of any legitimate inquiry, violates core Constitutional principles, and would serve to further erode legislative norms," Jordan wrote in his first letter back to the committee. After he'd been subpoenaed, Jordan noted that he was still waiting to hear back about questions he posed to the committee in January and bristled at the "dangerous escalation" of compelling him to testify. "You have not substantively addressed any of the points in the letter or alleviated any of the concerns I raised," Jordan wrote on May 25 adding, that the same concerns "still exist today and have only grown as the Select Committee has continued to leak nonpublic information in a misleading manner in the intervening period." A federal judge, however, dismissed Republican contentions that the committee is improperly constituted and doesn't serve a legislative purpose, and recently a judge swept aside similar arguments made by one-time Trump advisor Steve Bannon in his failed attempt to get his contempt of Congress trial dismissed. Jordan delved even deeper into why he's unlikely to ever testify before the committee in the 11-page, heavily-footnoted letter he sent the panel on June 9. In that third missive, Jordan contests the panel's formation, membership, subpoena powers, and "legislative purpose," among other things. "You seem to believe that you have the authority to arbitrate the scope of a colleague's official activities," Jordan wrote on June 9. "Respectfully, I do not answer to you or the other members of the Select Committee. I am accountable to the voters of Ohio's Fourth Congressional District." Jordan has already committed to investigating the Biden family and federal law enforcement agencies (DOJ, FBI) once he gets the Judiciary committee gavel. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona speaks during the Freedom Caucus press conference on immigration outside the Capitol on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The select committee in a May 2, 2022 letter asked Biggs to testify about any communications he'd had with former President Donald Trump, Trump administration officials, and Stop the Steal rally organizers about challenging the 2020 election results. Biggs accused the committee of leaking subpoenas to the press before notifying the actual members involved, and railed against the "pure political theater." "The January 6 Committee's ongoing, baseless witch hunt is nothing more than an effort to distract the American people from the Democrats' and Biden's disastrous leadership," Biggs said May 12 in a press release. Biggs said referring him to the Ethics committee was the panel's "final political stunt." Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 19, 2022 "The J6 Committee has defamed my name and my character," he wrote online. "And I look forward to reviewing their documents, publishing their lies, and setting the record straight in the 118th Congress." Meanwhile, Biggs has been pushing to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas since summer 2021. Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas is a former White House physician who has declared Trump in "excellent health." Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The select committee in a May 2, 2022 letter asked Jackson to testify about any communications he had with members of the pro-Trump Oath Keepers or participants in the "Stop the Steal" rally that immediately preceded the attack on the US Capitol. Jackson fired back the same day, disavowing any text messaging with Oath Keepers and bashing the committee and press for their "ruthless crusade against President Trump and his allies." "Yet again, the illegitimate January 6 Committee proves its agenda is malicious and not substantive," Jackson said in a press release. "Their attempt to drag out a manufactured narrative illustrates why the American people are sick of the media and this partisan Committee's use of January 6 as a political tool against conservatives they do not like." Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia has faced scrutiny for leading a tour group through the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The select committee has repeatedly asked Loudermilk to testify about a tour group he led through the US Capitol complex on January 5, 2021 that included at least one person who returned the following day during the riot. The committee's first letter on May 19, 2022 mentioned that it had reviewed security footage of said tour and that investigators had questions about where they had been. House Committee on Administration ranking member Rodney Davis defended Loudermilk a day later on social media, calling reports of GOP-led reconnaissance tours "demonstrably false" and urging the Capitol Police to release all security footage from January 5 to clear the air. House Admin. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmnGOP) May 20, 2022 The committee released clips of the Loudermilk-led tour on June 15 and followed up with another letter asking him to explain why one of the photo-snapping group members appeared to be documenting areas "not typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases, and security checkpoints." Loudermilk responded on Twitter, lambasting the committee for "undermining the Capitol Police and doubling down on their smear campaign." Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) June 15, 2022 Loudermilk's account of who was on the tour and what they were interested in has shifted over the past 18 months. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania photographed outside the US Capitol on December 3, 2020. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images The select committee in a December 20, 2021 letter asked Perry to testify about his communications with Trump administration officials about installing Department of Justice attorney Jeffrey Clark as acting US attorney general to help overturn the 2020 election results. Perry accused the "political witch hunt" of "fabricating headlines" in a May 12 press release, but didn't specify whether he'd testify. Perry's attorney John P. Rowley III closed the door on that in the response he sent the committee on May 24. Rowley wrote that Perry declined to testify before a committee "that is operating in contravention of its own rules" and "committed to scoring political points, rather than focusing on the troublemakers who broke into the Capitol." Perry has also denied that he sought a presidential pardon for anything related to the 2020 election tampering. January 6 committee cochair Liz Cheney said during the June 9 hearing that investigators had uncovered evidence that Perry and other GOP lawmakers had angled for pardons after the Capitol was attacked. Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on the Fire Fauci Act on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The select committee in a May 2, 2022 letter asked Brooks to testify about public statements he made in March about Trump repeatedly lobbying him to "rescind" the 2020 election and reinstall him as president. Brooks aired those particular grievances after Trump pulled his endorsement from Brooks' bid to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. Brooks began laying out stipulations for testifying before the "partisan Witch Hunt Committee" in an undated statement, but then declared "that time has long passed." "If they want to talk, they're gonna have to send me a subpoena, which I will fight," Brooks said in a campaign press release. Brooks told Insider that he considers himself an outlier among the investigation's targets because everything he knows is already in the public domain, including testimony he gave in 2021 after being sued by Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California about the insurrection at the US Capitol. "I am quite different from all other persons the Committee seeks to interview in that I have already given numerous, lengthy written, sworn statements (Swalwell lawsuit) and written, unsworn public statements that detail my knowledge and conduct concerning January 6 events," Brooks wrote in an email. "The Committee thus already has a fairly full accounting of all knowledge I have." Brooks lost the GOP primary for Alabama's open Senate seat in May. He won't be returning for the 118th Congress. Read the original article on Business Insider After a surge in popularity and record-breaking transactions, Limocoin has launched a merchant campaign in Burkina Faso Burkina Faso--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2023) - Limocoin started its Merchant Campaign in Burkina Faso, France, Cameroon, Senegal and Mali after it achieved new levels of success in terms of the number of transactions it has processed. The Limocoin system allows for anonymous transactions. Despite the fact that this does not render the transactions absolutely anonymous, the only address that can be used to track them down is one that is stored on the blockchain. Limocoin To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9100/149066_593e2b3134bdbbaf_001full.jpg Limocoin's merchant campaign is making it possible for merchants and customers in Africa to leapfrog established financial institutions through digital money. Transactions involving Limocoin do not need the customary banking expenditures that are linked with fiat currencies such as deposits, withdrawals, and maintenance fees. These fees are frequent among trades involving fiat currencies. Fees and currency charges are often incurred in the course of business as usual wire transfers and foreign transactions. Because there are no intermediaries or governments involved in Limocoin transactions, the associated fees are often far lower than those associated with bank transfers. This is a huge advantage for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly considering the speed with which Limocoin payments may be made, free from the hassle of the usual authorization processes and wait periods. The use of SWIFT transfers between banks in Africa and their international partners is crucial for local firms making international payments for products and services. These wire transfers are costly and might take multiple days to complete. With Limocoin's merchant campaign, businesses may rapidly move their local virtual currency for cross-border payments. The European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Sweden, and the Swiss National Bank are all now collaborating with the Bank for International Settlements to share information and guarantee that their currencies are easily convertible. This will make it simpler to make payments and shorten the time it takes to process imports and exports. Story continues Because Limocoin transactions cannot be reversed, fraud and chargebacks are not a concern. Compared to traditional payment methods, Limocoin transactions offer less room for fraud since customers cannot revoke their payment or demand a refund after making a purchase. As an added bonus, companies that don't have the manpower or funds to hire their own security team to protect themselves against fraud might benefit from accepting the Limocoin currency. About Limocoin Limocoin has broken the benchmark of two million transactions in a single year. This indicates how widespread its acclaim is throughout Africa. There are over 200,000 people in the Limocoin Swap community from 125 different countries, and over 1,200,000 LMC SWAP are traded each and every day. The goal of developing Limocoin Swap was to hasten the development of the cryptocurrency market. According to the Limocoin Swap token's whitepaper, it will help countries and governments achieve economic development. These efforts are intended to benefit the infrastructural, agricultural, and financial technology industries. Limocoin can be found by clicking here: https://www.lbank.info/exchange/lmcswap/usdt or here: https://latoken.com/exchange/LMCSWAP_USDT Media contact Company: SIMTREX COMMERCIAL BROKERS LLC Email: info@limocoins.net / contact@simtrexbroker.net Website: https://limocoin.net/ https://simtrexbroker.com Contact WhatsApp: +971 52 163 8518 Telegram: https://t.me/limocoinswapofficial tweet: https://twitter.com/limocoinswap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limocoinswap/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/149066 Jan. 2The new year brings a gift to low-wage workers in Maine. The state's minimum wage jumped from $12.75 to $13.80 an hour on Jan. 1, and in Portland, the minimum increased from $13 to $14 an hour. Minimum wage workers clocking 40 hours a week under the new state minimum will earn an extra $42 weekly, and full-time workers in the city will earn an extra $40 a week. It is unclear how many workers this will affect many businesses have already raised hourly wages for many positions to try to compete in a labor market in which staffing shortages have made it difficult to fill many jobs. But James Myall, an economic policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the increases are important, even if most Maine workers are already earning well above the mandated state minimum, let alone the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The state's minimum wage is based on a regional measure of the cost of living. The 8.2% state wage increase and $1 an hour increase in Portland will help minimum wage earners cover housing, heating, food and gasoline costs that rose substantially last year as inflation soared to levels not seen in decades, Myall said. The locally-owned Sea Dog Brewing Co. was advertising some jobs Friday at the 2022 state minimum of $12.75 an hour, and that increased Sunday. But most of the company's workers were making more than that already, said Emma Downey, manager of the Sea Dog Brewing Co.'s pub on Western Avenue in South Portland. Sea Dog Brewing has 11 locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Florida. Downey said the company had already been increasing wages because of the labor shortage dishwashers typically earn $17 to $18 an hour and cooks $22 to $23 an hour. Most restaurants, including the national chains that Sea Dog competes with, are paying the same wages and Downey hopes potential workers will prefer to deal with a smaller, locally-owned company than a national chain. Some workers already making above the state or city minimum will still get a pay hike this month because their hourly wage increases when the legal minimum does. Story continues Michael Zeigler, who works at a Circle K in Saco, said he gets paid $4 an hour more than the state minimum wage. He said he's happy for any minimum wage workers getting a pay hike because rising prices mean it's hard to make ends meet, even for those earning more than the minimum. But Amanda Tarbox, a cashier at Bob & Mike's Mini Mart in Saco, said she thinks increasing the minimum wage is unfair to employees who have stayed in one job and worked their way up to earn higher pay. "It's unfair to people who have been there for a while," she said. "I don't make minimum wage, but I worked my way up." Tarbox said that as far as she knows, everyone at Bob & Mike's makes more than the state minimum. She declined to say what she is paid. Portland's minimum wage is higher than the state's, but that gap has shrunk. Voters in 2020 approved increasing the minimum by a dollar an hour each year, topping out at $15 an hour in 2024. The Portland minimum will also apply to city workers, city spokesman Mo Puia confirmed Friday. Because the minimum wage was set via referendum, city government isn't required to follow it, but City Hall is taking that step voluntarily, Puia said. Increasing "the minimum wage is one of those things that has consistently had approval," said Myall, the economic policy analyst. City voters in November rejected an effort to increase the minimum wage even more, up to $18 an hour by 2025. But Myall said he thinks that initiative failed because the proposal also called for eliminating the "tipped minimum wage," which allows employers in service industry jobs restaurants and bars, for instance to count part of an employee's tips toward their hourly wage. In other words, if an employee is supposed to make a minimum wage of $13.80, an employer can count up to $6.90 an hour of the employee's tips toward meeting that minimum. If the proposal Question D on the November city ballot had passed, employers would have had to pay at least the full city minimum wage, and employees would still have been able to keep all their tips. Some tipped workers opposed Question D, fearing their tips would go down if their minimum base pay went up. Nonetheless, Myall said, Maine voters' backing for raising minimum wages remains strong and is especially important at a time when some companies are racking up record profits, regardless of inflation. "It's important that some of that goes down to the workers," he said. Some lawmakers in recent years have launched unsuccessful attempts in the Legislature to lower the minimum wage, arguing that higher labor costs hurt Maine businesses that compete with those in other states, Myall said. Fifteen states follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, where it has been since 2009. That's the longest gap between increases in the federal minimum wage since the law that allows Congress to set the minimum was approved in 1938. Maine, and Portland, have among the highest minimum wages in the country, according to the most recent data from the federal Department of Labor. Washington, D.C., has a minimum wage of $16.10 per hour, Washington state's is $14.49, Massachusetts' is $14.25 and California and Connecticut have a $14 per hour minimum. Editors note: Deadlines Read the Screenplay series debuts and celebrates the scripts of films that will be factors in this years movie awards race. When writer-director Nikyatu Jusu began hatching her first feature Nanny a little less than a decade ago, she worried that the story at hand might be too singular or specific to resonate widely. When youre this close to the material, you can lose your mind, she said during a November appearance at Deadlines Contenders Film: Los Angeles awards-season event. More from Deadline The project was particularly personal for Jusu given the fact that it spoke to the story of her mother a native of Sierra Leone often forced to do jobs that were beneath her, including domestic work, after moving to the U.S. I was always worried about how she was being treated in these households, she shared, as a very fiercely protective child of my mother. That was the springboard. Debuting on Prime Video on December 16 after hitting limited theaters on November 23rd, Nanny follows the Senegalese immigrant Aisha (Anna Diop) as she attempts to piece together a new life in New York City while caring for the child of an Upper East Side family. During this time, she is forced to confront a concealed truth that threatens to shatter her precarious American Dream. Jusu knew from the beginning that she wanted to infuse the film with elements of horror rather than playing it as a straightforward drama, in this way getting at something deeper. The darker genres allow you to tell the truth in a way that is really titillating and interesting, she told Deadline at Contenders, and pulls the audience in a way that doesnt feel preachy or pedantic. Story continues For Jusu, Nanny has represented a career breakthrough, allowing her to set up multiple studio features including an adaptation of her acclaimed horror short Suicide by Sunlight for Monkeypaw and Universal, and a Night of the Living Dead sequel recently acquired by MGM. Her first features trajectory appeared all but sealed following its debut at Sundance, where it became the first horror to win the Grand Jury Prize, with Jusu becoming the second Black female filmmaker to win that coveted award. Pic was acquired months later by Prime Video and Blumhouse in a deal worth $7 million. Jusu also exec produced Nanny, which has recently led the Palm Springs Film Festival to name her as one of its Directors to Watch, and secured her a Someone to Watch Award nom at the Independent Spirit Awards. Read her script below. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. (Getty Images) Novak Djokovic made a losing return to Australia but received an enthusiastic welcome from fans at the Adelaide International. Twelve months after he was deported as a risk to public health because of his refusal to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Djokovic has returned to the country following the decision to overturn his visa ban. His first match was a low-key doubles encounter alongside close friend Vasek Pospisil, which the pair lost 4-6 6-3 (10-5) to Bosnian Tomislav Brkic and Ecuadors Gonzalo Escobar. But any fears Djokovic may have had about how he would be received by the public were swiftly allayed as his supporters flocked to Memorial Drive to welcome him back. Djokovic begins his singles campaign on Tuesday against Frenchman Constant Lestienne as he builds up to the Australian Open, where he is looking for a record-extending 10th title. There were two shocks in singles action on Monday, with second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime losing 6-4 7-6 (5) to Australian Alexei Popyrin while fifth seed Holger Rune was beaten 2-6 6-4 6-4 by Japans Yoshihito Nishioka. DUBUQUE, Iowa, January 02, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University of Dubuque (UD) is proud to announce the debut of its online MBA program, offering students the opportunity to earn a Master of Business Administration degree fully online for those whose personal and professional commitments are better served with an online format. To launch and power the online program, UD has partnered with upGrad, a global leader in online higher education that leverages technology, pedagogy and partnerships to deliver best-in-class learning and career outcomes for students. The University of Dubuque has designed its new online MBA program to focus on producing job-ready professionals with highly in-demand skills. The program is taught by seasoned UD faculty members and offers stackable specializations in Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Leadership, and General Business. "When we set out to build any new offering at the University of Dubuque, we're highly intentional about placing student outcomes at the center of our focus," said Ricardo Cunningham, DBA, UDs dean for graduate and adult studies. "We don't just assemble our programs based on what resources we already have in place instead we take the time to research changing markets, find real practitioners, and structure our offerings to allow students to customize their education. The result, through a partnership with upGrad, is an online MBA program that is not only among the most accessible and affordable in the region, but also one which allows students to highly customize their upskilling and emerge job-ready in their specific career path." Uniquely, UDs online MBA program features "skills badges," which are shareable, highly custom credentials that demonstrate proficiency in specific areas of business. Students can earn badges in areas such as Data Driven Marketing, Financial Analytics, Marketing Management, and more. The curriculum also allows for students to attain industry certifications such as Tableau Data Analytics and Hubspot Digital Marketing. Story continues "This innovative MBA allows learners to gain relevant skills and create tangible value for their organizations. It is also delivered in a flexible format to support the busy schedules of todays professionals. We are delighted to extend UDs legacy of excellence to a global community of ambitious professionals," said Eric Kuennen, President - Partnerships and B2B for upGrad, and Karan Raturi, upGrad General Manager, in a joint statement. With a total tuition of as little as $15,000 and the flexibility to take courses at their own pace, students can complete their degree in as little as 15 months without leaving their full-time job. This flexible and affordable approach to higher education makes the University of Dubuque's online MBA program an attractive option for busy professionals looking to pivot, change or advance their careers. For more information about the University of Dubuque's online MBA program, visit https://online.dbq.edu/mba View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230102005036/en/ Contacts Michael DiMarco, Associate Director - Marketing, upGrad (US) michael.dimarco@upgrad.com Stacey Ortman, director of public information at the University of Dubuque, sortman@dbq.edu women's ap poll South Carolina finished 2022 how it started the year: No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 womens basketball poll. While the top-ranked Gamecocks cruised to a win in their lone game last week, then-No. 4 Indiana, No. 6 N.C. State and No. 7 Virginia Tech all lost as they scrambled to replace injured players. There were 22 losses by teams in the AP top 10 this season before Jan. 1. That was tied for the most in the past 23 years before January, matching the 2014-15 season, according to ESPN. Seven of those losses came to unranked teams, tied with 1999-2000 and 2004-05 for the most ever. The New Year didnt start off any better for top teams as then-No. 10 UCLA lost to Oregon State. The most challenging week putting together my poll in my 12 years as a voter, ESPN analyst Deb Antonelli said after all the ranked-team losses last week. Im looking at records, injuries, NET and my experienced eye as a basketball analyst, and its difficult. We wanted parity and we got it! Its a great measurement of growth in game. Stanford, Ohio State, Notre Dame and UConn round out the top five teams in the poll released Monday. With the Hoosiers defeat, that left only five unbeaten teams, including the top-ranked Gamecocks, who were once again a unanimous choice at No. 1. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Utah and 24th-ranked St. Johns are the other undefeated teams heading into 2023. Utah is making its first appearance in the top 10. Indiana dropped to sixth with Virginia Tech and North Carolina State finishing off the top 10. Duke was one of the the teams to knock off a top-10 squad last week, beating the Wolfpack. The Blue Devils entered the poll at No. 19. They are off to a 13-1 start with the lone loss coming against UConn. Kara Lawsons team is 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2013-14 and is off to its best in six years. Arkansas fell out of the poll. RISING UTES: Utah extended its season-opening winning streak to 14 games, the second longest in school history and only two victories short of the team that went 16-0 to begin the 1997-98 season. Story continues FALLING TAR HEELS North Carolina has lost three straight games and fallen to No. 22 in the poll after dropping contests to Florida State and Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels, who were sixth in the Top 25 two weeks ago, will try end the slide against Miami on Thursday. Utah cracks womens AP top 10 for 1st time; Gamecocks No. 1 originally appeared on NBCSports.com Jan. 2WILKES-BARRE A long-standing tradition for many in the area's running community, the Wyoming Valley Striders ushered in the new year with the club's 38th annual Informal New Year's Day Run inside Kirby Park on Sunday. A large crowd hit the trail inside the park this year, continuing a trend that Striders member Linda Wojnar-Krasnavage said has really blossomed in recent years. "It has grown over the years, there used to be just a few members that would show up," Wojnar-Krasnavage said. "I think social media (helped), and people would hear about it and want to show up." The Striders, a local nonprofit founded in 1975, will participate and host several marquee races over the course of 2023, as they have in years' past. The New Year's Day run, however, is less about racing and setting a time, and more about enjoying the day and enjoying the company of others. "It's more of a social run," Wojnar-Krasnavage said. "Runners in this area are so social, it's such a great community." Sunday's run was open to Striders members and non-members alike, and those interested in signing up with the Striders were able to pay their dues and join the club right there in Kirby Park. Before the run got started, many of the runners were deep in conversations with one another, already leaning into the afternoon's social aspect. "It's a beautiful day, you actually get to talk with the other runners," said Patty Phillips-Pavlock, of Hanover Township. "It's a great way to start the new year." Like a large portion of Sunday's runners, Phillips-Pavlock had just participated in the previous day's Back Mountain Trail 5K. "And that was a great way to end the old year," she quipped. Phillips-Pavlock boasts a wealth of experience running marathons and distance races; she's run all 25 Steamtown Marathons, one of only seven runners to do so. Story continues Carmella DePippa had also run the Back Mountain 5K on Saturday, but the Berwick native didn't just stop there: she actually ran three races on New Year's Eve, before joining the group in Kirby Park on New Year's Day. "It's a social run, there's no pressure here," DePippa said. Other runners, such as Nanticoke resident Brenda Bartlett, weren't quite as experienced; Bartlett said she took up running a couple of years ago as a way of rehabbing from a couple of knee injuries. "It's frustrating to be patient," she said of her experience waiting to recover from her injuries. At 12 p.m. sharp, the group made their way inside the park for the customary group photo. Once that bit of business was handled, the word was given and the runners took off, some looking to set a good pace for themselves and others just looking for a nice, leisurely run. When asked about what she was looking forward to most, Bartlett gestured up toward the clear blue sky. "Fresh air and sunshine," she said. Borrell: At year's end, Russia again inflicts 'despicable attacks' on Ukrainians; EU to continue standing by Kyiv in 2023 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that at the end of the year Russia is again inflicting "despicable attacks" on Ukrainians and assures that the EU will continue to support Ukraine in the new year 2023. He made this entry on Saturday, New Year's Eve, on his Twitter page. "In 2022, Russia decided to fully abandon commitments to basic human rights and to attack Ukraine and global security. At the year's end, Putin tries once again to force Ukrainians into darkness with despicable attacks. We are resolved to continue standing by Ukraine, also in 2023," Borrel said. Yellowstone's mid-season finale kicks off with a continuation of the flashback that opened last episode. After accidentally murdering the cowboy that was disrespecting Beth (Kylie Rogers), young Rip (Kyle Red Silverstein) finds himself helping young Lloyd (Forrest J. Smith) dispose of the body at the "train station." Faithful fans of the series will recall that destination isn't actually an Amtrak terminal, but rather a canyon on the Wyoming border where the Duttons bury the bodies of their enemies. The incriminating act cements Rip's loyalty to the family, but young John (Josh Lucas) decides it's time to make it official by having him marked with the ranch's "Y" brand. When Rip gets back to the bunkhouse, he proudly shows off the fresh sear, a rite of passage that's celebrated with whiskey and a seat at the poker table. The next scene opens with another branded chest. It's now present day, and we're catching up with long-absent Jimmy (Jefferson White), last seen in season 4 leaving for Texas with his new fiancee Emily (Kathryn Kelly). He's happy and living the good cowboy life, working hard at the 6666 Ranch during the day and giving Emily foot rubs and drinking Coors Banquets at night. Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 8 Paramount Network Wes Bentley on 'Yellowstone' Back in Montana, John (Kevin Costner) asks Monica (Kelsey Asbille) because she "wears the pants" if Kayce (Luke Grimes) will run the ranch while Rip's (Cole Hauser) in Texas moving the herd. He offers them a nearby fixer upper in exchange for their help. The two also share a sweet moment, as Monica thanks John for his supportive words following the death of her unborn child. The sweetness is traded for swelling, sinister music in the next scene, where Jamie's (Wes Bentley) confidently strolling the halls of the capitol building. The attorney general's on his way to an emergency meeting of the assembly, where he addresses the legislature and senate. He calls out his father for costing the state billions of dollars and thousands of jobs by canceling the airport project's funding. He proposes a senate tribunal seeking impeachment. Story continues Meanwhile, John and Lynelle (Wendy Moniz) are supporting Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) at a press conference denouncing the pipeline planned to run beneath the reservation's drinking water reservoir. But as the attending press begin receiving word of Jamie's attack, they turn their focus to John. Beth (Kelly Reilly) also gets wind of her brother's bold move from verbal sparring partner Summer (Piper Perabo) and discovers the senate tribunal is favored with a vote of 67 to 33. The episode takes a brief breather from the escalating intrigue and drama to send off the Texas-bound cowboys. Jake (Jake Ream,) Walker (Ryan Bingham,) Teeter (Jennifer Landon,) and Ryan (Ian Bohen) pack their cold weather gear and say their goodbyes, while Rip and Beth plan to reunite in a week, when she'll fly to the Texas Panhandle. The scene also treats us to some young blossoming romance, as Carter and his crush plan a post-branding season date. Of course, Beth's top priority is confronting Jamie, so it's not long before she's banging on his door. Or, more specifically, smashing through it with a rock, the same one she cracks across his smug face. When Jamie comes to, he's shockingly a step ahead of his sister. She's fully prepared to unleash the blackmail she's been holding over him since snapping the photos of him burying the corpse of his biological father. But he hits her with a bombshell, revealing those compromising pics were taken at the "train station," the same secret spot the Duttons have been filling with their foes for a century. Exposing him would also uncover years of Dutton misdeeds. Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 8 Paramount Network Luke Grimes and Kelsey Asbille on 'Yellowstone' Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) emerges, wrapped in a bed sheet, to toss some salt in the wound, prompting Beth to declare war on her brother before storming out. She next confronts her father, whose day is only getting worse. It seems word has also leaked that those protected, GPS collar-wearing wolves may have been killed on his land. When it rains, it pours. John spills the beans on the "train station," which he further describes to his daughter as "a trash can for everyone that's attacked us." Beth isn't so much stunned by the existence of this mass grave, but more that Jamie is aware of it and can use it against the family. She suggests the only solution is to eliminate him, permanently. The scene ends without a clear response from John. Back at Jamie's house, Sarah's tending to his head injury and plotting their next moves. Knowing his sister will likely have him killed, he wants to go on offense and asks his co-conspirator if she knows of any "group that has experience with this kind of situation." She is, of course, ready with recommendations of people who will "make it look like a heart attack or a car accident." The mid-season finale could've ended on this dire note, but instead leaves us with a more pleasant conclusion. Kayce and Monica discuss John's proposal. Kayce reveals to his wife the vision he previously saw presented a choice between her and the ranch. But she fully embraces the idea of starting over, maybe even trying to grow their family again, and is hopeful the move will eliminate the need for him to choose: "Maybe this is the way we have both." Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Crime and Courts Reporter Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee. RFA/Latino Community and Lower Valley Reporter Heyo, Im Jasper. Nice to meet you. I cover a wide variety of news, but I try to focus on the Latino community and the Lower Yakima Valley. I want to sharestories and perspectives from the Yakima Valley. Im interested in economics, labor, geography and the environment, but the most important issues will always be the ones the community cares about. If you have something worth saying, Ill listen and try to write it down. Im a gosei from Northeast Los Angeles and I got my start as a student journalist and editor covering sports in the Bay Area. Im a massive soccer fan and I still love to play. I also love water in all its forms, the word copacetic and trying new things. I want to read more, and I like to cook, but Im not great at either. Have fun out there! Daisy Ledesma, left, and her sisters Maria Ledesma and Daniela Ledesma nap in chairs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday. The Leavenworth family is heading to Mexico to visit family. They left home at 7 a.m. that day to ensure they'd make their nighttime flight. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times) If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in her first phone conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the new year, expressed support and best wishes for the Ukrainian people in 2023. "In the first call of the new year with President Volodymyr Zelensky, I conveyed my wholehearted support and best wishes for 2023 to the Ukrainian people. The EU will support your heroic struggle. A fight for freedom and against brutal aggression," she said on Twitter. The president of the European Commission also emphasized that the distribution of a EUR 18 billion support package in monthly tranches will begin soon. "We are supporting you through this winter with generators, light bulbs, shelters, school buses. And we continue our strong financial assistance. Soon we'll start disbursing our EUR 18 billion support package in monthly tranches," von der Leyen said, adding that she looks forward to meeting Zelensky again in Ukraine soon. Boyin Lu, born Chinese but raised Hungarian is a third culture kid living in Hungary. After finishing his college studies he decided to enter the restaurant business and opened Ramenka and the 101Bistro in Budapest. One of his goals is to become a bridge of two cultures and let local people taste a bit of Asia. 1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here? My Dad came here first, to study at Liszt Ferenc Academy, and he decided to stay. Then I came with my Mum in 1996, so 26 years ago by now when I was 10. 2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere? In the U.S. for a year, and also in China for three years - I felt like an expat when I went back there. 3. What surprised you most about Hungary? Well Hungary as a whole I dont know too much about to be honest, but I am familiar with Budapest, which is totally different I think. Budapest surprised me as people here really accept diversity in my experience. I have had lots of positive experiences, people are helpful and kind. The city is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with the river, hills, and all the beautiful buildings. 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? The views from Gellert Hill, the Parliament, and local restaurants. They have to try the local dishes in the typical Hungarian restaurant , for example Ketszerecsen. Also the local clubs to party, for example A38 Ship, or Ponton in the summer. Summer is much better regarding parties, Sziget and the others festival are great. Actually lots of friends and relatives come to visit during the summer and we see and do those things. 5. What is your favourite Hungarian food? Fish soup the spicy version. 6. What is never missing from your refrigerator? Beer, I like Soproni IPA and Guinness. I also love Unicum, which we always have at home. Bread too, as I really love the handmade one from the small shop at Menesi ut. 7. What is your favourite Hungarian word? Haver (mate in English) I use it a lot. 8. What do you miss most from home? The food, as Chinese cuisine is so diverse and complex. 9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? I always wanted to be a fashion designer, or play base guitar in a band. I played in a punk rock band when I was a teenager. Ironically my younger brother plays the drums and studies fashion design, while I am in the restaurant business. 10. What's a job you would definitely never want? Anything monotonous, like being an admin in a bank. 11. Where did you spend your last vacation? Mallorca. Actually two weeks ago we went to Orseg in Hungary, we stayed in a house in the forest and it was really nice. 12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday? As I really like to see different cultures and people, I would like to go to Bhutan. I read a lot about that place, people there seem very happy, so I am waiting to the opportunity to be able to experience that feeling there. 13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? Palinka, when going to visit my parents. 14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen? I listened to punk, rock, and electronic. Movie: a Korean one Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring and Matrix. Hobby: playing the guitar. 15. Red wine or white? White. I really like Irsai Oliver. 16. Book or movie? Both. 17. Morning person or night person? Night, I simply cannot wake up in the morning. 18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? Population decline in Hungary, and the subsequent lack of competition in work force which makes it hard for employers to find great staff. 19. Buda or Pest side? Buda, I live in the twelfth and work in the second district. 20. What would you say is your personal motto? Be positive and optimistic. Have faith in living positive! YORK Christopher M. Gray, 43, of Madelia, Minnesota, has been sentenced for possession of methamphetamine after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in York County. According to the affidavit filed with the court, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol was on regular patrol when he saw a motorcyclist proceeding east and the driver was not wearing a helmet. A traffic stop was initiated and court documents indicate Gray said he didnt know helmets were required by Nebraska law. He also told the trooper he didnt have his registration and he didnt have any insurance on the motorcycle. He did give the trooper an Adult Interstate Compact Travel Permit for Nebraska Probation and said he had just met with his probation officer in York. He said he was on probation for possession of a controlled substance. The trooper was informed that Gray had just thrown a pipe into the ditch which was found in the mowed grass. The pipe had white residue inside it, which tested positive as methamphetamine. This week, in York County District Court, Judge James Stecker sentenced Gray to three years of traditional probation. He was also sentenced 86 future days in the York County Jail, which can be waived by the court if he is found to be in compliance with the terms of his probation. On Monday, the Delhi Police issued traffic advice for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will start in the city's centre and cross the border into Uttar Pradesh near Loni. The Congress Yatra will begin on Tuesday at around 10 am from Marghat Wale Baba, Hanuman Mandir, close to Red Fort, and arrive at Loni Border at around 12 pm, according to the advisory. In order to go to the Loni roundabout, the Yatra will pass by the Iron Bridge-Shastri Park Metro Station, Old GT Road, Furniture Market, Ansari Road, Maujpur, Babarpur, Wazirabad Road, and Gokulpuri Police Station. A large number of pedestrians and vehicles are expected to join the Yatra at various points along the route, police said. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, Ring Road/MGM Marg, the road from Hanuman Mandir to Old Iron Bridge, Geeta Colony/Pushta Road, Ansari Road, GT Road, Jafrabad main road, Wazirabad Road, and Loni Road will be affected due to the Yatra, it said. Also read: Delhi Police issues over 300 drunk driving challan on New Year's Eve, 12 times increase than 2022 Traffic is expected to remain heavy from Chhata Rail Chowk, Red Fort, SPM Marg, Old Iron Bridge, Pushta Road, Ansari Road, on GT Road from Yudhishthir Setu to Seelampur T-Point, from Shahdra Flyover to Loni Gol Chakkar on Wazirabad Road and Loni Road, it stated. Police requested the commuters to cooperate by avoiding or bypassing the affected roads, and using public transport. Traffic Advisory Traffic on the following roads and stretches will be affected as the Indian National Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes in Delhi on 03.1.2023, Tuesday. Please plan your commute accordingly.#DelhiPoliceUpdates pic.twitter.com/UMs6ysO5F0 Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 2, 2023 There will be a "graded and dynamic diversion" to ensure smooth traffic. The advisory advised people going towards ISBT/railway stations/airports on Tuesday to plan their travel with sufficient time. The march entered the national capital on December 24. According to Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders, the march will enter the state on January 3 and cover a distance of 120 kilometres before crossing over to Haryana on January 5. AICC general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh had earlier said that the Yatra, which is currently on a winter break, will resume from the Hanuman Mandir in Delhi's Kashmere Gate on January 3 and enter Ghaziabad in UP around noon. With PTI inputs A long-time favourite amongst travel enthusiasts, the Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger commercial airplane. First launched in 2005, the French-made aircraft replaced the Boeing 747 as the largest passenger plane in the world, and soon become a favourite among the plane spotters and avgeeks. The plane is loved for its extra legroom, double decker cabin, massive dimensions and safety record. Although stopped from production in 2022, the A380 still remains one of the most photographed planes in the world. Currently, airlines including Emirates Airline, Singapore International Airline, Qantas and few others operate the Airbus A380 on international routes. Sadly, there's no India airline that operates the Airbus A380. While there were rumours of Air India acquiring an Airbus A380, it operates Boeing 777 as its largest plane for the international flight operations. In fact, Air India used to operate Boeing 747 as the only double decker plane in India for a long time. But this doesn't mean you can't board an Airbus A380 from India. Here's a list of airlines operating the world's biggest plane and how you can board them: Emirates Airline: Bengaluru - Dubai - Bengaluru flight Emirates, the Dubai based air carrier has the largest fleet of Airbus A380 globally. While they started fligts to Delhi Airport as early as 2014, empty seats forced them to close the operations in India. Starting October 30, 2022, Emirates has reintroduced Airbus A380 flights in India, between Dubai and Bengaluru. Emirates will operate EK568 and EK569 daily as the flight leaves the airlines hub at 21:25hrs, arriving in Bengaluru at 02:30hrs local time the next day. The return flight departs Kempegowda International Airport at 04:30hrs, arriving in Dubai at 07:10hrs (local time). The Emirates plane will have champagne-coloured seats in premium cabins offering direct aisle access for every passenger, recline to a fully flat position, and offer personal minibars, ample personal storage, and a high degree of privacy. Singapore Airlines: Mumbai - Singapore - Mumbai flight International carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) is a partner with Vistara Airline in India. However, they never operated the Airbus A380 despite the partnership. In 2022, the Airbus 380 Superjumbo aircraft resumed its services from Mumbai International Airport with Singapore International Airline operating daily flights to Singapore after a two-year break. SIA said that the A380 replaced the Airbus A350-900 on the SQ 424/423 Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services between Mumbai and Singapore. Singapore Interantional Airlines A380 features 471 seats in four classes: six suites and 78 business class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 premium economy class and 343 economy class seats on the main deck. Veteran actor Satish Shah, who is known for his many comic roles in Bollywood movies, recently tweeted about a racial incidence he faced at the London's Heathrow Airport. Taking on to Twitter, Shah mentioned how he overheard the Heathrow staff wonderingly asking his mate "how can they afford 1st class? "Because we are Indians, replied Shah. "I replied with a proud smile because we are Indians after I overheard the Heathrow staff wonderingly asking his matehow can they afford 1st class? wrote the actor on Twitter. The Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the United Kingdom, situated in London. Satish Shah didn't divulge much detail on the incident, but his tweet has since gone Viral, with many people coming in support of the actor. I replied with a proud smile because we are Indians after I overheard the Heathrow staff wonderingly asking his matehow can they afford 1st class? satish shah (@sats45) January 2, 2023 "You could have also told them, come and see our Delhi and Hyderabad airports and decide where Heathrow stands. I recently transited via Heathrow. It is like our old Mumbai airport," mentioned one user. "Racism is something which is inscribed in their minds and heritage even if they act like it isnt," wrote another. However, there are few users who replied to Satish Shah confirming if the incident happened in real or if he is making a story? Satish has appeared in several Hindi films and TV shows. He is also known for his work in films such as 'Main Hoon Na', 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Ra. One'. Four people were killed, and three others were badly injured when two helicopters collided in a popular tourist area in Australia on Monday afternoon. Beachgoers enjoying the sea in the southern summertime rushed to help. According to acting Queensland state police inspector Gary Worrell, the two helicopters that collided at the Sea World amusement park in Main Resort, a northern Gold Coast beach, appeared to have been taking off and landing, respectively. One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access. The dead and three most seriously injured people were all passengers in the crashed helicopter. "Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down," Worrell said. "(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people." Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, are also receiving medical assistance. Footage of the crash showed a helicopter shortly after takeoff being clipped by another helicopter flying over the water. A witness named John told Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash. He said staff at the theme park moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash. "There was a massive, massive bang," he said. "It was just huge. I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears." Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accident was an unthinkable tragedy. "My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," she said. Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. Queensland Ambulance Service said earlier that 13 people were being assessed for injuries. The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia's summer. With inputs from agencies Montgomery Regional Airport on Saturday witnessed the death of an airline's ground crew worker. The ground staff member of the airline got "ingested into the engine" of a plane in Alabama, as per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Based on the reports, the unfortunate incident occurred when the worker was ingested into an American Airlines Embraer 170 aircraft which was parked at the airport. After the accident, the agency has started an investigation to find the details of the accident. Business Insider quotes the agency saying, "A preliminary report is expected in two to three weeks." Based on the statement of Montgomery Regional Airport, the ground staff member working with Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, got into the unfortunate accident around 3 pm on Saturday. Also read: Indigo's Hyderabad flight to be FIRST to land on Goa's new airport named after Manohar Parrikar Later on, the accident was confirmed, and the airport's executive director Wade A.Davis was quoted saying, "We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines." He further added, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time." The airlines also said that they are ensuring all the support necessary for the people involved in the accident. The Embraer 170 aircraft in the accident came in three configurations, capable of seating 66, 71, and 78 people in each configuration. They can have a maximum take-off weight of 37,200 kg to 38,600 kg of weight. Moreover, it can achieve a maximum speed of 0.82 mach during its flight. Two CF34-8E engines positioned under the wings of the Embraer 170 are installed and have a 62.28kN rating. General Electric provides the engine nacelles and engines. Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), a completely redundant, computerised management system that manages the engines, optimises their performance at every stage of flight. This lowers fuel consumption and maintenance costs. The airport was inaugurated by Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, on Sunday. It was constructed with a $215.96 million soft loan from China's ExIm Bank. Commercial operations, however, won't start right away. India's biggest worry is whether Nepal would be able to pay back China because if not, a repeat of the Hambantota Port disaster is possible. The Hambantota Port is in Sri Lanka and was built with financial support from China. In 2018, after failing to repay the loan, Sri Lanka was forced to lease out nearly 70 percent control of the port to Chinese companies. Today, Chinese vessels, including warships and submarines of the People`s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), berth at Hambantota regularly, ostensibly to refuel or pick up supplies. What bothers India is that the port is uncomfortably close to the country`s coast. Also read: HORRIFYING! American Airlines ground staff gets sucked into planes engine, dies "Pokhara is also very close to India, particularly cities in Uttar Pradesh like Gorakhpur and Lucknow. It is also not all that far from the strategic Siliguri corridor. What if Nepal fails to repay the loan and is forced to lease out the airport to the Chinese? What if the People`s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) then starts using the airport as a support base, just as the PLAN has done in Hambantota? We are monitoring the situation. China has said that the airport will promote tourism from there to Nepal. However, the airport can`t be sustained with that traffic. Questions have already started being raised in Nepal," a source in the Ministry of External Affairs said. Pokhara is Nepal`s third international airport after Kathmandu and Bhairahawa. The Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa hasn`t done too well in attracting international carriers since its opening in May 2022. While Pokhara has an advantage as it is the entry point to the Annapurna trekking route and several other attractions in the Himalayas, even those in Nepal know that the international airport there can`t become financially viable without regular flights from India. A civil aviation official from Nepal conceded that the airport has its disadvantages. "Weather conditions play a major role. Even our Prime Minister`s flight was delayed on the day of the inauguration due to bad weather and poor visibility. Small chartered flights, carrying mountaineers and trekkers will not help sustain this airport. We will need larger players in the field of aviation for financial viability. We need to start talks with India on this," he said. The MEA source believes that this is just part of China`s efforts to entice countries like Nepal into a debt trap and then gain a strong foothold there. "Countries like Nepal are going through an economic crisis. How can they even think of paying back China? Locals in Pokhara, whose lands were acquired, believe that the international airport there will result in economic growth, and there was a lot of pressure to inaugurate the airport without proper planning. It is now upon the Nepal government to make the next move," the source said. With IANS inputs A Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight was grounded after a bird strike. Two eagles struck the aircraft's left engine moments before takeoff, forcing the plane to land in Coimbatore on Monday. The plane was taxing through the runway when the birds struck the engine. After colliding with the engine blades, one of the two eagles dies. After the incident all 164 passengers exited the aircraft. In the past seven years, there have been three bird strikes on aeroplanes taking off from Coimbatore on average, but this was the first occasion all passengers had exited the aircraft to see the damage. Addressing the media, Coimbatore Airport director S. Senthil Valavan said that control measures were being taken to control bird hits, including using bird care guns, employing bird chasers, and using herbicides to control plant growth. Also read: Helicopters collide mid-air over Australian beach, 4 dead in accident The height of the grass is maintained at a minimal level as birds generally use it as a breeding ground. Sources in the Coimbatore Airport told IANS that dumping waste near the airport has been strictly banned as birds usually reach dumping sites. Coimbatore airport authorities are planning to implement more bird control measures, and research institutions have been deployed to study the menace. With IANS inputs The Russian occupation forces usually attack the territory of Ukraine with drones from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov, Spokesman for the Command of the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ihnat has said. "Last time, just as well as this time, 100% of drones were destroyed in various regions of the country. I mean in general. Those loitering munitions were destroyed in Kyiv region, in the south, and in the eastern direction," he said on air of the national telethon on Monday. Ihnat said that the drones are usually launched from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov. He also said that one Kh-59 guided missile, which is launched from tactical aircraft, was destroyed in eastern direction. The spokesman for the Air Force Command said that the country's air defense system is being exhausted. In addition, the enemy uses reconnaissance drones, such as Orlan-10. Two such drones were launched yesterday and two more today, all of them were shot down. "They regularly conduct aerial reconnaissance. They obviously do this to know and see everything, but they also do this to uncover the Ukrainian air defense positions. They want to see from where we destroy and make corrections for their next strikes," Ihnat said. On the night of January 1-2, 2023, the Russian occupation forces made a massive attack on Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones. All 39 drones were shot down by the Ukrainian air defense forces. New Delhi: Demonetization in 2016 took a toll on the economy of India and turned out to be a nightmare for many. As a result, many people filed a petition against the decision which argued that it was not a considered decision of the government and should be struck down. Today, on January 2, 2023, the Supreme court is likely to give its verdict on the petition challenging the decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. This decision took a toll on Indias economy. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer heard a batch of 58 petitions challenging the demonetisation exercise in 2022. Also read: Stock market live updates: SGX Nifty sees negative opening Here's what we know so far against the government's decision on demonetisation: - Demonetisation created a lot of confusion and chaos across country and as a result, fifty-eight petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the notes ban, arguing that it was not a 'considered' decision of the government and court should put it down. - The government, however has argued that the court cannot decide a matter when no tangible relief can be granted. It would be like "putting the clock back" or "unscrambling a scrambled egg", the centre said. - A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice SA Nazeer heard the arguments before its winter break and on December 7, suspended the verdict. - In its defense, the centre said the demonetisation was a "well-considered" decision and part of a larger strategy. They further stated that this decision was taken to combat the menace of fake money, terror financing, black money, and tax evasion. - Former Union Minister and senior advocate P Chidambaram argued that the centre has not examined alternate methods to control fake currency or black money. - The government, he said, cannot initiate any proposal on legal tender on its own. This, he said, can only be done on the recommendation of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). - As per reports, the centre was also withholding crucial documents on the decision-making process, including its letter to the Reserve Bank dated November 7 and the minutes of the meeting of the bank's central board, Chidambaram argued. - When the bank's counsel argued that judicial review cannot apply to economic policy decisions, the court said the judiciary cannot fold its hands and sit just because it is an economic policy decision. - RBI's view on note ban: The RBI admitted that there were "temporary hardships" which are part of the nation-building process. - The opposition parties alleges that the demonetisation was a failure of the government, destroying businesses and ending jobs. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Six years after the 'masterstroke' the cash available in public is 72 percent higher than that in 2016. PM (Narendra Modi) is yet to acknowledge this epic failure that led to fall of the economy." NEW DELHI: Amid an unprecedented spike in new Covid-19 cases in China, the Centre on Monday made pre-departure RT-PCR tests mandatory for travellers from six countries. The order was issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare which said the test will have to be conducted within 72 hours prior to departure. "In the context of the evolving trajectory of COVID-19 cases in some countries especially China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan and reports regarding the circulation of variants of SARS-CoV-2 in these countries, it has been decided that the existing guidelines for international arrivals need to be revised and updated," the Health Ministry said. "As per the revised guidelines, a mandatory requirement for pre-departure RT-PCR testing (to be conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey) has been introduced for passengers in all international flights from these countries (mentioned in para 2 above)," the MoHFW said in a statement. "Mandatory pre-departure RT-PCR testing (to be conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey) introduced for passengers in all international flights from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan": MoHFW pic.twitter.com/z4AhnljzIT ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 The Health Ministry order also stated that "This will also apply to transiting passengers through China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Japan irrespective of their originating countries before coming to any Indian Airport." Accordingly, the Ministry of Civil Aviation`s Air Suvidha portal has to be made operational for passengers on all international flights from these countries to submit negative RT-PCR test reports as well as to submit self-declaration form, the Health Ministry said. The existing practice of post-arrival random testing of 2 per cent travellers (irrespective of port of departure) shall continue, it added. The Ministry said that the guidelines have been revised in the context of the evolving trajectory of Covid-19 cases in some countries, especially China and Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. Launched in August 2020 to ensure the safety of travellers and Indian citizens, Air Suvidha is a digital portal developed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation where passengers travelling to India can provide details of their travel, RT-PCR report and vaccination status in a self-declaration form. To ensure the smooth passage of international travellers arriving in India, the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Health and Family Welfare had mandated contactless self-declaration at Air Suvidha Portal during the last year. (With Agency Inputs) New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (January 2, 2023) reacted to the incident in which a 20-year-old woman was killed after her scooty was hit by a car and her body dragged for four kilometres. Taking to his official Twitter account, Kejriwal said that the incident was "shameful" and the culprits should be "punished severely". "What happened to our sister in Kanjhawala is very shameful. I hope that the culprits will be punished severely," he said in a tweet in Hindi. He also called the incident a "rarest of rare" crime and demanded that the accused be given the strictest punishment. "It is a rarest of rare crimes. I don't know where society is heading. I have learnt that the postmortem is underway, " the AAP chief told reporters at a ceremony to flag off 50 electric buses. The police said that an information was received at 3.24 am on Sunday in Kanjhawala police station (Rohini district) that a body was tied to a car going towards the Qutubgarh area. They stated that the victim's leg got entangled in one of the wheels of the car and she was dragged for around four kilometres. Five men travelling in the Maruti Baleno have been apprehended. A case under IPC sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) has also been registered against the accused -- Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal. "While Deepak is a driver, Amit deals with SBI cards in Uttam Nagar, Krishan works at Connaught Place, Mithun works as a hair dresser in Naraina and Mittal works as a food dealer in Sultanpuri," he added. The victim used to work part-time in marriages and other functions. When the incident happened, she was returning home from one such function, the police officer said. 'My head hangs in shame': Delhi LG after woman hit by car, dragged for four km "My head hangs in shame over the inhuman crime", said Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Sunday (January 1, 2023) after a 20-year-old girl was killed when her scooty was hit by a car and dragged for a few kilometres in the national capital. Saxena also said that he is "shocked at the monstrous insensitivity of the perpetrators". "My head hangs in shame over the inhuman crime in Kanjhawla-Sultanpuri today morning and I am shocked at the monstrous insensitivity of the perpetrators. Have been monitoring with the Commissioner of Police, Delhi and the accused have been apprehended. All aspects are being thoroughly looked into," he said in a tweet. (With agency inputs) The Kanjhawala girl dragging case has grabbed the Centre's attention as the union home ministry has sought a detailed report in the case. According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs under the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sought a detailed report from Delhi Police Commissioner on the Kanjhawala incident. It said that Special Commissioner in Delhi Police Shalini Singh has been asked to submit the detailed report to the MHA. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that one of the accused belonged to the BJP. It also alleged that Delhi Police did not register cases against the accused under relevant sections. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has already directed the Police Commissioner to 'strictly ensure' if there were any lapses on part of the police in the gruesome Kanjhawala incident in which a girl was killed after her scooter was hit by a car and she was dragged for 10-12 kilometres in outer part of the city. He instructed the city police chief to ensure that the accused were treated as per the law irrespective of their socio-economic position or political affiliation, LG office sources said. They also said the Lt Governor asked the officers to see if anyone of the victim's family could be provided with a government job. The victim's two-wheeler was hit by a car and her body was dragged for around 10-12 kilometres from outer Delhi's Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala on Sunday, a senior police officer said. Five men travelling in the car have been arrested, he said. The LG office sources said Saxena is keeping a tab on the situation on a "real-time basis" and has asked the authorities to keep him abreast of the autopsy report of the victim and its corroboration with the findings of the police investigation. The LG has also cautioned against opportunistic scavenging and urged people to work towards a more sensitive society. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called the incident a "rarest of rare" crime and urged Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to take "exemplary action" against the accused. "It is a rarest of rare crime. I don't know where society is heading. I have learnt that the postmortem is underway, " he told reporters at a ceremony to flag off 50 electric buses. Taking suo-moto cognisance of media reports on the death of a woman whose two-wheeler was hit by a car following which she was dragged by the car for around 7-8 km, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued summon to Delhi Police. (With agency inputs) Guntur: Three women were killed, and several were injured in the stampede at some of the stalls in a public ground in Guntur on Sunday (January 1), where a non-governmental organisation distributed "Sankranti Kanuka" (gift) to poor families. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president attended the event and the tragedy struck a few minutes after he left the venue. The Telugu Desam Party held the Andhra Pradesh government responsible for the stampede incident in Guntur city. TDP state president K Atchannaidu blamed the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the tragic incident as it failed to provide adequate security. Party president N Chandrababu Naidu expressed "profound shock and grief" over the tragedy. Naidu announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the deceased while the state government announced a relief of Rs two lakh each. TDP leader K Ravindra said he would pay another Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs one lakh each to the injured persons. Another TDP leader Mannava Mohana Krishna announced a further relief of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of those killed. Also read: BIG STAMPEDE at Chandrababu Naidu New Year Rally, 3 dead "Is it not the police's responsibility to ensure adequate security and proper crowd control measures where a former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition is attending an event? Looks like the Jagan regime is putting the people's lives at stake to carry out its blame game," Atchannaidu alleged in a statement. He said the reaction of some ministers and the vile campaign on social media by the YSR Congress soon after the tragic incident gave rise to suspicion over the ruling dispensation's evil designs. Naidu, in a separate statement, said he was aghast over the stampede and death of poor people. "It is most unfortunate. I attended the event to encourage a voluntary organisation in its endeavour to help the poor. I am deeply pained that it ended in a tragedy," the former Chief Minister said. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said China is adopting the same principle with India as Russia is with Ukraine, as it is threatening to alter India's boundaries. He also claimed that the Sino-Indian border conflict has a link with a weak economy, a confused nation without any vision, hatred, anger and the Chinese sitting in Indian territory. "Essentially, what the Russians have done in Ukraine is that they have said we do not want Ukraine to have a strong relationship with the west and they have basically told the Ukrainians that if you will have a strong relationship with the west, we will alter your geography. "That is the exact same principle that can be applied to India. What the Chinese are saying to us is that be careful with what you are doing, because we will alter your geography. We will enter Ladakh, we will enter Arunachal (Pradesh), and what I can see is them building a platform for that type of an approach," Gandhi said in a conversation with film actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan. The Congress leader has shared the video of his conversation with Haasan on YouTube. Hey Ram, Khadi, Films and how only India, not the West, can take on China! My conversation with @ikamalhaasan on what shapes Indian politics and culture.https://t.co/RiUNzGdE1k pic.twitter.com/lWUtiTd2xx Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 2, 2023 Gandhi said security has become a holistic thing in the 21st century as one has to have a global view of it, adding, "I think our government has completely miscalculated it." He also said the definition of conflict has changed as earlier, one fought on the border while now, one has to fight everywhere. "So the single most important thing in the 21st century is that the country has internal cohesion," the Congress leader noted, adding that there needs to be harmony in the country, people should not be fighting with each other, there should be peace and the country should have a vision. "The point is not going to war, the point is going to a position where you cannot be attacked. And there is a link between a weak economy, a confused nation without vision, hatred and anger and the Chinese sitting in our territory. "Because they know we are dealing with internal matters, internal confusion and internal lack of harmony and so they can go in and do whatever they want. This is one end of the problem," he said, adding that a huge element of the problem is what has happened in Ukraine. "So as an Indian person, I do not want to be somebody who is war mongering, but I would like our country to be aware that there are real problems at the border and those problems are connected to what is going on inside our country. When Indians fights Indians, when the economy does not work, when there is joblessness, our external opponent can take advantage of this situation," Gandhi said. He said one of the things that the leaders of various political parties are constantly asking the government is to talk about it, if not to the media, then at least to the opposition, as they understand these things. "We might be able to help you, advise you, bounce ideas. But they just do not listen. It is like the approach that we understand everything," he said. New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI) Police on Monday said the woman who died after her two-wheeler was hit by a car in outer Delhi was dragged 12 km from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala under the vehicle and a medical board has been constituted to conduct the post-mortem. Addressing a press conference here, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said fresh charges could be added against the five accused arrested in connection with the case on the basis of the post-mortem report. The accused have been booked on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing death by negligence and criminal conspiracy, according to police. "The accused will be taken to the scene of the crime to verify their version of events. The timeline of events will be established on the basis of CCTV footage and digital evidence," Hooda told reporters. "The forensic examination of the vehicle is also being done," he said. The victim's family is being updated about the investigation and has been assured that the police will gather all evidence to ensure that the accused get the strictest punishment, the officer said. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora spoke in the same vein. "The case of the death of a girl on a road in Kanjhawala area of outer Delhi is extremely tragic. All five main accused have been arrested. At present, many of our teams are engaged in investigating the incident. Delhi Police is in constant touch with the family members of the deceased and providing all assistance to them," Arora said in a tweet in Hindi. In another tweet, he said, "We are with them (the victim's family) in this hour of grief. I want to assure all of you that according to the facts found in the investigation, we will set an example by taking the strictest legal action so that such incidents do not happen again." A video purportedly showing the woman's body without clothes and broken legs has surfaced on social media. PTI could not independently check the veracity of the video. The footage has led to claims that the victim was raped and killed but police said it was an accident. Earlier in the day, local residents protested outside the Sultanpuri police station and blocked traffic, demanding justice for the victim. They alleged the police are treating the incident as an accident case. (The above article is sourced from news agency PTI. Zeenews.com has made no editorial changes to the article. News agency PTI is solely responsible for the contents of the article) Live TV Demonetisation Verdict: The Supreme Court today upheld the government's 2016 note ban decision which phased out old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes by a 4:1 majority. The apex court said that the decision-making process was not flawed. A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, headed by Justice S A Nazeer, said that there has to be a great restraint in matters of economic policy and the court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive by a judicial review of its decision. However, the dissenting judge said that the order was unlawful and vitiated. Justice BV Nagarathna, who did not agree with the four other justices, said that the process of banning Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes could not have been initiated by the Centre. She agreed with the petitioners' submission that as per section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, the central board of the RBI should have come forward to independently recommend the demonetisation. She said that the RBI should not have done demonetisation based on the advice of the Centre. She, however, added that since the decision was taken in 2016, a status quo ante cannot be restored. Justice BV Nagarathna also said that she is not questioning the noble objectives of demonetisation but only the legal angle of it. She said that the note ban decision was well-intentioned and well-thought-off as it targeted evils such as black money, terror funding, and counterfeiting. She also said that if a note ban was to be done, it should have been initiated through an Act of Parliament and not by an executive notification. She said that phrases like "as desired by Centre government" used by the RBI show that there was no independent application of mind by the central bank. "Parliament should have discussed the law on demonetisation, the process should not have been done through a gazette notification. Parliament cannot be left aloof on an issue of such critical importance for the country," Justice Nagarathna said. The bench, also comprising justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said the Centre's decision-making process could not have been flawed as there was consultation between the RBI and the Union government. The top court's judgment came on a batch of 58 petitions challenging the demonetisation exercise announced by the Centre on November 8, 2016. Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai today said that ruling DMK and other opposition parties should hang their heads in shame for politicising the demonetisation exercise. Annamalai's statement came after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court upheld the demonetisation move by a majority judgement of 4:1. The only judge who expressed her dissent was Justice BV Nagarathna. "The Honable SC today pronounced a verdict upholding the rights, means and purpose of the 'Demonetisation' exercise in 2016, putting to rest the speculations of armchair economists & jobless opposition, which played dirty politics fiddling over its merits in the past few years. The Supreme court also observed that from the record, there was a consultative process between the central govt and the RBI for over Six months before the decision was taken. This only reflects that decisions arent taken unilaterally, like in the times of UPA," said Annamalai in a series of tweets. Also Read: Demonetisation order unlawful, vitiated; could have been done via legislation: Dissenting Supreme Court Judge He further said the SC also noted that the 52-day window created for exchanging old notes was not unreasonable, as cited by the petitioners. "The opposition, especially the DMK party, should hang their head in shame for politicising the Demonetisation exercise," said Annamalai. The Hon SC today pronounced a verdict upholding the rights, means and purpose of the Demonetisation exercise in 2016, putting to rest the speculations of armchair economists & jobless opposition, which played dirty politics fiddling over its merits in the past few years. (1/3) January 2, 2023 The BJP today hailed the Supreme Court judgment upholding the government's demonetisation exercise as "historic" and slammed the Congress for its campaign against the decision and asked if its leader Rahul Gandhi will tender an apology after the verdict. Former law minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asserted that the demonetisation done in 2016 proved to to be the "biggest blow" to terrorism by curbing terror funding. It boosted income tax and cleansed the economy, he claimed. A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, headed by Justice S A Nazeer, said there has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy and the court cannot supplant the wisdom of the executive by a judicial review of its decision. (With agency inputs) Chennai: Abdul Sheikh, a 22-year-old student from Tamil Nadu has died from an illness in China, and now his family has requested the foreign ministry to help them bring his body. Shiekh has been studying in China for the past five years. As per reports, he returned to India in the last months of 2022 but had to return to China on December 11. After Sheikh completed his quarantine period in China, he interned at the Qiqihar Medical University in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province. However, he fell sick and was soon admitted to the hospital in the intensive care unit (ICU) where he breathed his last. The bereaved family has also appealed for help from the Tamil Nadu government in bringing his body back. Meanwhile, China continues to battle a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has again urged China to regularly share its specific and real-time data on the COVID-19 situation in the country, amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases after Beijing relaxed its strict "zero-COVID" policy. The global health agency has asked Chinese health officials to share data on genetic sequencing, hospitalisations, deaths, and vaccinations. Also read: Covid-19: Hong Kong aims to reopen borders with mainland China in mid-January A high-level meeting took place between officials from WHO and China on the current surge in COVID-19 cases to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO's expertise and further support. Employees in local hospitals have been working overtime during the holidays to ensure the treatment of patients amid the epidemic wave as part of the overall coordination of the epidemic prevention and control departments to optimize epidemic prevention policies and ensure scientific treatment, according to Global Times. Districts in Shanghai, including Jiading, Minhang, and Songjiang have improved their management measures for graded treatment to divert non-urgent COVID patients from top-tier hospitals as infections and critical cases peaked in recent days. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday held the first conversation in 2023 with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during which he thanked her for the EU's support for Kyiv. "I am glad to start the year with a phone call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. I expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the EU. We are waiting for the first tranche of macro-financial aid in January, the first batch of energy-saving lamps, school buses, generators and modular houses," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He noted that during the conversation, the interlocutors also coordinated steps regarding the Ukraine-EU summit. "We feel support and are moving towards victory together," the head of state concluded. NEW DELHI: Revered Karnataka seer Siddheshwar Swamiji of Jnanayogashram, Vijayapura passed away on Monday. He was 81 years old. The Karnataka government said that full state honour will be provided for the last rites of Siddeshwara Swamiji. Holiday has also been declared for schools and colleges in Vijayapura on Tuesday (3rd January), the Karnataka government said. Siddheshwar Swamiji of Jnanayogashram, Vijayapura passed away on Monday. State honour will be provided for the last rites of Siddeshwara Swamiji. Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Vijayapura on Tuesday (3rd January): Karnataka govt ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Karnataka seer Siddheshwara Swamiji. Siddheswara Swamiji breathed his last on Monday after a prolonged illness. "Paramapujya Sri Siddheshwara Swami Ji will be remembered for his outstanding service to society. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of others and was also respected for his scholarly zeal. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his countless devotees. Om Shanti," tweeted Prime Minister Modi. Paramapujya Sri Siddheshwara Swami Ji will be remembered for his outstanding service to society. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of others and was also respected for his scholarly zeal. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his countless devotees. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/DbWtdvROl1 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 2, 2023 Spiritual leader Siddheshwar Swamiji of Jnana Yogashram was often referred to as the `Walking God of North Karnataka`. Pertinent to mention, Siddheshwar Swamiji, in 2018, respectfully declined to accept the `Padma Shri` award. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi then, the Vijayapura-born spiritualist, popularly known as Buddiji, wrote, "I am very grateful to the Government of India for awarding me the prestigious `Padma Shri`. But with all respect to you and the government, I want to convey my unwillingness to accept the great award". His preaching was often described as hard teachings delivered in a pleasant and enjoyable manner. Maharashtra SSC Exam 2023 Datesheet: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, MSBSHSE has released the Maharastra SSC exam timetable. According to the official schedule, the Maharashtra Board Class 10th exams or the Maharashtra SSC exams will be conducted from March 2 to March 25, 2023. Students who are scheduled to appear for Maharashtra SSC Exam 2023 datesheet from the official website- mahahsscboard.in following the steps here or through the direct link given below Here's how to download the Maharashtra Board SSC Exam Timetable 2023 Visit the official website- mahahsscboard.in On the home page, click on "TIMETABLE SSC-MARCH-2023" under latest notification segment Maharashtra Board SSC Exam time table 2023 will appaer on screen Download the Maharashtra Board Class 10th date sheet 2023 and take a print out Maharashtra HSC Exam Datesheet 2023 The Maharashtra SSC Exam 2023 will be held from March 2 to March 25, 2023. in two shifts- 1st from 11 am to 2 pm and 2nd from 3 pm to 6 pm. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Board Class 12th exam will be held from February 21 to March 21, 2023, and the full schedule for the Maharashtra HSC Exams 2023 will be available soon on the official schedule mahahsscboard.in MUMBAI: Lt Col Prasad Purohit was not performing his official duty when indulging in the activity of bomb explosion causing the death of six persons, the Bombay High Court said on Monday while refusing to discharge him in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case. In a 24-page order, a division bench comprising justices AS Gadkari and Prakash Naik, while dismissing Purohit's plea seeking discharge for want of sanction for prosecution from the competent authority, held that if it is to accept the accused's contention that he was only performing his official duty, then the question remains as to why he did not avert the blast. Purohit and six others, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, are facing trial in the case and charges have been framed under various sections including the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Neela Gokhale, counsel for Purohit, had submitted that on the date of the commission of the alleged offence, he was a public servant and was performing his lawful duty and reasoned that the prosecuting agency should have sought a sanction from competent authorities before the filing of charges against him. "If the contention of the appellant that he was directed to perform an official duty to gather information regarding ?Abhinav Bharat' is to be accepted then the question remains to be answered that, why he did not avert the bomb blast in the civilian locality of Malegaon which caused loss of life of six innocent persons and severe to grievous injuries to about 100 persons," it said. The judgment added that indulging in an activity of a bomb explosion causing the death of six persons is not an act done by Purohit in his official duty. It added that a perusal of prosecution records clearly indicates that Purohit was never granted permission by the government to float the Abhinav Bharat organisation inspite of being a serving Commissioned Officer of the Armed Forces of India. "Appellant (Purohit) was also not permitted to collect funds for the said organisation and to disburse it to procure weapons and explosives for their unlawful activities. Appellant is the key conspirator in the present crime," the bench said. It added that Purohit had actively participated with other co-accused and organised and conducted various meetings with them in furtherance of their common object of the criminal conspiracy to commit unlawful activities. Purohit, a serving army officer, sought a discharge in the case on the grounds that he had attended meetings of the group Abhinav Bharat where the conspiracy for the Malegaon blast was hatched on instructions of his superiors. The High Court, however, refused to accept this and said the alleged offences committed by Purohit has nothing to do with his official duty. "It has nothing to do or related in any manner with the discharge of the official duty of the Appellant," it said, adding that it is totally unconnected with his official duty. "According to us, there is no reasonable connection between the offence alleged against the Appellant and his official duty. The act alleged against the Appellant has not been committed in the discharge of his official duty," the High Court said. Purohit had claimed that the prosecuting agency had failed to obtain proper sanction to prosecute a serving army officer, which was a mandate under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bench, however, rejected this contention, opining that since the acts had not been committed as part of official duties, and there was no question of seeking proper sanction. On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in Maharashtra's Nashik district. According to the Maharashtra Police who conducted an initial probe into the case, the motorbike was registered in Thakur's name which led to her arrest. The case was later taken over by the NIA. All accused are currently out on bail. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has arrested one person suspected of radicalising youths for terror activities and aims to establish Sharia Law in the state. Prashant Kumar, ADG Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh, said that the person has been identified as Azharuddin and used to radicalise youth for jihad. "ATS arrested Azharuddin, who encouraged youths to become terrorists in the name of Jihad. Azharuddin used to radicalize youths and give them knowledge of Jihad. His intention was to promote the ideology of overthrowing the elected government and implement Sharia law in the state," said Kumar. The Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested Saharanpur native Azharuddin on December 30. The arrest was based on the disclosure of Lukmaan, who was nabbed earlier for allegedly having links with the al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent and the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, it said. Azharuddin allegedly showed "jehadi videos and literature" to youths in a bid to radicalise them and was working actively to make them join with the ideology of the terror organisations. On September 26, the ATS arrested Lukmaan and slapped him with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It had earlier arrested Md Mudassir and 10 others in the case. During the interrogation of Haridwar native Mudassir, it emerged that Azharuddin had a suspicious background in the case and he was brought in for questioning. He was subsequently arrested on December 30, the ATS said. "The accused Azharuddin, Bangladeshi accused persons and active criminals of AQIS (al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent) and JMB (Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh), while joining hands with Mudassir, Abu Talha, Ahsan and others, used to propagate jehadi ideology...," the ATS said in the statement. (With agency inputs) Bhopal, Jan 2 (IANS) Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, Sunil Saraf, has come under fire for firing in the air from his revolver during a New Year party organised at his residence in Anuppur district on Saturday night. The MLA had thrown a party for his supporters with a view to give push the campaign for the Assembly elections scheduled later this year. However, he courted trouble by brandishing a revolver. A video of the New Year celebrations went viral on social media, wherein Saraf could be seen brandishing firing in the air while dancing to a Bollywood number. The video triggered a political controversy, with the administration being asked to investigate the matter. When the song `Main Hoon Don` was played, Saraf could be seen dancing to the popular number while flashing his gun. When questioned about his act later, the Congress MLA claimed that he was holding a `toy gun`. On Monday, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra told mediapersons that the Anuppur district SP has been directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter and take action if the MLA is found to have broken the law. Following the Home Minister`s order, a case was registered at the Kotma police station. Anuppur SP Jitendra Singh Pawar said that the matter is being probed and an FIR has been registered against the MLA. "After examining the viral video, we investigated the matter. We found that the MLA misused his licenced gun. The matter is under probe," Pawar added. Few months back, Saraf, a first-time MLA, was accused of harassing a woman co-passanger while travelling on a train from Rewa to Bhopal. Saraf was then accompanied by another Congress MLA, Siddharth Kushwaha. The woman, who was travelling in the first AC compartment of Rewanchal Express, had accused that the Congress MLAs misbehaved with her in a `heavily drunk` state. (The above article is sourced from news agency IANS. Zeenews.com has made no editorial changes to the article. News agency IANS is solely responsible for the contents of the article) Live TV An explosion occurred in Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. At least 5 people were injured and a child succumbed to injuries in the explosion. The blast occurred near the house of the victim of yesterday's attack in the Upper Dangri village. Jammu ADGP Mukesh Singh informed that another IED was spotted at the site and it was being cleared. I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Rajouri. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 2, 2023 An ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh and a Govt job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured. Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 2, 2023 Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha condemned the terror attack in Rajouri an announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a Govt job to the next of kin of each of those civilians killed in the attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh he announced. Rajouri/Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that the perpetrators of the two attacks on civilians at Dhangri village in Rajouri will be punished soon and reiterated that Narendra Modi remains committed to eliminating all forms of terrorism from the Union Territory. LG Manoj Sinha said this after meeting the family members of the four civilians who were killed in two separate terrorist attacks here. Expressing his condolence, Sinha said that the entire nation and the government stand firmly with the families in this hour of grief and the administration is committed to looking after the needs and issues of all the families and people of the district. The J&K LG also announced an ex-gratia and jobs for their families. A meeting for security was also held today & we have decided to reach the core & take action against the ones behind. Security measures will be taken to protect the area, J&K LG said after attending a security meeting in Rajouri. Jammu & Kashmir | Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reaches the incident site at upper Dangri village in Rajouri district where 4 civilians were killed yesterday. pic.twitter.com/FQd9csOons ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 Attack on civilians in J&K A total of six people were killed in two attacks on civilians at Dhangri village - four on Sunday evening when terrorists opened fire on houses, and two in an IED blast Monday morning - triggering a protest by the members of the minority community. "I have heard several people among you. It is a commitment of the government of India to stamp out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir," the LG told the protesters. He was accompanied by Director General of Police Dilbag Singh J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina. "Your feelings will be fully respected," the LG told the protesting people, who raised questions on the security situation in Rajouri and also said the withdrawal of weapons from Village Defence Committees (VDCs) has made them "easy prey" to terrorists. On Sunday evening, terrorists opened fire at three houses in Dangri village, killing four civilians and injuring six others, according to officials. Fourteen hours later, an IED blast took place near the house of Pritam Lal, a victim of the terror attack on Sunday evening, locals said. There were several people, including Lal's relatives, in the house when the blast took place at around 9.30 am. This blast killed two cousins - Sanvi Sharma (16) and Vihan Kumar Sharma (4) - and left six people injured. Sinha said there is no compensation to these deaths. "It is a grave loss to the families. What you told me (about security lapses and measures), I promise you we will go into the depth of the matter. Whatever strong and necessary action is needed will be taken," Sinha said. Expressing sympathies with the families, the LG said he had come to express his condolence and share their grief. "I and my administration are with these families in stamping out terrorism in J&K. Whatever is to be done, will be done for the families. Protests in Rajouri Hundreds of people belonging to the minority community are sitting on the dharna with the six bodies. They were demanding a visit by the LG to the spot so that they can put their demands before him. The LG also met locals, leaders and grieving families. Earlier in the day, Sinha announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia and a government job to the next of kin of the civilians killed in the incident. He said those behind the terror attack will not go unpunished. "I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Rajouri. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families," Sinha said in a tweet. He said the seriously injured would be given Rs 1 lakh. Vienna: In an apparent dig at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that the impacts of cross-border terrorism cannot be limited within a region, especially when they are deeply linked to the drugs and illegal weapons trade, as well as other forms of international crime. "since the epicentre (of terrorism) is so close to India, our experiences and insights are naturally valuable to others," the External Affairs Minister added, without naming any countries. EAM Jaishankar said this while addressing a joint press briefing with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, The EAM earlier spoke with Austrian leaders about threats to international peace posed by terrorism. Jaishankar said, "We spoke at length on the threats to international peace and security that are posed by terrorism, including its cross-border practices, violent extremism, radicalisation and fundamentalism." We spoke on the threats to international peace & security that are posed by terrorism, including its cross-border practices, violent extremism, radicalization and fundamentalism. Their effects cannot be contained within a region...: EAM Dr S Jaishankar (1/2) pic.twitter.com/ks5IHLwY5K ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 He added, "Their effects cannot be contained within a region especially so when they are deeply connected to narcotics and illegal weapons trade, and other forms of international crime. Since the epicentre is located so close to India, naturally our experiences and insights are useful to others." ...especially so when they are deeply connected to narcotics and illegal weapons trade, and other forms of international crime. Since the epicentre is located so close to India, naturally our experiences and insights are useful to others: EAM Dr S Jaishankar (2/2) ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 On the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Jaishankar said India is "deeply concerned" about the situation in Ukraine. Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s refrain that today`s era is not of war, the EAM called for resolving the differences on the negotiating table. Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Modi has remained in contact with leaders of Russia and Ukraine and has been pressing India`s viewpoint. "With regard to the Ukraine conflict, let me underline that India remains deeply concerned we sincerely believe that this is not the era of war. Differences must be settled on the negotiating table. It is imperative that there is a return to dialogue and diplomacy. Prolonged conflict will not serve the interests of any party," Jaishankar said. "My Prime Minister has been in contact with the leaders of both nations pressing our point of view in that regard. We are increasingly anxious about knock-on effects of the conflict in terms of accessibility and affordability of fuel, food and fertilizers this is a growing concern for the global south," he added. Jaishankar embarked on a two-nation visit to Cyprus and Austria on December 29. His ongoing visit to Austria will conclude on January 3. In the joint press briefing with Schallenberg, Jaishankar further said India considers Austria as a "serious and consequential partner" when it comes to bilateral cooperation. "We view Austria as a serious and consequential partner when it comes to bilateral cooperation. You have experiences and capabilities that are relevant to India`s modernisation and progress. These are guided by government policies but ultimately implemented through business transactions," Jaishankar said. "Our commitment today is to take both aspects forward in tandem and I look forward to concrete initiatives in that regard," the EAM added. On the agreements between India and Austria, Jaishankar said, "We have concluded a number of agreements. I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initialising of the Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronized with their availability." SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Police is giving training to its personnel in Tibetan and Chinese languages to strengthen the intelligence network in border areas along China, a police official said on Monday. The knowledge of these languages would help the force to get a better in-depth understanding of the happenings at the border area, he said. About 21,000 Tibetans are living in Himachal. At least 48 Himachal villages are located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) out of which 36 fall in Kinnaur which shares a 160-km border while the remaining 12 villages are in Lahaul and Spiti sharing an 80-km border with China. Today the border is more secure as compared to 2020 as road infrastructure, air defence capabilities and central intelligence (Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Army) have improved and the communication network is being strengthened, officials said. In 2020, air-space violations by People's Liberation Army (PLA) helicopters were reported on April 11 and 20 in Kaurik Sector followed by the Galwan incident on June 15 of the same year. Himachal Pradesh Police had earlier sent a proposal to construct an airstrip at Rangrik, about 10 km from Kaza in Lahaul and Spiti district, and double-lane a few strategic roads, they said. DGP Sanjay Kundu said young and energetic police officers including SP, DSP and SHO are being posted in border areas as they are also prone to natural disasters. The Himachal Pradesh Police had also sent a proposal for setting up three counter-espionage units and four new police posts in border areas of Chitkul, Namgya and Chango in Kinnaur and Sumdo in Lahaul and Spiti district, officials said. The proposal was based on the report of five IPS officers who had visited the border villages for two weeks following the air-space violations and the Galwan incident, they said. One of the key findings of the team was that the villages were getting depopulated as a result of a lack of economic opportunities. Most of these villages had only elderly women left behind, they said. On the other hand, China was building rapid infrastructure on their side and re-populating their border villages. The police posts are required to check espionage and maintain surveillance over the increased activities of tourists, foreigners, traders and trackers, which become hectic in these places during the summer season, especially from May to October, said the proposal sent to the Union government by the Himachal government in September 2020. The twin tribal districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti share a 240-km border with China which is traversed by nine high altitude mountain passes. There are several unmanned ingress points which can be misused by anti-national elements as some of the areas in the twin tribal districts remain cut off from the mainland during winters as locals migrate to lower areas with a fraction of the population staying behind and the area is left open for ingress without detection, officials said. A police official said that the governor shared the key findings of the team with the Union government. The Centre announced the Vibrant Villages Programmes in 2022 under which remote and isolated border villages in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti districts along the China border would be developed as livelihood-and-tourism-oriented, the official said. After the construction of Atal Tunnel, a large number of tourists are travelling to border villages which are moving from isolation to economic activity, he said. By Ravneet Pawha New Delhi: As of July 2022, 96,000 Indian students were pursuing their higher studies in Australia, making it the second-largest foreign student group after China. This figure indicates how popular Australia is among Indian students when it comes to getting foreign education. Australia nurtures a highly efficacious education system with a relevant curriculum and provides all possible support to students from other countries. This is the reason why it has been the most-loved destination for Indian students wishing to earn a foreign degree. The two nations have inked Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) to strengthen their relationships. Some of its provisions make student movement easier and promote research, encouraging more Indian students to choose Australia as their next educational destination. This will increase the number of Indian students in Australia. However, students sometimes find themselves in an indecisive situation while choosing their subject. A good understanding of career prospects is necessary to make a good decision. Promising academic areas Australia offers courses for students interested in a variety of fields, including business, science, engineering, and architecture. Engineering programs like mechanical engineering have a lot of potential in Australia for academically-inclined students. The country is committed to increasing domestic manufacturing and production to lessen its reliance on imports. Australia has an abundance of natural resources, and as time goes on, it will make significant advancements in the manufacturing sector, generating a huge number of jobs for people. Additionally, as Australia intends to expand its technology and cyber security industries, courses like Information Technology are becoming more popular by the day. The importance of mental health and associated courses is rising daily as a result of the growing health consciousness. Soon, classes on mental health and well-being would be well-attended. A wonderful alternative is nursing due to the aging population of Australia. A lot of health professionals will be needed to care for this demographic. This also raises the issue of the effectiveness of social work education. Social work may become a desirable degree for students soon. Australian trade programs are also liked by students. For instance, carpentry is one of those popular courses. With the growth in building and construction, professional carpenters will continue to be in demand in Australia. The carpentry course leads to a builder's license there, offering multiple benefits. Also, a popular field of study for overseas students is the automobile, which offers a thriving technical career. The jobs in this sector generally demand that students complete a job-ready program where they can apply their abilities and skills. Career prospects Australia offers employment opportunities in different sectors with the best salary packages in the world. In this nation, there is a high rate of employment. All of the aforementioned courses have employers in both the public and commercial sectors, and many of them are even willing to sponsor the ideal candidate with a lock-in period of commitment. Overall, there is a strong need for these workers in Australia. Additionally, Australian degrees are globally recognized ones. Institutions in Australia are known for embracing new technology more quickly and effectively than universities in other nations. The infrastructure and the facilities associated with education are of the highest quality. Due to this, among the top 100 universities in the world are more than 14 Australian institutions. This widespread acceptance of Australian degrees across the world opens numerous doors for degree holders. Numerous job offers are made to students, who select the best one based on their goals and desires. The career prospect is bright with an Australian degree. (Disclaimer: Ravneet Pawha is Vice-President (Global Alliances) & CEO (South Asia) of Deakin University. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Zee News) The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has destroyed 1,893 air targets since the start of hostilities, and some of the targets have been shot down by forces and means of other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other parts of the Defense Forces, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny says. "In 2022, more than 100,000 servicemen, 3,000 tanks, 6,000 armored combat vehicles, 2,000 artillery systems, 420 multiple rocket launchers, about 300 combat aircraft, and 270 enemy helicopters were destroyed," he also said on his Telegram channel. New Delhi: After the tragic death of a 20-year-old woman, who was dragged for a few kilometres by a car in Delhi, family members and supporters gathered outside the Sultanpuri Police station on Monday (January 2) and protested. Protesters, mainly women gathered around an official car and started slamming its bonnet and one of the women even distorted one of the windshield wipers. Police personnel tried to control the protesters and move them away to provide a path to the car. WATCH #WATCH | Delhi: People gather to protest outside Sultanpuri Police station regarding the death of a woman who died after she was dragged for a few kms by a car that hit her in Sultanpuri area on January 1. pic.twitter.com/bsCwONThsF ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2023 The family members of the woman, who used to work as an event planner for weddings, suspect foul play in the incident. The family members said that she had left home around 6.30 pm on December 31 and her phone was found to be switched off around 10 p.m. "I had a conversation with her at around 9 pm, she said she will return around 3-4 am. We were informed by the police in the morning about her accident. I was taken to the police station and was made to wait," said the deceased`s mother. Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Monday also asked police to clarify if the woman was sexually harassed and if the accused had a criminal history. The woman died a painful death after her scooty met with an accident and her clothes got entangled in the wheel of a car due to which she was dragged for a few kilometers in Outer Delhi`s Sultanpuri area. The woman`s clothes were torn in the incident, and later her naked body was found by the police. The police said that they have arrested five persons, who were in the car. They were identified as Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mitthu and Manoj Mittal. A five-member team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Rohini will examine the spot where the body of the woman was found and also the offending vehicle. According to a senior police official, forensic experts have also been involved to examine the scene of crime, and vehicles involved and collecting all the relevant physical, biological and other evidence which will ensure successful prosecution. (With agency inputs) LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday thanked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for inviting him to his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and wished it a success, even as the party said he will not be attending it. SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Akhilesh will not participate in the yatra, nor will any other leader from the party. The nationwide yatra will enter Uttar Pradesh from the Loni border in Ghaziabad on January 3 afternoon and will halt for the night in Mavikala village in Baghpat. It will pass through Shamli in UP on January 4 and enter Haryana through Sanauli in Panipat on January 5 evening. In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh said, "Thanks for the invitation to the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and wishes for the success of the 'Bharat Jodo' initiative." "India is a feeling which is beyond geographical expansion, where there is love, non-violence, emotions, co-operation and bonhomie -- the positive elements, which unite India. "Hope that this yatra achieves its aim of conserving this inclusive culture," the former UP Chief Minister said in the missive he posted on Twitter. Chaudhary, when asked whether Akhilesh or any other SP leader will be going to the Yatra, told PTI, "Akhilesh will not participate in the yatra and there is nil possibility of any other leader of the party going there." Senior UP Congress leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui, when contacted, told PTI, "Rahul Gandhi ji had written a letter to Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday to be a part of the yatra." "I do not have any information on this," he added, when asked whether Akhilesh will be attending it. In a tweet in Hindi, BSP chief Mayawati said, "Best wishes for the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and thanks to Rahul Gandhi for writing a letter to me to take part in the yatra." However, there was no information as to whether Mayawati will participate in the yatra. Meanwhile, in Ballia, the president of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Om Prakash Rajbhar told PTI, "A few days ago, I got the invitation for the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi, and former Union minister Salman Khurshid called me discussing this. "The matter was discussed on Sunday with the party's office bearers, and it was decided that the party will not be a part of Bharat Jodo Yatra." Rajbhar also asked what was the need to integrate India, when it was never disintegrated in the first place. "When has India disintegrated? Neither the Hindus living in the country nor the Muslims living in the country are in danger," he said. "The country is also not in danger. Yatras are being taken out to strengthen one's party, so that it may make a strong connection with the masses," he added. Bhartiya Kisan Union National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said he will not be attending the Yatra. "I am not going to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. But we are not stopping anyone from participating in it. The BKU workers who want to participate in the yatra are free to do so. "However, office bearers above the rank of district presidents will not participate in the yatra," he said. "Ours is an apolitical organisation. People from different ideologies are in our organisation," he told. New Years eve was all about love, happiness, and enthusiasm, and that is exactly how India welcomed 2023. However, chilly winter mornings and cold waves were witnessed in many states across the country. Hence, as a precautionary measure, the District Magistrate (DM) issued an order on Sunday extending holidays for students of class 1 to class 12 of all recognized schools till January 4 in Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur in view of severe cold and excessive fog. The step has been taken keeping in view the student's interests and health. The order was immediately made available to all schools through WhatsApp so that parents could be informed on time. "Strict compliance with the said order should be ensured," DM Anuj Singh stated. Winter vacations extended in schools of Gorakhpur Meanwhile, Gorakhpur DM on Sunday also directed the closure of government and other recognized schools from LKG to class 8 for two days on January 2 and January 3 in view of the cold. Also read: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh welcome New Year with biting cold, dense fog Winter vacations extended in schools of Punjab Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has extended the winter vacation in all government, private, and aided schools till January 8 due to extreme cold conditions. School Education Minister today Harjot Singh Bains said all schools in the state would not open on January 2 as announced earlier. As per media reports, the schools would now open on January 9. Earlier, the winter vacation was from December 25 to January 1. Winter vacations extended in schools of Patna In Patna, all schools including government, and private till class 8 will now open on January 7, District Magistrate has informed. Winter vacations extended in schools of Haryana In Haryana as well, winter break in all schools has been extended till class 8. The schools will now reopen on January 9. The weather department predicted dense to very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar during the next five days. Due to northwesterly winds from the Himalayas over the plains of northwest India, minimum temperatures are very likely to fall by 2-4 degree Celsius over the northwest and adjoining central India during the next two days, the IMD predicted. (With inputs from ANI) New Delhi: Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh shared a loved-up video with his girlfriend Tina Thadani as he celebrated the New Year with her. He took to Instagram, where he is seen singing 'Meri jaan' for her in the video. Sharing the video with Tina on Instagram, Honey Singh wrote: "Happy New Year to all the lovers!! Its lover's season not hater's season #yoyo @tinathadani #yoyohoneysingh." In the clip, he is seen in a black tee with a locket of his name as an accessory. Tina, who featured in his music video 'Paris Ka Trip', grooves behind him and gives a kiss on his nose as he sings 'Meri Jaan' for her. Yo Yo Honey Singh confirmed his relationship with Tina a month ago at an event in Delhi. NEW DELHI: Actors Tara Sutaria and Aadar Jain, who had been going around for quite a while now, are reportedly no longer a couple anymore. If reports are to be believed, Tara, who was dating Ranbir Kapoor's cousin Aadar Jain, has broken up with her beau. The reports of their break up come days after Tara was found missing from Kapoor's annual Christmas lunch. Tara was seen attending Kapoor's renowned get-together back in 2020 and 2021. The actress made her relationship official with Aadar in 2020. However, a source told ET that Tara and Aadar have broken up. The source claimed, "Aadar and Tara have decided to amicably part ways. They're both mature and they will remain friends and care for each other fondly." While there is no official confirmation on the same, their fans were left shocked after the news of their break-up surfaced. A few social media users also commented on why couples leave each other when it comes to marriage." "Oh no" "Inka rishta Banta hi hai tutane ke liye." "Man bhar gaya hoga." "Did Tara & Aadar know about this news ?" "Wa kya bat he 4-5 sal se chod rha tha ...Aage piche se ab chod diya.....Wa re wa ...Ab friends rahenge." "Yeh log pyaar Kyun karte hai or fir break up kyun karte he." "Tamasha hi hai aajkal relations ka." "When it comes to marry people separate their way." Tara and Aadar occasionally shared photos with each other on social media. On his birthday in August 2022, Tara had shared an adorable photo of Aadar and was also seen attending parties with him. They also used to jet off to exotic locations to spend quality time with each other. Tara, who was last seen in Mohit Suri's crime-thriller 'Ek Villain Returns', has recently wrapped the shoot of 'Apurva'. Helmed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, the film also stars Abhishek Banerjee and Rajpal Yadav, and Dhairya Karwah in pivotal roles. New Delhi: Kareena Kapoor Khan dropped an adorable yet stylish family picture. Khan family's fashion game was on point. Taking to Instagram, Kareena treated fans with yet another picture. Sharing the picture, she wrote, "Peace, good health and prosperity to all. 2023." The image featured Kareena dressed in a dark green high-slit dress. She pulled her hair in a bun and rounded off her look with subtle makeup. Her hubby and actor Saif Ali Khan looked handsome in a black tuxedo. Not only the couple but their sons posed in style. Taimur dressed in a navy-blue blazer with spiderman imprinted on it along with a white shirt and tie. And the little one Jeh was seen decked up in an all black outfit. Recently, Kareena shared an image of her older son Taimur Ali Khan in a quirky pose. "BIG MOOD 2023 #My TimTim," she wrote in the caption. Kareena is currently in Gstaad, Switzerland to celebrate New Year after a hiatus of three years. She has been visiting Gstaad in the Swiss Alps with Saif Ali Khan almost every year since they married in 2012. Kareena and Saif have been married for almost 10 years. The two have worked together in LOC Kargil (2003) and Omkara (2006), but it was on the sets of the 2008 film Tashan that they fell in love with each other. And on October 16, 2012, the two tied the knot. In 2016, the two became parents to son Taimur and in February 2021 they welcomed the younger one Jeh. Saif was married to actress Amrita Singh before Kareena and they have two children together, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan. Meanwhile, talking about Kareena, on the work front, she will be next seen in director Sujoy Ghosh`s thriller which is based on the book `The Devotion of Suspect X`. It also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat. Apart from that, she also has director Hansal Mehta`s next untitled film. Speaking of Saif`s upcoming projects, he will be seen portraying Ravan in Om Raut`s `Adipurush.` The film also stars Kriti Sanon and Prabhas in the lead roles. It is based on the Indian Epic Ramayana. New Delhi: Bollywood's most adored couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone made their first appearance of 2023 in classy black outfits on Mumbai airport. The couple can be seen twinning and winning the hearts of their million fans. Deepika-Ranveer walked hand-in-hand as they got out of their car and walked into the airport. Ranveer opened the door for Deepi and it is now taking over the internet. Deepika looked gorgeous in a long black shirt dress paired with a long black overcoat and white shoes, Ranveer on the other hand, was twinning with her in a white tee and black pants paired with a long black overcoat and white shoes. Fans flooded the comment section with heart-eyes and love emojis. One even wrote, "Rare occasion when both of them dress like they did before their marriage." The two celebrated Christmas in Alibaug and were spotted leaving for the place on a jetty. Today's airport appearance maybe hints us towards another trip they are gonna take for the New Year. Ranveer was last seen in Rohit Shetty's 'Cirkus' co-starring Pooja Hegde and Jacqueline Fernandez. Deepika too had a cameo in the film. Ranveer will now be seen in Karan Johar's Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani along with Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi this year. Deepika has 'Project K,' 'Fighter' and 'The Intern' in her kitty. NEW DELHI: News of television actress Tunisha Sharma's suicide on the sets of her show 'Ali Baba: Daastan-E-Kabul' on December 24 has left everyone shocked. The actress had a suffered a heartbreak with fellow co-star and actor Sheezan Khan almost 15 days before her death. While police is currently interrogating her ex-boyfriend Sheezan Khan to ascertain what exactly happened on the sets of the television show where Tunisha committed suicide. In the meantime, an alleged recording has surfaced online claiming that Tunisha Sharma spoke with Sheezan Khans mother and was crying inconsolably. Shared by Viral Bhayani, in the recording, the woman believed to be Tunisha can be heard almost breaking down while talking. "Aap mere liye bahut mainey rakhte ho, Amma. Bahut zyada, aap jaante bhi nahi ho. Isliye aapse har baat share karne ka mann karta hai (You mean a lot to me, Amma. A lot, you dont even know that. Thats why I feel like sharing everything with you)," the woman in the clip is heard telling. "Isliye mere zehen mein jo bhi hoga, main aapko bataungi. Lekin, pata nahi, pata nahi, mujhe khud nahi pata mujhe kya ho raha hai (Thats why, whatever comes to my mind, I will share with you. But I dont know, I dont know what is happening to me)," the woman in the audio added. Meanwhile, we do not confirm the authencity of the call recording. Earlier in the day, Sheezan Khan's sisters and mother addressed a press conference and alleged that Tunisha Sharma's depression was due to her childhood trauma and accused the deceased's mother for it. Sheezan's sister and co-actor Falaq Naaz, accused Tunisha's mother of neglecting her and said that the deceased actor's depression was due to her childhood trauma. "Tunisha's mother accepted that she has been neglecting Tunisha and that she didn't take care of her. Tunisha's depression was due to her childhood trauma," said Falaq Naaz. Faral also denied that Sheezan had any other girlfriend, than Tunisha and called it a false narrative being spread. Before her, Sheezan's advocate Shailendra Mishra alleged that Tunisha's uncle Pawan Sharma was the 'former manager' of the late actor, and was fired because of his harsh behaviour. "Tunisha's so-called uncle Pawan Sharma was her former manager, who was fired four years ago because he used to interfere in her affairs and behave harshly with her," he said. Sheezan's advocate alleged that Tunisha was in frightful awe of her 'uncle' from Chandigarh, who instigated her mother, Vanita, to strangulate Tunisha. New Delhi: 20-year-old TV actress Tunisha Sharma committed suicide and it has shaken everyone. The actress was found dead in her co-actor and alleged boyfriend Sheezan Khan's make-up room on the sets of their show 'Dastaan-E-Kabul.' Today, a special press conference has been organized in Mumbai. Sheezan's lawyer Shailendra Mishra, sisters Falaq Naaz and Shafaq Naaz and mother are clearing their points in front of the cameras on account of Tunisha Sharma's suicide case. Sheezan's mother opened up on the case and said that Tunisha was like a daughter to her. They have loved her a lot in the past 5 months and if she would have met them before, they would have loved her even more. "She had a childhood trauma," she said. Sheezan's mother further added, "Tunisha's mother said that Falak took her daughter to a mosque, do you have any proof? Are there any pictures on social media whatsoever? No. She said Sheezan slapped Tunisha, so why didn't you do anything during that time? On one hand, your daughter has passed away and on the other hand, you are torturing someone else's kid so that he takes some wrong step." "Their family shared a picture that is now going viral on social media, it has nothing to do with Love Jihad, it is of Ganesh Chaturthi's celebration on the sets of their show. The truth is her mother did not want them to be in a relationship. She has made all these spicy allegations so that the media would run them. On September 13, we told Tunisha's mother that you do not pay proper attention to her and she accepted it," she concluded. Falak Naaz said everyone knew how Tunisha's mother used to call her many times in a day. "We also want justice for Tunisha, but her mother is trying to falsely implicate Sheezan in the case, that is not correct," she said. "We had decided to give Tunisha a surprise on her birthday on January 4. Her mother also know very well, she was like our younger sister. We had spent around six months with Tunisha which she enjoyed and we are proud of it," Naaz said. On the allegations that Tunisha was being forced to wear a hijab and visit dargah, she said, "We never asked her to do anything." Referring to a picture of Tunisha wearing a hijab going viral on social media, Khan's another sister claimed the actor had worn the head cover at the time of a shoot. " In this case, we just want to say Tunisha was like our family member and we were taking care of her," she claimed. Tunisha was found dead on December 24 on the sets of the show 'Alibaba: Dastaan-e-Kabul'. She was said to be in a relationship with Sheezan, her co-actor. New Delhi: State-owned Indian Bank on Monday increased lending rates, including the marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR), by up to 25 basis points. The new rates are effective from January 3, Indian Bank said in a regulatory filing. The Asset Liability Management Committee (ALCO) of the bank has reviewed the Marginal Cost of funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR), Treasury Bills Linked Lending Rates (TBLR), Base Rate, and Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) and decided on an upward revision in MCLR, TBLR, Base Rate and BPLR across various tenors, it noted. (Also Read: GOLDEN opportunity to own a house in Noida! Authority selling 338 flats at THIS price; Check key details here) The one-year rate is used to fix most consumer loans, such as auto, personal, and home loans. The overnight MCLR rate has been revised upward by 25 basis points to 7.75 percent, while that of one month to six months tenure hiked by 20 basis points, the bank said. (Also Read: Explained: Why you can't buy lands in THESE states) For one-year maturity, it said the new rate will be increased to 8.30 percent against 8.20 percent. Besides, the lender also revised the treasury bills benchmark lending rate (TBLR) in the range of 6.40 percent to 6.85 percent for various tenors. The base rate has been revised upward by 25 basis points to 9.10 percent while Benchmark Prime Lending Rate to 13.35 percent. Ukraine-EU summit to be held in Kyiv on Feb 3 Zelensky's talk with von der Leyen President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held the first telephone conversation in the new year with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the presidential press service reports. "The interlocutors discussed the expected results of the next Ukraine-EU summit, which will be held on February 3 this year in Kyiv, and agreed to intensify the preparatory work," the message says. The State Bank of India is the country's largest public sector bank and in the words of its Chairman Dinesh Khara, the bank serves over 47 crore customers and thus it is practically a banker to every household. The SBI has been rapidly growing and it recently recorded the highest-ever profit as well. The public sector bank is upbeat about its future and is likely to grow its network in a bid to add more customers. Thus the bank is also offering you an opportunity to do business with it and what is surprising is that you will have to make either no or negligible investment for the same. What is this SBI Business Scheme? The State Bank has over 28,000 branches across India. But do you know that the SBI doesn't own all these properties as the majority of it remain either leased or rented? While the SBI keeps looking for appropriate locations to serve its customers more effectively, sometimes it's required to shift from one location to another as well. So, whenever the SBI requires a new location on lease/rent, it invites tenders from property owners. The property owners are required to submit technical as well as price bids for their property to the bank in separate sealed covers. If the technical bid is cleared, then the price bid is opened and the lowest bidder of the suitable property is contacted by the bank for leasing the property. Rental Income from leasing property to the SBI According to NoBrokers and various other websites, the rental yield from a property varies from location to location and on the size of the property. The average per month rent paid by the bank varies between Rs 20,000 to Rs 6 lakh in urban areas as and Rs 5,000 to Rs 40,000 in rural areas. The rental value may vary. Rental Tenure as desired by the SBI As per the bid notice seen on the SBI website, the lease period varies between 5 years to 15 years at first. The same can be renewed later depending upon the mutual consent between the bank and the property owner. However, be mindful that the SBI does not pay rent for the first 30 days or 45 days as it carries out renovation/fitment work after the premise is handed over to it. It takes around 30-45 days in completing the interior furnishing work by the bank. Facilities Desired by the SBI As per the bid notice, some of the desired specifications of the property are sufficient parking, property on the ground floor, 24 hours water facility, generator power back-up, electricity connection, ready for possession/occupation and premises with more than 10 ft frontage. How to apply for this SBI Business Scheme? To apply, you first need to visit sbi.co.in or bank.sbi and then go to the 'procurement news' section. All tenders floated by SBI is listed on this page. You can now search for tenders related to lease/rent and download the bid notice and tender documents. Do read the documents in detail and apply as prescribed by the bank. Do attack all related documents as asked. Do keep in mind that SBI reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the tenders without assigning any reason thereof. Since the bank carries out fitment work, you need not invest a single penny in your property if it's inhabitable and in good condition. Once you lease out the property, you will earn lakhs of rupees as rental income sitting at home. New Delhi: A year over its release, Pushpa: The Rise continues to set benchmarks not just on home turf but now even overseas. The historic blockbuster headlined by Allu Arjun was released last month in Russia and has already collected 1.02 crore rouble. Released on 8th December in Russia, the film has been running successfully running in 774 screens without any reduction in its number of screens till date, despite being in the third week of its release, Pushpa: The Rise is in the run to become Russias favorite Indian movie of all time. The highest collection for a Russian dubbed Indian film this far has been WAR which grossed 1.7 crore rouble. However, considering the current trend that Pushpa: The Rise is witnessing, the film is expected to surpass these numbers and become the most successful Russian-dubbed Indian film of all time. The Allu Arjun starrer saw its grand Russian language release on December 8 and after wowing audiences in Moscow and St. Petersburg, continued to take the nation by storm! One of the few Indian movies to be released in Russia and now is already creating an impact online; Pushpa continues to entertain as Allu Arjuns popularity surmounts to new levels. The film received a warm reception from Russian audiences and the numbers are testimony to how the film will go down in history as one of the most loved and successful Russian dubbed Indian films of all time. videoDetails Deshhit: So now Pakistan will become Afghanistan? Yashwant Bhaskar | Updated: Jan 02, 2023, 10:10 PM IST Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has given a direct challenge to the Government of Pakistan and its army. The economic condition of Pakistan is going very bad and it is on the verge of becoming a pauper. So according to the same news, the General of Pakistan does the work of property dealing. Now common people have taken to the streets against Pakistan in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday made a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left, saying despite the difference in their ideologies, the two political parties have now become the same. Suspecting a tacit understanding between the two opposition parties in the state, the Bengal Chief Minister said though they are ideologically poles apart, the two parties have forged a 'Ram-Baam' (BJP-Left) alliance. The TMC chief made these remarks while addressing a convention of party workers and leaders during which she said her party's cadres have to reach out to the people to counter canards spread against the TMC by opposition parties. "We are followers of an inclusive ideology. We need to take along everyone. BJP's ideology differentiates people on religious lines. You have to listen to people with humility, Banerjee told TMC workers at the party programme held at `Nazrul Mancha', named after the famous Independence struggle poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. In an apparent reference to a tacit understanding between the opposition BJP and the Left in the state, she said, Now, 'Ram and Bam' (BJP and Left) have become one. The TMC chief further stated that a proper vigilance system at the party level will be put in place to weed out rotten elements. "A proper vigilance system will be put in place to keep a check at the panchayat level. There will be a check and cross-check mechanism to look into all complaints," she said. With an eye on West Bengal panchayat polls due this year, the ruling Trinamool Congress also launched a new campaign Didir Suraksha Kavach' to reach out to people. The campaign was launched by the chief minister in the presence of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and state president Subrata Bakshi. Our Hon'ble Chairperson Smt @MamataOfficial, Nat'l Gen Sec Shri @abhishekaitc and WB State President Shri Subrata Bakshi launched our new initiative #DidirSurakshaKawach. People's service is our PRIORITY! pic.twitter.com/NnXJWOYQdN All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 2, 2023 "The party will start the campaign on January 11 and will continue with it for 60 days. Our party workers will reach out to people across the state and ensure that everyone can avail of welfare schemes of the state government," Abhishek Banerjee said while addressing a press conference. Just like Duare Sarkar (government at your doorstep), an outreach programme of the state government, the objective of the new campaign will be to connect with people through the party's programme, the CM said. "Around 3.5 lakh party workers will reach out to around 10 crore people of the state. It is being done so that no one is left out. The ?Duare Sarkar' campaign of the state government will continue," she said. Banerjee, while speaking on TMC's vision as it completed 25 years on January 1, said the party aims at a "united India with a strengthened federal structure". Hong Kong: Hong Kong will reopen its borders with mainland China by mid-January, city Chief Executive John Lee said on Saturday (December 31), as Beijing accelerates the unwinding of stringent COVID-19 rules that have battered economic growth. Lee, speaking at a press event at the airport in Hong Kong as he returned from a trip to Beijing, said the goal in "gradually, orderly, and fully" reopening the city will be to return the border to its state before the virus outbreak. "Our goal is to quickly come to a consensus with the central government, submit our plan to the central government for review and execute on the plan before mid-January," said Lee. Hong Kong authorities will work with the governments of neighbouring Shenzhen city and Guangdong province to manage the flow of people crossing the border, Lee said. Restrictions on travel across the border were imposed in early 2020. The reopening was postponed several times due to outbreaks in Hong Kong or the mainland. Hong Kong and China have lagged most of the world in easing stringent COVID rules. People in the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong have been able to access the mainland only through the city's airport or two checkpoints - Shenzhen Bay or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge. Preparations for reopening are underway, including deploying thousands of officers from the city's customs, immigration and police services, local media say. Hong Kong's government said on Dec 12 that mainland authorities had allowed cross-border truck drivers to collect and deliver goods directly to their destinations without using designated checkpoints. International passengers arriving in Hong Kong since mid-month are no longer subject to COVID-related movement controls or barred from certain venues. Arriving travellers may also continue directly to mainland China or Macau as long as they meet the required criteria, the city government said. Previously they had to wait three days in the city before continuing to the mainland. Oman-based OQ, a global integrated energy group, has completed the basic construction works of Ras Markaz crude oil storage terminal whose storage capacity is about 26.7 million barrels. This oil storage and export project, carried out by Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), which is part of the global integrated energy group OQ, is the biggest of its kind in the region, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). The project was built according to the international standards and 100% nationally financed. Ras Markaz crude oil storage terminal, which is located in the Governorate of Al Wusta, is one of the strategic projects in Oman, thanks to its location that mediates the Asian and African markets. It is scheduled to receive the first shipment of crude oil in the first quarter of 2023 to secure the needs of Duqm refinery after the refinery was connected with Ras Markaz through a pipeline that extends for 80 kilometres. Eight huge reservoirs were constructed at Ras Markaz for storing the refinerys oil. Salem Marhoon Al Hashemi, General Manager of the project, said: Ras Markaz crude oil storage terminal aims to store and mix all kinds of crude oil in large quantities. The project has very advanced infrastructure that is capable to meet the needs of local and international markets. We aspire to turn this terminal into the biggest project for storing crude oil in the Middle East to become an important international hub for trading crude oil thanks to its strategic location overlooking the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. This project will cement the position of Oman as a main hub for storing oil in the region. Al Hashemi explained: Oman relies currently on Mina Al Fahl in exporting crude oil. Therefore, the addition of Ras Markaz boosts the strategic importance of securing the export of crude oil abroad due to its distinguished location. The terminal is located outside the Strait of Hormuz. This encourages many investors to perform the businesses of importing, storing, exporting and mixing crude oil. Additionally, it will provide an added value for mixing different kinds of oil with the Omani crude oil. He pointed out that the area of the current completed first phase of the project is approximately 10 sq km with a capacity of about 26.7 million barrels. Al Hashemi also explained that the total area allocated for the project is 40 square kilometres, which is customized to store up to about 200 million barrels of oil. The company will increase its capacity according to the growing demand from investors. The general manager of the project added that the project consists of two parts, the first of which includes marine works and has been completely executed. This part comprises of the floating import and export terminal, which is about 7 km offshore, along with two pipelines with a diameter of 42 inches, in addition to the systems associated with it. The second part of the project includes constructing the oil pumping systems, water treatment systems, the construction of reservoirs, the power stations network and other associated systems. Al Hashemi further said that the floating import and export terminal was built to receive the biggest oil tankers in the world. He explained that the terminal was connected with four main pumps to push crude oil to the storage area, which is located at an altitude of more than 100 meters from sea level. The site is ready to add additional pumps to keep pace with the demand for oil storage at the station whenever a need for expansion arises. He concluded that the storage period and selection of services are subject to technical considerations and the preferences of investors as well as oil trading and marketing companies. He stressed that the storage of crude oil primarily follows the standards set locally and globally. During a telephone conversation on Monday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky briefed President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the situation that is developing on the battlefields with Russia and on the consequences of regular Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure. According to the press service of the head of state, Zelensky thanked for the active involvement of the European Commission in the implementation of humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine. "The parties agreed that the first 15 million LED lamps financed by the European Commission will arrive in Ukraine in January," the report notes. Zelensky also noted the importance of rapid practical implementation and involvement of EU member states in the First Lady's initiative to purchase school buses for the affected regions of Ukraine. The interlocutors also discussed the progress of the project to restore 74 destroyed Ukrainian schools, for which the EU allocated EUR 100 million. The President expressed hope that these establishments would be reconstructed before September this year. Von der Leyen, in turn, assured of unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and stressed that the European Union would stand side by side with Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor in 2023, until the victory of Ukraine. The interlocutors discussed ways to further strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the supply of appropriate weapons. The Russian occupation forces continue to focus on the offensive in Bakhmut direction, losing lots of manpower, and are trying to improve their tactical positions in Kupiansk and Avdiyivka directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said in a report on the situation with the Russian invasion of Ukraine as of 18:00 on Monday, posted in Facebook. In the past 24 hours, the enemy mounted one missile and 28 air attacks, 27 of which were aimed at the civilian infrastructure, using Shakhed-136 attack drones. All of them were shot down by the air defense forces of Ukraine. "The threat of further air and missile strikes remains all over the territory of Ukraine," it said. The enemy mounted shelling attacks on residential areas in Siversky, Slobozhansky, Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Novopavlivsky, Zaporizhia, and Kherson directions. Some 1,577 drones purchased under Army of Drones project, 928 of them already handed over to Ukrainian defenders Fedorov As part of the Army of Drones project, the government authorities of Ukraine have purchased 1,577 drones, 928 of which have already been handed over to the defenders of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov has said. "As part of the project, the Ministry of Defense, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine and other bodies have already purchased 1,577 drones. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world donated for each of them through UNITED24," Fedorov said on his Telegram channel. According to him, 928 of the purchased Drone Army drones are already helping the defenders of Ukraine fight the Russian invaders. The Army of Drones project was created with the participation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation on July 1, 2022. As part of the project, it is planned to purchase and repair drones at the expense of donations, as well as training courses on handling them. Egypt's Public Prosecution ordered an autopsy on the body of a 42-year-old bank manager who died on Sunday nearly six weeks after being attacked by his neighbour's Pit Bull to determine the direct cause of death. Syria will reopen its diplomatic mission in Tunisia and appoint an ambassador there, Damascus and Tunis said in a joint statement Wednesday after more than a decade of strained ties. The Egyptian archaeological mission working at Tel El-Deir in Damietta uncovered 20 Late Period tombs that are either made of mud brick or are simple burials. It is a very important scientific and archaeological discovery as it will rewrite the history of Damietta, asserted Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. He explained that the mud brick tomb may be dated to the Saities period of the 26th Dynasty. A collection of gold fragments that once covered buried human remains were found; they depict the deities Isis, Bastet and Horus (in the form of a winged falcon). Funerary amulets of different shapes and sizes were also unearthed, along with a headrest. In addition, a number of canopic jars representing the four sons of Horus were found, as well as a collection of statues representing the deities Isis, Neftis and Djehuti. The mission previously uncovered a number of graves belonging to different eras. These tombs indicated the various forms of burial rites performed by the area's inhabitants throughout history. Search Keywords: Short link: Former pope Benedict XVI has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced Saturday, almost a decade after he became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries. His death brings to an end an unprecedented situation in which two "men in white" -- Benedict and his successor Pope Francis -- had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city-state. "With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. His body will be displayed from Monday morning in the solemn setting of Saint Peter's Basilica, to allow the faithful to pay their respects. The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his shock decision to step down in February 2013. His health had been declining for a long time, but the Vatican revealed on Wednesday that his situation had worsened, while Francis called for Catholics worldwide to pray for him. While there is no rulebook for former popes, Benedict's funeral is expected to be at the Vatican, presided over by Francis. In 2005 the body of John Paul II, the last pope to die, lay in state before a funeral mass in St Peter's Square attended by one million people, including heads of state. Scandal and in-fighting Benedict had almost entirely withdrawn from public view, his health reported to be shaky and the few photographs that emerged of him exposing his frailty. Back in 2013, he had cited his declining physical and mental health in his decision to become the first pope since 1415 to give up the job as head of the worldwide Catholic church. Benedict was a brilliant theologian but his papacy was beset by Vatican in-fighting and a scandal over clerical sexual abuse of children that rocked the Catholic Church the world over, in which he was criticized for a lack of leadership. The abuse scandal overshadowed his final months after a damning report for the German church in January 2022 accused him of personally failing to stop four predatory priests in the 1980s while archbishop of Munich. He denied wrongdoing and the Vatican strongly defended his record as being the first pope to apologize for the scandals, who expressed his own "deep remorse" and met with victims. Born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, Benedict was 78 when he succeeded the long-reigning and popular John Paul II in April 2005, the first German pope of the modern era. He later said his election felt "like the guillotine". Unlike his successor Pope Francis, a Jesuit who delights in being among his flock, Benedict was a conservative intellectual dubbed "God's Rottweiler" in a previous post as a chief doctrinal enforcer. His papacy was dogged by controversy, from comments that angered the Muslim world to a money-laundering scandal at the Vatican bank and a personal humiliation when, in 2012, his butler leaked secret papers to the media. Despite saying he would live "hidden from the world" after his resignation, he repeatedly intervened on key issues facing the Church through books, interviews, and articles. In January 2020, he expressed his opposition to allowing priests to marry. A year earlier, he blamed clerical abuse scandals on the 1960s sexual revolution and a collapse in faith in the West. In an interview in March 2021, he said "there is only one pope", but acknowledged "fanatical" supporters who refused to accept his resignation. Search Keywords: Short link: Tributes have poured in after former pope Benedict XVI died aged 95 on Saturday, almost a decade after he became the first pontiff to resign in six centuries. Here are some of the tributes: 'Commitment to non-violence' UN chief Antonio Guterres praised the former pontiff for his "tenacious commitment to non-violence and peace". 'Global peace' EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he would be remembered for "his efforts for global peace and the centrality of human beings' dignity" in his ideas. 'Soul and intelligence' France's President Emmanuel Macron said the ex-pope "strove with soul and intelligence for a more brotherly world". 'Formative figure' Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed his fellow countryman as a "special church leader" who helped shape the Catholic church. "The world has lost a formative figure of the Catholic Church, an argumentative personality, and a clever theologian," he said. 'Giant of faith' Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the former leader of the Catholic Church as a "giant of faith and reason". She described him as "a Christian, a pastor, a theologian, a great figure in history, that history will never forget". 'Spiritual depth' Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki bid farewell to "one of the greatest theologians of our time". "Throughout his life, he showed the spiritual and intellectual depth of Christianity. He leaves behind a great legacy," he said. 'Defender of traditional Christian values' Russia's President Vladimir Putin said he was "an eminent religious and state figure, a convinced defender of traditional Christian values". The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill said former pope Benedict XVI was as an "outstanding theologian". 'Untiring efforts' Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins said he would "be remembered for his untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world, including a steadfast interest in peace in Northern Ireland". 'Great theologian' UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Benedict was "a great theologian whose UK visit in 2010 was a historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country." Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Anglican world's highest-ranking cleric, described him as "one of the greatest theologians of his age". 'Strong signal' European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said he had "set a strong signal through his resignation" in 2013. "Once his physical strength waned, he continued to serve through the power of his prayers," she said. Search Keywords: Short link: Saudi Arabia's Water Regulator has released an updated version of its water and wastewater services guide that includes rules, rights and duties that define the relationship between service providers and consumers. It plays an important role as the official governmental body tasked to regulate services providers of the water sector, based on the provisions of the water law, except for cogeneration services. The new guide will act as a reference for service providers, stakeholders and beneficiaries. It will also explain the principles that regulate the relationship between them for all consumers. The Saudi water regulator has also launched an awareness campaign "Your Guide" to educate beneficiaries and service providers about the updated version of the Water and Wastewater Services Guide.-TradeArabia News Service Pope Francis hailed the "beloved" Benedict XVI on Sunday in a New Year's Day service at the Vatican, the day after his predecessor died aged 95. "Today we entrust the beloved pope emeritus Benedict XVI to the most holy mother (the Virgin Mary), to accompany him in his passage from this world to God," Francis said. Benedict, a conservative intellectual who in 2013 became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign, died on Saturday at his home in a monastery inside the grounds of the Vatican. His body will be moved on Monday morning to St Peter's Basilica, where for three days the public will be able to pay their respects before a funeral on Thursday overseen by Francis. The ceremony will be "solemn but simple", the Vatican has said, after which he will be buried in the papal tombs under St Peter's Basilica. The last papal funeral, of John Paul II in 2005, drew a million faithful and heads of state from around the world, although Benedict was a more divisive figure. A brilliant theologian, he alienated many Catholics with his staunch defence of traditional values and as pope struggled to impose his authority on the church as it battled a string of crises, including over clerical sex abuse. Two men in white US President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, praised Benedict's "devotion to the Church", while Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed him as a "defender of traditional Christian values". His death brought to an end an unprecedented situation in which two "men in white" -- Benedict and Francis -- had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city-state. Benedict's health had been declining for a long time, and he had almost entirely withdrawn from public view when the Vatican revealed on Wednesday that his situation had worsened. At a New Year's Eve service on Saturday evening, Francis paid tribute to his "dearest" predecessor, saying he was "so noble, so kind". After the service on Sunday morning for the World Day of Peace at St Peter's Basilica, the pontiff will address the faithful in St Peter's Square for the Angelus prayer at 1100 GMT. Francis, 86, has raised the prospect that he might follow Benedict's example and step down if he became unable to carry out his duties. In July, suffering knee problems that have forced him to rely on a wheelchair, he admitted he needed to slow down or think about stepping aside. And earlier in December, the Argentine revealed he had signed a resignation letter when he took office should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties. God's Rottweiler Born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, Benedict was 78 when he became the first German pope of the modern era. Flags on the town hall flew at half-mast Saturday in Marktl, where a special mass was organised at the church where he was baptised. Local Karl Michael Nuck, 55, said his death "was probably a deliverance", while praising Benedict for resigning and defending his record. Long close to John Paul II and a senior cardinal in the Catholic hierarchy, Benedict was a leading candidate to become pope in 2005 -- but later said his election felt "like the guillotine". Unlike his successor Francis, a Jesuit who delights in being among his flock, Benedict was more at home with his books, a cat-lover who delighted in study and playing the piano. He was dubbed "God's Rottweiler" in a previous post as chief doctrinal enforcer, but struggled to contain numerous scandals in the church during his papacy. After he quit, Benedict remained a flag-bearer for the conservative wing of the church. With his death, those who battled Francis' more liberal outlook "lose a living symbol", noted Italian Vatican observer Marco Politi. Search Keywords: Short link: A recently recovered ancient Egyptian artefact known as the Green Coffin was returned on Monday from the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences in the United States after it had been smuggled illegally outside of Egypt. The ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa. The anthropoid coffin lid belonged to a priest of Heracleopolis city, Ankh In Maat, and dates from the Late Period (664-332 BC). The lid is almost three metres long, carved in wood and decorated with columns of hieroglyphic texts that are coloured in gold. The portrait on the lid of the deceaseds face and ears are painted green, a symbol of rebirth and resurrection in ancient Egypt. According to the Manhattan District Attorneys office which was responsible for seizing and returning the artefact the coffin lid was looted from the Abusir necropolis, near Cairo, and trafficked into the US in 2008, where it was sold to a private collector and eventually loaned to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences in 2013. Egypts Consul General in Houston Hossam El-Qawish succeeded in recovering the coffin lid, which was handed over to the consul in a repatriation ceremony last September after an investigation that lasted for more than four years. During Mondays ceremony, Minister Issa asserted that the process is part of Egypts strenuous efforts to recover smuggled artefacts and antiquities through cooperation between the ministries of tourism and antiquities and foreign affairs and the concerned authorities in the United States. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri said that these efforts started in 2019 when the country requested the US Attorney Generals Office in Manhattan return a gilded coffin of Nedjem Ankh that was on display at the Metropolitan Museum and is now on display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, Cairo. Cooperation between the two sides succeeded in uncovering an international smuggling network dealing in Egyptian antiquities, leading to the recovery last September of six other pieces in the possession of the Metropolitan Museum, according to Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, the general supervisor of the Administration of Antiquities Repatriation at the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian gas exports to countries outside a group of former Soviet republics plunged by 45.5 percent in 2022, figures from gas giant Gazprom showed on Monday. Gazprom said in a statement that exports outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) totalled 100.9 billion cubic metres compared to 185.1 billion in 2021. Europe was previously Gazprom's main export market but supplies have been drastically reduced because of sanctions following Russia's offensive in Ukraine in 2022. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the company had been steadily increasing supplies to China during the year but did not give details on the quantities. "From January 1 we are on a fundamentally new level of gas supplies to China," Miller said in the statement. President Vladimir Putin last month inaugurated the Kovykta natural gas field in eastern Siberia that will allow Russia to increase its exports to China. Russia does not have pipelines to transport gas from its Western Siberian and Arctic gas fields -- which have served Europe -- to China. But Russia began efforts around a decade ago to develop new fields and build the Power of Siberia pipeline to deliver to the rapidly expanding Chinese market. The first Power of Siberia pipeline went into operation and began to ship gas from eastern Siberia to China at the end of 2019. Moscow plans to build a Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. At a conference last week, Miller admitted Gazprom had had a "very, very difficult" year. Miller noted a "total change in the energy markets" driven by sanctions in response to Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine. Gazprom accounts for 11 percent of the global natural gas production and has the largest gas reserves in the world. Search Keywords: Short link: The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman has said that Iran sees no problem with building relations with Egypt, Chinas news agency Xinhua reported on Monday. At a weekly press conference, Nasser Kanaani described as "positive" the talks between the Iranian foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart on the sidelines of the Baghdad II Conference in Jordan's capital Amman. More talks are being held to resolve consular issues between the two countries, he added. Speaking about the Iraqi prime minister's recent proposal to facilitate talks between Iran and Egypt, Kanaani said Iran "welcomes any positive steps taken for Iran-Egypt relations," and reaffirmed Tehran's rapprochement regional policy. Cairo has not officially commented on these statements so far. Egyptian-Iranian relations were severed by the Islamic Republic of Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Despite many forms of cooperation in multilateral forums, especially the UN Security Council, relations have remained below the full ambassadorial level. Search Keywords: Short link: A Luxor misdemeanor court sentenced on Monday a cart driver in the Upper Egyptian city to one year in prison for brutally beating his horse after a video of the incident caused a public outrage. The sentence can be appealed. The 40-year-old man was apprehended last week after a video of him battering a horse went viral on social media triggering a public outcry and calls for his arrest. Cruelty to animals in Egypt is punishable by prison terms as well as fines as per the country's criminal code. In 2015, four Egyptian men were sentenced to three years in prison for torturing and slaughtering a dog in an incident which was caught on camera and stirred widespread outrage. Search Keywords: Short link: El-Alamein International Airport will be ready to receive regular flights starting March, according to Egypts Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abbas Helmi. The airport serves the North Coast region and New Alamein City, and is considered an important regional airport, Helmi told reporters on Monday at a press conference. El-Alamein International Airport began to receive special charter flights last August. Meanwhile, the minister added that development continues at different airports. According to Helmi, renovation on Terminal 2 of Alexandrias Borg Al-Arab Airport was set to be completed in March but has been delayed to July. Helmi also said that Gizas Sphinx International Airport was inaugurated for international and domestic flights a few months ago. Search Keywords: Short link: The israeli army killed two Palestinian men during an alleged 'confrontation' that erupted early Monday when troops raided a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said. The two men were killed in the village of Kafr Dan near the northern city of Jenin. The Israeli army said it entered Kafr Dan late Sunday to demolish the houses of two Palestinians who allegedly killed an Israeli soldier during a firefight in September. The military claims troops allegedly came under heavy fire and fired back at the shooters. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified those killed as Samer Houshiyeh, 21, and Fouad Abed, 25. Houshiyeh was shot several times in the chest, according to Samer Attiyeh, the director of the Ibn Sina Hosipital in Jenin. Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades later claimed Houshiyeh as a member. Video on social media showed his body wrapped with the resistance group's flag as his mother and other mourners bid farewell. It was not immediately clear whether the second Palestinian killed was also affiliated with a particular group. The year 2022 was the deadliest in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since 2006. The Israeli military has been conducting near-daily raids into Palestinian cities and towns. More than 150 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army and police last year while 28 Israelis were killed by Palestinian attacks in the spring and fall of last year. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The German government on Monday condemned incidents on New Years Eve in which police officers and firefighters were attacked, mostly with fireworks. People across Germany on Saturday resumed their tradition of setting off large numbers of fireworks in public places to see in the new year. That followed two years in which sales of fireworks were banned as part of efforts to avoid overloading hospitals and discourage large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebrations were accompanied by a large number of cases in which emergency officials were assailed with fireworks. In Berlin, the fire service counted at least 38 such attacks and said 15 officers were injured. Police said they had 18 injured officers, German news agency dpa reported. Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said that "this scale of readiness to use violence and destruction ... damages our city." She tweeted that her administration will discuss expanding the number of areas in which fireworks are banned. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who thanked police for intervening with more than 100 arrests in Berlin alone, said that "the perpetrators must now feel the legal consequences clearly." Government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his administration "of course condemn in the strongest terms these, in some cases, massive assaults." Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has detected its first case of a highly infectious but mild Omicron subvariant, the countrys Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said in TV remarks on Sunday evening. We detected a case [of the new variant] in a 50-year-old individual. It displayed mild symptoms, the minister told TV channel Sada El-Balad, while offering assurances that the country is not facing an increase in the number of covid cases. Abdel-Ghaffar did not specify whether the case was an Egyptian national or a foreigner, or when it was detected. The new variant, Abdel-Ghaffar said, is highly contagious like Omicron and exists in many countries and not onlyn in China but it does not have serious effects. It manifests in symptoms such as cough, fatigue, runny nose and fever and lasts between four days to one week, he pointed out. Abdel-Ghaffar did not specify whether the subvariant detected in Egypt was the same XBB subvariant that has been behind a recent surge in cases worldwide, most notably China. Several countries imposed Covid-19 tests on travellers from China as Beijing eased the travel restrictions even though the country sees a new wave of outbreak in cases. Abdel-Ghaffar urged the public to abide by preventive measures since the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not announced the end of the pandemic so far. In recent months, no new Covid-19 cases or deaths were reported. The pandemic took a heavy toll on Egyptians in 2020-2021. The number of those who contracted COvid reached 515,475 cases and death toll at 24,800 as per the latest update on the pandemic issued by the WHOs Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO). Some 38 percent of Egypts population is fully vaccinated, according to EMRO. The pandemic status is stable in Egypt, the health minister said, adding we are in the best period in three years. We have always faced a peak in coronavirus cases in December but the situation is stable. The minister also said that even the number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases, which were on the rise during November and October especially among school students, has started to noticeably subside. Search Keywords: Short link: The Israeli army carried out a missile strike on Damascus International Airport on Monday that killed four people, including two Syrian soldiers, according to a human rights monitor. This is the second time in less than seven months that the Damascus airport, where Iranian-backed armed groups and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters are present, has been hit by Israel. The attack -- which occurred around 2:00 am (2300 GMT) -- put the country's main airport out of service, according to Syria's state news agency SANA. Israel carried out the strike with "barrages of missiles, targeting Damascus International Airport and its surroundings", a military source told SANA, which reported that two Syrian soldiers were killed. But the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights -- which relies on a wide network of sources on the ground in Syria -- said a total of four people had died in the early morning attack. "Four fighters including two Syrian soldiers were killed" by the Israeli strike, Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Observatory, told AFP. The missiles also hit "positions for Hezbollah and pro-Iranian groups inside the airport and its surroundings, including a weapons warehouse", Abdul Rahman said. Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes against its neighbour, targeting government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and fighters from Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. While Israel rarely comments on specific reports of its attacks, it has repeatedly said it will not allow its archfoe Iran to gain a foothold in Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has introduced the UAEs first mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety level 3) laboratory, equipped to handle highly infectious disease agents such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Yellow fever, and more. The BSL-3 mobile laboratory will enhance the emirates infectious disease preparedness through swift, safe and accurate testing of communicable diseases. Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said: The launch of the mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety level 3) laboratory in the emirate will support us in enhancing the preparations of the capital to respond to, control and investigate infectious diseases, and achieve the vision of ADPHC towards enhancing a healthy and safe community. Since the establishment of ADPHC in 2019, under the guidance of our wise leadership, ADPHC has created a positive impact on the standards of public health in Abu Dhabi and established strategic partnerships to maintain health and safety in society. Dr Farida Al Hosani, Executive Director of Infectious Diseases and Official Spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector, said: This newly launched state-of-the-art mobile laboratory will offer swift and free testing to identify those exposed to viral infections and pathogens. Abu Dhabi is well-equipped and prepared to adequately manage any public health threat that faces the community. The mobile laboratory will be accessible across four sites in Abu Dhabi, including Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Al Rahba Hospital, Tawam Hospital, and Madinat Zayed Hospital. All laboratory technicians who will be working inside the lab and handling high-threat level pathogens have undergone intense training by the manufacturer, and on-site safety training to safely operate within the laboratory. In addition, SKMC Biosafety and Quality team will be overseeing the biosafety and quality aspects. Saeed Jaber Al Kuwaiti, Group Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), said: As healthcare leaders, the responsibility of ensuring public safety in the event of infectious disease outbreak falls on our shoulders. The mobile BSL-3 lab launched by ADPHC is a monumental step towards further fortifying UAEs infectious diseases preparedness. We are extremely honoured to house the mobile BSL-3 lab at SKMC, Tawam, and Al Rahba Hospital. We remain committed alongside the government and ADPHC in protecting the community against infectious diseases. The mobile laboratory will be mobilised by the Reference Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Abu Dhabi (RLID-AD) (surveillance laboratory), in times of outbreaks, to augment the screening and diagnostic capacities of communicable diseases in the emirate. The BSL-3 mobile laboratory has been designed to operate according to international best practices. TradeArabia News Service There is now no part of Korea that is not officially an aging society with people over 65 making up more than seven percent of the population, last year's census shows. In the previous census, one out of some 250 municipalities in Korea still held out with an elderly population below seven percent -- Yeongtong District in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province where Samsung Electronics has its main plant. But now that too has fallen. Only 42 municipalities have a higher population of children and adolescents than of elderly people, and 110 have become a "super-aged" society with an elderly population of more than 20 percent. The overall elderly population reached 8.21 million last year, up 460,000 and crossing the 8 million mark for the first time. But the population of children and adolescents stands at just 6.18 million, or 12.3 percent of the total population. The younger population peaked at 21 percent in 2000. The pace of aging will likely pick up even more in the next decade as the baby boomer generation born between 1955 and 1963 crosses the threshold into old age. That means the economically active population will shrink. The working-age population aged 15-64 has already dropped to 71.3 percent. However, the total population increased by 50,000 or 0.1 percent. The Korean-born population increased by 130,000 or 0.3 percent while the foreign-born population shrank by 80,000 or 4.7 percent as the coronavirus pandemic kept migrants away. Many more Koreans live alone. The total number of households increased by 590,000 or 2.8 percent to 21.48 million as single and two-person households accounted for a whopping 60 percent of all households. More than 45,000 migrants crossed the Channel to the U.K. from mainland Europe in 2022, surpassing the previous year's record by more than 17,000, according to government figures released Sunday. The issue has become a huge political problem for the Conservative government, which has promised to bring down illegal immigration and break the smuggling gangs that carry out the crossings. In total, 45,756 people made the dangerous small-boat crossing of one of the world's busiest shipping lanes last year, compared with 28,526 in 2021. Huge crowds gathered across the country to ring out the old year and ring in the new. Popular sunrise spots like Ulsan's Ganjeolgot Cape and Gangneung's Gyeongpo Beach drew hundreds of thousands of visitors for the first dawn of the New Year. No accidents were reported thanks to careful preparations by police and first responders, but roads were severely congested in some regions. Visitors watch the year's first sunrise on Haeundae Beach in Busan on Sunday. An estimated 130,000 people gave a big cheer as the sun rose over the sea off Ganjeolgot Cape, where it first became visible from the mainland 7:31 a.m. Sunday and put their hands together to make a New Year's wish. Some 1,500 safety officers were deployed there. In Busan, about 100,000 people gathered at 27 sunrise spots including Haeundae Beach. In Gangwon Province, parking spaces and roads near viewpoints were also crowded all day long. According to the Gangneung city government, some 300,000 people gathered along the beaches, 150,000 at Gyeongpo Beach and nearby Gyeongpodae Pavilion alone. People gather to watch the ritual ringing-in of the New Year at Bosingak Bell Pavilion on in Seoul last Saturday. /Newsis In Seoul the trendy Hongik University district was crowded from New Year's Eve until early morning of New Year's Day with youngsters who wanted to celebrate with their friends. Some 60,000 people gathered to watch the New Year's bell ringing ceremony at the Bosingak Bell Pavilion in downtown Seoul for the first time in three years. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday pledged to boost the renegade country's nuclear weapons "exponentially" as he fired another volley of missiles into the sea. North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday that fell into the East Sea and another one on Sunday morning. Here, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a video conference with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and ordered soldiers to retaliate "with a firm determination not to avoid going to war." The Defense Ministry warned the North Korean regime will "face an end" if it attempts to use nuclear weapons. According to the North's official Korean News Agency, Kim told a plenary session of the ruling Workers Party that South Korea has become an "undoubted enemy" that is "hell-bent on imprudent and dangerous arms build-up." A missile is being launched in an unidentified location last Saturday, in this photo from the [North] Korean Central News Agency the following day. He added this highlights the need to mass-produce tactical nuclear weapons and push for "an exponential increase of the country's nuclear arsenal." "We have declared our resolute will to respond with nuke for nuke and an all-out confrontation for an all-out confrontation," it quoted him as saying. Kim was presiding over a bizarre ceremony where the plenary session took delivery of what he called "super-large multiple rocket launchers capable of carrying nuclear weapons." The 600-mm rounds appear capable of hitting targets 400 km away, so they can hit any target in South Korea. "Our nuclear force considers it as the first mission to deter war and safeguard peace and stability and, however, if it fails to deter, it will carry out the second mission, which will not be for defense," Kim said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (front right) and his daughter inspect medium-range Hwasong-12 missiles in an undisclosed location, in this grab from [North] Korean Central Television on Sunday. He said the North was also presented with the "task of developing another [intercontinental ballistic missile] system," presumably referring to attempts to build a solid-fuel engine for them that makes launches much faster and harder to detect. North Korea's existing Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-17 ICBMs use liquid fuel which takes time to prepare for launch. Kim also claimed his country is in the "final stage" of developing a spy satellite, which would be necessary to mount precision attacks against the South. Meanwhile, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun daily said South Korea and Japan are considering sharing radar information that detects and tracks North Korean missiles through the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Korea's first generation of baby boomers born in 1958 turn 65 this year and officially become senior citizens. They will be able to draw a public pension of W320,000 and get free subway rides, free flu shots and discounts on dental implants. That also means Korea will be getting a step closer to a super-aged society. Statistics Korea projects the country to reach a population of 10 million elderly people in 2024, when they will account for 19.4 percent of the population. Their numbers will continue to increase and account for 46.4 percent by 2070 if the current low birthrate continues. What will happen to Korea when it becomes an elderly society? First, society will shoulder a heavier welfare burden. Seoul Metro and public transportation suffer from a chronic deficit, and losses will swell when 10 million senior citizens get free rides, so fares for everyone else will inevitably rise. Total public pensions, which are paid to senior citizens who fall into the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket, will rise from W7 trillion when they were introduced in 2014 to W20 trillion this year (US$1=W1,275). North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has denounced South Korea as an "undoubted enemy" making an "exponential increase" in tactical nuclear weapons and warheads inevitable. "Our nuclear force considers it as the first mission to deter war and safeguard peace and stability and, however, if it fails to deter, it will carry out the second mission, which will not be for defense." The North closed last year with missile provocations and opened the new year with another, firing rockets capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads. The weapons have apparently been deployed at frontline bases. The North also aims to manufacture ultrasonic missiles capable of carrying multiple warheads, nuclear submarines and spy satellites. They could be completed in a year or two, enabling North Korea to strike anywhere in South Korea and the U.S. mainland. The U.S. has pledged to use its nuclear umbrella to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean attack, but there is no guarantee Washington will live up to that promise if Pyongyang's ICBM threat becomes a reality to the American mainland. Instead, it could allow itself to be blackmailed into concessions to North Korea, from easing sanctions to military talks. The U.S. and South Korea last November agreed to concrete retaliation in the event of a North Korea nuclear attack and conducted military drills based on such a scenario. But the agreement has been criticized for being weaker than the nuclear weapon-sharing pact among NATO members. North Korea must be made to understand that a nuclear attack against South Korea will result in an overwhelming response, either through the redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, a NATO-style pact or independent measures by South Korea. U.S. officials are already discussing the option of deploying tactical nukes. Seoul must have a say in the use of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. It must insist even if the U.S. refuses at first. If Seoul twiddles its thumbs, it could end up a hostage to North Korea's nuclear weapons. KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 20:22 | All, Japan Emperor Naruhito offered greetings Monday in his first New Year's address in three years following a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. "After three years, I am very happy to celebrate the New Year with you all," the emperor told well-wishers from behind glass on a balcony at the Imperial Palace. "I hope that this year will be a peaceful and good year for all of you." He was accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, and other members of the imperial family. The couple's only daughter, Princess Aiko, who came of age in December 2021, joined the annual event for the first time. A total of six greeting sessions took place during the day -- three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Of the roughly 9,600 people selected by lottery, 7,312 visited the palace. The Imperial Household Agency resumed the New Year's address by the emperor as Japan has been cautiously easing rules on people's movements despite signs of a resurgence of the virus. There is concern that infections and deaths related to COVID-19 will surge as travelers flood public transportation during the New Year's holidays. Related coverage: Japan emperor wishes 2023 to be year of hope amid pandemic, war FOCUS: Japan's imperial family eyeing social media to stay in touch IN PHOTOS: People celebrate New Year in Japan and beyond KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 18:54 | All, Japan Two people were confirmed dead Monday after their bodies were found at the site of a landslide in northeastern Japan, local authorities said. The landslide, measuring 20 to 30 meters in height and 100 meters in width, occurred at a mountain in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday. The landslide engulfed around 10 buildings and left an elderly couple -- a man in his 80s and his wife in her 70s -- missing. Authorities inspect the area around site where two bodies were found on Jan. 2, 2023, after a landslide hit houses in the Yamagata Prefecture city of Tsuruoka, northeastern Japan. (Kyodo) Police said they are trying to determine whether the two bodies found are those of the missing couple. But because the bodies were severely disfigured, it may take time to identify them, they said. According to the Tsuruoka city office, a woman's body was discovered around 6:55 a.m. Monday in the vicinity of the collapsed home of the missing couple, and a short time later, the body of a man was found nearby. Snow had also accumulated around the site. Police, firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces removed earth and sand after clearing most of the debris from the couple's house by Sunday night. Many of the buildings caught in the mudslide are believed to be vacant houses or garages, but two residences were also involved. Related coverage: Elderly couple missing in landslide in northeastern Japan KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 21:43 | All, World Croatia has adopted the euro, bringing the number of European Union member states using the single currency to 20. Sunday's event came nearly a decade after Croatia joined what is now the 27-nation European Union. "I welcome Croatia to the euro family and to the ECB Governing Council table in Frankfurt," said Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank. "Croatia worked hard to become the 20th member of the euro area, and it succeeded," Lagarde said in a statement released Sunday. "It shows the euro is an attractive currency, which brings stability to its members." Croatia declared independence from the then Yugoslavia in 1991 and established diplomatic ties with Japan in 1993. Related coverage: FOCUS: Yen set for turnaround in 2023 after slide to 32-year low vs dollar KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 12:28 | Arts, All, Japan Evacuee Ukrainian university students in southwestern Japan have taken on internships creating subtitles in their native language for Japanese anime, with some hoping the experience will help them find work in the country after graduating. Having studied Japanese in Ukraine before fleeing the country following Russia's February invasion, 22 students were taken in as interns in August by the Tokyo-based Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy, and have made Ukrainian subtitles for animated films such as Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Now studying at the Japan University of Economics in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, the students had to think of ways to translate plain dialogue as well as more complicated Japanese expressions into similar sayings in Ukrainian. Although much of the anime the students grew up watching was subtitled in Russian, there have been growing calls for more subtitles in Ukrainian since the invasion. "It's important for Ukrainian language content to increase," said 18-year-old student Daria, who asked her full name not be used. Daria interned at the academy until November, creating subtitles for evacuees who had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries. Daria's mother, who has evacuated to Poland, saw the Lupin film and said she laughed at the titular character's expressions. "It feels special to see it in Ukrainian," she said, adding she was proud of her daughter for making use of her Japanese abilities to translate a famous film. Daria has said she is considering looking for work as a translator in Japan after she graduates. According to the university, 11 evacuee students are set to graduate next spring, some of whom also hope to find work in Japan. Shinichi Matsuzaki, an associate professor at the university, is helping students by calling potential employers and arranging interview opportunities. "The university will continue to support all students until they are set on their career path or pursue further education," he said. Related coverage: Over 60% of Ukrainian evacuees in Japan unemployed: survey Russia's invasion of Ukraine Kyodo News' top int'l story of 2022 Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said that a total of 2,166,821 riders used its public transport, shared mobility means and taxis during the New Years Eve 2023, marking a 33% rise from last years 1.632 million riders. The breakdown of ridership was as follows: Metro: 958,161 riders (compared to 640,175 last year), Tram: 49,855 riders (compared to 34,672 last year), and public buses: 395,930 riders (compared to 331,837 last year). Marine transport means ferried 77,844 riders (compared to 50,398 last year), E-Hailer: 125,651 riders (compared to 96,937 last year), Taxi: 558,079 riders (compared to 476,831 last year), and shared mobility means: 1,301 riders (compared to 1,011 last year). Lifting public transport riders to the New Years Eve celebrations areas went smoothly, thanks to the comprehensive plan mapped out by RTA in collaboration with the Executive Committee for Securing International and Local Events in Dubai. The metro service continued around-the-clock and more than 200 buses were deployed to lift riders from celebrations locations to the vehicles parking areas designated for the event. TradeArabia News Service By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Jan 2, 2023 - 11:12 | World, All, Feature China is expected to focus on economic recovery in 2023 following its shift to living with COVID-19 after relaxing its draconian restrictions in the face of public frustration, with any attempt to invade Taiwan seen as unlikely in the near term. China appears to be making a hard landing in its exit from President Xi Jinping's signature "zero-COVID" policy involving lockdowns implemented since the start of the pandemic. Infections are exploding as a lack of drugs, strain on the medical system and ditched efforts to correctly count virus cases causes widespread confusion. The Chinese economy was already slowing due to the stringent antivirus measures, with dampened consumption, disrupted supply chains and a relatively high youth unemployment rate, but the rapid spread of the virus is expected to weigh on growth for some time. "Xi will be more attentive to economic issues in China in 2023. The issues accompanying the relaxation of rigid anti-COVID controls will keep the Xi government busy," said Tai Wan-chin, a professor emeritus at Tamkang University in New Taipei City. Ke Long, a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, told a recent press conference he believes China's economy will "somewhat" recover in 2023 compared with the previous year. But he added that it is "too early to have high expectations" given the difficulty of implementing policies during what he called a "political vacuum" between the start of Xi's norm-breaking third five-year term as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party last October and the launch of a new government leadership during an annual session of the National People's Congress, the country's parliament, this March. Ke also warned of social instability if public opposition to the Xi leadership escalates after rare nationwide protests against the zero-COVID policy in late 2022 led to what appeared to be concessions by the government. Shin Kawashima, a professor at the University of Tokyo, said that whether Xi can continue to be responsive to the public mood while also showing resilience will be key for the Chinese government in 2023. As China increases its military pressure on Taiwan following U.S House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled democratic island last August, senior U.S. military officers have warned that Beijing could attempt to forcibly take control of what it views as a renegade province as soon as 2023. However, Ke dismissed such a scenario, saying China would face difficulties covering the cost of a war as, unlike Russia, which invaded its neighbor Ukraine, the Asian country does not have abundant natural resources such as oil and gas for export. "If you want to wage a war, your economy should have achieved a certain level of growth and accumulated savings. But China's economic growth has significantly decelerated," Ke said. In the first nine months of 2022, China's economy expanded 3.0 percent from a year earlier, with analysts predicting China is unlikely to have achieved its growth target of around 5.5 percent for the year. Tai also said a summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia, in November "seemed to have eased the apprehension over an immediate military collision" between the United States and China. In the talks, the two leaders agreed to develop "principles" to manage their intensifying competition, and Biden told a post-summit press conference that he sees no "imminent attempt" by China to attack Taiwan. The U.S. president has publicly acknowledged that Washington would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion, even though the United States has officially maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding the use of military force in response to a Chinese attack on Taipei. Kawashima said China has suggested annexation of Taiwan is a long-term goal to be achieved by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and that it is still in the first of three stages toward that target. In the first stage, China is in the process of boosting its military capability to be able to seize the island while also using the pressure of cyberattacks and the spread of fake news as well as trade sanctions to induce the Taiwanese people to accept the prospect of unification with the mainland, he said. If those measures do not prove effective, Beijing could proceed to the second stage of raising stress levels, including attacking and occupying a remote Taiwanese island, and eventually could resort to the third stage of considering attacks on the main island, Kawashima said. "I don't think (China) will immediately jump to the third stage and I believe Taiwanese people have the same opinion," he said. Kawashima rejected speculation that China could enter a conflict with Taiwan or the United States in a bid to divert public attention if it faces mounting domestic pressure from people unhappy with government policies, calling such an option "too risky." If such a move failed, the Xi government could further lose public confidence, he added. With China eager to put the economy on a post-pandemic path to recovery and control public discontent in 2023, Beijing must avoid diplomatic headaches, and therefore no significant changes are expected in its relations with other nations including Japan, he added. Even though Xi has recently been engaged in a charm offensive to improve the country's image and stabilize China's relations with the United States and other major countries, there have been no substantial changes in Beijing's policies, he said. As for Japan, a source familiar with bilateral ties said the two Asian countries' relations have "bottomed out," with Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreeing in November in Bangkok to work to stabilize bilateral ties. The two neighbors' relations have been precarious over a territorial row and Beijing's increased military pressure on Taiwan, which is close to Japan's southwestern islands. The source said, however, that bilateral ties will still face difficulties going forward, with Beijing expressing opposition to Tokyo's recently adopted new security strategy, which describes China as Japan's "greatest strategic challenge." Issues related to China will also likely be among major agenda items at a Group of Seven summit to be held in Japan in May, which may trigger a sharp reaction from Beijing, the source added, pointing to the need for "crisis management" in bilateral ties. Related coverage: China's Xi seeks public's perseverance after easing of COVID policy Taiwan calls on Japan to promote security cooperation to tackle China U.S. OKs potential $180 million sale of anti-tank systems to Taiwan LHASA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Gyirong port in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the largest land border crossing between China and Nepal, has resumed two-way trade. The port of Gyirong, located in the city of Xigaze, Wednesday saw the entry of six lorries carrying 825,800 yuan (about 118,321 U.S. dollars) worth of goods from Nepal. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the port was closed at the end of 2019. In July 2020, it partially reopened to allow exports to Nepal. According to an official with the regional department of commerce, the resumption of two-way trade via the port will help boost trade and the economic development of the two countries. Produced by Xinhua Global Service HOHHOT, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's fourth largest freshwater lake in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has seen its water area expand, wetland ecology recover and biodiversity improve, thanks to beefed-up conservation efforts over the years. The water area of Hulun Lake has expanded to 2,244.3 square km, an increase of nearly 500 square km from a decade ago, according to the Hulun Lake National Nature Reserve Administration in the city of Hulun Buir. The lake's water volume, meanwhile, has reached 13.97 billion cubic meters, a near-record high, the administration said. The wetland ecology of the once-dwindling lake has gradually recovered and the biodiversity in the area has continued to improve. Since 2016, the number of bird species recorded in the area has increased from 333 to 345, and the number of mammal species has risen from 35 to 38. Hulun Lake plays an important role in the ecological security of the grasslands in north China. It was included on the list of internationally important wetlands in 2002. However, years of drought and excessive human activity led to the shrinking of the lake and surrounding wetlands, combined with a decline in the wildlife population. To better protect Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia has intensified a series of measures in recent years, such as enhancing grassland ecological protection, improving the industrial structure and restoring the wetland ecosystem. In 2021, the city of Hulun Buir started implementing a five-year plan, with an investment of over 1.1 billion yuan (158 million U.S. dollars), for ecological and environmental protection in the Hulun Lake basin. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Public Security has ordered a strict crackdown on the production and sale of counterfeit COVID-19-related medicines, as well as relevant medical devices such as testing kits, oximeters and oxygenerators. According to a statement issued on Monday, the ministry has ordered relevant police forces across the country to keep a close eye on the production, wholesale and retail of COVID-19-related medical supplies, as well as relevant trading on online platforms. It also asked the police to work with other authorities to investigate possible violations reported by members of the public. It pledged special attention to organized or serial violations and those involving multiple regions to resolutely bust the criminal networks and cut their profit chains. This photo shows Haawo Mohamud Farah (R), a tricycle (Tuktuk) taxi driver, talking with a passenger at Cadado town, Somalia, Dec. 23, 2022. (Photo by Adbi/Xinhua) Somalia's 29-year-old woman Haawo Mohamud Farah defies the taboo and proves her mettle by providing ride services to passengers through her tricycle in the male-dominated taxi industry. MOGADISHU, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- She throws plumes of dust in the rugged streets of Adado, a tiny town in the semi-autonomous Galmudug region, central Somalia, as she speeds off to work every morning leaving behind pedestrians holding into their cheeks with palms in utter awe. The 29-year-old Haawo Mohamud Farah, alias Xaawo Jookar, is a tricycle (Tuktuk) taxi driver in a patriarchal society, and country where women are intimidated to venture out of their comfort zones by militant groups. Mohamud, a mother of five, ventured into this male-dominated field after she was divorced and left with the responsibility of singlehandedly taking care of her young children. This photo shows Haawo Mohamud Farah (1st L), a tricycle (Tuktuk) taxi driver, posing for a photo with her family members at Cadado town, Somalia, Dec. 23, 2022. (Photo by Adbi/Xinhua) Since she joined the male-dominated industry six months ago, her decision attracted hate and love in equal measures from the town residents, relatives and friends. "The local people could not believe a woman could do this business, and that is why they are amused when they see me driving," she told Xinhua in a recent interview. Mohamud joined the highly competitive and male-dominated job after she was divorced by her husband. "I had no option other than looking for any job that will facilitate me to place my family's needs on the table. It was difficult deciding on becoming a tricycle driver in a town whose community has assigned roles to people based on their gender," said Mohamud. She said at the beginning, people avoided her tricycle after noting that the driver is a woman. "People never believed that a woman can drive anything to her destination safely," Mohamud said. In Somalia, women are expected to bear children and be home keepers in their community. According to Mohamud, the taxi business is extremely competitive since it is the only one offering sustainable income to the majority of the youth in the town and many parts of the war-ravaged country. This photo shows Haawo Mohamud Faraha, a tricycle (Tuktuk) taxi driver, working at Cadado town, Somalia, Dec. 23, 2022. (Photo by Adbi/Xinhua) "The taxi business is stiff. At every stage within the town, there are tens of tricycle operators waiting for customers. Whenever a customer approaches, scores of the operators rush to them," Mohamud said. "As a woman, I cannot jostle for customers with my male counterpart. I will avoid such jostling to save myself from being hurt in the scuffles." Mohamud, however, concedes her being a woman has given her some competitive advantages over her male counterparts, adding that women and young customers prefer her over a male operator. "Female clients avoid male operators in my favor to enjoy their privacy, while the young men take a ride on my tricycle for adventure and out of curiosity," said Mohamud, denoting that she managed to carve a niche in the business for herself by being a trustworthy person and maintaining good hygiene. Mohamed said despite the challenges, especially during the night by some wayward customers, she enjoys her work since it is helping her cater to household bills. "My children are getting the best care, the best education, and the best dressing. If I did not join this business I would be begging in the streets or misused by men for a peanut to feed my children," Mohamud said. Visitors buy biscuits at the Indonesia pavilion during the 19th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) JINAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- On Monday, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially came into force for Indonesia, and on the same day, Shandong, a province in east China, issued the first RCEP certificate of origin for export to Indonesia. The certificate of origin will cut the tariff rate of a batch of frozen salmon produced by Qingdao SanMu Aquatic Products Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, Shandong, from 10 percent to zero. "This means we can be exempted from tariffs in Indonesia by over 2 million yuan (about 287,170 U.S. dollars) every year," said Sun Junzhi, general manager of the company. "For the low-margin aquatic processing industry, tariff concessions like this are delightful news and opportunities, which help stabilize orders and significantly boost export growth," Sun further noted. Customs data show that ASEAN is currently Shandong's largest trade partner, among which Indonesia is a major export destination. In the first 11 months of 2022, Shandong's export value to Indonesia reached 39.01 billion yuan, up 29.3 percent year on year. The new move is surely a good tiding to trade companies from both sides. Countree Food is a Qingdao-based manufacturer of canned vegetables and fruits with an annual turnover of over 100 million U.S. dollars. The company imports tropical fruits and other raw materials from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries and processes them into canned mixed fruits for export. "After the RCEP comes into effect in Indonesia, it will be easier for us to reach the benefit threshold and enjoy relevant preferential policies," said Shang Huiming, chairman of Countree Food. Shang expects that the company's import of pineapple, pineapple juice, and other raw materials from Indonesia in 2023 will increase by at least 15 percent year on year under the RCEP. An internet platform has been set up by the RCEP Shandong Enterprise Service Center, which has handled more than 100,000 inquiries by nearly 6,000 users, helping enterprises make full use of the RCEP preferential policies. According to Wang Ke, head of the center, it is planning to set up an office in Indonesia to better facilitate bilateral trade. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has urged all-out efforts to stabilize industrial growth, calling for more steps to accelerate the building of a modern industrial system, strengthen the weak links in industrial chains, and promote the digital economy. Over the past year, the ministry has rolled out multiple supportive measures to cope with the shock of factors beyond expectations, Jin Zhuanglong, minister of the MIIT, said in an interview with Xinhua. The minister said that the industrial sector has continued to serve as the "ballast stone" of the macroeconomic market, citing figures showing that the total added value of Chinese industrial enterprises above a designated size registered 3.8-percent year-on-year growth in the first 11 months of 2022. Despite the current difficulties with operation, China's industrial economy's advantages of a complete industrial system and strong domestic demand are still prominent, Jin said. He said that the optimized COVID-19 response, combined with existing and incremental policies, will boost market confidence, with the vitality of market entities, consumption potential and the driving force of industrial upgrading effectively released. "We have the confidence, conditions and capability to promote a stable recovery of the industrial economy," Jin said. He said China will take steps to stabilize industrial growth with a focus on key industries and areas. Targeted policies will be introduced to boost the stable growth of pillar industries such as automobiles and electronics, while efforts should be made to cultivate fresh growth points in new energy, new materials and other emerging industries. The ministry will focus on tilting more sources for manufacturing enterprises to help them attain high-end, smart and green development, enhancing services for major foreign-invested projects in the manufacturing sector and actively expanding consumption. To speed up the building of the modern industrial system, Jin urged efforts to identify the weak links in key and core technologies, as well as components and parts of the country's major manufacturing industrial chains, and pull together resources to tackle the problems, so that major industrial chains are more independent and controllable. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to reinforce the leading status of industries where China excels, the minister said. The country will take steps to ensure the new-energy vehicle industry flourishes and will adopt a market-oriented approach to support leading enterprises in growing stronger and bigger, while boosting the development of supporting industries, according to Jin. Meanwhile, the country will also elevate the competitiveness of the photovoltaic industry in an all-round way and advance the high-quality development of the shipbuilding industry, said the minister. The MIIT will provide greater support to promote the high-quality development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as these firms still face tough challenges in maintaining stable operations, according to Jin. In an effort to boost the development of SMEs, China will strive to ensure that the number of SMEs that feature specialization, refinement, uniqueness and innovation exceeds 80,000 by the end of 2023, while that of the "little giant" firms -- referring to small enterprises in their early stage of development and focusing on high-end technologies -- will top 10,000. While noting the important role of the digital economy in spurring economic growth and building the modern industrial system, Jin highlighted the headway that China has achieved in advancing the digital upgrade of the industrial sector. China has built the world's largest and technologically advanced network facilities, covering 500 million families with gigabit fiber-optic networks, with nearly 2.3 million 5G base stations. Looking into the future, Jin called for accelerating the construction of digital infrastructure, promoting the innovative development of the digital industry and deepening the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector. China has vowed to build world-class digital industrial clusters and a batch of world-leading smart factories and smart supply chains amid the country's efforts to develop the digital economy, Jin said. KRATIE, Cambodia, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Monday that China's upcoming reopening of its borders will revitalize the kingdom's economy and tourism. Hun Sen said Cambodia and other countries alike are looking forwards to welcoming Chinese tourists after the world's second largest economy planned to reopen its borders from Jan. 8. "Cambodia is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Chinese tourists," he said during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a China-funded river bridge. He added that the Southeast Asian nation is very pleased to welcome the return of Chinese tourists, saying that their presence is vital to the country's tourism and economic growth. "When China reopens its borders, flights will increase many times, so we hope to welcome about 2 million Chinese tourists again (in 2023)," Hun Sen said. According to the Cambodian leader, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019. Tourism is one of the four major pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. In the pre-pandemic era, the country registered 6.6 million international tourists in 2019, generating 4.92 billion U.S. dollars in revenue that contributed 12.1 percent to its GDP. Cambodia is famous for its three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province. Besides, it has a 450-km pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces. LONDON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have dismissed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to impose COVID-19 tests on travelers from China, calling it "a purely political manoeuvre," British newspaper The Guardian has reported. Scientists said testing travelers from China will "make no difference to the rise or fall" of the number of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom (UK), according to the report published on Saturday. UK's chief medical officer Chris Whitty on Thursday briefed the health secretary Steve Barclay, saying that no clear evidence of significant benefits was shown from testing travelers from China, said the report. Quoting another news outlet, the Observer, the report said Barclay had discussed the issues with Sunak but the Prime Minister "decided that it was more important for Britain to align itself with those nations -- the U.S., Japan, Italy and Spain -- that had already imposed such tests." "I don't think it's likely the UK will get any public health benefit from this measure," said Professor Mark Woolhouse of Edinburgh University in the report. "This can only have been done for political reasons." Woolhouse added that another reason for testing was to track new COVID-19 variants, but no one in the UK seemed worried about the new variant XBB.1.5, which now accounts for about 40 percent of cases and is spreading rapidly in the U.S.. "Instead, a lot of noise is being made about hypothetical variants emerging in China," said Woolhouse. Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia also told the newspaper: "Point-of-entry and point-of-exit screening for serious infections have been shown -- on many occasions -- to be ineffective at controlling diseases." "This isn't going to protect the UK population because it isn't going to stop the spread. So it is hard to see what will be gained by imposing these tests," said Hunter. This photo shows Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (2nd R, front) visiting a stall during an agricultural products exhibition to mark the World Food Day at National Crops Resources Research Institute, Wakiso district, Uganda, Oct. 16, 2022 . (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) Chinese agricultural experts are contributing to improved agricultural production in Uganda. WAKISO, Uganda, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- On a hot December day in the Wakiso district in Uganda's Central Region, 56-year-old Chinese agriculture expert Chen Taihua, gazing at the fish ponds at the Chinese-built agriculture center, was deep in thought of how lessons learnt back home can be implemented in rural Uganda to pull millions of people out of poverty. As a breeze from the nearby Lake Victoria gave a cooling effect to the midday heat, Chen could not help but talk about the abundance of water and arable land that Uganda has. While feeding the fish, Chen told Xinhua in a recent interview that in this abundance lays Uganda's wealth, which if properly harnessed, can improve the livelihood of Ugandans. Chen is treading a path that other Chinese experts have taken in supporting Uganda, where over 70 percent of the population derives its livelihood from agriculture, according to figures from the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). Chen, who is part of a team of Chinese agriculture experts that arrived in the country about two months ago, is part of the building bricks. China, through a tripartite agreement with Uganda and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, sent a team of experts to the east African country to share experiences with small-holder farmers on how best to improve production using appropriate technologies. The cooperation is under the framework of the FAO-China South-South Program which is now in the third phase in Uganda. The first and second phases, according to MAAIF, facilitated technology transfer and enabled improvements in the production and productivity of the crop, livestock, and fisheries sub-sectors. Visitors tour a maize stall during an agricultural products exhibition to mark the World Food Day at National Crops Resources Research Institute, Wakiso district, Uganda, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) During the phases, the Chinese hybrid rice variety and Chinese foxtail millet variety were introduced to farmers. The rice yields about 10 tonnes per hectare compared to improved and local varieties which yield 3.5 and 2.5 tonnes per hectare respectively, according to MAAIF. The foxtail millet variety, meanwhile, yields about 5 tonnes per hectare as compared to local and improved finger millet varieties grown in Uganda which yield 1 and 2.5 tonnes per hectare, respectively. During the implementation of the first two phases, a 220-million-U.S.-dollar China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park was established in the central part of the country. Zhang Xiaoqiang, head of the Chinese agriculture team for the third phase said the team is aiming to move local farmers to look at agriculture in a commercial way instead of subsistence. Zhang said the Chinese technicians will transfer knowledge and skills to the farmers through agriculture extension workers. "In the third phase, we want to promote investment in the agriculture industry, high-quality products, and bring them to the Chinese market. We also encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Uganda, and to bring all their value chain," Zhang said. Peter Muyimbo, the coordinator of the third phase on the Ugandan side, said the phase has been designed to commercialize agricultural production with a target of increasing exports to the Chinese market. He said during the phase, Chinese experts and technicians will interact with local farmers, sharing their experiences and best practices. "We are going to upscale production in Chinese hybrid rice, foxtail millet, production of livestock where we are dealing with goat production, especially the big ear goat. We shall also have embryo transfer especially in dairy production, we shall also have feeds," said Muyimbo. He said during the implementation of the phase, Uganda will draw lessons from China on how it has ensured food sovereignty and also ended extreme poverty. "We would like to copy and learn this from the Chinese people." News Vietnam Construction industry's growth rate surpasses set plan Ajex Logistics Services, a leading Middle East specialist in express distribution and shipping solutions, has signed a deal with Dammam Airports Company to provide logistics services from King Fahd International Airport. Dammam Airports Company CEO Eng Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hassany and Ajex CEO Mohammed Al-Bayati signed the agreement at the Dammam Airports Company headquarters. The new partnership agreement supports both companies strategic objectives for the year ahead. In 2023, Ajex has plans for significant expansion across the Middle East, with new services, operations and facilities set to be launched across the region, while Dammam Airports Company is working on expanding the logistical capacity of its facilities as King Fahd International Airport, located in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province, grows in regional importance. Raising capacity Al-Hassany said: At Dammam Airports Company, we are keen to raise the capacity of our express cargo facilities at King Fahd International Airport. This new partnership with Ajex Logistics Services supports our strategic objectives, which are aligned with the kingdoms Vision 2030 strategy for transportation and logistics services. Located just a few hours by road from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, Dammam, with its strategic location, is an important logistics centre to the GCC region that will enable us at Ajex to enhance our capacity and service times for our customers. Moreover, thanks to our new operations at King Fahd International Airport, we are vitally supporting the Vision 2030 objective to transform the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the preferred logistics hub in the region and a leading logistics hub globally, added Al-Bayati. Dammam and the wider Eastern Province serve as Saudi Arabias main oil-producing hub and are home to many large industrial companies in sectors including petrochemicals, chemicals, steel, cement, aluminium, plastics, and service-providing companies. Located just 20 kilometres from Dammam, King Fahd International Airport seeks to become a regional logistics hub, with plans under way to expand its facilities to process 3.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2050.-- TradeArabia News Service Artists from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region perform during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration in Manhattan, New York, the United States, Dec. 31, 2022. Artists from Hong Kong kicked off the countdown celebration on the eve of 2023 in Times Square. The performance with the theme of "Fusion, Motion, Inspiration - Hong Kong Rocks" blended music, dance, parkour, capoeira and others against a newly created medley. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Xinhua) An artist from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region plays Chinese musical instrument Erhu during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration in Manhattan, New York, the United States, Dec. 31, 2022. Artists from Hong Kong kicked off the countdown celebration on the eve of 2023 in Times Square. The performance with the theme of "Fusion, Motion, Inspiration - Hong Kong Rocks" blended music, dance, parkour, capoeira and others against a newly created medley. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Xinhua) An artist from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region performs during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration in Manhattan, New York, the United States, Dec. 31, 2022. Artists from Hong Kong kicked off the countdown celebration on the eve of 2023 in Times Square. The performance with the theme of "Fusion, Motion, Inspiration - Hong Kong Rocks" blended music, dance, parkour, capoeira and others against a newly created medley. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the announcement of a six-month cease-fire between the Colombian government and five armed groups. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on New Year's Eve bilateral cease-fire agreements with five rebel groups from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2023, which he said are extendable depending on the progress of negotiations. The cease-fire is a development that brings renewed hope for comprehensive peace to the Colombian people as the New Year dawns, said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman, in a statement. "The secretary-general trusts that adherence to these commitments will reduce violence and the suffering of conflict-affected communities, while helping to build confidence in ongoing dialogues." The secretary-general reaffirms the support of the United Nations to Colombia's efforts to achieve full and lasting peace, said the statement. Sam Smith Silumbu makes a power bank at his workshop in Blantyre, Malawi, Dec. 29, 2022. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua) Inspired by Chinese technologies, 30-year-old Sam Smith Silumbu in Malawi has embarked on making phone accessories with the aim of establishing a local tech manufacturing company. BLANTYRE, Malawi, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Inspired by Chinese technologies, a 30-year-old man in Malawi has embarked on making phone accessories with the aim of establishing a giant local tech manufacturing company. Sam Smith Silumbu manufactures mobile phone accessories, including low-cost power banks, convenient for use on various mobile gadgets to deal with power shortages in Malawi. Despite having pursued a civil engineering major at Xinyu University in Jiangxi Province in China, Silumbu came across a lot of Chinese technologies, including techniques for making power banks. "When I came back from China, I observed that we had a lot of problems with the power blackouts; that's how the whole idea started. So we make these power banks with the aim of making them affordable and efficient," Silumbu told Xinhua in a recent interview. Silumbu is selling low-cost power banks under Kayondo Science Technology, a mobile phone accessories manufacturing company. He said he will widen its scope of business in the future. "We have received a lot of feedback and demand. We are even failing to meet the demand because of low supply. But we are finding ways to curb the challenge," said Silumbu. This photo shows power banks made by Sam Smith Silumbu at his workshop in Blantyre, Malawi, Dec. 29, 2022. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua) "Our biggest challenge is electricity. In most cases, we need an eight-hour continuous supply of electricity for our equipment to operate efficiently. However, continuing load-shedding schedules always hinder our productivity," he added. Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Long Zhou expressed his country's commitment to helping Malawi achieve its 2063 agenda, among others, by upholding the various agreements between the two countries. "We are committed to working with our Malawian friends to further build up our relationship, to further strengthen our political trust, to further expand our cooperation under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and in alignment with your own development strategy, the Malawi 2063 vision," Long said in an interview. According to Silumbu, his workshop is in line with Malawi's 2063 agenda that promotes industrialization; with a broader scope of business, his workshop will create more job opportunities. Malawian Minister of Information and Digitization Gospel Kazako has emphasized the need for young people like Silumbu to achieve Malawi's Agenda 2063. "These will be people to implement our development program ahead of 2063. Young people are crucial. But it is not a question of having young people; we need young people that are well trained," Kazako said. "We need to have young people that are well calibrated, young people that are ready and young people that are in line with the vision we have as a country," he said. Participants walk outside the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple uncertainties, the implementation of the RCEP trade pact offers a timely boost to faster recovery and long-term growth and prosperity of the region. HONG KONG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Commenting on his doubled income from the sale of five tons of durian to export traders in December, Nguyen Van Hai, a veteran farmer in Vietnam's southern Tien Giang province, attributed such growth to the adoption of stricter cultivation standards. He also expressed satisfaction over higher import demand from countries participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), of which China takes the lion's share. Like Hai, many Vietnamese farmers and companies are expanding their orchards and improving the quality of their fruit in order to boost their exports to China and other RCEP members. The RCEP agreement, which entered into force a year ago, groups 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It aims to ultimately eliminate tariffs on over 90 percent of goods trading among its signatories over the next 20 years. As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple uncertainties, the implementation of the RCEP trade pact offers a timely boost to faster recovery and long-term growth and prosperity of the region. TIMELY BOOST TO RECOVERY To increase exports to RCEP countries, Vietnamese enterprises must innovate technology and improve designs and product quality, Dinh Gia Nghia, deputy head of a food export company in the northern Ninh Binh province, told Xinhua. "The RCEP has become a launching pad for us to increase product output and quality, as well as the quantity and the value of exports," he said. Nghia estimated that in 2023, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports to China may increase by 20 to 30 percent, thanks mainly to smoother transport, quicker customs clearance and more efficient and transparent regulations and procedures under the RCEP arrangement, as well as e-commerce development. Customs clearance has been shortened to six hours for agricultural products and within 48 hours for general goods under the RCEP agreement, a major boon for Thailand's export-dependent economy. In the first nine months of 2022, Thailand's trade with RCEP member countries, which accounts for around 60 percent of its total foreign trade, rose 10.1 percent year on year to 252.73 billion U.S. dollars, data from Thailand's Commerce Ministry showed. For Japan, the RCEP has brought the country and its largest trading partner China into the same free trade framework for the first time. "Introducing zero tariffs when there is a large volume of trade will have the most significant effect on trade promotion," said Masahiro Morinaga, chief delegate of the Japan External Trade Organization's Chengdu office. Japan's official data showed that the country's exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food hit 1.12 trillion yen (8.34 billion dollars) for the 10 months through October last year. Among them, exports to the Chinese mainland accounted for 20.47 percent and increased by 24.5 percent from the same time a year earlier, ranking first in export volume. In the first 11 months of 2022, China's imports and exports with RCEP members totaled 11.8 trillion yuan (1.69 trillion dollars), up 7.9 percent year on year. "The RCEP has been a significant stand-out agreement in a time of great global trade uncertainty," said Professor Peter Drysdale from the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research at the Australian National University. "It pushes back against trade protectionism and fragmentation in 30 percent of the world economy and is a hugely stabilizing factor in the global trading system." According to an Asian Development Bank study, the RCEP will increase the member economies' incomes by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. Staff members put stickers on fresh durians before export to China at an export factory in Krong Pac district, Vietnam's central highlands Dak Lak province, on Sept. 17, 2022. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) REGIONAL INTEGRATION Experts say the RCEP pact will accelerate regional economic integration through lower tariffs, stronger supply chains and production networks, and forge a more robust trade ecosystem in the region. The RCEP's common rules of origin, which stipulate that product components from any member country would be treated equally, will increase sourcing options within the region, create more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into the regional supply chains and reduce trading costs for businesses. For emerging economies among the 15 signatories, foreign direct investment inflows are also expected to grow as major investors in the region are stepping up specialization to develop supply chains. "I see the potential of the RCEP becoming an Asia-Pacific super supply chain," said Professor Lawrence Loh, director of the Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore's Business School, adding that if any parts of the supply chain become disrupted, other countries can come in to patch up. As the biggest free trade agreement ever forged, the RCEP will ultimately create a very powerful method that could be a role model for many other free trade areas and free trade agreements in the world, the professor said. Gu Qingyang, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore, told Xinhua that the vibrant dynamism of the region is also a strong attraction for economies outside the region, which is witnessing increasing investment from the outside. INCLUSIVE GROWTH The pact will also play an important role in narrowing the development gap and allowing for an inclusive and balanced sharing of prosperity. According to a World Bank report published in February 2022, lower middle-income countries will see the biggest wage gains under the RCEP partnership. Simulating the impact of the trade deal, the study finds that real incomes could grow by as much as 5 percent in Vietnam and Malaysia, and as many as 27 million more people will enter the middle class by 2035 thanks to it. Undersecretary of State and Spokesman of the Cambodian Commerce Ministry Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP could help Cambodia graduate from its least developed country status as soon as 2028. The RCEP is a catalyst for long-term and sustainable trade growth, and the trade pact is a magnet to attract more foreign direct investments to his country, he told Xinhua. "More FDIs mean more new capital and more new job opportunities for our people," he said. The kingdom, known for its agricultural products such as milled rice, and manufacturing garments and shoes, stands to gain from the RCEP in terms of further diversifying its exports and integrating into the regional and global economy, the official said. Michael Chai Woon Chew, deputy secretary-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, told Xinhua that the transfer of technology and production capacity from more developed countries to the less developed is a significant benefit of the trade deal. "It helps to increase the economic output and improve income level, enhance the purchasing power to buy more goods and services from (the) more developed economy and vice versa," Chai said. As the world's second-largest economy with strong consumption capacity and powerful production and innovation potential, China will provide an anchor mechanism for the RCEP, said Loh. "There's a lot to gain for all parties concerned," he said, adding that the RCEP has a diversity of economies in different stages of development, so the stronger economies like China can help the emerging ones while the stronger economies can also benefit from the process due to new demand by the new markets. KRATIE, Cambodia, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Monday that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has provided a lot of tangible benefits to his country and other participating countries. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a China-funded river bridge, Hun Sen said the BRI has injected vital impetus into Cambodia's socioeconomic development. "Cambodia is among the first supporters of the BRI," he said. "Cambodia and other countries in the region have benefited a lot from the BRI." Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said 2023 marks the BRI's 10th anniversary, saying that in the last 10 years, China and Cambodia had achieved remarkable results in their pragmatic cooperation under the BRI's framework. He said through the initiative, China has supported a number of mega-projects in the development of roads, bridges and power transmission lines, among others. He pointed out that the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the flagship project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI, has been making progress steadily. "A large number of enterprises have settled in the zone, which has created more than 30,000 jobs for locals and contributed to the socioeconomic development in Cambodia," Wang said. Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, said the BRI projects will be a contributor to the economic growth in Cambodia and in the region in the post-pandemic COVID-19 era. "I believe that the BRI projects here will help Cambodia achieve its ambitious goal of becoming an upper-middle income country by 2030 and a high-income country in 2050," he told Xinhua. "BRI projects such as airports, electric power plants, manufacturing bases, and expressways are crucial for the integration of the Cambodian economy with other economies of the world," Chandarith said. Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said the BRI is a driving force to continue expanding cooperation among countries in the region and the world at large for the cause of peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development. "It is becoming the new engine of global economic growth in the post-pandemic era," he told Xinhua. Besides Cambodia, other Southeast Asian nations such as Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia have also greatly benefited from the BRI, Matthews said. "The China-Laos Railway, which connects Kunming in China's Yunnan Province with Lao capital Vientiane, is a boon not only for both countries, but also for other Southeast Asian nations," he said. Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, said the BRI has not only brought enormous advantages to all participating countries, but also become a long-term strategy to promote connectivity and cooperation in all fields such as infrastructure, economy, investment, and finance, and to strengthen people-to-people bonds. "Every country stands to benefit from the BRI, of course at different levels, depending on their participation," he told Xinhua. "Through our observation, we see that the BRI has very positive impact on Cambodian economic growth." The BRI, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was initiated by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, is pictured at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou on Monday as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. The testing process will comprehensively verify the reliability of the C919 with commercial operation in mind -- with the aim of ensuring its safety and efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, lands at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou on Monday as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. The testing process will comprehensively verify the reliability of the C919 with commercial operation in mind -- with the aim of ensuring its safety and efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Technicians check a C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou on Monday as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. The testing process will comprehensively verify the reliability of the C919 with commercial operation in mind -- with the aim of ensuring its safety and efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, passes a water gate after landing at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou on Monday as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. The testing process will comprehensively verify the reliability of the C919 with commercial operation in mind -- with the aim of ensuring its safety and efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Technicians check a C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou on Monday as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. The testing process will comprehensively verify the reliability of the C919 with commercial operation in mind -- with the aim of ensuring its safety and efficiency. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) This photo shows a major onshore wind power project in northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Dec. 30, 2022. (Xinhua) SHENYANG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Liaoning Province in northeast China saw a major onshore wind power project connect to the state grid and go into operation on Saturday. The 400,000-kw wind power project can provide 1.13 billion kilowatt hours of clean electricity every year, which can satisfy a whole year's power demand for nearly 600,000 households. The project can help save 345,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 912,000 tonnes annually, said the northeast branch of the State Power Investment Corporation Limited, the project's investor and builder. With a gross investment of over 2.2 billion yuan (about 316 million U.S. dollars), the project has 80 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 megawatts, in addition to a 220-kilovolt booster station. This is the first major new-energy project completed by the State Power Investment Corporation in Liaoning during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The company plans to build more new-energy bases in Liaoning and neighboring Inner Mongolia and increase its installed capacity of clean energy to 6 million kilowatts before the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- China has seen about 52.7 million domestic tourist visits during the three-day New Year holiday, up 0.44 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday. The tourism revenue generated over the holiday has reached over 26.5 billion yuan (about 3.8 billion U.S. dollars), up 4 percent from the same period last year, according to the ministry. China's cultural and tourism market has remained stable and orderly during the holiday, which ends on Monday, it added. Short-distance tours are especially favored by travelers during the period, with sustained popularity for ice and snow activities, camping, and role-playing games among young people, the ministry noted. The data also shows a steady recovery in the country's medium- and long-distance travel, the ministry said, adding that some online travel agencies reported a marked increase in ticket bookings for cross-provincial and cross-border tourism over the holiday. KRATIE, Cambodia, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. The ceremony was presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, and was attended by thousands of local officials, residents and students. The 1,761-km-by-13.5-meter bridge, along with a 31.69-km connecting road, will be constructed by the Shanghai Construction Group under China's preferential loan, and the construction is expected to be completed in 42 months. Hun Sen said the bridge is another fruitful result of close cooperation and solidarity between Cambodia and China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He said the bridge is strategically important, as it is part of Cambodia's National Road 60B that links Kratie with central Kampong Thom province. "The bridge, along with its connecting road, will give a boost to goods transport, trade and investment activities as well as the development of agriculture, agro-industry and tourism in northeastern provinces," he said. The prime minister added that it will also facilitate local people's daily travel, students' commutes and patients' emergency travel to hospitals. "People will no longer cross the river by ferry or boat, and it will save both time and money," he said. Wang said 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, saying that under this initiative, the bilateral cooperation between China and Cambodia has achieved remarkable results in the infrastructure development sector. "The Kratie bridge across the Mekong River, which is broken ground for the construction today, is the latest achievement of cooperation between China and Cambodia under the BRI," he said. "The bridge will allow people to travel across the Mekong River smoothly and will undoubtedly contribute to socioeconomic development and livelihood improvement for residents on both sides of the river." Wang added that the project is not only a bridge linking facilities but also a bridge connecting the hearts of the people between China and Cambodia. As 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia and the "China-Cambodia Friendship Year", the ambassador said China is willing to work closely with Cambodia to build a community with a shared future between the two countries. Eng Sreymen, a 39-year-old tailor living along a road leading to the bridge in Chetr Borei district, said currently, there is no bridge, and it is very difficult to travel across the river, and it costs both time and money. "For crossing by boat, it costs 1,000 riels (25 U.S. cents) for a person and 1,000 riels for a motorcycle, so it costs 2,000 riels for a person with a motorcycle at daytime," she told Xinhua. "While at nighttime, boats are not in service, so if passengers want to cross the river, they have to rent a boat exclusively, which costs about 60,000 riels (15 U.S. dollars) for a single trip." Sreymen said when the construction of the bridge is completed, people will be able to travel freely and transport goods to markets easily, no matter if it's daytime or nighttime, and without fears of storms or rainstorms in the rainy season. "It will save time and money, and we will no longer spend money for crossing the river," she said. Chea Boreth, a 42-year-old motorcycle mechanic along a road leading to the bridge, said he is very happy to witness a lot of China-aided achievements in Cambodia such as roads, bridges, hospitals and schools, among others. "Moreover, Chinese enterprises have also invested a lot in Cambodia, which have created a lot of jobs for Cambodian people," he told Xinhua. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia on Jan. 2, 2023. Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) KRATIE, Cambodia, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday ordered the establishment of safe zones on the Mekong River to protect critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins after three of the dolphins were killed by longline fishing hooks within a week last month. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a river bridge, Hun Sen ordered authorities to deploy floating markers around designated conservation zones, saying that fishing must be completely prohibited from those marked zones. "The Mekong River, which is the habitat of nearly-extinct dolphins and fish species, must be well protected in order to ensure that these dolphins will not die from entanglement in gillnets," he said. The prime minister said the dolphin zones must be totally protected and added that the rare animals are very attractive to national and international tourists. The Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2004. In Cambodia, the mammals live along a 180-km main channel of the Mekong River in the northeastern Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. The Fisheries Administration and World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Cambodia estimated that there were about 92 Irrawaddy dolphins in total living in the Southeast Asian nation in 2017. WWF issued a statement, voicing its support for the prime minister's order to protect dolphin conservation areas along the Mekong River. "WWF applauds Samdech Techo Prime Minister's recommendations on the establishment of the permanent core conservation zones and seasonal core conservation areas within a 180-km stretch of Cambodia's Mekong River, where all kinds of fishing activities are prohibited," Seng Teak, WWF-Cambodia country director, said. He said WWF stands ready to collaborate with relevant authorities including the Dolphins Commission, Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and provincial administrations of Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, to support the effective management of this critically endangered species. According to the WWF, 11 dolphins passed away in 2022, bringing the total number of dead dolphins to 29 in the last three years. This aerial photo taken on Jan. 1, 2023 shows the construction site of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 1, 2023 shows the construction site of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2023 shows the construction site of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2023 shows the construction site of a China-funded bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River here in the country's northeastern part, with funds from China. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex 2023) and Naval Defence Exhibition and Conference (Navdex 2023) are set to showcase a wide range of new features and attract leading players of the international defence industry. Idex and Navdex will introduce Idex Next Gen, a space dedicated for startups which will enable entrepreneurs to demonstrate their solutions and technologies in the defence and naval sector to leading figures in the industry. The events will also introduce the Innovation Trail, a focused journey through the exhibition, highlighting the latest products and innovations for the defence and naval community, from the worlds leading brands. Innovative products Exhibitors will be able to submit their newest and most innovative products and solutions for selection as part of this curated journey, which will attract the interest thousands of international and local buyers. Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Adnec Group will host the 16th edition of Idex and the 7th edition of Navdex, from February 20 to 24, 2023, organised by Adnec Group at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in association with the UAE Ministry of Defence. Idex will mark the 30th edition of the event. The events are expected to host high-calibre participation, including leaders, decision-makers, ministers and senior officials, as well as industry experts and professionals from all over the world. Round table discussions As part of the event week, in a first of its kind, Adnec will host a series of high-level round table discussions with prominent industry thought leaders and commentators. These leading industry experts will gather to discuss recent and critical topics around the defence and naval industries, with an outcomes-based objective to collaborate on focused industry reports. On the content side, and again as a first of its kind, Idex and Navdex will each feature dedicated free to attend theatres for attendees to learn about the latest industry critical topics. Navdex Talks, located in the brand-new marina hall, will focus on the naval defence industry, whereas Idex Talks will include sessions that will cover a variety of engaging topics related to the global defence sector. These topics include: Women and, Youth in Defence, Defence Heroes and Motivational Masterclasses. The events will also feature an area for fans of defence history. Defence Through the Decades will showcase an interactive gallery style, highlighting products and technology from the industry throughout the past 30 years. Idex and Navdex provide a globally leading platform, showcasing the latest international defence innovations and technologies, along with the most advanced technology and equipment developed by defence industries across the world. The previous editions in 2021 recorded renowned success, welcoming over 62,000 visitors and more than 900 local, regional and international companies from 59 countries, in addition to hosting 35 national pavilions.-- TradeArabia News Service JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Sunday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. "Throughout the past 25 years, the two countries have deepened their wide-ranging bilateral relations, which have since been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and underpinned by a new 10-Year Strategic Programmes of Cooperation (2020-2029)," said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in a statement on its website. South Africa established diplomatic relations with China on Jan. 1, 1998. Regular interaction between South Africa and China takes place at various official levels and includes exchanges of state visits and high-level engagements as well as cooperation across different government ministries, according to the statement. "These engagements are a testimony to the great importance attached by both sides to the historic political and economic ties," the statement said, adding that South Africa and China enjoy vibrant economic relations and China is by far South Africa's largest global trading partner. The bilateral trade grew exponentially over the years, increasing from less than 1 billion Rand (about 59 million U.S. dollars) in 1998 to the current levels of 544 billion Rand in 2021. South Africa is also China's number one trading partner in Africa, the document said. More importantly, the mutually beneficial relationship supports South Africa's foreign policy objectives towards the achievement of its domestic development imperatives, as well as promotes the broader socio-economic development goals of the African continent, according to the statement. This year, South Africa will be hosting the 15th BRICS Summit as the Chair, having taken over from China, according to the document, which notes that the two countries remain committed to close cooperation and partnership within the context of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. As part of the 25th anniversary of bilateral relations, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor and her Chinese counterpart have exchanged letters of congratulations to reaffirm the well-established relations. The two sides are keen to explore further areas of collaboration for the mutual benefit, economic growth, and prosperity of their respective nations. Furthermore, the two governments have planned several activities that will take place throughout the year in both South Africa and China, to celebrate this milestone, the statement said. BUJUMBURA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Burundian Public Health and AIDS Control Minister Sylvie Nzeyimana on Sunday evening declared an outbreak of cholera in the east African country's commercial capital Bujumbura, she said here in a press release. "Nine suspected cholera cases were identified on Dec. 30, 2022 in the northern health district in the commercial capital Bujumbura with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, mainly in Bukirasazi neighborhood in Kinama zone. The next day, two other suspected cases were identified in Mutakura neighborhood, close to Bukirasazi," said Nzeyimana in the statement. According to her, another suspected case was notified in Buyenzi, near the Bujumbura city center and the latter had been in contact with one of the suspected cases located in the north of Bujumbura. "Results of the National Public Health Institute (INSP) issued on Dec. 31, 2022 have confirmed that it was cholera. Today, we take this opportunity to announce that five cholera patients are hospitalized at Prince Regent Charles Hospital while seven others have already been discharged from hospital," said Nzeyimana. Nzeyimana said that some preventive measures have already been taken. According to her, they include disinfecting infected households, sensitizing the community on the risks of the epidemic propagation and behavior to be adopted, and the search for other cholera cases in the community. The cholera outbreak happens at a time when heavy rains hit several parts of Bujumbura and its surroundings from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, causing overflows of toilets. The Burundian health ministry has also banned the sale of cooked and raw food products on the streets in Bujumbura following the disease outbreak. by Pankaj Yadav NEW DELHI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tourist destinations in India, be it the hills in the north, beaches in the south, or heritage properties and palaces in the west, were full to their capacity as people thronged them in large numbers to celebrate and welcome the New Year on Saturday night, amid a fresh COVID-19 scare. Celebrations continued on Sunday too, as popular market areas, hotels and restaurants in Delhi were packed to their fullest. Despite the latest guidelines from the federal government about observing COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), people hardly chose to wear face masks or observe social distancing at major markets in Delhi. On Dec. 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a COVID-review meeting with senior cabinet members and high-ranking health officials, when he laid stress on the CAB. "COVID is not over yet. Strengthen ongoing surveillance measures, especially at international airports. Audit COVID-specific facilities to ensure readiness of hospital infra, including oxygen cylinders, ventilators and staff," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said. Citing the pattern of past COVID-19 outbreaks in the South Asian country, a few days ago the federal health ministry warned that the next 40 days would be crucial as India could see a surge in COVID-19 cases in January. Mock drills were carried out last week at almost all hospitals across the country in a bid to check the readiness of health facilities amid a fresh COVID-19 scare. Presently the number of fresh COVID-19 cases per day remains below 300. According to federal health ministry data released on Sunday morning, 265 new cases were reported during the past 24 hours. Currently the active caseload in India stands at 2,706. Tourism in India picked up in December, particularly thanks to domestic travellers. An influx of foreign tourists was also witnessed during the ongoing tourist season. In one of the media reports a week ago, The Times of India reported, "An unprecedented rush of travellers has led to a manifold increase in cost of airfares and hotel bookings this holiday season." Be it popular vacation destinations like Goa, Ooty and Puducherry or other metro cities like Delhi and Kolkata, most one-way air tickets are priced more than 10,000 Indian Rupees (over 120 U.S. dollars) with spot tickets crossing 20,000 Indian Rupees (nearly 241 U.S. dollars) in some cases, according to the report. Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India Nagesh Pampati was quoted as saying that the prices of almost everything related to travel have increased exponentially. Dr. Vijyendra Singh, an orthopaedic surgeon, and his wife Rachna, who specializes in gynaecology in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, chose the northern state of Punjab to celebrate and welcome the New Year along with their three kids. "We had not ventured out of our home for almost a year-and-a-half. Our kids are placed in three different cities in India for their higher studies or jobs. They were all coming home for the New Year vacation. So we decided to plan our trip this time. We stayed two nights in Amritsar city and the rest two nights in Chandigarh. There was a huge rush of tourists as all hotels were booked to their capacity," said the doctor. Confirming the "successful tourist season" in December, Indian Association of Tour Operators president Rajiv Mehra said that almost all hotels in north India were booked in advance. "Hotel industry did a brisk business. Tour and travel operators also earned a quick buck as there was an increased demand for hired cabs," he said. DHAKA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,034 workers were killed and 1,037 others were injured in 2022 in Bangladesh due to different occupational accidents, workplace violence, road accident, and violation of labor rights, said a local development organization here Monday. The organization -- Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) -- revealed the statistics in Dhaka in a statement. Of the total, the highest number of causalities was in the transport sector with 499 deaths, followed by the construction sector at 118 and farming at 112. According to the BILS statistics, the deaths of workers at workplaces slightly decreased in 2022 compared to the previous two years as 1,053 workers were killed in 2021. The organization said weak labor inspections, lack of health and safety training among workers, and lack of decent wages were the key causes for continuing occupational accidents and labor unrest in the country. SYDNEY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and three others were in critical condition after two helicopters on Monday collided at the Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland, authorities have confirmed. "About 2:00 p.m. today, police and emergency services were called to a two-helicopter midair collision just opposite Sea World in the Broadwater. Those two aircraft then collided, have crashed and landed on the sandbank just out from Sea World resort," Queensland Police South Eastern Regional Duty Officer Gary Worrell told reporters. According to his briefing, one airframe had its windscreen removed and landed safely on the island, while the other crashed and became upside down. "Four people have lost their lives today and we have three others who are critical in hospital," said the officer, adding that the investigation is still ongoing and there will be a report for police by the coroner. Jayney Shearman, senior operations supervisor at the Queensland Ambulance Service, said that they identified 13 people in total from the two helicopters. There were also six other people suffering minor injuries mainly from glass shrapnel, according to her. Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell announced in a statement that the bureau has commenced a transport safety investigation into the fatal mid-air collision. "The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report detailing basic information gathered during the investigation's evidence collection phase in approximately 6-8 weeks," Mitchell said. Meanwhile, the state's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expressed her condolences on her social media, regarding the crash as "an unthinkable tragedy". "My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," the state premier wrote. THE HAGUE, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch started the New Year on Sunday by plunging into the cold water of the North Sea for a traditional dive that dates back to 1960. As many as 50,000 people had a good time by making a quick dip into the sea at various locations along the Dutch coast, according to local media reports quoting the organizers of the traditional event. At the beach of Scheveningen in the Hague, some 10,000 people wearing swim suits dived into the water at around noon after a warm-up along with lively music and songs. Similar events were also held in Dutch cities including De Bilt, Bloemendaal, Zandvoort and Leeuwarden. The Dutch swimmers were luckier this year as the New Year, with a temperature of about 7 degrees Celsius in the North Sea water, was reportedly the warmest ever measured in the Netherlands. The Dutch tradition started in 1960 in Zandvoort, a coastal city in the province of North Holland, before gradually growing into a popular nationwide event for the Dutch people to greet the New Year. KIEV, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian capital came under air attacks carried out by the Russian forces overnight Sunday, with explosions being reported in several districts of the city, local authorities said. The Kiev City Military Administration said in a statement that the air defense shot down all 32 air targets launched against the capital. Wreckage from aerial intercepts damaged a private car in the central Shevchenkivskiy district and fell onto subway tracks in the eastern Dniprovskiy district, disrupting the operation of the local subway. In the Kiev region, an infrastructure facility was damaged in a drone attack, Oleksii Kuleba, head of the Kiev Regional Military Administration said on Telegram. He didn't specify whether the facility was struck by a drone or by its wreckage. There were no reports of casualties in the Ukrainian capital and the Kiev region. In total, Russia has launched 45 combat drones, including 32 on Sunday after midnight and 13 late on Saturday, against Ukraine overnight Sunday and all of them were shot down by the air defense, according to the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Japan plans to invite Zelenskyy to join G7 summit online media reports 2 January, 02:37 PM Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo:instagram.com/zelenskiy_official) Japan plans to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in the G7 summit online, Japanese online newspaper Nikkei reported on Jan. 1 The summit will take place in Hiroshima on May 19-21. Japan, as the presiding country of the Group of Seven highly-industrialized nations, reportedly wants to create conditions for intensive discussions regarding Russias invasion of Ukraine. In turn, Zelenskyy in his speech will inform the G7 leaders about the current situation. Video of day For Tokyo, according to the newspaper, the coordination of G7 actions regarding Ukraine is an important step in preparing for a possible Taiwan conflict. Japan believes that it will be directly involved in such a conflict if it takes place, and expects a similarly tough response to possible Chinese aggression from the United States and Europe, as was the case with Russia. In addition to the Ukrainian president, Japan plans to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chairs the G20 in 2023, as well as Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News The UAE Cabinet has approved five government priorities for this year during the first meeting of 2023, chaired by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The five priorites are: establishing the national identity, enhancing environments sustainability, developing the educational system, accelerating the Emiratisation process and expanding UAE's international economic partnerships, said a Wam news agency report. Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE Cabinet will always be the engine of developing policies and strategies to achieve the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the aspirations of the people of the UAE in building the best economic, social and developmental environment. He added: Today, I chaired the new years first meeting of the UAE Cabinet We reviewed the outcomes of 2022, where the Cabinet has approved and developed more than 900 decisions, 22 government policies, 68 federal laws, 113 national regulations and 71 international agreements. He said: In the previous year, the government formed more than 120 teams from 110 federal and local entities and 50 private sector entities to work on updating more than 100 social, economic, educational and regulatory federal laws Thanks to these teams efforts, today we became the most adaptable and responsive government in the world. He noted that the UAE was among the best 5 countries in the world in 339 development, economic and social indicators in 2022. The Cabinet also approved the National Strategy for Desertification, which includes 33 major initiatives and a national action agenda until the year 2030. The strategy is based on five axes, with the aim of preserving ecosystems, improving the condition of arid and drylands, and mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change on ecosystems affected by desertification. Incentives to support the space sector The Cabinet approved the issuance of a decision to regulating permits for space activities and space-related activities, in the framework of strengthening and supporting the space sector in the country, stimulating its investments and attracting investors from all over the world. During the meeting, the Cabinet approved the system for financing the current federal education institutions, instructing the Ministry of Education to take the necessary measures and issue guidelines for implementing the system, in coordination with all concerned authorities. Customer satisfaction for government services The Cabinet approved the Government Services Observatory, which constitutes an interactive digital platform that displays customer satisfaction in real time with government services and their impressions of the various available channels, such as websites, smart applications, and service delivery centres. Russia gradually being overtaken by neighboring country, says top security official 2 January, 02:44 PM Oleksiy Danilov (Photo:www.president.gov) Russia is gradually being overtaken by a neighboring country, the Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, told the national television on Jan. 1. Today we see that one neighboring country is gradually bringing Russia under its control, since it has its own interests, he said. This is a very dangerous trend for the world and for us. According to Danilov, Russia may have new owners in the future. However, he refused to specify whether the country he was referring to was China. Video of day The longer the war continues, the more likely Russia will become a colony of one of the countries neighboring it, the security official added. U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 14 that Chinas leader Xi Jinping had instructed his government to forge stronger economic ties with Russia. The plan includes increasing Chinese imports of Russian oil, gas and farm goods, more joint energy partnerships in the Arctic and increased Chinese investment in Russian infrastructure, such as railways and ports, the advisers say. Later on Dec. 25, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed that Beijing would deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Total blackout in Ukraine only theoretically possible, says energy minister 2 January, 07:23 PM The Minister of Energy stated that a blackout in Ukraine is possible only in theory (Photo:Gleb Garanich/Reuters) A total blackout in Ukraine is only theoretically possible, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Ukrainian national television on Jan. 1. Our power grid has been operating under constant systematic shelling for almost three months, he said. Therefore, there is already a set of technical solutions that ensure the stability of its work. This also applies to electricity generation and transmission. Im sure the power system will hold up even under further possible strikes. Video of day According to the minister, actions have been taken for the physical protection of energy facilities, as well as balancing the energy system. They are proving their effectiveness, although a total blackout in Ukraine is still theoretically possible, he added. Halushchenko also predicted that blackouts in Ukraine would continue until the end of the heating season, but blackout schedules should become more regular. Our main goal is to make blackouts scheduled and predictable, so that consumers clearly understand when power will be cut off, and distribution operators adhere to blackout schedules, the minister said. Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than 10 months, since Feb. 24. The invaders are shelling Ukrainian cities in all regions, targeting residential buildings, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure. The Russian invaders have been striking critical infrastructure facilities since October, including with the use of Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones, which has led to power outages and a significant power deficit in Ukraines energy system. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Ukraines membership application to be discussed at next summit, says ambassador 2 January, 08:47 PM European Union (Photo:REUTERS/Yves Herman) The EU leaders will discuss Ukraines membership application at the next EU-Ukraine summit, early in 2023, Matti Maasikas, the head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine, said in an interview with the Ukrinform news agency on Jan. 2. I can only repeat that through the historic June decision of the European Council, Ukraine was given the prospect of becoming a member of the EU on the understanding that reforms are continued, he said. Were not yet at the point where we decide on the opening of negotiations, but Ukraines progress in the steps taken so far is steady and commendable. Video of day Maasikas said the EUs enlargement policy remains, as a geostrategic investment in Europes security, prosperity and stability. We believe that Ukraine wants to join the European Union because it sees it as the most important and reliable way to ensure their own peace, stability and long-term prosperity, he said. And, if a nation has decided to become European in all the senses of the word who on Earth has the right to deny them that? The ambassador noted that the pace of accession depends first and foremost on the progress on the fundamentals, starting with the rule of law. But its important to note that Ukraine has a big head start, through its implementation of the Association Agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, the official said. Earlier, the European Council said the Ukraine-EU summit would take place on Feb. 3, 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the meeting. EU leaders supported granting EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova at an EU summit in Brussels on June 23, 2022. Zelenskyy said this is a historic moment in the EU-Ukraine relations. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during the government meeting on Dec. 30 that Ukraines strategic task is to meet the criteria for joining the European Union by late 2024. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Why is the Russian opposition so useless? 9 mistakes that have turned it into a tool 2 January, 04:55 PM During this year, many events took place that required actions on the part of Russian society, and especially from those who call themselves the "Russian opposition" Their activity was especially eagerly anticipated in the West after all, this is where they have spent decades creating conditions to avoid social and political catastrophes involving Russia. However, the Russian opposition, at minimum, did not live up to expectations, and was also observed making significant attempts to "whitewash" the existing regime or individual Russian politicians and businessmen. Video of day Let's try to figure out what exactly the mistakes of the Russian opposition were that led to the absence of any influence in the middle of Russia and turned it more into helpers of the current regime than critics. The theses presented will be helpful not only in terms of understanding the past and present, but also in identifying those who are oriented towards changes in Russia itself in the future. Of course, the list is not exhaustive and many more shortcomings of each individual Russian opposition group can be named. 1. Absence of any connection with society. It came as a surprise to many that those who are called the Russian opposition have no influence on the situation inside Russia. For many, especially in the West, this probably came as a surprise. But the explanation was, all this time, never hidden the Russian opposition did not spend energy and resources on building horizontal connections and networks. In a country of 140 million people, there was no organization or initiative that had an extensive network in the regions, activists, or simply people united by a single idea. Emphasizing that any oppositionism in Russia is "imprisoned" is not true. In order to develop horizontal and grassroots initiatives, it is not necessary to emphasize one's own opposition or immediately fight with the authorities. Usually, horizontal structures need more time to grow, but in Russia other instruments of action were chosen. 2. Obsession with media platforms. Instead of focusing on building network ties and increasing influence at the grassroots level, Russian opposition forces spent their strength and resources on creating media platforms. Setting aside the ideological aspects and the high infiltration of Kremlin narratives into the activities of these media outlets (although this is very important), we can say that the emphasis on influencing through the media, instead of building structures and networks, was doomed to failure. The billions that the Russian state spends on propaganda through the media and its power structures have many opportunities to promote its own agenda. Add to this a lack of principles in the Russian quasi-oppositional media, and the obvious result was a situation where the state controls the entire media field. That is, the very media resources which the Russian opposition most relied on did not become a tool of significant influence. 3. Absence of regime change plans. Those who call themselves the Russian opposition had no plan for regime change in Russia before February 24, 2022, or after the full-scale invasion. It seems that they did not understand the dramatic changes that took place in the world after February 24, and they continued to do the same as before. This lack of strategy is more like a conscious choice "let someone else do all the work to oust Putin, and we'll wait and then decide what to do ourselves." That is why there is a constant feeling that the Russian opposition is rather detached from reality. In fact, avoiding any responsibility for the fate of their country, even at the level of making plans, is now an identifying feature of those who call themselves the Russian opposition. 4. Fighting for resources, not for changes or ideas. It seems that various groups of Russians currently abroad are focused on receiving more resources from the international community than on real changes within Russia. The Russian oppositions endless public events, distribution of ephemeral positions, numerous media interviews, and private meetings appeal to some groups in the West, but have no influence on the current situation, and worst of all, do not try to influence it. This approach can be effective in realizing personal ambitions, but cannot be successful in affecting any changes within Russia. This is partly the fault of those who finance these movements and initiatives, but most importantly, it seems that the Russian opposition does not seek change. A comfortable life in the West is more important to them than transformation in Russia. 5. Lack of interaction between different groups. The previous point is the cause of another problem: a lack of interaction between different Russian opposition groups. It appears that they are completely incapable of even minimal coordination or interaction. But there are no incentives for any joint activity, and no one from within is trying to create them. There is also a certain comfort zone when "everyone does their own thing" and nobody themselves needs to increase their influence. The lack of interaction within the Russian opposition does not allow it to increase its own effectiveness in opposing the Russian regime. 6. Absence of struggle for power. All the Russian oppositions political and near-political movements fail to emphasize who and in what way power, or at least at some level of representation, is supposed to be won. Each separate group of the Russian opposition has no candidates for positions of power. Nothing is said about who should get power. That is, it is completely unknown who Russian oppositionists see in this or that position, and how they are preparing for it. 7. A lot was given out carelessly. It seems that the Russian opposition is used to the "greenhouse conditions" that have been created for it for decades outside of Russia. Many conditions and opportunities were created for them simply because of their opposition, and not in view of their personal, organizational, and professional qualities. Now the situation is changing, and many from among the Russian opposition state that it is increasingly difficult to fight for resources, and the very topic of opposition is becoming less and less interesting to the general public. In fact, Western society is oriented towards maintaining competence, and many things were given to the Russian opposition in advance which they failed to justify. That is, the decreasing finances and opportunities for Russians (even the opposition) is to be expected, given their own actions. 8. Constant justification of agreements with the authorities. For decades, it was possible to observe how those who call themselves the Russian opposition did not notice the reality around them. They perceived the wars in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine as something random, as something that can be justified or explained. Each time, the so-called Russian opposition (with some exceptions) rather acted as a tool to whitewash the Russian authorities. Instead of working with society and explaining the absurdity of hostilities on the territory of other countries, the Russian opposition tried to agree on additional preferences (or the absence of sanctions) for itself. And it worked for many years organizations and media that called themselves opposition gained greater access to government offices and increasingly integrated into the system of power relations in Russia. 9. Misunderstanding their own country. In recent years, it seemed that the Russian opposition operated entirely within the schemes offered to it by the authorities. No proactive actions, projects, or activities were proposed. Urbanism, anti-corruption, a new constitution, and other topics on which Russian oppositionists worked in recent decades did not at all explain or analyze Russia itself. Of course, for those who have been abroad for a long-time due to persecution, opportunities for study or research have been limited. However, today's world has many online tools for obtaining information, and it is the analysis of this information that is important. However, there were few attempts to understand and understand what Russia is now. It can be said that each mistake individually could not have predicted this exact course of events and the absence of any leverage in the Russian opposition. However, the number of strategic mistakes and the time for which they have been repeated gives reason to conclude that the current state of affairs at least satisfies those who call themselves the Russian opposition. Even more, some approaches and actions make it a tool in the war against our country. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News File: OnePlus Nord CE 2 If you are looking for more functionality than inexpensive smartphones and the style of luxury models, smartphones under Rs 51,000 can be an attractive option for you. As expected, the giants like Samsung and Xiaomi have got their smartphones on the list. Moreover, most of the smartphones in this price range offer you a 4K resolution video recording option. Similarly, the battery is extremely durable and last hours even during intensive gaming sessions. Here, we have a list of the six best smartphones under Rs 51,000 in Nepal as of January 2023. SN Phone Price 1 Oppo F21 Pro Rs 42,999 2 Vivo V25e Rs 42,999 3 Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Rs 42,999 4 OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G Rs 48,999 5 Realme 9 Pro Plus 5G Rs 42,999 (6/128GB) Rs 45,999 (8/128GB) 6 Xiaomi 12 Lite Rs 50,999 1. Oppo F21 Pro Photo: Oppo Oppo may not be a favourite but it surely does have a different fan base among smartphone users in Nepal. The majority of Oppo phones released here have made design and camera its primary focus rather than performance. Oppo F21 Pro is also a good-looking smartphone. It has a decent yet cool-looking design. The orbit light around the camera is most likely to get peoples attention. Also, this is a slim build phone weighing only 175 grams and measuring 7.50mm in thickness. It offers a 6.43-inch of AMOLED display with a 90.80% of screen-to-body ratio. The display also supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and gets up to 800 nits of brightness. The 409 PPI density on the display should offer more details when viewing the media. Oppo F21 Pro comes with a 64MP primary camera accompanied by a couple of 2MP macro and depth sensors. This is just a basic setup for a smartphone whose primary focus is on the camera as well. Similarly, on the front is a large 32MP selfie sensor. It runs on ColorOS 12.1 which is based on Android 12 and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. It comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage and the user has the option of expanding both. There is a 4,500mAh non-removable battery on it, which gets charged with a 33W fast charger. The price of the Oppo F21 Pro is Rs 42,999. It is focused on endurance rather than performance. However, the air gesture feature can be really interesting to the users. 2. Vivo V25e Photo: Vivo Vivo V25e is the lighter and more economical version of Vivo V25. Both phones were released together about a month ago in Nepal. Vivo too is not a fan favourite when it comes to purchasing a smartphone in Nepal. But recently, the company has made some good launches, which can help them get back on track. Vivo V25e has a glass front and back with a metal frame build. Also, the back panel of it changes colour when exposed to sunlight. This is also a lightweight phone, weighing only 183 grams and measuring 7.79mm in thickness. On the front is a 6.44-inch AMOLED display, which supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and can achieve a peak brightness of up to 1300 nits. There is a triple camera setup on the back of it. The primary 64MP camera is housed together with a couple of MP depth and macro sensors. The primary camera offers features like PDAF and OIS. On the front is a 32MP sensor with an HDR. It runs on Funtouch 12, which is based on Android 12. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. Vivo V25e is available with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The user can expand the RAM memory by up to 8GB and storage by up to 1TB. It gets all the power from a 4,500mAh non-removable battery, which can be charged with a 44W fast charger. Surprisingly, Vivo has excluded the 3.5mm headphone jack on it. The price of Vivo V25e is Rs 42,999. 3. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Photo: Samsung Samsung is one of the most popular brands when it comes to choosing a smartphone. This year, the company launched a huge number of smartphones in the market. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is one of the many smartphones released by Samsung this year in its A-series. It comes with a plain and simple design. It weighs around 186 grams and measures 8.1mm in thickness. There is a 6.4-inch AMOLED display on it, which supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and 411 PPI density. Its display has Gorilla Glass 5 protection and is IP67 dust/water resistant. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G has a quad-camera setup. The 48MP primary camera on the back is accompanied by an 8MP (123-degree FOV) ultrawide, 5MP macro and 2MP depth sensors. On the front is a 13MP selfie sensor. It runs on One UI 4.1, which is based on Android 12. It is powered by Samsungs own Exynos 1280 5G chipset. This smartphone is available with 8 GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Though it supports an external card for storage expansion, there is no dedicated slot for it. This phone gets its power from a 5,000mAh li-po non-removable battery. As usual, Samsung has only offered a minimal 25W fast charging system on it. The speakers offered on it has Dolby Atmos support, which should enhance the audio experience. The price of the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is Rs 42,999 for the 8/128GB variant. The 4K video recording option, ample protection and a power-efficient chipset should be the driving factor for the purchase of this smartphone. Also, Samsung has mostly provided a good display and camera performance over the years. 4. OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G OnePlus Nord CE 2. Photo: Onlinekhabar OnePlus once was a dominant name in the smartphone market. It offered way better features than the competitors in its price range. That changed when the company started to compete against the best in the market. The Nord series was introduced to fulfil the gap that the OnePlus series has previously filled. While the OnePlus series competes against the flagships, the Nord series offers what OnePlus once were famous for. OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is a good choice for the brands fanatics. It is a lightweight smartphone only weighing 173 grams and measuring a thickness of 7.8mm. Similarly, the design of it is also attractive but is prone to fingerprints. There is a 6.43-inch fluid AMOLED display on it, which supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and has HDR10+ feature. Coming to the cameras, it offers a 64MP primary camera accompanied by 8MP ultrawide and 2MP depth sensors. On the front is a 16MP selfie sensor with an EIS feature. The cameras offer decent performance. It runs on Oxygen OS 11, which is based on Android 11. Similarly, it is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G chipset. It is available with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. There is a dedicated slot for an external memory card in case the user wants to expand the storage on it. There is a 4,500mAh non-removable battery on it, which gets charged with a 65W SUPERVOOC charger. This powerful charger can get the battery fully charged in just 35 minutes. The price of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is Rs 48,999 for the 8/128GB variant. It offers a 4K resolution video recording option but the stabilisation is limited to 1080p resolution only. Similarly, the battery on it is extremely durable and last hours even during intensive gaming sessions. 5. Realme 9 Pro Plus 5G Photo: Realme Realme 9 Pro Plus 5G is the best offering from the company in its latest Realme 9 series. It is also one of the best camera phones in this price category. It comes with a cool light shift design with a glass back. This is also a lightweight phone weighing 182 grams and measuring about 7.99mm in thickness. The 6.40-inch Super AMOLED display on it can support up to 90Hz of refresh rate and up to 360Hz of touch sampling rate. The display can also achieve a peak brightness of up to 1000 nits. Furthermore, there is also Gorilla Glass 5 protection on it. The primary sensor on this smartphone is a 50MP flagship Sony sensor that comes with dual stabilisation features, ProLight Imaging technology and AI Noise Reduction Engine 3. 0 for better and sharper images and videos. The primary camera is accompanied by 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensors. On the front is a 16MP selfie sensor. It runs on Realme UI 3.0, which is based on Android 12. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G chipset. Realme 9 Pro Plus 5G comes in a single 128GB internal storage variant with the option of choosing between 6GB and 8GB RAM. Though it offers a RAM expansion feature, there is no SD card slot on it for storage expansion. Providing power to it is a 4,500mAh non-removable battery. The battery can be charged with a 60W super dart charger. This supercharger can get the battery fully charged in just 44 minutes. To reduce the temperature of the device, it also has an in-built five-layer cooling system, which is usually seen on smartphones of the higher price range. The price of Realme 9 Pro Plus 5G is Rs 42,999 for 6/128GB and Rs 45,999 for the 8/128GB variants. The cool colour-changing back, and lightweight body can be interesting features to attract buyers. Similarly, a 4K recording option, a cooling system and Dolby Atmos-supported speakers can be a deal maker as well. The different photography modes on it can be a really interesting addition to it. Also, the fingerprint sensor can be used as a heart rate sensor. 6. Xiaomi 12 Lite Xiaomi 12 Lite. Photo: Mi From the name itself, one can assume that this is the lighter version of Xiaomis flagship, Xiaomi 12, which was released earlier this year. Xiaomi 12 Lite can definitely be the best option if you are looking for a smartphone under Rs 50,000 in Nepal. It has borrowed most of the design traits from its expensive siblings, which makes it look pleasing. It is also a lightweight phone, weighing only 173 grams and measuring a thickness of 7.29mm. The 6.55-inch AMOLED display on it supports up to 120HZ refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate while achieving a peak brightness of 950 nits. The display also offers an HDR10+ feature and has Gorilla Glass 5 protection. This smartphone has a high-resolution 108MP primary camera accompanied by 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensors. On the front is a 32MP high-resolution camera sensor for taking photos and videos. The primary camera can record videos in 4K resolution. Xiaomi 12 Lite runs on MIUI 13, which is based on Android 12. Similarly, it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset. It is available in either a 6GB or 8GB RAM option coupled with 128GB internal storage. There is no card slot on it for storage expansion. It has a 4,300mAh non-removable battery. The battery can be charged by a 67W fast charger. With this charging system, the battery gets fully charged in just 41 minutes. For the audio, it offers dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support but there is no 3.5mm headphone jack. The price of Xiaomi 12 Lite is Rs 50,999 for the 6/128GB variant. This is not only a good-looking but also a feature-packed smartphone. Its camera performance and overall performance are good. It also has an adaptive charge feature that learns the daily night charging behaviour of the users and pauses charging at 80 per cent. NB Tandan. Photo: Facebook Kathmandu, January 2 The government of Nepal has appointed NB Tandan, a Nepali currently residing in Toronto of Canada, as its tourism goodwill ambassador for the country he is living on. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation handed over an appointment letter to him on December 22, 2022, that reads he has been appointed the goodwill ambassador as per a ministerial decision on December 12. Tandan had recently completed his six-year term in the same position. He says he is happy to get reappointed for the next four years. Tandan is active in promoting the Nepali tourism industry in Canada for over a decade. Occupy Tundikhel activists gherao the Kathmandu metropolitan city office against the Khulamanch underground parking facility plan, on Monday, January 2, 2023. Photo: Aryan Dhimal Kathmandu, January 2 Activists who ran the Occupy Tundikhel campaign in 2019 and 2020 with a demand of making Tundikhel free and accessible to the public have come together once again. On Monday, they gheraoed the Kathmandu metropolitan city office to protest the city governments plan to encroach Khulamanch to build an underground parking facility there. They also submitted a memorandum to Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol. They wanted to meet Mayor Balen Shah, but he was not available, according to the campaign teams spokesperson Sanjaya Adhikari. The activists say their protest will continue as saving Khulamanch from encroachment is important for the citys environmental, cultural and political life. Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash A developing country like Nepal requires a plethora of investors. Hence, the country needs to explore different ways to generate investments and public-private partnership, popularly referred to as PPP, is one of the most discussed issues. In Nepal, there were only a few investors because of political instability, internal conflict within the country, and many other things. With the promulgation of the constitution in 2015 and growing political stability, private investors and foreign private investors started to invest in different sectors in Nepal. This is how the public-private partnership began gaining attention. In Nepal, the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2019, along with its regulation, governs all affairs related to the investment model. Despite the early implementation of the law, public-private partnership has not gained momentum in the country due to various factors including the law that was meant to facilitate the process. Hence, it is high time the stakeholders assessed the law from the private investors perspectives and make necessary reforms. Pros for private investors As per the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act, there are some advantages for private investors. For example, if any private investors get linked with Investment Board Nepal, it can also recommend additional facilities for the private investors. Additional facilities include capital subsidies for the materials used in the project and partial subsidies for electricity tariffs used during project implementation. Besides this, the board can also arrange on providing loans at lower rates than that of the prevailing in the market to the private investors. Provisions for the viability gap funding are also introduced by the act for the investors for being linked with the Investment Board Nepal. Moreover, rewards will also be awarded if the investors hand over the projects to the concerned agency before the time specified in the agreement. Cons for private investors However, there are also certain cons thanks to some provisions of the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act and its regulation. The viability gap funding is a pro for private investment, but sometimes, the funding is also considered a disadvantage for them. Such a facility may be useful for the government, but not every time for the private investor. In the meantime, to gain profits from the project, private investors have to hand over the project to the government, but it also involves some disadvantages. Another disadvantage is that royalty needs to be paid by the investors to the concerned agency. Also, under different headings, investors have to pay fees, and service charges to be linked with the Investment Board of Nepal. The fees vary as per the size of the investment. There is also a provision that before or after an agreement is performed, investors have to pay 0.2% of the total cost of investment. What next? The government must be always aware of the details of investments coming within the country. Though there are certain subsidies, and arrangements done by the government in order to lure private investors, the fees for private party investors to be connected with the Investment Board Nepal are quite high. The government should make feasible fees for private party investors in order to lure them to our country. The fees for the letter of intent, royalty and other charges must be reconsidered by the concerned agency. Furthermore, the concerned agency must look at making other additional facilities to grant private investors in order to attract them. In conclusion, advancement in the new idea of investment in the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Act has certainly created hope for a nation like Nepal. So, it solely depends upon the government and concerned agencies whether it will be successfully implemented to benefit the country. A little while ago, I had an opportunity to meet Bharat Prasad Upreti, the founder president of the Nepali Congress Dhading chapter. Upreti, who is in his nineties, started his political journey in the district by joining the Congress party in 1949. He actively participated in all political revolutions and movements since 1950. Upreti, who survived many painful experiences during both the Rana and Panchayat periods, had a long association with great leaders such as BP Koirala, Subarna Shamsher, and Ganesh Man Singh. Upreti claims Koirala used to come to his house in Baneshwar for tea. Some mornings, he would visit Koiralas house in Chabahil to reciprocate. Obviously, they would talk about politics most of the time. Talking about the Congress leaders of that time, Upreti recently mentioned Sher Bahadur Deuba. At that time, courage was not enough to raise the flag of democracy against the Panchayat regime, he said, But, I have seen Sher Bahadur had the guts to face any difficulty (to speak against the regime). The revolutionary version of Deuba In the words of Upreti: Sher Bahadur Deuba was among many Congressmen arrested in the Jaisidewal bomb scandal. At that time, he was quite young, but he showed great bravery and did not bow down to power. My childhood friend Prayag Raj Sharma left Congress and joined the pro-Panchayat side at that time. Then, we brought bombs and detonated them at his home to stop other fugitives. After the bomb explosion, the home minister came there and said, I will kill these Congressmen one by one. A frightened Sharma was sitting in panic. I was also caught by the police even though I returned home cleverly from there. It was a difficult stay in detention. Sher Bahadur Deuba was kept in another room. A boy from the far west, he did not have anyone in Kathmandu to take care of. There was nothing to eat or drink. I would share my food with him. Remembering the torture inflicted on him, I still tremble with fear. Hit by fists all over, his body was black and blue throughout. Once they Inserted a stick into his anus, giving overwhelming physical and mental torture, hoping they could make him surrender, but he did not say anything. Many Congressmen would have been caught if he had surrendered. Sher Bahadur Deuba had such allegiance and commitment. He is much younger than me as he started the politics of the student union around 1963. However, when I see his sacrifice, I always feel like he is a senior. The new version of Deuba During those years, the leaders used to compete with each other in terms of revolutionariness at the front of the struggle. Consequently, the leaders including Sher Bahadur Deuba proved themselves adept at changing the political system. They also succeeded in making Nepal a republic and writing an inclusive constitution. But, they could not make the daily life of the common people easy. If you make a list of the problems Nepal is facing, it gets as long as all the roads in the country join together. It may be relevant to recall a context from the Soviet era here. Vladimir Lenins followers went to a village to convince people of the revolution, but the peasants were not ready to listen to them. And Lenin, who was also there commanding his team, understood the needs of the farmers and distributed tractors. It resulted in peasants chanting Long live Lenin!. Citizens do not understand the importance of democracy until it starts to serve their daily life system. As the old generation of Nepali politics has lost the ability to deliver services to the citizens, democracy has become insignificant to them. Sher Bahadur Deubas generation has already got a lot of opportunities at present just because they contributed to the nation in history. Becoming the prime minister five times is an opportunity beyond the imagination for the leaders of most democratic countries of the world. However, in the case of Deuba, this is taken for granted. He was active in leading the change of the political system, but he misused the opportunities he had by setting bad precedents one after another. Deuba continued to strive to make parliamentary politics a pig cage as Lenin said. Addicted to power, he has become a tendency from an individual, a tendency to compromise anything for it. This tendency erased his glorious history. He always ignored the opportunity to restore the history of glory by changing the course of power-oriented politics. Recently, it was seen that he chose the path of decadence. Many leaders who maintained their political integrity during the period of extreme repression of rulers have ended themselves up in the lust for power. This has become a trend in Nepali politics, with examples galore. Sher Bahadur Deuba had an opportunity to restore his brave image when he was contesting the parliamentary party election with the partys youth leader Gagan Thapa. However, he wasted this opportunity by forgetting that he once fought against Girija Prasad Koirala. Earlier, Girija Prasad Koirala used to be introduced as the leader who got his several effigies burnt. The leadership skills he exhibited at a particular moment in history restored him to politics. The civil war came to an end due to his wisdom. It was possible because of his ability to turn a political crisis into an opportunity. At that time, no one else could make that decision except him. But today, Deuba did not bother to follow that path. The impact Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba speaks to the media after being elected Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader on December 21, 2022. Photo: Bikash Shrestha Even now, Nepali politics is at risk. Leaders are saying that the achievement of change is in crisis. There are clear signs that the country is following the path of Sri Lanka economically and the Philippines politically. It was not long ago that an economic crisis erupted in Sri Lanka and the acting president had to flee the country overnight. In the Philippines, the son of the infamous dictator Ferdinand Marcos has returned to power. Marcos Jr has become the president out of the languor of democratic forces and (ab)use of the young generation addicted to social media who are unknown of the history of the recent past. The same background is being prepared in our country. The population of the generation that fought against the Panchayat and Rana regimes is getting weaker. The generation born after the peoples war of the CPN-Maoist and the 2006 peoples movement is growing up. They do not know the Panchayat and royal rules. Like in the Philippines, the new generation of Nepal, who is in the Internet age, is not even interested in history. It seems that the increase in procrastination of the democratic forces is facilitating the growth of regressive forces in Nepal. In this situation, Sher Bahadur Deubas wise decision could have been of far-ranging importance. This decision would not have been as effective if it had been made by someone else. But, he stubbornly missed that opportunity. The recent general elections have also given a message that frustration is growing among the citizens. If the central politics of the country continues to deviate in the same way, there is a risk that this dissatisfaction will turn into mass frustration. The leaders of the older generation seem to be oblivious to the flames of growing dissatisfaction within Nepali society. Unlearned Deuba Sher Bahadur Deuba is flanked by his former coalition partners Madhav Kumar Nepal (l) and Pushpa Kamal Dahal in an undated file photo. Sher Bahadur Deuba is not an empty-headed leader. He made the party the first in the recently concluded elections. However, in politics, it is not enough to pass one exam; they have to keep taking and passing several tests. Deuba could not make decisions according to the changed political equation and polarisation. Even within the party, he could learn from Shekhar Koiralas latest and sensible decision to withdraw from the bid to become the leader of the parliamentary party. That decision has made Koirala not weak, but more reliable and potent. The power gained by winning trust in politics is many times more powerful and lasting than the power gained by authority. Gagan Thapa patiently walked a long but sustainable democratic path and convinced Shekhar Koirala to support him. Koirala became ready to trust the new generation for political transformation. Bishwa Prakash Sharma continued to support Thapa. Another young leader, Pradip Paudel, also came to support him, understanding that the division of the new generation would help the old one. In this way, a new phase of polarisation took place within the Nepali Congress. But, Sher Bahadur Deuba followed his astrologers advice and the instigation of his kitchen cabinet. He did not pay attention to the changing politics inside and outside the party. Although he understood the situation, he did not consider what steps could have been wise. As a result, he lost what he had in his desperate bid to gain more. Along with himself, he made the Congress party a losing gambler too suddenly. There was a competition within the Congress party for the leader of the parliamentary party. This is natural in a democratic party, but a democratic competition does not always give the best results. Deuba was elected the leader and showed partisanship towards the rival group. If Sher Bahadur Deuba had shown wisdom to pave the way for the young generation by restraining his ambition to become the leader of the parliamentary party for the sixth time, the political landscape of the country and his height would have been different. But, Deuba did not even care about the history of the Nepali Congress that Ganesh Man Singh became an all-respected leader (sarbamanya neta) even by rejecting the position of prime minister. Instead, he pushed himself to the path of a depressing political exit. This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length. (Adds details) BEIJING, Dec 26 (Reuters) - China will stop requiring inbound travelers to go into quarantine starting from Jan. 8, the National Health Commission said on Monday in a major step towards easing curbs on its borders, which have been largely shut since 2020. China's management of COVID-19 will also be downgraded to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A, the health authority said in a statement, as the disease has become less virulent and will gradually evolve into a common respiratory infection. Three years of zero-tolerance measures, from shuttered borders to frequent lockdowns, have battered China's economy, fueling last month the mainland's biggest show of public discontent since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. But China made an abrupt policy U-turn this month, dropping nearly all of its domestic COVID curbs in a move that has left hospitals across the country scrambling to cope with a nationwide wave of infections. Strict requirements on inbound travelers had remained in place, including five days of mandatory quarantine at a government-supervised facility and three more of isolation at home. A man wearing a protective mask holds a picture frame of a loved one outside a funeral home, as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks continue, in Shanghai, China, December 23, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song That restriction and one on the number of passengers on international flights will be removed from Jan. 8. Travelers entering China will still have to undergo PCR testing 48 hours before departure, however, the health authority said. Arrangements for foreigners to come to China, such as for work and business will be improved and the necessary visas will also be facilitated, the authority said. But passenger entry and exit at sea and land ports will gradually resume, while the outbound travel of Chinese nationals will be restored "in an orderly manner", it added. Since January 2020, China had classified COVID-19 as a Category B infectious disease but managed it under Category A protocols that cover diseases such as bubonic plague and cholera, giving local authorities the power to quarantine patients and their close contacts and lock down regions. Story continues While China downgrades its management of the new coronavirus, the National Health Commission said epidemic prevention and control protocols at key institutions such as elderly care institutions will be strengthened. If an outbreak becomes severe, the institution will adopt so-called "closed management" to prevent the spread of infections, the authority said. China will also further increase the vaccination rate among the elderly, and promote second doses among people at high risk of severe illness. China is the last major country to move toward treating COVID as endemic. Its containment measures had slowed the $17 trillion economy to its lowest growth rate in nearly half a century, disrupting global supply chains and trade. (Reporting by Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Eduardo Baptista and Brenda Goh; editing by John Stonestreet and David Evans) Azerbaijan welcomed 1,459,000 international visitors from January to November 2022, marking a 111% rise in comparison to the same period of 2021, said the national promotion body Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB). Among top 15 visiting countries were Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, United Arab Emirates, Germany and UK, along with other neighbouring countries. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the tourism industry of Azerbaijan, and contribution of all stakeholders. Although the numbers are around 50% below the level of 2019, some countries and regions show as high as 99% recovery rate, said Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive Officer of ATB. Three countries among top 15 show very high recovery rate, such as Turkiye -98% recovery, Saudi Arabia- 91% recovery, and India - 90% recovery. Overall South Asia market shows 99% recovery, he added. In 2022, Azerbaijan was represented in 16 global trade and consumer exhibitions and shows, demonstrating its diverse tourism offerings. These events provided an opportunity to build awareness about Azerbaijan as a touristic destination, reach a wider audience, and establish relationships with key industry players. In addition to these events, international bloggers and media representative, as well as operators and tour agencies visited Azerbaijan within the framework of familiarization trips. During the year of 2022 ATB worked on diversifying the product portfolio of the country. One of such projects is Slow Food Travel (SFT) program, which ATB implements for honouring and preservation of the age-old cooking methods and products that are in danger of extinction. We have been connecting hundreds of local producers, farmers, butchers, beekeepers, cheese and winemakers with restaurants and hotel chains, and contributing to the promotion of sustainable travel with positive impact on economic regeneration. With the increased interest in ecotourism, ATB has been actively developing birdwatching in the country. Azerbaijan has recorded 400 species of birds, and has an advantage of short distances between birdwatching sites. Practice of birdwatching once again demonstrates the uniqueness of landscapes and habitats in Azerbaijan, which we take as one of the essentials of our tourism strategy. The focus on the development of local wine industry established Azerbaijan as one of the thriving viticultural centres in the region. To celebrate its contribution to promoting viticulture, winemaking, and wine tourism, ATB has been granted with a number of prizes by the Council of Europe and the European Institute of Cultural Routes. Furthermore, institutionalization and networking within the local tourism industry continued to be a priority. In 2022, the State Tourism Agency continued its activities towards formulation and implementation of a unified state policy in the field of tourism, the implementation of norm-setting activities in the field of tourism, as well as state regulation, control and coordination of activities for the development of tourism. As part of domestic tourism development, progress has been made in evaluating and developing the tourism potential of the liberated territories in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. The restoration and conservation works have been implemented at important national attractions in the realm of the protection and sustainable management of national heritage. In 2022 an extensive infrastructure update work in heritage sites, such as Sheki, Basgal, Khinalig, and Diribaba complex was conducted. TradeArabia News Service ReportLinker The Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market size was estimated at USD 2,341. 97 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 2,538. 29 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8. 55% to reach USD 3,833. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Advanced Cinema Projectors Market Research Report by Technology, Resolution, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335775/?utm_source=GNW 46 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Advanced Cinema Projectors to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Technology, the market was studied across DLP and LED. Based on Resolution, the market was studied across 4K and Less than 2K. Based on Application, the market was studied across Commercial and Residential. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Advanced Cinema Projectors market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Advanced Cinema Projectors Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market, including Acer Inc, Barco NV, BenQ Group, Canon Inc., Delta Electronics, Inc. (Vivitek), Hitachi Digital Media Groups, Infocus, JVC Kenwood Holdings Inc, LG Electronics Inc., Maxell Corporation, NEC Display Solutions, Optoma Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, Sony Corporation, The Christie group, and Vava. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Advanced Cinema Projectors Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335775/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 ReportLinker The Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market size was estimated at USD 2,191. 11 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 2,370. 13 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market Research Report by Technology, Pollutant Source, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335859/?utm_source=GNW 42% to reach USD 3,559.93 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Agricultural Wastewater Treatment to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Technology, the market was studied across Biological Solutions, Chemical Solutions, and Physical Solutions. Based on Pollutant Source, the market was studied across Nonpoint Source and Point Source. Based on Application, the market was studied across Crop and Non-crop. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Agricultural Wastewater Treatment market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market, including AECOM, Aegean Perlites SA, Akzo Nobel N.V., Albemarle Corporation, Aquatech International LLC, BASF SE, Black & Veatch Holding Company, CH2M Hill Inc. (Jacobs Engineering Group), DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, IDE Water Technologies, Imerys, Keltech Energies Ltd, Lindsay Corporation, Organo Corporation, OriginClear, Inc., Silbrico Corporation, Suez SA, Supreme Perlite Company, and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Agricultural Wastewater Treatment Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335859/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 ReportLinker The Global Agriculture Sensors Market size was estimated at USD 8,898. 76 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 10,265. 19 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 15. 53% to reach USD 21,161. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Agriculture Sensors Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335868/?utm_source=GNW 67 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Agriculture Sensors to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the market was studied across Airflow Sensor, Electrochemical Sensor, Humidity Sensor, Livestock Sensor, Location Sensor, Mechanical Sensor, Optical Sensor, and Soil Sensor. Based on Application, the market was studied across Climate Management, Dairy Management, Soil Management, and Water Management. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Agriculture Sensors market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Agriculture Sensors Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Agriculture Sensors Market, including AgSmarts Inc., AquaSpy Inc., Auroras, CropX, Delta-T Devices Ltd., Irrometer Company Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Sentek Ltd., Spectrum Technologies Inc., and Stevens Water Monitoring Systems Inc.. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Agriculture Sensors Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Agriculture Sensors Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335868/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 ReportLinker The Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market size was estimated at USD 8,291. 22 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 9,450. 34 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 14. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market Research Report by Type, Applications, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335918/?utm_source=GNW 23% to reach USD 18,425.24 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Airborne Weapon Delivery System to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the market was studied across Fixed-Wing Fighter Aircraft, Rotary Wing Aircraft, and UCAV. Based on Applications, the market was studied across Military Agencies and Missile Suppliers. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Airborne Weapon Delivery System market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market, including Airbus SE, ASELSAN A.?., BAE Systems PLC, CMC Electronics Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd., FN Herstal, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, SAAB AB, Safran Electronics & Defense (Safran SA.), Textron Inc., The Boeing Company, and Ultra Electronics. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Airborne Weapon Delivery System Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335918/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 ReportLinker The Global Aircraft Tires Market size was estimated at USD 1,445. 30 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 1,513. 90 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 4. 92% to reach USD 1,928. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Aircraft Tires Market Research Report by Type, Application, End-User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335970/?utm_source=GNW 36 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Aircraft Tires to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the market was studied across Bias and Radial. Based on Application, the market was studied across Commercial and Defense. Based on End-User, the market was studied across OEM, Replacement, and Retreaded. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Aircraft Tires market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Aircraft Tires Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Aircraft Tires Market, including Aircraft Spruce, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., Bridgestone Corporation, China National Chemical Corporation, Desser Holding Company LLC, Desser Tire & Rubber Co., LLC, Dmi Aviation Sales Corp, Martins Industries Inc., MICHELIN, Petlas, Qingdao Sentury Tire Co., Ltd., Safari Aviation Services, Sentury Tire Co., Ltd., Sofema SA, Specialty Tires of America, Inc., The Boeing Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Trelleborg AB, and WILKERSON COMPANY, INC.. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Aircraft Tires Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Aircraft Tires Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Aircraft Tires Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Aircraft Tires Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Aircraft Tires Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Aircraft Tires Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Aircraft Tires Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335970/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Here we go. The new year is upon us, and in preparation, the Streets analysts have been lining up their top picks for 2023. Its a bit of cliche, but a fun one and one that can also bring some interesting stocks to investors notice. Remember that the analysts have been watching the markets all year, keeping close track of past and current performance, and theyve built up a picture that puts stocks into perspective. For the retail investor, the years accumulated analysis is a gold mine of data, helping bring some sense to the market and the analysts Top Picks are a great tool for cutting right to the chase. So, lets get the latest scoop on some analysts Top Pick stocks for the incoming year. Weve ran them through the TipRanks database to also gauge general Street sentiment toward these names. Here are the details. Cytokinetics (CYTK) First up on our top pick list is Cytokinetics, a clinical-stage biopharma firm engaged in the discovery and development, for commercialization, of first- and next-in-class muscle activators and inhibitors, for the treatment of debilitating diseases that compromise muscle function and performance. The companys drug candidates are small molecules engineered to effect contractility. Over the course of 2022, this company benefited from having multiple programs in the pipeline and that is still an advantage. But last month, the company announced that the FDAs Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee, by an 8 to 3 vote, decided that, based on Phase 3 trial results, the companys drug candidate omecamtiv mecarbil did not show benefits that outweigh its risks for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Interestingly, however, in what might seem unusual behavior, the stock surged ahead following the negative decision. That is because the decision now lets the company focus its energies on the drug considered to have the bigger potential. The company has another Phase 3 drug candidate, aficamten, which is also nearing the commercial stage. This drug candidate is undergoing the Phase 3 SEQUOIA-HCM study testing the drug on patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), with enrollment at 70 sites in the US. Story continues Cytokinetics has plenty of cash available to cover expenses related to the shift in focus. As of the end of 3Q22, the company had cash and liquid assets totaling $896.2 million, compared to combined R&D and G&A expenses of $110.9 million, giving a cash runway sufficient for 8 quarters of operation. This is a key factor for JMPs Jason Butler, who has high hopes for aficamten. The company noted that it expects to end 2022 with >$800MM in cash which we believe is a strong basis to fund broad aficamten development and commercial readiness. Management also commented that it will provide an update on enrollment in the aficamten Phase 3 SEQUOIA-HCM trial in the near term and indicated that progress is encouraging. We view results from this trial in 2H23 as a key value inflecting event for the company and drives our conviction for CYTK as a top pick for 2023. Accordingly, Butler gives shares in CYTK an Outperform (Buy) rating, with a $71 price target that implies a gain of 55% in the coming year. (To watch Butlers track record, click here.) Cytokinetics gets plenty of support on Wall Street; Its Strong Buy consensus rating is based on 11 recent reviews that include 10 Buys over just 1 Hold. The shares are selling for $45.82 and their $63.18 average price target suggests a one-year upside potential of 38%. (See Cytokinetics stock forecast at TipRanks.) Calix, Inc. (CALX) From biotech well shift to cloud tech, and look at Calix. This company offers cloud computing and software solutions in the communications industry, with platforms and services for broadband providers and other digital communications customers. Calixs products allow enterprise customers to drive business and customer interactions more efficiently, for effective monetization. This companys focus on enabling broadband and fiber comes at an opportune time, as the Federal Governments recent infrastructure bill includes funding for such projects, especially in rural areas. This sets up telecom companies and their supporting adjuncts, like Calix for gains going forward. And in some cases, those gains have already become visible. Calix beat its revenue and earnings estimates in its last reported quarter, 3Q22. The company showed $236.3 million at the top line, compared to previously published guidance of $211 million to $217 million. The top line was also up 37% year-over-year and came in $21 million above the analysts expectations. At the bottom line, non-GAAP EPS was reported at 34 cents, down from the 36 cents in 3Q21 but well above the 18 cent to 24 cent EPS forecast in the guidance, and well above the 23 cents analysts had predicted. In his coverage of CALX shares for Needham, analyst Ryan Koontz writes, Broadband and fiber deployments are expected to see several more years of sustained growth, even in light of a challenging macro, and remain top of mind as we enter 2023. We designate CALX our top pick for the year and add it to Needham's Conviction List We see CALX in its infancy of upsell for its Calix Cloud software products which, offer recurring, high margin subscription revenue that can further transform its operating model. A diverse, non-concentrated customer base further reduces risk while easing supply chain and a recently elevated CEO instill execution confidence. Quantifying this stance, Koontz puts a Buy rating here, with a price target of $88 that indicates room for a potential upside of 29% in the year ahead. (To watch Koontz track record, click here.) The Strong Buy consensus rating on this stock is unanimous, based on 7 recent reviews from the Wall Street analysts. The shares are trading for $68.43 and the $81.57 average price target implies that a gain of 19% lies ahead. (See Calixs stock forecast at TipRanks.) Cepton (CPTN) Last on todays list is Cepton, a maker of automotive LiDAR systems. These are the latest word in digitally based, laser ranging technology, and represent the state-of-the-art for automotive sensor technology, with particularly useful applications in the developing autonomous vehicle niche. In that niche, LiDAR will be the eyes of the car, and the systems need to be both accurate and highly detailed. Cepton prides itself on delivering LiDAR units that are both reliable and scalable, with long range, high resolution, and 3-dimensional perception. LiDAR systems also have applications in other fields, such as satellite mapping. Cepton is involved in non-automotive applications, and its LiDAR units have found homes in smart city technologies, enabling pedestrian, road, and rail traffic analytics. They can also be found in industrial robots and ground vehicles. The automotive sector of the LiDAR business is the main attraction, however, and Cepton has a solid base there. The company is a partner with the Big 3 automaker GM, and provides sensor units for several platforms, including two upcoming Cadillacs. And, during Q3 of this year, Cepton signed an agreement to receive a $100 million investment from the Japanese original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Koito, which will provide funding for the companys next stage of growth and LiDAR scaling. Cepton is in the early stages of its growth, and the market for LiDAR systems is just beginning to open up. The company reported 3Q22 product revenue of $1.8 million, up 171% y/y. The firms net loss of 11 cents per share was a slight improvement over the 12-cent loss reported in the year-ago period. Cepton expects to see between $7 million and $9 million in total revenue for calendar year 2022. 5-star analyst Gus Richard, of Northland Securities, notes that Cepton has the right product for the rapidly expanding automotive LiDAR industry, and he writes, We believe that most of the auto OEM lidar activity involves 4 companies with CPTN being one of them. Two top-tier auto OEMs have moved from the RFI (request for information) stage to RFQ (request for quotation). RFQ includes price discussions and vehicle integration. One of the RFQs could be a lifetime award of over $1B. The Company has moved into an advanced engagement with a 3rd OEM, a top 10 OEM in North America. We believe that CPTN also recently engaged with a smaller European OEM. All of this adds up to a Top Pick from Richard, with an Outperform (Buy) rating, and a $4 price target that implies a robust upside of 215% by the end of the year. (To watch Richards track record, click here.) Overall, Cepton holds a Moderate Buy rating from the analyst consensus, based on 3 reviews including 2 Buys and 1 Hold. The shares are priced at $1.27 and have an average target of $3.33, suggesting a one-year upside of 162%. (See Ceptons stock forecast at TipRanks.) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. ReportLinker The Global ATC Equipment Market size was estimated at USD 9,891. 31 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 11,242. 47 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 13. 91% to reach USD 21,614. New York, Jan. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "ATC Equipment Market Research Report by Airspace, Offerings, Investment Type, Airport Size, Equipment Type, End-User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335703/?utm_source=GNW 18 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the ATC Equipment to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Airspace, the market was studied across Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCT), Remote Tower, and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Based on Offerings, the market was studied across Hardware, Services, and Software & Solutions. Based on Investment Type, the market was studied across Brownfield and Greenfield. Based on Airport Size, the market was studied across Large, Medium, and Small. Based on Equipment Type, the market was studied across Communications Equipment, Navigation Equipment, and Surveillance Equipment. Based on End-User, the market was studied across Commercial and Military. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for ATC Equipment market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the ATC Equipment Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global ATC Equipment Market, including ACAMS AS, Adacel Technologies Limited, ALTYS Technologies Inc, ARTISYS, s.r.o., BAE System PLC, Cyrrus Limited, Frequentis AG, Honeywell International Inc., Indra Sistemas, S.A., Intelcan Technosystems Inc., L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Leonardo S.p.A, NATS Holding, NAV CANADA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Saab AB, Saipher ATC, Searidge Technologies, SkySoft-ATM, and Thales Group. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global ATC Equipment Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global ATC Equipment Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global ATC Equipment Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global ATC Equipment Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global ATC Equipment Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global ATC Equipment Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global ATC Equipment Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06335703/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 How Much Cash Can You Withdraw From Your Bank? Just about every bank puts a limit on how much cash you can withdraw each day. In part, this is a security feature to prevent thieves from cleaning out unauthorized accounts. In other part, this helps banks and ATMs to stabilize liquidity. If accessing cash, especially on an unscheduled basis, is important to you, heres what you need to know about daily withdrawal limits from a personal account at a commercial bank. If youre not sure what type of financial institution should keep your money then you may want to consider working with a financial advisor. What Are Withdrawal Limits? A daily withdrawal limit is the maximum amount of money you can withdraw from your bank account in a single day. These limits largely exist for two reasons. The first is to manage cash flow and liquidity. Banks keep a limited amount of cash on hand at any given time, as do ATMs. By setting withdrawal limits, the bank can control how much they have to distribute at any given time. Just as importantly, if not more so, withdrawal limits are a security feature. By limiting daily withdrawals, banks help protect their customers against unauthorized access. Even if someone gets your debit card and PIN number, theres a limit to the damage they can do. There are three main categories of withdrawal limits: ATM Withdrawals This is by far the most common use of the term withdrawal limit. Your banks ATM withdrawal limit is the maximum amount of physical cash you can take out of an ATM in one 24-hour period. For example, many banks have a $500 limit, which means you cant take out more than $500 in cash during a single 24-hour period. Typically banks apply the ATM limit cumulatively, across all ATM transactions in a single 24-hour period. This means that it is not a limit on how much you can withdraw at once, but rather a limit on how much you can withdraw from ATMs altogether over the course of a day. While your bank sets a limit on ATM withdrawals, individual ATM operators can do so as well. This limits how much money you can take out of that operators machines over the course of a single day. For example, say your bank has a $1,000 withdrawal limit and you use an ATM with a $600 limit. This means that you can withdraw up to $600 from that ATM operators machines in a single day, but you can withdraw an additional $400 from other ATMs before hitting your banks limit. Story continues Cashier/Teller Withdrawals This is the maximum amount of physical cash that you can take out of your bank account in a 24-hour period by going into a branch and making a withdrawal in person. For example, your bank may limit cashier transactions to no more than $20,000 in physical cash each day. This differs from an ATM withdrawal because youre working directly with a teller, which obviates some of the security concerns. The branch will also have significantly more cash on hand than an ATM, which reduces liquidity concerns. While banks will often have some sort of cash withdrawal limit, they will typically be much higher than ATM withdrawal limits. In some cases this will be a general limit on cash transactions, meaning that the same limit would also apply to transactions like redeeming a check for cash. Banks may also set their limits around immediate transactions, meaning that you can withdraw large amounts of cash but need to make your request in advance. Debit Withdrawal Limit This is the maximum amount that you can spend with your debit card in a 24-hour period. For example, your bank may have a maximum of $5,000 in debit card spending each day. Banks treat debit card transactions as the electronic equivalent of a cash transfer. Since this is an electronic payment, a debit card doesnt present any special liquidity issues. However, it does present the same security concerns as an ATM withdrawal. As a result, its not uncommon for banks to impose debit withdrawal limits. When they exist, however, these limits are virtually always higher than ATM withdrawal limits. Legal and Savings Withdrawal Limits How Much Cash Can You Withdraw From Your Bank? For a standard depository account, there are no laws or legal limits to how much cash you can withdraw. Withdrawal limits are set by the banks themselves and differ across institutions. That said, cash withdrawals are subject to the same reporting limits as all transactions. If you withdraw $10,000 or more, federal law requires the bank to report it to the IRS in an effort to prevent money laundering and tax evasion. Few, if any, banks set withdrawal limits on a savings account. The main restriction on a savings account is the transaction limit, which is a legal limit of no more than six transactions through a savings account each month. You also have less access to a savings account, since these typically dont come with products like checkbooks or debit cards. However, within those limitations, you can generally move any amount of money that you please. Checking Withdrawal Limits Every bank has its own rules when it comes to daily withdrawal limits, and these terms can vary widely. Most, if not all, banks set the lowest limits on ATM withdrawals. They have higher limits for debit transactions and still higher limits for cashier transactions. Banks may also set different transaction limits based on your account. For example, a newer account, no-fee checking or student checking accounts may have low withdrawal limits. By contrast, a longstanding customer or one with a high-interest checking account may have a much higher withdrawal limit than usual. While a comprehensive list of withdrawal fees is beyond the scope of this article, here is a representative sample of ATM and debit withdrawal limits at eight banks at the time of writing. Note that these are representative numbers only. Your specific limits at any given bank will depend on your account type and usage. Bank Daily ATM Limit Daily Debit Limit Bank of America $1,000 or 60 individual bills $5,000 Capital One $5,000 for most accounts $5,000 for most accounts Chase $500-$3,000 $3,000 Citi $1,500-$2,000 $5,000-$10,000 PNC $500-$2,000 $2,000-$5,000 TD Bank Starts at $1,000 No specified limit U.S. Bank Starts at $500 Starts at $10,000 Wells Fargo Starts at $300 $600-$10,000 When you open a bank account, its important to learn what withdrawal limits come with it. In particular, make sure you ask about any debit limits. Your bank may not have debit limits, or at least not for all accounts, but they can be very important. For example, say your bank sets a $3,000 limit on debit spending in a 24-hour period. While you may not ordinarily need to think about that limit, on a day in which you pay for airfare or make some other large purchase you could be at risk of having your card declined. The Bottom Line How Much Cash Can You Withdraw From Your Bank? An ATM withdrawal limit is the maximum amount of cash that your bank will let you take out of ATMs in a single day. Your debit spending limit, if any, is the most you can spend with your debit card in a single day. Every bank has different rules around this, so make sure you understand your own accounts limits. Tips on Banking For any given bank account, your account limits will partially depend on the specific type of account you have. So the first step is making sure you have the right account for you. A financial advisor can provide valuable insight and guidance as you make choices about types of banks to use. If you dont have a financial advisor yet, finding one doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted 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 youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Photo credit: iStock.com/dobok, iStock.com/AsiaVision, iStock.com/mladenbalinovac The post How Much Cash Can You Withdraw From Your Bank? appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Realkredit Danmark A/S To NASDAQ Copenhagen Executive Board Lers Parkalle 100 DK-2100 Kbenhavn www.rd.dk Telephone +45 7012 5300 Telefax +45 4514 9622 2 January 2023 Company Announcement No 1/2023 Prepayments, Realkredit Danmark A/S Pursuant to 24 of the Capital Markets Act, Realkredit Danmark A/S hereby publishes prepayments as at Friday 30 December 2022. Please find the data in the attached file. The information will also be available on www.rd.dk . Yours sincerely The Executive Board Any additional questions should be addressed to Hella Gebhardt Rnnebk, Chief Analyst, phone +45 4513 2068. Attachments Hyatt has announced Stuart Deeson as Vice President of Operations for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In his new role, Deeson is responsible for Hyatts operating hotels across the region, with a current portfolio of more than 30 properties across seven brands, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Alila, Andaz, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. Deeson began his hospitality career at the age of 16 in the family country house hotel business, before joining the Hyatt family in 1995 and gaining extensive knowledge of Asia and the Middle East markets over nearly three decades. He started his journey with the company as Business Development Manager at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, and got promoted two years later to Director of Business Development at Hyatt Regency Xian in China. In 1999, Deeson was appointed the hotels Director of Rooms and successfully climbed the career ladder to his first Executive Assistant Manager (EAM) position in 2000, at Grand Hyatt Seoul in Korea. Continuing his journey across Asia, Deeson moved to Japan in 2002 to join the pre-opening team of Grand Hyatt Tokyo as EAM, Rooms. Three years later, he took on his first General Manager role at Hyatt Regency Johor Bahru in Malaysia, before making the move to the Middle East as GM of Park Hyatt Dubai in 2010. Deeson moved to the UAE capital in 2014 and held GM positions at Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt properties before taking on his role as Area Vice President and General Manager of Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. A passionate hotelier, Deeson studied at the University of Surrey, Guildford in the United Kingdom, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Catering Management. He will be based at Hyatts regional office in Dubai and work closely with his sub-regional teams to further enhance the companys operational excellence and success in the Middle East & Africa. Srdjan Milekovic, Senior Vice President Operations Europe, Africa and Middle East, Hyatt, said: I am delighted that Stuart has stepped into this new role. With his deep knowledge and experience across the Middle East and Africa, I know he will deliver great value for our colleagues, owners and guests, and successfully drive Hyatts purpose forward in the region. - TradeArabia News Service (Updates throughout with changed arrival dates, moored tankers, departed and new vessels) Jan 2 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) terminals are added to the table when they near deployment. As of Dec. 27 2022, this includes the Eemshaven terminal in the Netherlands, the Wilhelmshaven and Lubmin terminals in Germany and the Inkoo terminal in Finland. For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Qogir 174,000 Dec. 24 (A) United States South Hook Vivit Americas LNG 174,000 Dec. 30 (A) United States South Hook Gaslog Gladstone 171,000 Jan. 2 (A) United States Dragon Al Ruwais 210,000 Jan. 2 Qatar South Hook Solaris 152,000 Jan. 2 United States South Hook Sonangol Etosha 158,000 Jan. 2 (A) Angola Isle of Grain Methane Princess 135,000 Jan. 3 United States Dragon Maran Gas Agamemnon 172,000 Jan. 3 Unites States Dragon LNG Enterprise 174,000 Jan. 4 United States South Hook Megara 173,000 Jan. 6 Peru Dragon La Seine 174,000 Jan. 6 United States South Hook Nohshu Maru 177,000 Jan. 6 United States South Hook Sonangol Sambizanga 158,000 Jan. 7 Angola Isle of Grain Castillo De Caldelas 178,000 Jan. 8 United States Milford Haven SM Albatross 171,000 Jan. 8 United States Isle of Grain LNG Sakura 177,000 Jan. 11 United States South Hook Gaslog Seattle 155,000 Jan. 11 United States South Hook Sonangol Benguela 158,000 Jan. 13 Anglola Isle of Grain Flex Aurora 174,000 Jan. 16 United States South Hook BW Paris 159,000 Jan. 23 United States South Hook British Jan. 25 United Achiever 174,000 States South Hook BELGIUM Georgiy Brusilov 173,000 Jan. 1 (A) Russia Zeebrugge SCF La Perouse 174,000 Jan. 2 (L) Singapore Zeebrugge Murwab 206,000 Jan. 4 Qatar Zeebrugge Georgiy Ushakov 172,000 Jan. 6 Russia Zeebrugge Broog 134,000 Jan. 14 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Prism Jan. 5 United Brilliance 180,000 States Eemshaven Gaslog Geneva 174,000 Jan. 6^ United States Eemshaven Lng Schneeweisschen 177,000 Jan. 9 Egypt Gate Energy Universe 165,000 Jan. 17* United States Gate GERMANY Seapeak Hispania 138,000 Jan. 2 (A) N/A Lubmin Maria Energy 174,000 Jan. 3 United States Wilhelmshaven FINLAND Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nora Buli) September 9, 1943 December 26, 2022 Karen Kay Shields, age 79, of Murray, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. She was born on Sept. 9, 1943, in Roscoe, Texas, to Sanford David and Willie Norene (Marshall) Smith. Kay grew up in a military family while in high school, they were stationed in Puerto Rico where she graduated from the Ramey Air Force Base School in 1962. It was while in high school that she met William F. Shields. After graduating, they went their separate ways. Bill joined the Army and Kay attended Southwest Texas State University, they met again when Bill was stationed in Texas and were married on Oct. 5, 1963, in San Antonio. Shortly after marriage they moved to Nebraska where Kay finished her degree in education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She later continued her education, obtaining masters degrees in guidance counseling and administration. Kay has been a very integral and valued member of this community since 1978 when she began working as a 6th grade teacher at Conestoga Public Schools. She later became the elementary principal which she held for 15 years before retiring in 2003, however, she continued substitute teaching until 2016. Kay was involved in numerous professional associations and received numerous honors and awards including, the Award of Excellence from the Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals, Conestogas Foundation Golden Cougar Hall of Fame as an Outstanding Faculty/Staff member, and her Student Assistance program was featured at the National Education Conference in San Diego. She was also named Grand Marshall of the 2017 Murray Freedom Festival. Kay was an active member at the Plattsmouth Baptist Church where she was founder and director of the Wee School for many years. She later became a member of Lifespring Church where she volunteered and assisted with many activities. She and Bill volunteered for 15 years to organize the church services at the Mable Rose Assisted Living and Memory Support facility. Those who knew her well are very familiar with her Southern Accent (Texas style) and use of the words such as yall. She would do anything to help others, counsel others and has helped many children in the community to strive to accomplish amazing things in their life. She is survived by her husband, William Bill Shields of Murray, Nebraska; children, Robert (Paula) Shields of Plattsmouth, Kari (Mark) Weilage of Murray, Wray Shields of Plattsmouth; eight grandchildren, Richard (Rebecca) Hoy and son Victor Hoy, Johnnathan Hoy, Marcus Shields, Katie Shields, Tyson Shields, Kaylyn Weilage, Braeden Weilage, Kelsi Weilage; brother, Steve (Cissy) Smith of San Antonio, Texas; and sister, Billie (Gary) Howard of Beebe, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, SD and Norene Smith; and brother, Charles Smith. Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. at Lifespring Church with Rev. Steve Holdaway officiating. Memorials may be directed to the Susan G. Koman Foundation. Brian P. Harvey Funeral Home, Plattsmouth, NE, 402-296-4445, www.bpharveyfuneralhome.com As their final act, board members unanimously voted 6-0 Thursday to end the Tri-County Health Departments seven decades of service with a thank you. The resolution reads, in part, that the members of the Board of Health for the Tri-County Health Department express our gratitude to the dedicated staff who have met and gone above and beyond the public health needs of the residents of our region for almost 75 years. Tri-County dissolved Saturday, just as Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties are poised to begin new chapters with individual health departments. I feel like its the end of an era, said Julie Millica, board vice president and Adams County representative. The dissolution was prompted 15 months ago when Douglas County commissioners sought to end their relationship with Tri-County because of a dispute over COVID-19 public health mandates. Begun in 1948, Tri-County was among the oldest and largest in the state. Originally the health district served Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties. Jefferson County formed its own health department in 1958. Douglas County joined Tri-County in 1966. Colorado had five health districts, including Tri-County. The health districts dissolution marks a first in state history. But it wont be the last. The San Juan Basin Public Health District is set to disband. Its dissolution is also over health measures to curb the pandemic. San Juan has served Archuleta and La Plata counties since 1948. State law requires counties to either operate a health department or participate in a health district to provide core services. These core public services include environmental health; vital records; restaurant inspections; disease surveillance; as well as maternal, child and family health, among others. Representatives from the new health departments in Arapahoe and Adams counties provided the board with status updates. Douglas County was not invited to provide an update, Mindy Tappan, a district spokesperson, said in a text message to The Gazette. Board members were particularly concerned about the future employment of the 390 Tri-County staff members. In an interview with The Gazette before Thursdays board meeting, Tri-County Executive Director Dr. John Douglas said the vast majority of staff had secured positions with the Arapahoe and Adams health departments. The people who know public health in our three counties best are the people who have been working for us, Douglas said. The new health departments were very happy to get them. Theres no way that they can be as effective as when they were all under one department, he said, adding: I think theyre going to learn a lot from us. Jennifer Ludwig, Arapahoe County Health Departments public health director, agreed. Its been a huge undertaking, but we are ready, Ludwig told board members Thursday. Of the fledglings agencys 173 employees, Ludwig estimated 150 are former Tri-County staff. With so many people coming from Tri-County, we are going to continue to be able to serve at the same caliber as Tri-County, Ludwig said. While the newly minted health departments may experience some hiccups in the weeks and months to come, Douglas said the ability to work closely with other parts of county government may in the long run be an advantage. Wendy Manitta Holmes, a Douglas County spokesperson, agreed in a separate interview. With 95% of Douglas County residents covered by health insurance and health inspections accounting for the majority of their needs, the county doesnt need to replicate all that Tri-County did, Holmes said. Our philosophy is to provide information to our communities so that they can make informed decisions about their life for themselves and their family, Holmes said. While the lights went out on Tri-County Friday, closing out the books is not expected to happen until May, Bellann Raile, Tri-Countys receiver, told the board Thursday. In August, a district court judge in Arapahoe County approved Tri-Countys request for a receiver to preserve its assets and to manage the winding up of its affairs at this time and continuing after it is dissolved, the order reads in part. Part of the order includes a final audit, finalizing the bills and a Jan. 9 auction to sell off the remaining office supplies. The district will also have to settle an outstanding lawsuit with the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). As previously reported, PERA filed a suit against three metro-area counties and Tri-County. With dissolution of the health district, the retirement association alleges it is owed millions of dollars to pay for continued benefits for employees and retirees. PERA members include a range of public employees such as public-school teachers, university and college employees, judges and state troopers, among others. Tri-County owes an estimated $50 million in pension benefits. The health districts 2022 budget was about $67.8 million. Were not actually disputing that we need to pay it, Douglas told The Gazette. Douglas said Tri-County doesnt have the funds to pay PERA. According to court documents, Tri-County had roughly $22.6 million in banking and investing accounts. The virtual public meeting ended with very little fanfare after more than an hour Thursday to break into an executive session with the boards attorney. Its sad to see it go, said Millica, the boards vice president, but goodbye. Crews from the Chaffee County Search and Rescue (CCSAR-N) team were deployed to La Plata Peak Monday night after receiving an SOS signal from below a ridge, off the standard route trail, according to a news release. "Because the subject was using an older beacon device, CCSAR-N was only receiving intermittent updates regarding their position. For quite some time, it appeared the subject had not moved since triggering the SOS activation," the release said. The hiker reportedly made it to the summit, but re-aggravated a previous knee injury on the way back down. He began feeling symptoms of what he believed could have been hypothermia, when he decided to trigger the SOS signal. The team was made aware that the hiker was experienced in winter descents, but was not prepared with gear to spend the night in the backcountry. Due to terrain, avalanche concerns, time of day, and the seemingly stationary beacon signal six crew members were deployed to the scene. "After waiting some time, the subject then decided to attempt self-rescue by locating the snowshoes they had stashed during the ascent. Once they located their snowshoes, they started to slowly descend. After the subject started moving, they determined they were OK, and no longer needed help. However, they were unable to let anyone know because the device used to activate the SOS did not have two-way communication capabilities," according to the release. All crew members safely exited the field. STAY INFORMED: Sign-up for the daily OutThere Colorado newsletter here A driver left the scene of a weekend crash after hitting and killing a 19-year-old man on a bicycle near Widefield Community Park southeast of Colorado Springs, Colorado State Patrol said. The cyclist was headed west on Fontaine Boulevard south of the Colorado Springs Airport when a westbound vehicle hit the rider near the intersection of Metropolitan Street sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday and sunrise Sunday, a state trooper said. State Patrol responded shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday after receiving calls about a body and found the man dead on scene, the law enforcement agency said. Due to evidence found at the scene, investigators believe the vehicle involved in the crash was a 2015-2017 black Ford Expedition. There is likely damage to the passenger side headlight, bumper and fog light area, news partner KKTV reported. Anyone with information related to the crash is asked to contact the State Patrol dispatch center at 719-544-2424. Happy New Year! Its a new year and with it comes a new chance to protect yourself from fraud. I talked with AARP ElderWatch Colorado about the three ways to protect your identity in the new year. "While there are many different ways to protect your identity, I want to highlight three, said AARP's Mark Fetterhoff. No. 1, check your free annual credit report. You can do that by visiting annualcreditreport.com or calling the number 877-322-8228. This is a critical step just to make sure someone has not opened a line of credit in your name. The second most important thing to do is to manage your devices and keep them updated, Fetterhoff said. When I say devices, I'm talking about your phones, computers, tablets, really anything that connects to the internet. So don't respond to unsolicited calls, text messages and emails. Investigate scam blocking and warning apps and services that are provided by your phone carrier. "Additionally, keep operating systems that have antivirus detection updated. Just know there are many scammers out there who are posing as antivirus software protection services, so just make sure you're dealing with your legitimate service. Third, Fetterhoff said, keep your passwords up to date. Update passwords for accounts that contain personal or financial information. Try a passphrase rather than a password, something a little bit longer that might be easy to remember for you. "Use fingerprints and facial recognition when possible and also investigate using a password manager if you feel overwhelmed by all those passwords that you have." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Thousands of folks are victims of identity theft every year. You can take preventive steps to help protect your identity. "We hear over and over again from Coloradans that identity theft is one of the things they're most concerned about with regards to any type of fraud and scam issues, so taking these steps will help make you safe in the new year, said Fetterhoff. You can also take steps like freezing your credit to make it harder for crooks to open a line of credit in your name. "Placing a fraud alert or a credit freeze is a good step to take. Lots of identity theft experts will suggest placing that fraud alert or credit freeze," Fetterhoff said. "I would highly recommend visiting the website, identitytheft.gov, for any information you need about placing a fraud alert or credit freeze. You can report scams and fraud to the Colorado Attorney Generals Office at 800-222-4444; press option 2 to speak with AARP ElderWatch. Finally, I know a lot of you have been affected by the flight cancellations over the holidays, or you know someone who is, so I reached out to the Colorado Attorney Generals Office to find out what you can do. Attorney General Phil Weiser sent me this statement: "We are committed to fighting for the rights of airline travelers and ensuring airlines treat them fairly. If consumers are mistreated and left in the lurch, we want to know about it. We encourage all consumers to document their experiences and be ready to follow up with us and the U.S. Department of Transportation if they are treated unfairly by an airline." His office said consumers can file a complaint at StopFraudColorado.gov or www.transportation.gov/airconsumer. I hope you have a happy and safe New Year! A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Humboldt County, California, nearly two weeks after another strong quake hit the same area. The earthquake had an epicenter approximately nine miles southeast of Rio Dell, California, at 10:35 a.m. PST. Authorities have not reported any injuries from the earthquake. The California Department of Transportation temporarily shut down the Fernbridge on state route 211 to search for any damage. The earthquake comes weeks after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake caused damage to the area and was blamed for two deaths as the result of a "medical emergency" at the time of the quake. Several aftershocks came after the Dec. 20 earthquake, but it is currently unknown if Sunday's quake was an aftershock from the earlier earthquake. Original Location: Earthquake rocks Northern California weeks after different strong quake Few Coloradans alive today knew high-profile community benefactors Julie and Spencer Penrose, but the charitable groundwork the couple laid in the first half of last century is familiar to every generation since. One thing the trustees try to do every year and with every grant they make is to honor the intent of our donors, Julie and Spencer Penrose, said El Pomar president and CEO Kyle Hybl. In marking the 85th anniversary of the couples founding of the philanthropic foundation in December 1937, Hybl announced that the organization has surpassed $700 million in providing benevolent grants and community programs. About 24,000 grants have been disbursed to more than 4,000 nonprofits and government entities, to fund projects related to arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, health and human services. The couples original mission to enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado hasnt changed, Hybl said. Spencer and Julie were champions of entrepreneurship and regional pride, and they shared a spirit of generosity and adventure, he said. Theyd be pleased that the bold philanthropic mission they set in motion has flourished and built such a momentum over 85 years of honoring their vision. The foundation received about 400 grant requests from nonprofits last year, Hybl said, which is more than in 2021 and nearing pre-pandemic numbers. Post-COVID-19, areas of youth mental health, affordable and attainable housing, and ensuring sound economic development have been the most pressing needs for communities statewide, he said. During the pandemic, the foundation made three allotments of $1 million primarily for emergency assistance such as food, utilities and housing, Hybl said. The foundation released another $1 million in 2021 to help kickstart community gatherings, such as a potato festival in Monte Vista in the San Luis Valley, the Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival, Grand Lakes Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Troupe event, the Rocky Mountain Womens Film Festival, Fanfest in Colorado Springs and Durangos Autumn Arts Festival. Julie and Spencer Penrose were an integral part in sewing together whats become the fabric of not only Colorado Springs but also the state, Hybl said. Whether it was the natural, cultural or health care needs of a community, Julie and Spencer were there, he said. Spencer Penroses economic development and tourism investments built The Broadmoor hotel, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Pikes Peak Highway that runs to the top of the regions signature mountain and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, where the pair are buried. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Penrose started The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 1916 and, along with his wife, founded the Broadmoor Art Academy, which has evolved into the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. Supporting the private, independent Fountain Valley School of Colorado as well as expansions at Colorado College and rejuvenation of the Central City Opera also were important to the Penrose legacy. Their backing helped develop the Glockner-Penrose Hospital, now Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, and its renowned cancer center. The Penroses created the foundation with a donation of 15,000 shares of stock in El Pomar Investment Co., which served the couples business ventures, and a $129,500 check, according to historical accounts. El Pomar Foundation made five grants totaling $81,737 in its first year, to the Junior League of Colorado Springs Nutrition Camp, Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Penrose Colorado Community School, Glockner Hospital and the Boys & Girls Club of Colorado Springs. Today, El Pomar is one of the largest grant-making foundations in Colorado, awarding some $25 million annually. However, Hybl said, were fully aware were not the ones doing the good work; its the nonprofits weve had the opportunity to support over the last 85 years that are doing the good work, and were grateful. To ensure the entire state benefits from the couples generosity, El Pomar relies on 70 representatives from all 64 Colorado counties to help trustees determine where grant money should be spent. Spencer Penroses initial contribution worth $21 million has generated an endowment of nearly $700 million. Private foundations by law are required to spend 5% of net investment assets on charity, which for El Pomar Foundation includes awarding grants and operating community leadership development programs, public forums and other enterprises. Spencer died in 1939, and Julie died in 1956. Their home adjacent to The Broadmoor has been turned into a conference center for nonprofits to use at no cost, and a public Penrose Heritage Museum showcases the history of the couple and the region. Julie Villiers Lewis McMillan Penrose is one of 16 women scheduled to be inducted into the Colorado Womens Hall of Fame in March. Contact the writer: 719-476-1656. UCHealth Memorial Hospital North welcomed the first baby born in Colorado Springs in 2023 just under 30 minutes past midnight Sunday. Kai Miles Thorne was born at 12:29 a.m. to parents Amanda Mahler and Miles Thorne of Colorado Springs. Kai, named in honor of a family friend and mentor, joins 13-year-old sister Millie. The baby boy weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 20 inches was not expected until Jan. 11. "We had a (New Year's Eve) party that we had scheduled to go to, and he had other plans," Miles Thorne said. "But we had had a false alarm the day before, so this time we weren't as nervous." Still, the last few hours of 2022 were a "whirlwind" before the baby arrived on the brink of the new calendar year. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "It's surreal," Miles Thorne said from the hospital room. "We still haven't grasped the idea that he is the first baby of the new year. He's going to be the first priority of celebrating. Everything else will fall in line behind it." Miles Thorne said mother and baby, swaddled in a blue Winnie-the-Pooh blanket and who arrived in the world with a full head of hair, are recovering on schedule. Also in Colorado Springs, Centura Health welcomed its first baby of the New Year on the heels of Kai Thorne's birth. Ira Sue Barnard, weighing 3 pounds and 13.7 ounces, was born at 1:06 a.m. at Centura St. Francis Hospital to parents Heather Stevens and Charles Barnard. At UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs, parents Kellie McMaster and Chris Staley welcomed twin boys Aidan and Kilian, born two minutes apart at 10:05 a.m. and 10:07 a.m. Aurora possibly saw the first birth of 2023 across the state. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital welcomed 4-pound, 4-ounce Jimena Giselle Jiminez Alvarez at 12:07 a.m. as the "first baby born across the UCHealth system and ... likely one of the first born in Colorado," a hospital spokesperson said. The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), one of the agencies of Dubais Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has accredited The Co-Kitchen as the first kitchen incubator. This will be under the umbrella of the Dubai Business Incubator Network (DBIN), with the support of the Hamdan Innovation Incubator (HI2). The Co-Kitchen aligns with DET's efforts to further reinforce Dubais position as a leading centre for creators and innovators, as well as a global gastronomy hub, as envisioned by Dubais visionary leadership to make it the premier global destination to visit, live and work in. The Co-Kitchen business incubator presents a new opportunity for F&B start-ups, related home businesses, and investors to expand in this sector, experiment with their new ideas, and access a wide network of accredited incubators and business accelerators in Dubai to benefit from the emirates entrepreneurial support system and training and mentoring services. Many advantages The Co-Kitchen provides entrepreneurs and start-ups with many advantages, including a low-cost platform to launch their projects without the need for huge investments, a flexible exit strategy, great community support via access to suppliers and entrepreneurs to benefit and achieve their growth, access to shared kitchens with flexible timings, and comprehensive consultations addressing everything from the production stage and business strategy to marketing and sales. Before its launch, the incubator attracted five start-up projects, representing a positive indication of the volume of demand that it anticipates across the various stages of development. The F&B sector is one of Dubais vital sectors, hosting more than 13,000 outlets, including cafes and local and international restaurants and fine dining destinations, consolidating the emirates status as a leading global destination for food tourism. Home to over 200 different nationalities, Dubai was recognised as the No.1 global destination and the fourth leading destination for Food Lovers in the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2022, demonstrating the depth of the culinary scene and the diversity of culinary offerings. Innovative initiative Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, said: The adoption of the first kitchen incubator to be part of the Dubai Business Incubator Network is an innovative initiative that enriches the network and expands the sectors it targets as part of our strategy to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Dubai, inspired by the guidance of our visionary leadership to position Dubai as a leading destination for business, investment and tourism. Dubai has continuously focused on developing the F&B sector, and Dubai SME will continue to facilitate entrepreneurs to leverage this growing sector by proving a range of services from legal to technical support and marketing expertise, financial and accounting services, in addition to employment and training, as part of the support provided by the accredited network of business incubators in Dubai. Shehzad Afzal Bhatti, Founder of The Co-Kitchen, said: "This presents a wonderful opportunity to develop entrepreneurs seeking to operate in the emirates F&B sector by providing the first shared kitchen. We are grateful to Dubai SMEs team for their support and vision in developing entrepreneurs across all the emirates sectors. Premium service package The Dubai Business Incubator Network provides a package of services to its members, where member companies from the UAE and GCC can access Dubai SMEs services, and Emirati members and citizens of the GCC who have 100% ownership of their companies can take advantage of five-year exemptions from licensing fees. The DBIN will also enable innovators and entrepreneurs in Dubai to secure funding for their projects through the digital crowdfunding platform Dubai Next. Member companies will also be granted access to workshops, events, presentations and other services from the Hamdan Innovation Incubator (HI2) and its partners, as well as enjoying services and consultations in the field of intellectual property and trademarks. The DBIN acts as a guiding entity to assist, encourage and provide best practices for business incubation programmes in the country and seeks to stimulate economic and developmental activity by establishing new facilities capable of providing promising investment opportunities that contribute to strengthening the national economy and creating more job opportunities. Bagging your groceries just got more expensive. And in a year, itll be less convenient. Its all mandated by a new law that kicked in Jan. 1. Think of it as the legislatures way of saying, Happy New Year! As reported by The Gazette in a heads-up to readers last week, legislation that was enacted at the Capitol in 2021 and took effect Sunday socks consumers with a 10-cent fee for every single-use plastic or paper bag they carry out of grocery stores and most other retailers. Not only supermarkets but also convenience stores, liquor stores, restaurants, dry cleaners, drug stores, clothing shops the list goes on will have to charge the fee. And its only the first step under the new policy. The law imposes an outright ban statewide, few exceptions on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers on Jan. 1, 2024. No more plastic bags for cleaning up after your retrievers early morning walk through the park. No more foam carry-out containers for your chicken sandwich or street tacos. Why the change? Various reasons are given: the bags and containers are a source of litter; they compete for space in landfills; they arent entirely biodegradable. Yet, you get the feeling no one in the General Assembly is actually sure. After all, the same environmental concerns could be raised about the reams of documents generated annually by government (yes, even in the Digital Age). And unlike plastic bags or polystyrene containers, a lot of the bureaucracys paperwork serves no discernible purpose. Its not clear if anyone reads much of it at all. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. But lawmakers probably would rather you dont overthink it. Banning plastic bags just feels good, OK? Its the responsible thing to do. Does anybody really want more garbage to go to a landfill even if that is the place where garbage is supposed go? Its just so, well, you know, wasteful. The many affected retailers have no choice in the matter, of course. They aired their concerns when they could, during the 2021 legislature. But their protests fell on the deaf ears of ruling Democrats, who passed the law anyway. So, the stores must comply, and theyve thrown in the towel. As noted in The Gazette report, Walmart has decided to eliminate its plastic bags immediately rather than wait for the ban in a year. Other chains will charge for their bags until they run out of them. Dont bother talking about convenience; youll be called shortsighted or even selfish. Never mind that plastic bags have a thousand and one uses around the house after they haul your milk, eggs and potatoes home from the market. Or that polystyrene is so widely used for takeout meals precisely because its so effective in keeping food warm and then crushes down to almost nothing when you dispose of it. But forget about all of that. Common sense has nothing to do with the new policy; its about legislating virtue. Which is a lot easier for lawmakers than tackling the real challenges facing our state. The political turmoil and transformation of 2022 revealed the movers and shakers of Colorados political realm. Colorado Politics identified 10 of the individuals and groups who had the biggest wins and made the most impact on state politics this year: Gov. Jared Polis Polis was reelected for his second term as governor in November, winning his race by a resounding 19.3 percentage points over his Republican opponent, Heidi Ganahl. That was the biggest margin of victory of any of Colorados statewide races this year, contributing to a historically successful election for Democrats in the state. Polis also achieved one of his long-awaited campaign promises this year, signing the implementation of his free universal preschool program into law. The policy earned him a lot of national press this year, solidifying his status as Colorados most visible leader and a mainstay on shortlists identifying potential presidential candidates for 2024. Morgan Carroll, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party Carroll led Colorados Democratic Party through an unprecedentedly successful election, with Democrats winning every statewide office, increasing their majority in the state Senate by two and in the state House by five, winning five of eight congressional seats and nearly unseating Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the 3rd Congressional District. In Colorado, neither party has even come close to accomplishing such overwhelming victories since the late 19th century. Following these historic wins, Carroll announced she will not seek another term as chair of the Colorado Democratic Party when the party elects its new leaders in April. Carroll, who has led the party for six years, said she is ready to pass the torch to a new chair after she met all of the partys goals set when she was first elected. U.S. Rep.-elect Yadira Caraveo Caraveo won Colorados newly created 8th Congressional District in the November election in a pivotal race that helped to determine the party split of the U.S. House of Representatives. This was one of the most competitive congressional seats in the state, with the districts population evenly divided politically and nearly $18 million in outside money poured into the race. Caraveo, a Demorat, beat out Republican state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer by only 0.7 percentage points. This victory means Caraveo will be the first Latina and the first physician to represent Colorado in Congress. She also earned key support from Colorados Latino population who voted for her 3-to-1 over Kirkmeyer and helped to activate a largely untapped group of voters who typically lack political participation and representation. U.S. Rep.-elect Brittany Pettersen Colorados other new Congresswoman, Pettersen, won the 7th Congressional District in November. Pettersen earned a comfortable 15 percentage points over her Republican opponent, Erik Aadland. While the district leans Democratic, Pettersen had the challenge of taking over for Democrat U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who has held the seat since 2007 but didnt run for reelection. In addition to her U.S. House victory, Pettersen made waves in the Colorado legislature this year as a state senator. She was one of the prime sponsors of the session-defining House Bill 1326, a sweeping measure to address the state's runaway fentanyl crisis. Pettersen also sponsored successful bills granting state lawmakers paid family leave, banning colleges from withholding diplomas over student debt and expanding protections against surprise health insurance bills. Keeping Colorado Local The issue committee Keeping Colorado Local defeated two of three ballot measures seeking to expand the sale and delivery of alcohol, which they said would run small liquor stores out of business. Voters rejected the measures aiming to allow third-party alcohol delivery and eliminate the limit on liquor stores operated by one entity. The third, which allows the sale of wine in grocery stores, passed by just over one percentage point the closest margin of any statewide ballot measure. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The group achieved this victory at a significant disadvantage in the face of multinational corporations, such as DoorDash and Instacart, pouring over $26 million into the campaigns backing the ballot measures. In comparison, Keeping Colorado Local raised only $900,000. Jon Caldara During an election where conservative candidates and initiatives were largely rejected by Colorado voters, Caldara, president of the Independence Institute and a columnist for Colorado Politics, persuaded Coloradans for a second time to reduce the state income tax rate. His ballot measure, which would lower the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.4%, passed by over 30 percentage points and was the first ballot question the Associated Press called in favor of on election night. Caldara teamed up with state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, to champion the measure. This landslide success advances Caldaras Path to Zero plan, which aims to gradually phase out Colorados income tax rate to zero. In 2020, Colorado voters passed also passed Caldaras ballot measure, which he also partnered with Sonnenberg on, to lower the tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%. Healthier Colorado The Denver nonprofit Healthier Colorado was behind some of the states biggest legislation this year. The group was one of the core financial donors behind two successful ballot initiatives: Proposition 123 to dedicate taxable income for affordable housing and Proposition FF to provide free meals for public school students. In addition, 26 of the 32 bills Healthier Colorado lobbied in support of in the state legislature were signed into law, including implementing universal preschool, automatically sealing some criminal records and several changes to the behavioral health care system. Healthier Colorados influence is expected to only increase into the New Year with the Democratic supermajority in the state legislature and political leaders saying they plan to prioritize addressing issues, including affordable housing, health care and education. House Speaker-designee Julie McCluskie After Democratic candidates dominated the November election and brought the state House to a 46-19 Democratic supermajority, McCluskie was nominated by her caucus to serve as House speaker for the next legislative session. McCluskie beat out two other Democratic hopefuls for the most powerful position in the House, contributing to the caucus electing all women for the top three leadership positions for the first time in state history. Before being nominated as speaker, McCluskie spent the year at the helm of the most powerful committee in the state legislature the Joint Budget Committee, responsible for the states annual budget and she sponsored 67 successful bills, the most of any Colorado lawmaker in 2022. Senate President Steve Fenberg Fenberg was selected as Senate president twice this year: First, in February when he was unanimously elected to replace departing Sen. Leroy Garcia, and again in November, when his caucus nominated him to continue holding the most prestigious position in the legislature. Fenbergs Democratic caucus also saw great success in the election, gaining two seats following months of threats that a red wave would seize control of the state Senate for the Republicans. In addition to his position as Senate president, Fenberg passed 100% of the bills he introduced during the years legislative session. He was one of only 10 state lawmakers to achieve this feat and had the third most bills among them at 21. Rep. Marc Catlin Catlin spent the 2022 legislative session as the only Republican to hold leadership in a state House committee a title he will maintain next year, despite Republicans losing seats in the legislature. Catlin was tapped to be vice chair of the agriculture committee next session, making him the only GOP member to hold the position as vice chair any committee for three years running. Adding to his legislative power, Catlin was also elected as minority whip during last-minute leadership reshuffling last month. During the 2022 session, Catlin was among the most bipartisan lawmakers in the state Capitol, with 100% of the bills he sponsored receiving sponsorship from both parties. Catlin was one of only three lawmakers to accomplish this feat and he sponsored the second most bills among them at 22. 36-year-old Rafat Khan from Chattarpur, Madhya Pradesh has donated blood 13 times in a year. TCN NEWS Support TwoCircles CHHATARPUR (MADHYA PRADESH) A Muslim man donated blood to save the life of a 60-day-old baby boy suffering from anaemia in Madhya Pradeshs Chhatarpur district, reported PTI. When he received a phone call about the baby on Saturday, 36-year-old Rafat Khan did not hesitate even for a second and raced his motorcycle to the district hospital. Khan was about to leave his house to offer prayers when he received a call about Vikas Gupta who was in desperate need of A-positive blood. The baby suffered from anaemia, a condition caused due to deficiency of healthy red blood cells that carry adequate oxygen to the bodys tissues. Without a second thought, I picked up my motorcycle and rushed to the district hospital to donate blood to the ailing child, Khan told PTI on Sunday. Khan said the babys father Jitendra, who is a resident of Manoria village, had contacted him after he failed to source blood and was cheated by a tout. The tout allegedly took Rs 750 from Jitendra on the pretext of arranging for blood, he said. Talking to PTI, Jitendra said, My sons condition has improved now after Khan donated blood. He came like an angel and donated blood with a smile when my child needed it desperately. Paediatrician Dr Mukesh Prajapati, who is in charge of the special newborn care unit at the district hospital, said the babys condition was stable after he received blood. Khan is not a first-time donor and has donated blood at least 13 times in the span of one year. The noble act gave him joy and satisfaction, he said. Like the support for Arizonas immigration legislation that is require [ #permalink dwindling of the number of politicians supporting the law is due to the increase in Like the support for Arizonas immigration legislation that is required for the legislation to become a law,proportion of Hispanic population in the state.A. dwindling of the number of politicians supporting the law is due to the increase inB. the number of politicians supporting the law is dwindling because of the increasingC. due to the increased number of politicians supporting the law there is dwindling inD. the number of politicians who support the law are dwindling because of the increasingE. the number of politicians supporting the law dwindling because of the increasing_________________ Traditional print journalism is dying. The proliferation of online and cable news sources makes it easy for readers to bypass newspapers and magazines. Since most publications generate advertising revenue based on their circulation, this decline in readership will be fatal to the print journalism industry.The argument depends on which of the following assumptions?A. Traditional publications are better than cable and online news sources.B. Cable and online news sources are better than traditional publications.C. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press, which will ensure the continued survival of print journalism.D. Newspapers and magazines have no other sources of revenue available to them.E. Advertising revenue can be supplemented by other sources of revenue._________________ We believe that one of the first things we need to do in 2023 is to pray, Philip Campbell, co-assistant pastor at Bibleway Cathedral, said. I must give kudos to my dad, he said, referring to Apostle Lawrence Campbell Sr., who started the New Years Day prayer tradition. The elder Campbell is a local civil rights leader, pastor and co-founder at Bibleway Cathedral. After singing God Bless Danville, the prayers started on an unusually balmy afternoon. Normally occurring at noon, Sundays affair was pushed back to 2 p.m. to give worshippers time to finish church services before heading to the prayer event. The Rev. Avon Keen, pastor of Traynham Grove Baptist Church, prayed for the president and the state of the nation. We want to turn to each other and not against each other, he said, a reference to a somewhat divided nation politically speaking. Bless the affairs of the nation. Bishop Cecil Bridgeforth Jr., pastor of Kingdom Worship Center, offered prayer for the government of Danville, hoping to bring leaders together. God we pray for unification upon our city, unification upon the government, he said. Up next, Paige Warren, of Bibleway, offered a prayer specifically for the young generation in Danville. Let them know that they can have a good group of friends who can be around people that uplift them, she said. Bishop David Fuller, pastor or Greater Mount Zion Church, prayed for businesses and jobs in the city. Bless our businesses and help them to grow, flourish and create great livelihoods for all of the citizenry, he said. Knowing that Danvilles mayor and council have recognized education as No. 1 on their list, Kenny Lewis Sr., the executive director of the Church Based Tutorial Program, offered words of encouragement and inspiration to learning. He prayed that scores would continue to go up and that every vacancy will be filled, within the school system. He also thanked the organizations in the community that are dedicated to helping students. Evangelist Betty Jackson, of Bibleway, ended the series of prayers asking for unity for the houses of worship in the area. Concluding the event, Campbell had the crowd repeat a refrain saying 2023 will be a year for health, victory and prosperity. Campbell said he was very impressed with the turnout Sunday for the event sponsored by Bibleway. I hope that the citizens of Danville will realize that great things are happening, Campbell said at an interview after the event. The best is yet to come. RICHMOND The Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol will hold its ninth public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The meeting, which begins at 10 a.m., will be held in the Reynolds Leadership Center on the 2nd Floor of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond. At this meeting the Commission will announce, following a lengthy selection process, its choice of sculptor for the Barbara Rose Johns statue that will be installed in the United States Capitol as one of Virginias two contributions to the Statuary Hall Collection. The Johns statue will replace the statue of Robert E. Lee that was removed in December 2020. Most of the meeting will be devoted to a discussion between the Commission and artist regarding design details of the sculpture such as pose, expression, attire, and pedestal. The meeting agenda, as well as instructions for how to participate virtually and to register for public comment, are available on the Commissions webpage at https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/uscapitolcommission/ Though the meeting agenda includes time for verbal public comment, written comment is also welcomed and can be submitted to USCapitolCommission@dhr.virginia.gov. The Department of Historic Resources, the Commonwealths historic preservation agency, provides administrative support to the Commission. Questions concerning the Commission, its purpose and the upcoming meeting should be directed to the agency. When Rick Harrison decided to bring his Pawn Stars spin-off to Winston-Salem, he figured he would find some interesting items. And folks in the Piedmont Triad didnt disappoint. Wednesday nights finale of Pawn Stars Do America includes a wide assortment of items, some of which Harrison and his crew son Corey Harrison and staff member Austin Chumlee Russell bought and some of which they admired but took a pass on. People were bringing tons of stuff, Harrison said, and we bought hundreds of things there.... There was no way we could get it all on the television, though. The eight-episode miniseries is a spinoff of the original Pawn Stars, which debuted in 2009 and has proven to be a hit. While the original focuses on Rick and his family and staff at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, each episode of Pawn Stars Do America is set in a different city. Harrison was born in Lexington, and his father Richard Benjamin Harrison known to fans of the series as The Old Man grew up there and has maintained strong ties to the area. Episodes of the spinoff have included stops in Savannah, Seattle, San Francisco, Valley Forge, Washington DC and Austin. In honor of The Old Man, who died in 2018, the production team made sure the Triad was one of the stops, though they chose a location in Winston-Salem for practical reasons since they needed a bigger venue. Harrisons parents moved to San Diego when he was 2 years old, and though he occasionally spent summers here when he was a kid, he said he hadnt been back to the area since then. The Winston-Salem episode was shot at Robert Hall, a recently-renovated event center on North Liberty Street, with some trips to outlying areas including a requisite stop for some good old fashioned Lexington-style barbecue, which Harrison insisted on. Among the items featured in the episode appropriately titled Sweet Carolina was a replica of one of Richard Pettys race cars, which Harrison got to test drive and which The King himself shows up to take a look at. That was really, really fun, Harrison said. I had a blast there, I really did. Other notable artifacts included an outfit Val Kilmer wore in the original Top Gun; presidential military commissions dating back to the 19th century with the signatures of various presidents including Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson; an exceptionally rare Rolex watch; Moravian metalwork, which Jed Templin, the president of Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookies came in to give his advice on; and much more. One of the more unusual items that drew Harrisons attention came from Andy Heilmann, who runs a business from Oak Ridge called Surplus 4 Business that sells vintage toys including trains, toys and pedal cars. It was a wonderful experience, Heilmann said. I was invited to come down and show anything that I wanted to offer up for sale. So I brought this little something I could hold and carry in, but I told him about this pedal car and he said, hey, bring it back. The pedal car in question was a 1933 Rolls Royce Doctors Coupe, which he said was one of the rarest pedal cars Ive ever had. He isnt allowed to discuss how the haggling turned out until the episode airs, but we negotiated a fair settlement, Ill say that. He described Harrison as a really nice guy, very very personable, very very down to Earth, and a real nice guy to talk to. Harrison says he enjoyed the visit and talking to the public outside his regular Vegas venue, but hes not sure if there will be more Do America episodes. He is optimistic, though. Im still doing regular Pawn Stars, he said. We talked a little bit about it and everyone things that this went so well, well probably be doing it again. The two-hour episode Sweet Carolina will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the History Channel. The attack against civilians on Sunday triggered protests in the area, with a complete shutdown observed today against the killings. Afnan Habib | TwoCircles.net SRINAGAR (JAMMU AND KASHMIR) Following what appeared to be a targeted attack on a community on Sunday that left four civilians dead, a fresh explosion today claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district. The IED was planted beneath a bag, and it exploded. Seven people have been injured, and a child has died, Mukesh Singh, the Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, told reporters in Rajouri. He said the event was being investigated, and the entire area had been cordoned off. On January 1, suspected militants with automatic weapons stormed at least three houses close to Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmirs Pir Panjal Valley, killing four civilians and injuring at least seven others. The attack was the first such attack in many years in the otherwise peaceful Jammu region. Deepak Kumar, Satish Kumar, Pritam Lal, and Shiv Pal were among the deceased civilians. Those injured included Pawan Kumar, Rohit Pandit, Saroj Bala, Sushil Kumar, Shub Sharma, and Urvashi Sharma. The incident occurred four days after four heavily armed militants were gunned down by a joint team of J&K Police and security forces near Sidhra bridge at the entry point to old Jammu city along National Highway-44. Ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lacs and a government job was announced for the relatives of victims in the tragedy on Monday by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Rajouri. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, Manoj Sinha said in a tweet. In light of the attacks, security has been beefed up in Rajouri amid a complete shutdown in protest of the killings. Several organizations, including traders bodies, called for a general strike in the Rajouri district on Monday. Expressing grave concern regarding the attacks, Dr Farooq Abdullah, National Conference President, said it was painful to see innocent people being killed. Terrorism still exists in J&K, and innocent people continue to be killed. The government should develop a concrete plan to safeguard people, he said. Dr Farooq added that such incidents result from hate spreading throughout the country. Mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir denounced the attack. Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah expressed his shock after learning about the specifics of the incident. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack & send my condolences to the families of the deceased. I hope those injured in this attack will make a swift & complete recovery, Abdullah said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the incident and slammed the BJP over the killings. Condemn this cowardly act & condolences to their families. Despite being under BJP rule & its bogus claims of ending militancy, violence continues unabated. Had J&K had its own elected government, the same media would have hauled them over the coals, the Peoples Democratic Party chief said. Ravinder Raina, President of the J&K BJP, also denounced the tragedy, labelled Pakistani terrorists actions as absolute cowardice, and vowed to expel them and their followers from the Union Territory. Afnan Habib is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. He tweets @afnanhabib_ BURLINGTON Authorities are asking for the public's help locating a missing 17-year-old with special needs who was last seen early Sunday. Cody Allen Brammer is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 125 pounds, according to a news release from the Alamance County Sheriff's Office. A spokesman for the sheriff's office said there were four search teams looking for Brammer on Sunday evening. Brammer, who has a cognitive impairment, was last seen at 1:30 a.m. Sunday at his residence in the 100 block of Darrell Davis Road, authorities said. He was wearing a long-sleeve gray shirt, light color pajama pants and unknown color sneakers. He may have walked away from the residence. Authorities ask anyone who sees Brammer to call 911 or 336-570-6777. The author is a partner in the Maria Stein Animal Clinic, Maria Stein, Ohio. We are approaching three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. As the disease becomes endemic, we start to see the unintended consequences of control measures. While these measures saved lives, many other lives were altered. We now see that 80% of first to third grade children who started school during the shutdown do not read at grade level. Math scores in underclassmen high school students are a full 10% lower than ever. Veterinarians who trained under COVID-19 times do not have the experience they need to do their job. We spend considerable time mentoring them in areas that were previously expected as basic knowledge. We dont mind the mentoring, though, because we need to make good doctors. Technology has helped reduce the impact of absence with remote access to records and better data recording. But the reality is that virtual is not the same as in person. We need to be there to make the most difference. I watch dairies get presented with record analysis by people who log into the computer, create a report, and either present the report in the farm office or email a summary without ever going to the barn. This process has reduced the chance of the information being valuable because it doesnt verify that the records are accurate. Without being on the farm, the person doesnt learn the farm culture and what is possible. They cant address the topics that are of most concern to management. They also cant see why the numbers are what they are; one can only speculate whats going on in the barn. You need to be there to make a difference. It takes a closer look No person can know everything, and anyone can miss things occasionally by not knowing. It is not okay to miss things by not looking. You have to be there to look. A consultant showed up at a farm team meeting with multiple graphs of the somatic cell count and the clinical mastitis case rates over the last several months. It would have taken me all day to create those graphs, but it only took me 10 minutes in the parlor to see that cows teats were not being dipped. Dip was disappearing because the farm was using a system that was supposed to be the latest in dipping technology, but when the arm on the dipping robot came out, every cow raised its right rear leg, tilting the teats away from the dipper and creating a miss. Ive seen better accuracy from other systems. If those fail, use a person. You had to be there to know what was going on, though. On another farm, calf pellet intake was high, and that was considered a good thing. I watched the calf feeder use a board to scoop pellets because the scoop was missing. So, waste was actually high. It was an easy fix, but you had to be there to see what was happening. In another case, calves were dying and colostrum bacteria quantifications were high. Doing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swabs is a popular way to check cleaning protocols and a good place to start. Putting in sophisticated colostrum management systems with more labor and equipment is common and was being discussed. Walking around, I saw that colostrum was harvested in a separate milking stall in a timely manner. The colostrum, however, sat for awhile before it was chilled. Bacteria had the opportunity to double every 20 minutes. It was an easy fix to change to immediate colostrum feeding, and calves stopped dying. But you needed to be there to make a difference. Prefresh dry matter intake was low on one clients farm. A camera system was discussed to review when feed ran out and when it was pushed up. That would work, but the simpler fix with prefresh cows is to feed them late in the afternoon. Then there is a pile of feed through the night and people are in the barn when they run out during the day. Of course, those people need to make decisions to feed more or earlier when residual feed is low, but the situation is obvious without extra work. Milk cows, on the other hand, need to be fed in the morning. You had to be there to suggest this change and make a difference. On another dairy, the new maternity manager had higher mortality and metritis rates than we expect. Working side-by-side as he assisted calvings, I could see that he had not been taught the importance of hygiene or that it is okay to let labor progress normally. Retraining had great results, and there was a side discovery. For calving tools, there was just one 30-inch obstetrical chain, so we supplied a full set of calving equipment. It is frustrating to find farms that dont give workers a few hundred dollars of tools they need yet have a $200,000 tractor out front. Records and observations Records played a role in many of these cases to show that results are out of bounds. Finding why the numbers were lacking, though, took walking around the facilities. We have to create a system to do both. I like to review records before arriving at the farm. That gives me some areas to focus on. I walk around recording potential areas of improvement and discuss how things are going with managers and workers. I often look up more records in areas that were concerns while walking around. Then we meet with the management team and discuss our findings. I also check if progress was made on previous concerns at some time during the meeting. Sometimes, we leave the meeting room to look at things that came up during the discussion. A report is then generated. This dairy industry is going to keep changing, but the basics of taking care of cows remain the same. We have to be there to know that the basics are being applied for every cow. You have to be there to make a difference. CONCORD On Sunday, Jan. 1, at 6:01 p.m., the Concord Fire Department responded to a reported dwelling fire at 562 Central Drive NW in Concord. Fire apparatus and personnel arrived on scene within three minutes to discover a fire in the attic at the residence. Firefighters used one hose line to extinguish the fire, and also performed a search, ventilation, salvage and overhaul to look for any hidden fires. The incident was brought under control within 12 minutes of units being dispatched and nine minutes of the first arriving apparatus. Firefighters safely removed three cats and three dogs from the home, which was unoccupied at the time of the fire. There were no reported injuries, and the American Red Cross is assisting the occupants. Concord Fire Department was assisted by the Kannapolis Fire Department. Four engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company, two battalion chiefs, and one safety officer responded with a total of 26 firefighters. The cause of the fire is under investigation. THOMASVILLE A Fiat and a Corvette collided early Sunday on U.S. 29 south before both vehicles left the roadway, resulting in the death of a 33-year-old man from Salisbury, Thomasville Police said in a news release. Thomasville officers responded at 3:45 a.m. Sunday to U.S. 29 south near National Highway after a collision between a 2020 Fiat 500 and a 2014 Chevy Corvette, which were both traveling south on U.S. 29. Both vehicles left the roadway to the right and entered the tree line, police said. The driver of the Fiat and two passengers, all of High Point, were transported to High Point Medical Center for treatment. The driver of the Corvette, Marcus Mobley Bratton, 33, of Salisbury, died at the scene, police said in the news release. The accident is still under investigation. Further details about what may have caused the collision were not immediately available. Attorneys for all 93 county election commissioners in Nebraska and high-ranking state officials have asked a district judge to toss a Lincoln man's lawsuit against them as frivolous. Rick Hill's suit against Gov. Pete Ricketts, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Attorney General Doug Peterson, Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers and Election Systems & Software includes nine pages of vague allegations of election fraud and QAnon conspiracy theories. At a hearing Dec. 19, Hill asked Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen to allow him to amend his complaint. "Honestly, it was done on a rant," he said. If given the chance, Hill said, he would file a pared-down version alleging about 11 claims rather than the 40 in his current complaint. As it stands, Hill's complaint says that he is suing the group "for allowing unconstitutional elections." "This is an impeachment of the entire executive and legislative branch for allowing out-and-out violations year after year after year," he wrote, with nothing to substantiate his claims. The same day of the court hearing, Evnen, Nebraskas chief election officer, said an expanded, statewide audit of the 2022 general election that included a hand count of more than 48,000 ballots cast found just 11 discrepancies, for a 0.023% error rate. Hill's lawsuit, which seeks $10 billion, alleges that every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan has been "heavily saturated in pedophilia with the exception of Trump," that COVID-19 was a scam to remove Trump from office and that President Joe Biden wasn't elected but "installed," along with 90% of Lincoln's city council. "The elected officials of this state think we have fair and honest elections. They are gaslighting us," he said. "That tells me they are in on the corruption." In September, Hill asked the judge to enter an order protecting election records without the other side being notified. Soon after he was denied, Hill filed an amended complaint including every county election commissioner in the state. At the Dec. 19 hearing, a troop of lawyers representing them, the state officials and Election Systems & Software argued for the case to be dismissed. Attorney John Matson, who represents ESS, said Hill's claims boil down to complaints about how government operates and how elections take place, which aren't within the purview of the court. Courts across the country, both state and federal, regularly are asked by citizens to throw out results of democratically completed elections, and "regularly and consistently dismiss these claims," he argued. Matson said ESS is seeking sanctions, since this is the second lawsuit Hill has filed based on essentially the same allegations. "While that may seem innocuous," the attorney said, "it really does create a real prejudice on the defendants that are sued. In our case, Mr. Hill has drug 96 defendants into court." Attorney Patrick Guinan, who represents a bulk of the election commissioners, said most of Hill's allegations involve the 2020 election and Hill failed to file notice of a tort claim in the counties first, as required to get in the court's front doors. "As Mr. Hill said, this is just him venting and filing a lawsuit," Guinan said. "Well, him venting and filing a lawsuit has caused how many hundreds of hours of attorney time, clerk time, our elected officials' time to respond to a rant?" Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Huxoll, who represents the state elected officials, said they understand Hill feels strongly about this. But Hill "already had an opportunity to clarify his disjointed, rambling and often incoherent arguments made against the state defendants. He chose to file an amended complaint that contained no more specific facts," she and Assistant Attorney General Justin Hall wrote in their brief. Jacobsen gave Hill time to respond to the briefs seeking to dismiss the case and took the matter under advisement. As Matt Blomstedt's final days as Nebraska education commissioner tick down, some educators would welcome a fresh start for the department he ran for nine years. Blomstedt, whose last day is Tuesday, will join Foresight Law + Policy, a national education law and consulting firm, where he hopes to have an impact on education policy across the country. The firm, in a news release, described Blomstedt as a "thought leader" in Nebraska and national education policy circles. "His nationally recognized work drew peer recognition and awards and three invitations from Congress to testify about the state's education system and leadership," the release said. As commissioner, Blomstedt has been comfortable in the realm of policymaking, able to navigate the voluminous maze of federal and state education laws. He cut his teeth on that side of the education world, not as a teacher or school administrator. His grasp of those overlapping laws and regulations were useful as his department created Nebraska's current school accountability and assessment system. The AQuESTT system an acronym for Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow uses multiple measures to classify schools as Excellent, Great, Good or needing assistance. But even as colleagues sent him off heaped with praise, there is talk among some educators that the next commissioner should have something on his resume that Blomstedt never had: experience as a superintendent. The man he replaced in 2014, Roger Breed, had been superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools. Before Breed, Doug Christensen held the job 14 years. Christensen had worked as a superintendent in the Bloomfield and North Platte districts in Nebraska, as well as in Colby, Kansas. Blomstedt, whose father was on a local school board, had previously been the executive director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, created by law in 2007 to oversee the work of Nebraska's 17 educational service units. He also had headed the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association and worked as a research analyst for the Legislature's Education Committee. Melissa Poloncic, president of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators, said superintendents and many educators across the state believe the next commissioner should come from the pool of practicing Nebraska school administrators. "The education community in Nebraska is unique, and the new leadership should represent its culture," said Poloncic, who is superintendent of Douglas County West Community Schools. Deborah Neary, a member of the State Board of Education from Omaha, said she wants to put superintendent experience in the job qualifications when the state advertises the position. "I am asking that it become a requirement," which was the case with previous commissioners, Neary said. Neary said she believes the next commissioner needs to have experience leading school districts of all sizes and experience working in both urban and rural school districts. Board member Kirk Penner of Aurora said he would like someone from Nebraska who understands local control of schools and has experience in the classroom and as principal and superintendent. "We want somebody that understands our system," Penner said, "and for too long and superintendents, I think, would tend to agree with me we've had a lot of decisions coming down from the State Board of Education or even from the Legislature that really should be left up to the local school districts." In addition, he said, Nebraska needs "somebody who understands what the NDE and State Board of Education have gone through the last two years." On Blomstedt's watch, the department and the board were accused of overreach and of advocating a left-leaning agenda, particularly when it came to writing health education standards for the state's schools. The initial draft called for teaching children as young as first grade about gender identity and gender stereotypes and older children about homophobia, transphobia and vaginal, oral and anal sex. Although the standards would not have been mandatory, and were praised by advocates of LGBTQ youths, the controversy sparked a hail of criticism that led the board to postpone adoption indefinitely. Forty-seven school boards passed resolutions or sent letters opposing the initial draft. Dissatisfaction with the board and the department led to the election last November of three conservative candidates to four-year terms on the eight-member board. Penner, Sherry Jones and Elizabeth Tegtmeier will be sworn into office in January. Criticism has come from within the education establishment over testing and accountability. Recently, some Nebraska educators and state board members suggested the academic tests Blomstedt implemented for the state's third through eighth graders should be replaced. The dispute bubbled up at the December board meeting, where the board split on whether to stamp its approval on the assessment plan for the coming year. It passed 6-2, with Neary and Penner voting no, but the issue of how to best test for accountability will be on the table for the new year. Some educators question the validity of the test on which accountability is based, the NSCAS (Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System) Growth. Some concern centers on the cut score that is, the threshold state officials set for proficiency. It is a high hurdle set to ensure longevity of the test as schools improve their scores year to year, but critics say it yields proficiency levels out-of-sync with other assessments used in schools. Blomstedt faced a monumental task in designing the accountability system. AQuESTT was intended to provide a more accurate and complete picture of how schools were doing than the federal No Child Left Behind system. Nebraska educators wanted a new system that would use multiple measures, not just test scores, to gauge school performance. AQuESTT, as a result, includes various measures, such as student academic growth and whether schools are using best practices, to classify schools. However, it still tends to classify high-poverty schools lower than more affluent ones. Blomstedt said AQuESTT was designed with the idea of adding additional measures and metrics to classify schools if necessary. But making significant changes would require convincing federal and state lawmakers, he said. He said education is a substantial public investment, particularly when it comes to property taxes, and schools should expect to be held accountable. The system, however, was designed with the intent of helping struggling schools, not just labeling them. "I don't think this system was designed to say it's the schools' fault alone," he said. "There's some accountability to the state to make investments in places that are struggling." Accountability systems naturally draw some criticism, he said, "but I don't think you'll find another system across the country that is designed any more thoughtfully than what we've done." Board President Patsy Koch Johns of Lincoln, speaking at Blomstedt's final board meeting, said he is "without a doubt a champion for schools, teachers, students and administrators." Koch Johns said he assembled a talented staff, modernized the department, led schools during the pandemic, wrote many bills and approached issues as a consensus builder who wanted to meet people in the middle and reach agreement. Blomstedt said the board faces an important task in picking the next commissioner. "That's a big role, and I think that'll set them on a path for the next several years," he said. His hiring was unusual, he said, because the board had a tradition of hiring former superintendents. If the board limits applicants to current or former superintendents, "that's a pretty small number of folks compared to the challenges of the job," he said. "It doesn't mean there won't be folks certainly well qualified from those ranks." He said a lot of people could bring their experiences to the job and be successful. He noted that the department has no students. "People forget that the department isn't a school," he said. Blomstedt said the department itself has responsibility well beyond the school system, including vocational rehabilitation and disability determinations. Its leader must understand that, and understand state government and state budgeting, he said. "I think school superintendents probably come into a job like the commissioner job and go, 'Oh, I didn't realize this.' I certainly did, too. And I think I went in as well aware as anyone could," he said. As for the new board to be seated this week, he said members have an important role in providing stability to the system, and he's hopeful that both new members and old will understand the board's responsibilities. As for education in Nebraska, he said it's "very, very sound." The education system measures up well against other states, he said. "Not just the pandemic, and not just in Matt Blomstedt's time, but we've managed a high-quality education system as a whole," he said. "And the system's not perfect. But it remains among the best in the country." John-Davids entry into the world as Lincolns first baby of 2023 was a whirlwind. A scary, medical whirlwind with a very happy, 5-pound, 4-ounce ending for his parents, Rachel and Dylan Christenson. The Christensons live in Marquette, a town in Hamilton County about 22 miles east of Grand Island, and Rachels pregnancy was proceeding just fine until the day after Christmas, Dylan said in a telephone interview from Bryan Health. She had a headache, he said, and a trip to the doctor ended with a diagnosis of preeclampsia, a high blood pressure disorder that can lead to serious complications for mom and baby. She went back to the doctor three days later, and the doctor recommended transferring her to Lincoln. That led to an ambulance ride to Bryan, and Saturday New Years Eve doctors decided to induce labor. About 14 hours later at 7:56 a.m. Dr. Benjamin Byers of the Center for Maternal & Fetal Care delivered John-David, Lincolns first New Years baby, about six weeks before his Feb. 11 due date. How do his parents feel about having a New Years baby the very first to enter the world in the Capital City? Its fine, Dylan said. It doesnt bother me. John-Davids birth was followed shortly thereafter by a 6-pound, 8.5-ounce baby girl born at CHI Health St. Elizabeth at 8:59 a.m. Parents Yadira Villalba and William Sutton of Lincoln were still trying to settle on her name Sunday afternoon. John-Davids early entry into the world means hell stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for a few days, his dad said. Hes got a c-pap to help him breathe and a feeding tube but is doing well. Dylan, who works for a factory that makes bullets, and Rachel, a kindergarten and first grade paraprofessional, met at Chadron State College, and now live in Dylans hometown. A couple of siblings Jaxon, 3, and Magnolia, 1 are staying with grandma and grandpa there, and are pretty excited to meet their new brother. The New Year's baby will be the Christensons' last child, Dylan said, so they decided to follow a southern tradition of double first names he loves. I just like old-fashioned southern names, he said. A winter storm could make things uncomfortable in Lincoln and downright nasty in many other parts of the state. The Lincoln area is in a winter weather advisory starting at midnight and scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service is forecasting up to an inch of snow and the possibility of some light ice accumulation, although much of the precipitation is likely to fall as rain because temperatures will remain above freezing for most of the day on Monday. "Plan on slippery road conditions," the weather service said in a bulletin. "The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute." But if the forecast pans out, Lincoln will be getting off easy. Most of the western three-fourths of the state is in a winter storm warning, while parts of northeast Nebraska are in an ice storm warning. The weather service said parts of northern Nebraska could see 12-18 inches of snow, while 8-12 inches will be widespread in the Panhandle. Gusty winds up to 35 mph will make travel difficult. It was already snowing in the western half of the state, with 3.5 inches reported in Valentine by 9:30 a.m. Many highways in the western half of the state were already covered with snow Monday morning, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, although none were listed as closed. In the areas covered by the ice storm warning, which includes Columbus, Fremont and Norfolk, ice accumulations of up to half an inch are possible, along with 1-3 inches of snow. The weather service said tree damage and power outages are likely due to ice accumulation and travel in the area could be "nearly impossible." The storm will usher in colder weather in the Lincoln area, with the forecast calling for a high of only 28 on Wednesday and 30 on Thursday, before temperatures rebound into the upper 30s and low 40s going into the weekend. Photos, videos: Winter weather in Lincoln, across Nebraska Multiple delays have slowed the progress on a high-budget effort to aid underserved areas of Nebraska, reducing the time lawmakers have to complete an accompanying bill. The $335 million project, approved during the 2022 legislative session, still has the majority of its funding about $250 million left unallocated. It's up to lawmakers to pass a bill in the upcoming session to allocate the remaining money. However, Olsson, the engineering firm hired to develop a list of recommended projects to include in the bill, has yet to release its recommendations nearly a month after its initial deadline. The firm originally was scheduled to share its recommendations in early December, then the release was pushed to late December, and now it isn't expected until early January. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the leading lawmaker for the project, said he hopes the list will be finalized by Jan. 9, but it could come later. He said multiple minor problems, primarily a slew of illnesses, contributed to the delays. The delays give lawmakers limited time to introduce a bill, as senators have only the first 10 days of each session to introduce bills. For this legislative session, the deadline is Jan. 18, which means that if the recommendations come when expected, lawmakers will have just more than a week to complete and introduce the accompanying legislation. Despite that, Wayne said he is not concerned about having a bill ready in time. He said work on the legislation already has begun, and there are ways to change the bill after it has been introduced. "I can amend it at any time," Wayne said. Wayne said his team already has submitted the general ideas for the bill to the state's bill-drafting department, though it has yet to get the first draft back. In the event that Olsson doesn't release its recommendations before Jan. 18 which Wayne said would be the worst-case scenario Wayne said he would introduce what he called a "shell bill," which is legislation that explains the general ideas of a proposal but leaves certain areas blank to fill in with specifics later. Regardless of what bill is introduced, Wayne said he expects amendments will be added. He said the bill will be a "complicated process" of hashing out specific regulations depending on which projects are recommended. "I just don't want to set anybody up to fail," he said. If Olsson finalizes the recommendations before Jan. 18, Wayne said, he expects to introduce a more detailed bill shortly after the list is released. The bill will follow Olsson's recommendations, he said. Wayne and other lawmakers were involved in Olsson's development of the recommendations, but even if there is disagreement over what projects are recommended, Wayne said he already is planning to introduce a different bill in a future session to allocate additional funds for remaining proposals. For context, Olsson received more than 365 proposals to review, which Wayne previously estimated would cost more than $3 billion combined. If applicants don't see their projects included in the upcoming bill, Wayne urged them to "hold tight," as he anticipates future funding will become available. The bulk of existing funding comes via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The money must be spent by 2026. Some projects that already have received funding include about $60 million for an industrial park near Eppley Airfield and about $20 million each for affordable housing in Lincoln and Omaha. The Lincoln Journal Star's top photos from 2022 Farmers might not know it but something is stealing the land from under their feet. Its erosion. I dont even think they know how much theyre losing, Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a soils and water quality educator at University of Minnesota Extension. We have this deep, rich, black soil. And it gets a little less each year. An eye-popping new report from a leading geologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst argues that soil erosion in the Midwest is happening at a far faster clip than previously estimated. On a human time scale, the change is pretty much impossible to see, said UMass Amherst geoscientist Isaac Larsen, whose findings were published this month in the scientific journal Geology. Larsen told the Star Tribune last month his research analyzed the lingering shrapnel from exploded stars, specifically beryllium-10, that has been embedded into native, remnant prairie. Farmers plows overturned fields beginning in the 19th century. But by measuring trace amounts of 10Be in virgin prairie, Larsen could better estimate how fast erosion occurs naturally. The soil is being eroded 100 times faster than its forming, Larsen said. And that kind of situation can burn right through the soil profile. Larsen and his team traveled to sites across the Upper Midwest, from southwestern Minnesota down to northern Kansas. He said the loss of soil isnt simply an academic fascination. This loss called soil loss tolerance values has perennially been utilized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine soil health for farmers. In 1982, the USDA estimated roughly 40% of U.S. cropland was eroding at destructive rates. By 2007, that rate had dipped to below 30%, though its slightly increased over the last 15 years. Were certainly getting better over the last 100 years, said Anna Cates, a soil scientist with the University of Minnesota. Minnesota exceeds the national rate in the loss of soil caused by wind erosion. And Cates has seen firsthand the destruction caused by soil loss. This summer, Cates visited fields outside Crookston in the northwestern portion of the state and witnessed farmers frantically replanting dry edible beans following a dust storm. The land was scoured, said Cates, just scoured. Erosion happens many ways. Sometimes, its winds depleting a hillock over decades. Other events are more rapid. Those latter events, said Cates, prompt farmers to consider other practices, such as reducing tillage or planting cover crops. Every farmer who sees erosion doesnt make a change, Cates said. But every farmer who changes, references erosion as a motivator. Larsen said in the aftermath of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when the USDA set standards, researchers only understood a shadow of what todays scientists know about soil loss. At the time, the science wasnt really there like it is now, said Larsen. And researchers and teachers with UM Extension say theyre sounding the alarm bells. Recently a group of soil practitioners met at a conference in St. Cloud. DeJong-Hughes said its common for farmers not to think about the latest in science because they often rely upon what their father or grandfather did to plant and till. A plow even wound its way into the Minnesota state flag. According to the 2017 USDA agriculture census, just more than 5,000 farms across the state planted a cover crop even after years of encouragement and incentives from agricultural cooperatives, environmental nonprofits and the government. I think tilling has been a tradition, and it had its place, DeJong-Hughes said. If you go and say, Gee, Dad, you did this all wrong. That doesnt go over well. And the majority of Minnesota farms are family farms, which operate under subtle pecking orders. Its a business, DeJong-Hughes said. But its still a family. 1. Yes. Having a community member interview panel is an excellent opportunity for input. 2. Yes. Its good that the city will allow residents to meet the finalist at a reception. 3. No. The city should have conducted a public survey early in the process, as KISD is doing. 4. No. Residents should be able to meet candidates before a lone finalist is chosen. 5. Unsure. Its hard to know how to gauge the proper level of public involvement. Vote View Results FAVE 5: Kearney Hub's Mike Konz shares his memorable stories from 2022 My selections for this years Fave 5 are a reflection of what I enjoy most about journalism in Kearney, and thats the variety of assignments I am able to pursue. During 2022 I was able to report several times on one of my favorite topics cars and the Fave 5 pick is an example of why I am interested in reporting on cars. I also enjoy reporting about people, and I feel I was extremely fortunate to interview heart transplant patient Roger Petersen and his family. They were open and honest about the experience, and they said it was humbling to think that the donor had lost their life in order for the organ transplant to occur. While reporting on the consolidation of power and irrigation districts, it was challenging to distill into simple terms what was happening so that readers could understand the significance of the transaction. In reporting improvements at Ravenna Lake, my goal was to expose a shiny jewel for camping enthusiasts, and in reporting the book ban debate, I wanted readers to know about one facet of a controversial topic. Here are the five stories I enjoyed the most in 2022. mike.konz@kearneyhub.com Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures at supporters at Planalto Palace after his inauguration ceremony at the National Congress, in Brasilia, on Jan. 1. AFP-Yonhap Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president on Sunday, and in his first address expressed optimism about plans to rebuild while pledging that members of outgoing Jair Bolsonaro's administration will be held to account. Lula is assuming office for the third time after thwarting far-right incumbent Bolsonaro's reelection bid. His return to power marks the culmination of a political comeback that is thrilling supporters and enraging opponents in a fiercely polarized nation. ''Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction,'' Lula said in a speech in Congress' Lower House after signing the document that formally instates him as president. ''The great edifice of rights, sovereignty and development that this nation built has been systematically demolished in recent years. To re-erect this edifice, we are going to direct all our efforts.'' Sunday afternoon in Brasilia's main esplanade, the party was on. Tens of thousands of supporters decked out in the red of Lula's Workers' Party cheered after his swearing in. They celebrated when the president said he would send a report about the prior administration to all lawmakers and judicial authorities, revoke Bolsonaro's ''criminal decrees'' that loosened gun control, and hold the prior administration responsible for its denialism in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. ''We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who sought to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we are going to ensure the rule of law,'' Lula said, without mentioning Bolsonaro by name. ''Those who erred will answer for their errors, with broad rights to their defense within the due legal process.'' Lula's presidency is unlikely to be like his previous two mandates, coming after the tightest presidential race in more than three decades in Brazil and resistance to his taking office by some of his opponents, political analysts say. The leftist defeated Bolsonaro in the Oct. 30 vote by less than 2 percentage points. For months, Bolsonaro had sown doubts about the reliability of Brazil's electronic vote and his loyal supporters were loath to accept the loss. Many have gathered outside military barracks since, questioning results and pleading with the armed forces to prevent Lula from taking office. His most die-hard backers resorted to what some authorities and incoming members of Lula's administration labeled acts of ''terrorism'' which has prompted security concerns about inauguration day events. Lula will have to navigate more challenging economic conditions than he enjoyed in his first two terms, when the global commodities boom proved a windfall for Brazil. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and his wife Rosangela Silva form a heart with their hands after he was sworn in as new president at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap At the time, his administration's flagship welfare program helped lift tens of millions of impoverished people into the middle class. Many Brazilians traveled abroad for the first time. He left office with a personal approval rating of 83 percent.. In the intervening years, Brazil's economy plunged into two deep recessions first, during the tenure of his handpicked successor, and then during the pandemic and ordinary Brazilians suffered greatly. Lula has said his priorities are fighting poverty, and investing in education and health. He has also said he will bring illegal deforestation of the Amazon to a halt. He sought support from political moderates to form a broad front and defeat Bolsonaro, then tapped some of them to serve in his Cabinet. Claudio Arantes, a 68-year-old pensioner, carried an old Lula campaign flag on his way to the esplanade. The lifelong Lula supporter attended his 2003 inauguration, and agreed that this time feels different. ''Back then, he could talk about Brazil being united. Now it is divided and won't heal soon,'' Arantes said. ''I trust his intelligence to make this national unity administration work so we never have a Bolsonaro again.'' Given the nation's political fault lines, it is highly unlikely Lula ever reattains the popularity he once enjoyed, or even sees his approval rating rise above 50%, said Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at Rio de Janeiro's State University. Furthermore, Santoro said, the credibility of Lula and his Workers' Party were assailed by a sprawling corruption investigation. Party officials were jailed, including Lula _ whose convictions were later annulled on procedural grounds. The Supreme Court then ruled that the judge presiding over the case had colluded with prosecutors to secure a conviction. Lula and his supporters have maintained he was railroaded. Others were willing to look past possible malfeasance as a means to unseat Bolsonaro and bring the nation back together. ''I always wanted to go the inauguration, I didn't think I would have a chance to see Lula there after he was jailed,'' said Tamires Valente, 43, a marketing professional from Brasilia. ''I am very emotional, Lula deserves this.'' But Bolsonaro's backers refuse to accept someone they view as a criminal returning to the highest office. And with tensions running hot, a series of events has prompted fear that violence could erupt on inauguration day. On Dec. 12, dozens of people tried to invade a federal police building in Brasilia, and burned cars and buses in other areas of the city. Then on Christmas Eve, police arrested a 54-year-old man who admitted to making a bomb that was found on a fuel truck headed to Brasilia's airport. He had been camped outside Brasilia's army headquarters with hundreds of other Bolsonaro supporters since Nov. 12. He told police he was ready for war against communism, and planned the attack with people he had met at the protests, according to excerpts of his deposition released by local media. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stands next to Indigenous leader Cacique Raoni at the Planalto Palace after he was sworn in as new president in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap Paleontologists agree that a massive asteroid strike triggered the end of the dinosaurs, but a debate has persisted over the reptiles overall state at the time of the fateful collision. Were non-avian dinosaurs already in decline, and the asteroid just sped up their trudge toward extinction? Or were they thriving in the late Cretaceous, only to be snuffed out by an ill-timed space rock? A recent study led by the University of Edinburgh provides new evidence that dinosaurs were going strong at the time of their sudden demise. By combing through the fossil record to reconstruct the food webs of the millennia before and after the asteroids strike, the researchers also shed new light on how some mammals and birds survived a catastrophe that brought 165 million years of dinosaur life to an end. This is a very interesting study that uses an approach not often used in vertebrate paleontology, said paleontologist Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, who was not involved with the research. The results are solid. The study, published this month in the journal Science Advances, reviewed more than 1,600 fossil specimens dating from the 18 million years before the asteroid struck the last years of the Cretaceous period to the first 4 million years of the Paleogene period, which began the day the 7.5 mile-wide rock smashed into what is now Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. The fossils represented virtually every type of animal that was eating and being eaten during that stretch of time, from fish, salamanders and frogs to crocodilians, dinosaurs and mammals. Looking at the numbers of remains found, the researchers concluded that dinosaurs enjoyed a stable, robust place in the ecological web at the time of their deaths, with no suggestion in the fossil record that their food sources were in decline, said lead author Jorge Garcia-Giron, an ecologist with both Finlands University of Oulu and Spains University of Leon. With far less security in the food web than their dinosaur counterparts, mammals spent the late Cretaceous trying to gain a small, furry foothold in a landscape dominated by giant reptiles. Researchers found a wide diversity of mammal species, suggesting a family in the process of adapting to their world. Its kind of a trade-off, said Garcia-Giron. The dinosaurs were far more stable in their ecologies. They were, of course, masters of their ecosystem. Mammals, on the other side, were diversifying and starting to colonize different habitats and different environments. When the asteroid struck, this flexibility may have been mammals salvation. The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, or K/Pg event, wiped out an estimated 75% of the species on the planet at the time. When the impact came, and the subsequent fires and clouds of particulate matter roasted the landscape and transformed the atmosphere, most dinosaurs could not burrow underground, fly to safer territory or immerse themselves in water to ride out the worst, as surviving species did. The asteroid impact was so great that there was no place on the surface of the Earth that was truly safe, author Riley Black wrote in the book The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World. When the air itself became deadly, there was little that could be done for terrestrial life. Dinosaurs were ideally suited to the landscapes and climate of the late Cretaceous. When an unprecedented, unexpected event eliminated that world overnight, the dinosaurs went with it. While the new research answers questions about a significant event in the planets past, it may also help scientists interpret its future. Understanding the five mass extinction events in the prehistoric record can help us anticipate the ways plant and animal species may suffer and decline as a result of human-induced climate change. Freshwater species, for example, are quickly disappearing already, Garcia-Giron said. If were able to discern what kind of factors determined survivorship of freshwater fauna in the past, we might want to use that information to predict the consequences of freshwater biodiversity loss happening in our time, he said. States with the most dinosaur fossils States with the most dinosaur fossils #46. Kentucky (tie) #46. New Hampshire (tie) #46. Rhode Island (tie) #46. Vermont (tie) #46. Wisconsin (tie) #45. West Virginia #44. Minnesota #43. Indiana #42. New York #41. Iowa #40. Missouri #39. Louisiana #38. Michigan #37. Delaware #36. Arkansas #35. Mississippi #34. Maine #33. Nevada #32. Washington #31. Illinois #30. South Carolina #29. Tennessee #28. Pennsylvania #27. Ohio #26. Georgia #25. Kansas #24. Nebraska #23. Oklahoma #22. Alabama #21. Idaho #20. Maryland #19. Hawaii #18. Connecticut #17. Alaska #16. New Jersey #15. North Carolina #14. Oregon #13. South Dakota #12. Arizona #11. North Dakota #10. Virginia #9. Massachusetts #8. Texas #7. Colorado #6. Utah #5. Florida #4. New Mexico #3. Montana #2. Wyoming #1. California Some frogs found in South and Central America have the unusual ability to turn on and off their nearly clear, or transparent, appearance. During the day, these frogs sleep by going underneath tree leaves. Their small bodies do not create shadows, making them almost invisible to birds and other predators that might consider them food. But when northern glass frogs wake up and move in search of insects and mates, they take on a partly clear, reddish-brown color. Researchers recently published the findings in Science. Junjie Yao of Duke University was a co-writer of the study. When theyre transparent, its for their safety, Yao said about the frogs. When the creatures are awake, they can escape predators. But when they are sleeping, they are more likely to be eaten. Yao explained, They have adapted to remain hidden. Adapt means to change ones appearance or behavior in order to live in a place or situation. Using light and special imaging technology, the researchers discovered the frogs secret. While asleep, the frogs move, or hide, nearly 90 percent of their red blood cells in their liver. Because they have clear skin and other tissue, it is the blood moving through their bodies that would otherwise give them away. The frogs also shrink and pack together most of the organs inside their body, Yao said. The research beautifully explains how glass frogs conceal blood in the liver to maintain transparency, said Juan Manuel Guayasamin of University San Francisco of Quito, Ecuador. He was not involved in the study. Exactly how the frogs carry out these changes, and why it does not kill them, remains unknown. For most animals, having very little blood for several hours would be deadly. But somehow, the frogs survive. Further research on the species could provide useful information for the development of medicines that prevent blood from clotting, said Carlos Taboada of Duke University, a co-writer of the study. Only a few animals, mostly creatures that live in the ocean, are naturally transparent, said Oxford University biologist Richard White, who was not involved in the study. Transparency is super rare in nature, and in land animals, its essentially unheard of outside of the glass frog, White said. Those that are transparent include some fish, shrimp, jellyfish, worms and insects none of which move large quantities of red blood through their bodies. Frogs seem to be the only creatures able to hide blood while sleeping. White used the term dynamic, meaning always active or changing, to describe the frogs ability. Its just this really amazing, dynamic form of camouflage, he said. Im John Russell. Christina Larson reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transparent n. able to be seen through clot v. to become thick and partly solid : to develop clots conceal v. to hide (something or someone) from sight camouflage n. something (such as color or shape) that protects an animal from attack by making the animal difficult to see in the area around it American scientists are seeking to make pig livers behave more like human livers so they can be transplanted into people. The reengineered livers could help fill a big need for replacement organs. The first step for scientists is to wash away the pig cells that help the organ do its work. This leaves the liver white and clear, with no blood vessels remaining in the tissue. Next, human liver cells are added to the empty pig liver. The living cells move throughout the organ in an effort to restart the livers functions. Jeff Ross is head of the U.S.-based Miromatrix, the medical company involved in the research. He told The Associated Press, "Because we remove all the cells from that pig organ our bodies don't see it as a pig organ." He explained that the process can nearly regrow the organ. Ross said the company aims to begin its first human testing sometime in 2023. The goal of the testing will be to try to prove that the method can create functioning human livers. If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the testing, the first experiment will take place outside a patient's body. A pig-turned-human-like liver will be put next to a patient to temporarily filter the blood of someone whose liver had failed. Experts say if the "liver assist" experiment works, it would mark a major step forward in developing genetically engineered organs that could be transplanted into humans. Dr. Sander Florman is the head of transplant operations at New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital. He told the AP the reengineering of animal organs for humans might sound like something only seen in science fiction. Florman said that he thinks the liver assist method is likely to be used to help patients without the need to implant a full organ into their bodies. He said such a system can help save the lives of people suffering from organ failure. More than 105,000 people are currently on the U.S. waiting list for an organ transplant. Thousands of them will likely die before they get a chance to receive a new liver. Thousands more never even get put on the list because they are not considered the best candidates. The number of organs we have available are never going to be able to meet the demand, Dr. Amit Tevar told the AP. He is a transplant surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Tevar, who is not involved in Miromatrixs research, said he thinks the planned outside-the-body testing would be an early first step in the development of animal organs for human use. In 2021, researchers with Miromatrix and the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic reported successfully transplanting a version of bioengineered livers into pigs. In Maryland, a man lived for two months after receiving the world's first heart transplant from a pig in January 2022. To reduce the chance the mans body would reject the heart, scientists removed several genes from the donor pig that are linked to organ rejection. The FDA is currently considering whether to approve additional transplant experiments that would permit kidneys or hearts from gene-edited pigs to be placed into humans. The bioengineering process, however, is very different. It does not require organs from genetically engineered pigs. It only requires leftover organs from slaughterhouses places where animals are killed for food. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transplant n. to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put into the body of another person function v. to work or operate filter v. to pass a liquid or gas through a piece of equipment in order to remove solid pieces of other substances edit v. to change or correct something ____________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Kristina Kadashevych is a professional dancer from Ukraine. At the start of 2022, the ballerina never would have thought she would end the year in the American city of Richmond, Virginia. She is there to perform as the sugarplum fairy and two other characters in Richmond Ballets yearly performances of The Nutcracker. Last February, she was supposed to fly to Paris to join the traveling Kyiv City Ballet as a guest dancer. But, the day before she was to leave, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. As a result, Kadashevych, her 2-year-old son and her parents had to flee their home in Kharkiv, in the eastern part of Ukraine. They traveled by train to the western part of the country where they thought it would be safe. It was dangerous, she said, and we were scared. They took shelter at the home of another ballet dancer. Kadashevych later made the difficult decision to leave her family and join the ballet company in Paris. I needed to work because I have no practice, she said. I was just sitting and losing my profession. Artistic director Stoner Winslett said Richmond Ballet dancers tried hard to keep dancing through the pandemic. Dancers are like Olympic athletes; if you lie around your apartment and dont train, you lose your skill, she said. Kadashevych has been dancing since she was nine and professionally for the past 15 years. She never considered another career, saying that dancing brought her interesting experiences, travel and joy. She left her family, thinking she would return soon. But, the continuing war prevented that from happening. Kadashevych and the Kyiv City Ballet went on tour in France, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and later the United States. They were warmly welcomed everywhere they went. In Europe, our performances were like a charity to help Ukraine, she said. We felt we were doing important things and helping our country the way we can. In between the performances, she went home to Ukraine for a month over the summer to visit her three-year-old son, Lev. She ended up in Richmond through another Ukrainian who works with the company, Igor Antonov. He is an artistic associate with Richmond Ballet and director of Richmond Ballet II. He texted Kadashevych and asked if she would like to join the Richmond Ballet temporarily. It was unexpected and very interesting for me, said Kadashevych. She came to Richmond while the rest of the Kyiv company returned to Europe. Kadashevych is substituting for a Richmond Ballet dancer who is on leave. Winslett said bringing Kadashevych to the company would further the ballets main goal to awaken, uplift and unite human spirits through the power of dance. Kadashevych will remain with the company for the next two months, and perform in the ballet Firebird with Serenade in February. She does not know what lies ahead for her after that. She hopes to return to Ukraine soon, perhaps after Christmas, for a short visit. She is not sure about anything else, including whether the war will end soon. We all hope that it will, she said, but Im not sure. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English from The Associated Press news report. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story professional adj. relating to a job that requires special education, training, or skill ballerina n. a woman who is a ballet dancer practice v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it apartment n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live tour n. a series of related performances, appearances, competitions, etc., that occur at different places over a period of time charity n. the act of giving money, food, or other kinds of help to people who are poor, sick, etc. associate n. a member of a group or organization who is at a level that is below the highest level For many, today is the observed holiday for the new year. To mark the occasion, we'll do the Top 10 letters of the year and updates from two recent letter writers. A note: Boston.com's most popular letters are different than the The Boston Globe's. After letters run with us here on Boston.com, they are published in the Globe's print pages and on the BostonGlobe.com website. The Globe usually sees letters three to five days after we do. There wasn't much overlap with the lists this year those readers were drawn to different topics, I guess but the Globe's No. 1 letter did make the Boston.com Top 10. Our list: 10. Did my mistake really warrant this response?, Aug. 17 9. "Were emotionally cheating and his wife isnt taking it well," Oct. 17 8. "After eight months away, our marriage is different," March 8 7. "Ten years later, my parents still despise him," Aug. 23 6. "At 30, men fall into three categories," June 3 (FYI: This was No.1 on the Globes list.) 5. "I can't date someone who is average looking," Sept. 28 4. "My wife is flirting with a coworker," Sept. 30 3. "Should I reach out to the other person in my spouses affair?" March 24 2. "My husband wants an apology from my mom," Jan. 13 1. "My mom won't allow unmarried couples to share a bed in her home," June 29 Now for the updates. The first is from a recent letter writer who didn't want to get married ... then had a change of heart. The letter writer said: "We're engaged! Turns out, he was also wanting to get married for a while now. We're extremely happy and don't doubt our decision for a second." The second update is from someone who wanted to meet someone on the dance floor. "Hi Meredith, I am the senior widow who loves to dance. (I had met my late husband and previous boyfriends at dances. Fast forward 31 years and now many of the old singles dance places were no longer in existence.) I was extremely happy and appreciative to get your readers' many helpful and nice comments. I made a list of their most helpful suggestions with places I might try for dancing. When I wrote to you, I had also alluded to my local [spot], which at the time had not been doing as much with their dance hall as before the pandemic. Some readers had suggested I take more initiative there, or at other places I could rent and bring in a DJ. As it turned out, I didn't have to do that: A month or two after I wrote, the dances started up again there in full force every Friday night. I have enjoyed going dancing there several times. I've made a couple of male friends there, but have not actually dated any one from the dances yet. The ratio of males to females was not in my favor, but with more advertising, new people are starting to come in. I have not tried the less local places on the list, but I will in time, and it's something to look forward to. I also enjoyed Christmas dinner with a bunch of married and single vegetarian strangers at a Boston Vegetarian Society restaurant buffet. I don't want to marry again, nor do I want to waste time with email relationships. It would be nice to meet someone compatible who also wants a close, lasting, monogamous partnership. I will continue to do things to find that someone, but in the meantime I'm grateful for what I do have in my life. Thank you again." Thanks for reading and engaging with this column in 2022. I am grateful. You can send your own letter here. See you tomorow. - Meredith PM orders to start work on north-south expressways 12 components Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and launched a groundbreaking ceremony for 12 components of the second phase of the north-south expressway project in the central province of Quang Ngai on January 1. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the groundbreaking event (Photo: VNA) The 12 component projects cover a total length of 723.7km, of which the Ha Tinh-Quang Tri section is 260.9km, Quang Ngai-Nha Trang 352.1km and Can Tho-Ca Mau 110.9km. The total investment is initially estimated at nearly 147 trillion VND (6.23 billion USD). In order to complete the expressway construction from the northern border province of Lang Son to the southernmost province of Ca Mau by 2025, PM Chinh asked the Transport Ministry to direct all stakeholders to ensure the safety and quality of works with the highest sense of responsibility. Ministries, centrally-run agencies and authorities of 32 provinces must work closely with the Transport Ministry to tackle arising difficulties and complete the project on schedule. On the occasion, the PM also launched the emulation month for the disbursement of public investment capital. In the afternoon the same day, he visited the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Quang Ngai based in Dung Quat Economic Zone and Binh Son Refining and Petrolchemical (BSR) factory in the province. Covering a total area of 1,700ha, the VSIP Quang Ngai has so far drawn 32 investors, including 27 foreign investors from countries and territories, such as the US, Belgium, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan with a total investment of nearly 1 billion USD, generating jobs to around 30,000 workers. PM Chinh agreed to allow Quang Ngai to build the VSIP 2 which must give priority to hi-tech areas, green and circularly economy, digital transformation and innovation. At the BSR, Chinh said the Government will ask ministries and agencies to remove obstacles and expand the factory by late 2025 or early 2026, toward ensuring the supply of petrol across the country together with Nghi Son and Long Son petrolchemical refineries in Thanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. Operational since 2010, the BSR has a total investment of roughly 3 billion USD and an annual capacity of approximately 6.5 million tonnes. Last year, it churned out around 7 million tonnes of products of various kinds, earned a post-tax profit of some 13 trillion VND, added nearly 18.3 trillion VND to the State budget and employed around 1,500 workers. David Blankfein-Tabachnick (Michigan State University College of Law; University of Michigan) & Kevin A. Kordana (University of Virginia School of Law) have posted On Rawlsian Contractualism and the Private Law (Virginia Law Review, Vol. 108, No. 7, 2022) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Shifts in academic paradigms are rare. Still, it was not long ago that the values taken to govern the private law were thought to be distinct from the values governing taxation and transfer. The conventional, indeed, the nearly universal view of Rawlsianismthe overwhelmingly dominant theory of liberalism and distributive justicewas that the private law lies beyond the scope of Rawlss two principles of justice. Simply put, for Rawlsianism, the private law was not thought to be the province of distributive concerns. In more academic terms, the private law is not properly understood to be subject to Rawlss range-limited principles of justice. In this conventional view, the private law is not part of what Rawls describes as the basic structure of society, which is roughly limited to basic constitutional liberties and taxation and transfer. This view points to the conclusion that Rawlsian political philosophy despite its lexically ordered, distributive demand that economic institutions are to be arranged to the maximal benefit of the least well-offis stunningly neutral with respect to the economic arrangements and ordering of the private law. This thinking led to the conclusion that the private law, if it is to exist, may be justified by values or principles other than Rawlss lexically ordered principles of justice, whether wealth-maximization, autonomy, or pre-conceived or even pre-political notions of property entitlement. We have argued that there is a flaw in this conventional approach. Our view has been well-received and change is upon the legal academy. A wide range of scholars have, at last, begun to reject the conventional view. But in our view, scholars have not always fully recognized what we take to be the full ramifications of the private law being constructed by distributive principles. As we say, academic paradigm shifts are rare; being at the center of one is rarer still. This piece continues the dialogue that proceeds at the heights of the legal academy. In what follows, we aim to discuss our position regarding Rawlsian private law while engaging with scholars who have further developed this complex debate. Ultimately, we hold that, despite the purported complications, there is, as we path-breakingly argue, a Rawlsian account of the private law. Highly recommended. Michael James Bommarito (273 Ventures; Licensio, LLC; Bommarito Consulting, LLC; Michigan State College of Law; Stanford Center for Legal Informatics) & Daniel Martin Katz (Illinois Tech - Chicago Kent College of Law; Bucerius Center for Legal Technology & Data Science; Stanford CodeX - The Center for Legal Informatics; 273 Ventures) have posted GPT Takes the Bar Exam on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Nearly all jurisdictions in the United States require a professional license exam, commonly referred to as the Bar Exam, as a precondition for law practice. To even sit for the exam, most jurisdictions require that an applicant completes at least seven years of post-secondary education, including three years at an accredited law school. In addition, most test-takers also undergo weeks to months of further, exam-specific preparation. Despite this significant investment of time and capital, approximately one in five test-takers still score under the rate required to pass the exam on their first try. In the face of a complex task that requires such depth of knowledge, what, then, should we expect of the state of the art in AI? In this research, we document our experimental evaluation of the performance of OpenAIs text-davinci-003 model, often-referred to as GPT-3.5, on the multistate multiple choice (MBE) section of the exam. While we find no benefit in fine-tuning over GPT-3.5s zero-shot performance at the scale of our training data, we do find that hyperparameter optimization and prompt engineering positively impacted GPT-3.5s zero-shot performance. For best prompt and parameters, GPT-3.5 achieves a headline correct rate of 50.3% on a complete NCBE MBE practice exam, significantly in excess of the 25% baseline guessing rate, and performs at a passing rate for both Evidence and Torts. GPT-3.5s ranking of responses is also highly correlated with correctness; its top two and top three choices are correct 71% and 88% of the time, respectively, indicating very strong non-entailment performance. While our ability to interpret these results is limited by nascent scientific understanding of LLMs and the proprietary nature of GPT, we believe that these results strongly suggest that an LLM will pass the MBE component of the Bar Exam in the near future. The outdoor swimming pool at Camp Shalom, now drained, is gathering snow, and the lawn chairs on the deck look lonely. But for those attending a winter camp last week, time at the pool was replaced by building snow forts, sledding and snowball fights. The timing was lucky since some of the snow is now melted. I like summer because you get to go swimming, fourth-grader Arabella Martin said. And I like winter because you can at least have snowball fights and play (in the snow) with the camp counselors. Winter Camp Shalom ran for three days, which was an abbreviated form of the normal summer day camp run every year by the Jewish Federation of Madison at the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus in Verona. While Camp Shalom was established in 1954, the winter version started in 2018 but wasnt held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We really want to be a welcoming space for the community, said Sam Toso, director of programming at Camp Shalom. We hope the kids walk away with a sense of community. The camp drew 80 kindergartners through fifth-graders from all over the area. Some thought they were the only ones from their school but they talked about meeting new friends. If youve been here long enough, it just kind of works out, fifth-grader Mason Tyler said about making friends. The camp featured group time, art and nature activities and challenges such as building snow forts or making marble roller-coaster runs. Some time was spent celebrating Shabbat, Judaisms day of rest observed on Friday evening. It is one of the ways Camp Shalom teaches a bit about Hebrew and Jewish culture and values. The start and end of each day were marked by a rally a song session featuring typical camp songs and some that are more traditional for Jewish camp. We want to make sure it is simple enough so everyone can participate and it is a time when we can get our energy up together, Toso said. On the last day the campers had a New Years Eve party with activities including an inflatable bouncy house and obstacle course, making party hats, a photo wall and party games. Third-grader Claire Tyre said activities campers would normally do outside were being done inside. She liked playing in the snow. Fourth-grader Luzia Rodriquez said she likes the rally time because she likes singing with everyone else. You dont have to get a bunch of gear on to go outside, Luzia said about the difference between summer and winter camp. Luzias sister, fifth-grader Zola Rodriquez, said her group for the snow-fort challenge was made up of the older students at the camp. They built the biggest snow fort, which won for being the most stable. The other groups also won for other aspects of the snow-fort-building challenge, she said. Second-grader Ben Corrigan said he likes the summer sessions because they are longer. He said on Thursday his favorite activity so far was making snow scenes, which involved placing nature objects in a jar with snow. He was quite proud that he thought to set the plastic eagle in his jar so that the tips of its wings were braced on the sides of the jar. When he shook the jar like a snow globe, the eagle stayed in place so it was still flying. Kaylee Annen-Ziino, a senior counselor who started attending Camp Shalom herself as a kindergartner, is studying early education at Madison Area Technical College and working in a jewelry store. She said she has been at the camp for so long it feels like a second home and the staff feels like a mini family. The camp is a chance to learn how to build relationships and learn how to treat others, Annen-Ziino said. She said she was a spirited and active child whose time at the camp was marked by the full spectrum of emotions but that provided opportunities to learn. I hope, honestly, it is a growing-up opportunity, Annen-Ziino said about the camp. Emmett Milligan, an office assistant who also works with the campers, is a UW-Madison student studying history and education studies and also attended Camp Shalom as a youth. He said the camp is a chance to learn interpersonal, teamwork and sportsmanship skills that might not be possible at school. Milligan said he hopes the campers meet lifelong friends, as he did. Its really amazing to watch those bonds get formed, he said. Savannah Lipinski, senior counselor and song leader for the winter camp, is studying environmental geology and Jewish studies at UW-Madison and has plans to go to rabbinical school to become a rabbi. Lipinski grew up in Colorado but heard of Camp Shalom through her connection to the Jewish community in Madison. Lipinski is interested in environmental education and ways that Jewish values, such as being stewards of the environment and not being wasteful, can be part of it. These Jewish values are underpinning the activities we do without making non-Jewish campers feel excluded, she said. She said the winter camp is an opportunity to fall in love with the camp experience again and see the camp facility in a different light. As for the camps benefits, Lipinski said, I hope theyre making some new friends probably first and foremost. School Spotlight: Adventures in learning, inside and outside the classroom Each Monday, the Wisconsin State Journal features a story about learning in Wisconsin. Here are School Spotlight stories from the past year. As I wrote this, I hadnt yet seen the list of top 10 news stories from around the state in 2022, which is just as well, since although this is a top 10 list, thats not its purpose. The top news stories inevitably will include, for example and may be topped by the student murders at Moscow, which was a big and tragic story. But it says little about the development of Idaho, about the coming year and what Idahoans ought to be paying attention to. What follows are interrelated items that say something about where we were in the last dozen months and where we may go in the next dozen. One is the inquiry into the retired Boise police captain, a 24-year veteran, who in November was slated to speak to a national white supremacist groups meeting. City officials have responded usefully, launching an investigation into how far such attitudes may have penetrated the organization. (Its hard to believe someone with his job history would have been a complete loner.) But this isnt about Boise only: What about law enforcement elsewhere around Idaho (and beyond)? Watch for developments. Look for more follow-ups on the feature story about political real estate. Stories from March focused on real estate operations in the Panhandle marketing to an extremist and survivalist base, employing terms like American Redoubt, Strategic relocation, and bunkers saferooms. The area is becoming so well known for that atmosphere, and so socially and politically hardened, that you can watch for the appeal to spread across a wide range of businesses and other organizations. Political extremism, with culture wars at their center, have spread all over. The efforts at book bans in the Nampa School District, which went along, and the Meridian Library District, which has been resisting, are merely partway in their development. Along those lines, watch closely the demolition of North Idaho College, proceeding rapidly since Kootenai County voters in November returned control of the governing board to an extremist core (supported by the local county Republican Party organization) apparently bent on destroying the place. On that same election day, governing boards at other community colleges around Idaho remained relatively steady, but an attempt at going the NIC route was tried at the College of Western Idaho, and may be tried again there and elsewhere. These governing boards are hardly liberal, but they have been so far dedicated to keeping their local institutions afloat and operational. Will they stay so? Most top-ballot elections in Idaho this year gave wins to mainstream Republicans, but the organizational energy seems to be with the more extreme MAGA-oriented sectors as indicated by the results of last years Republican Party leadership elections, when the hard right swept the field. The Idaho Legislature, which is largely split between the two sides, will be ground zero for that struggle in the first part of the coming year. (Another question: Thanks to the ballot issue passed last year, how many special sessions might we expect this year?) With that in mind, one of the big stories of last year the overturning of the national Roe v. Wade decision may be a growing point for activism in Idaho in the coming year. Last year, with elections around the corner, a piece of Idahos abortion law was stayed, and some anti-abortion activists may have wanted to hold back on taking additional steps in the area. Any hesitation will likely be gone once the legislature hits town. That arrival may expose something else: The reasons behind the special session of last fall and abrupt infusion of money into public schools. The money may soon be yanked from the schools, but a fight over school funding seems almost inevitable. Anything essentially non-political in these polarized days? There are some new economic developments, including possible expansion at Micron Technology (along with possible layoffs) and decisions about to be made around the specifics of a data center at Kuna. But Im watching most the work on cobalt mining at Salmon, where, if trend lines hold, a central part of Idaho could see some big changes before long. If thats the case, 2023 may be the year it takes hold. Of course, 2023 may yet launch some fresh new stories of its own. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Vaccination and boosting, especially when recent, helped to limit the spread of COVID-19 in California prisons during the first omicron wave, according to an analysis by researchers at UC San Francisco that examined transmission between people living in the same cell. The study demonstrates the benefits of vaccination and boosting, even in settings where many people are still getting infected, in reducing transmission. And it shows the cumulative effects from boosting and the additional protection that vaccination gives to those who were previously infected. The likelihood of transmission fell by 11% for each additional dose. "A lot of the benefits of vaccines to reduce infectiousness were from people who had received boosters and people who had been recently vaccinated," said Nathan Lo, MD, Ph.D., a faculty research fellow in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF and the senior author of the study, published Jan. 2, 2022, in Nature Medicine. "Our findings are particularly relevant to improving health for the incarcerated population." The researchers analyzed deidentified data collected by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). This included COVID-19 test results, vaccine status and housing locations for 111,687 residents, 97% of whom were male, between Dec. 15, 2021, and May 20, 2022. Breakthrough infections were common, despite the residents' relatively high vaccination rate of 81% with the primary vaccine series. But the rate of serious illness was low. In just over five months, there were 22,334 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 omicron infections, 31 hospitalizations and no COVID-19 deaths. Vaccinated residents with breakthrough infections were significantly less likely to transmit them: 28% versus 36% for those who were unvaccinated. But the likelihood of transmission grew by 6% for every five weeks that passed since someone's last vaccine shot. Natural immunity from a prior infection also had a protective effect, and the risk of transmitting the virus was 23% for someone with a reinfection compared to 33% for someone who had never been infected. Those with hybrid immunity, from both infection and vaccination, were 40% less likely to transmit the virus. Half of that protection came from the immunity that one acquires from fighting an infection and the other half came from being vaccinated. The researchers said they were gratified to see that vaccination confers addition protection even for those who had already been infected, but they were surprised by how much the infection continued to spread, despite the residents' relatively high vaccination rates. "Regardless of the benefits you see in vaccination and prior infection, there is still a high amount of transmission in this study," said Sophia Tan, a researcher in Lo's lab and the study's first author. "We hope these findings can support ongoing efforts to protect this vulnerable population." This includes making efforts to keep residents current with boosters and increasing the vaccination rate of the prison staff, only 73% of whom had received the primary series at the time of the study. The general rate of boosting could also be improved significantly. At the time of the study, just 59% of residents and 41% of staff had received all the doses recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based on their age and health status. "Within the two months following vaccination, people are the least infectious, which indicates that boosters and large timed vaccination campaigns may have a role to reduce transmission in surges," Lo said. "New ideas are needed since the risk of infection in this vulnerable population remains so great." More information: Infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and reinfections during the Omicron wave, Nature Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02138-x , www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02138-x Journal information: Nature Medicine Missoula County Building Official Dave Larkin was sitting at a red light when he heard the news about multiple hypoxia deaths that took place in Montana during the recent frigid holiday cold snap. Somebody should do something about that, he remembered thinking. Given his role in the Missoula County government, Larkin realized he was the man for the job. He approached the Missoula County commissioners about establishing a carbon monoxide detector campaign, and the trio obliged. About 430 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another 50,000 people in the U.S. also require emergency room treatment due to carbon monoxide exposure, which becomes toxic in tight spaces. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in Missoula County, Larkin and his colleagues are distributing carbon monoxide detectors to residences throughout the county. The county has 30 detectors ready for distribution currently, with 144 more on the way. Thanks to support from Home Depot and a $1,000 donation from NorthWestern Energy, Larkin said they eventually hope to get their hands on 220 detectors total. Anyone who demonstrates a need, Larkin said, were going to bring them (detectors) to them. He stressed his crew serves all of Missoula County. The county is also working with fire departments to distribute the devices. The Missoula County Communications staff is starting a push this week to bring awareness of the campaign to homeowners, but Larkin said hes eager to get detectors into households that need them. I dont want to wait, he said. To secure a carbon monoxide detector, call 406-258-3701 or any fire department. In the early 1990s, when I cooked under the tutelage of Chef Gary Danko, he had a saying. Anyone who complained about how hot the kitchen was or how impossible a particular task was or that they might have been working for many hours without a break would invariably hear in the chefs distinctive sing-song voice Well, if it were easy, anybody could do it. I held onto Dankos words. In the heat of an evenings service with orders piling up, room temperatures at 120 degrees or higher and my back aching, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I instead felt energized. I was a part of a high-performance team that was capable of meeting unrelenting high expectations and conditions to prepare, cook and present food in a manner that reflected our skill and commitment to consistency at the highest standards. Over the years, before I transitioned to a career outside of the food industry, I often found such an ethos woven into the very fabric of many restaurants. Within these culinary temples was a deep sense of pride, not only for the experience provided for the patrons by the team, but also for each individuals commitment to the art of hospitality as a specialized and valued craft. This commitment remains palpable in the industry today. However, unlike in the past, to persist within the restaurant industry today has become so extremely challenging that survival is not just a function of ones willingness to work hard under excruciating pressure and conditions. Today, those who make it in the industry especially the hyper-competitive Napa Valley culinary landscape are talented survival magicians who boggle my mind. Below I call out a few hurdles that will likely make 2023 even more challenging for those in the restaurant industry. The end of the Michelins Guides relevancy? In 1889 two brothers, Andre and Edouard Michelin, started the Michelin tire company in France. At the time, only about 2,200 cars existed in the Gallic country, where roads were few and gasoline was purchased not at stations but by the liter at select pharmacies. Entrepreneurs at heart, the brothers started the Michelin Guide to encourage car-owners to hit the roads in search of fine hotels and restaurants with the hope that by doing so they might increase tire sales. Since then, the Michelin Guide has played a significant role in helping illuminate some of the worlds finest restaurants. Initially limited only to France, the guide now covers dozens of countries and since 2007 has included Bay Area/Napa Valley eateries. The result has been that a few restaurants have been paid close attention, such as the French Laundry with a consistent three-star rating, the highest rating the guide gives. When the Bay Area was first included, the guide did not take money from the locations it served and therefore provided an objective tool albeit biased toward French cuisine for assessing quality. However, in the past few years, the Michelin Guide has expanded rapidly into new locations, and in what amounts to a pay-to-play business model, Michelin now often is paid by local tourism boards to cover their markets. In 2019 it was reported that Californias tourism bureau paid $600,000 to include up to 90 restaurants statewide instead of the Bay Area only. Three years earlier Eater broke a story that Michelin had received nearly $1.8 million for covering Seoul, South Korea. And although the details have not been disclosed, The Tampa Bay Times reported that a deal between Visit Florida and the Michelin Guide likely led to Floridas recent inclusion. Beyond the concerns that ratings are now being influenced by pay-to-play agreements, the utter complexity and difficulty of trying to understand Michelins ratings are confusing and unwieldy. OK, we get that three stars is super good, but then there are the Lassiette ratings (the plate symbol representing simply serves good food), Bib Gourmand (an image of the Michelin Man licking his lips and signifying friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices), one star (high-quality cooking worth a stop), two stars (excellent food worth a detour), coins (a good deal) and the new green cloverleaf that has something to do with being green. Whereas the Michelin Guide used to be a draw for the Napa Valley, now, due to its loss of credibility, confusing nomenclature and diffusion, it plays a significantly reduced role in generating culinary tourism to the region. The end of meat? Not so fast Beyond Meat Inc. (BYND), a Los Angelesbased producer of plant-based meat, issued its initial public offering (IPO) in May 2019. Transitioning from a private company to a publicly held one was hailed by Wall Street as the future of food with a stock price that shot skyward to a peak of nearly $250 per share in July of that year. However, as of Dec. 20, the share price of BYND has fallen to $13.29. So what happened? First off, just to be perfectly clear, there will continue to be more/better/higher-quality plant-based alternatives coming to market for the foreseeable future. A 2021 Gallup Poll found that nearly one in four Americans (23%) reported eating less meat than they had previously. That said, in the same poll, 72% said they were eating the same amount and 5% reported eating more meat. Gallup also reported that only 5% of Americans identify as vegetarian (an actual decrease from when the survey was first taken in 1999, when 6% of Americans identified as vegetarian), and the rates of veganism had only grown from 2% in 2012 to 3% by 2017. Nevertheless, according to Brand Essence Research, the plant-based food market was valued at over $40 billion globally in 2021 and is expected to reach nearly $100 billion by 2028. However, this is a drop in the bucket when it comes to total spending. Although it is difficult to determine exactly how much total money is spent for food each year, according to the U. N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the total value of global food production was estimated to be around $7.9 trillion in 2019. Meat is not going away anytime soon, but alternatives will continue to be available, with the quality and diversity of options expanding, albeit more slowly than many animal-rights or climate activists might prefer. The challenge for restaurateurs is that they are increasingly pressured to have a wide array of protein alternatives meat and non-meat which can be costly and cumbersome. Supply costs will increase According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics latest Producer Price Index, the price of vegetables rose 38% on a monthly basis in November and has surged more than 80% when compared to November 2021. Part of this is because the price of water has increased for farmers because of rising temperatures and droughts that are plaguing the western region of the United States. Increased costs are also due to a tightening supply of fertilizer. Synthetic fertilizer is made with a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is made using anhydrous ammonia, while potassium is made from potash and phosphorus from ammonium phosphates. An energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process converts ammonia to nitrogen, and Russia is a major supplier of the gas used to fuel that process. Additionally, Russia and its ally, Belarus, control nearly half of the global potash exports. Between the disruptions of the unprovoked invasion of Russia on Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions, expect fertilizer supplies to shrink. The result is that prices for produce will continue to increase in 2023. Staffing crisis will worsen According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the annual national turnover rate within the restaurant and accommodations sector was 86.3%, compared to 47.2% in the total U.S. private sector. Although there are no such detailed numbers for the Napa Valley, in 2017 Eater reported that a local study showed that the Bay Area turnover for cooks was as high as 120%. Today I suspect that number is much higher for the Napa Valley. And the problem is not just turnover. At the moment, the unemployment rate in the Napa Valley is around 2%. Talk with any restaurateur in the region and youll learn of the Sisyphean struggle to hire and retain staff. Listen closely and you are bound to hear the most amazing tales. Like the one where a dishwasher who was making $20 an hour quit mid-shift because hed received a text from a nearby eatery offering him $25 an hour. Or when a staff member didnt show up for more than a week but then returned without explanation and the owner was forced to bite her lip and welcome them back because they were so short-staffed. Why is this? Because there is excessive demand for anyone with experience in the food and hospitality industry. Its also because the cost of living in the Napa Valley is high and workers are often working multiple jobs to make ends meet. So the problems really are that supply and demand are out of whack, and until they come into balance (either by lowering demand or increasing supply) I dont expect things to be any easier for either employees or employers anytime soon. Bright spots? Even with all the harrowing news and predictions, the Napa Valley remains one of the worlds food meccas. Our access to high-quality produce, exceptional wine and a culture of hospitality will continue to make it a go-to location for those seeking quality restaurants. And as global tourism likely slows in 2023 due to a global recession, regional travel and locals venturing out after the long, dark days of our two-plus-year pandemic winter might just find a new favorite eatery or turn to one of the old-guard staples. In a recent OpenTable users poll, Napa Valley restaurants Bistro Don Giovanni and Bistro Jeanty were listed as two of the top 100 most beloved restaurants in America. Its easy to get bogged down in a world that seems hell-bent on remaining in a state of near chaos lurching from one traumatic event to another but heading out to dine and commune with others is often a healing, comforting and important grounding experience. May we all find time to commune around the table as we weather these storms together. How people ordered meals online in 2022, according to DoorDash How people ordered meals online in 2022, according to DoorDash People valued a good ordering experience, accurate delivery time, and fast service Breakfast saw an increase in popularity Consumers don't call to order anymore People ordered online for convenienceand stayed home American and Mexican food were most popular More and more dined in, but takeout orders continued to be prevalent As I sit predawn illuminated by lingering Christmas lights at a time when I would normally be bopping around my house getting ready for the Tuesday market, I find myself filled with a sparkling mix of emotions. I am grateful for the rain falling hard, which we desperately need. I am even more appreciative I do not have to be outside in the rain because the Tuesday market is on winter break until April 4. At the same time, I am concerned about how many rainy markets will keep customers away this winter. There are plenty of hours in a week; I wish there was a way to pause the rain on Saturday mornings. The rest of the time, let er rip! Thinking back on all we accomplished together in 2022 gives me hope for another fabulous year to come. We welcomed 155,434 customer visits, which is a 7% increase over 2021. If we multiply that by the average amount spent ($40 per customer based on a 2020 survey), that equals an estimated $6 million (yes million with an m) in sales for our 126 small businesses, including 36 farmers, 60 specialty food, and 30 artisan craft makers. As the cost of just existing continues to rise, one thing we learned is prices at the Napa Farmers Market did not experience the same massive spikes. This means that in addition to receiving superior quality products, you can spend your money wisely with our trusted farmers and food vendors. On top of that, a Farmers Market Coalition study shows that for every $10 spent at a farmers market, $7.80 is re-spent in the community. What a powerful combination. Our CalFresh Market Match program, which doubles food assistance benefits for customers with low-income, continued to see growth. We matched over $69,000 (30% more than last year) which means over $138,000 in funding from both sources was spent at our market, primarily to produce and other grocery staples. Our newest program, Fruit and Veggie Bucks, provided $29,600 in food assistance dollars to Latine families with low-income, in partnership with Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center. This year we learned from these families that our market does indeed offer the types of fruits and vegetables that fit into their cultural traditions. Best of all, we finished the year off very strong with our best Give!Guide campaign ever, raising more than $20,000 for our food assistance programs funds. Thank you, Napa! As we roll into January, we expect to see the ever-popular Rainwater Ranch return with their second-to-none certified organic oranges and citrus from Winters. If you are like me and you have been overconsuming carbs, cheese and meat for the last two months, we could all use more salad in our lives. This Winter Rainbow Salad makes sweet and tangy citrus the star of the show. See you Saturdays at the market! Winter Rainbow Salad Adapted from the Foodwise Kids Program, this is a kid-friendly recipe that the whole family can prepare together. Salad 5 cups mixed chicories (radicchio, Belgian endive, Puntarelle) 2 oranges (examples: navel, Cara Cara, blood) 2 carrots 1 cup cooked beans 1 teaspoon soft, leafy herbs (cilantro, mint, tarragon) Vinaigrette 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons honey or other liquid sweetener 1 tablespoon citrus juice (lemon, orange, lime) 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste Thoroughly rinse all fruits and vegetables. If using whole chicories, separate the leaves. Immerse leaves into a bowl of water or a salad spinner. Wash the lettuce and drain thoroughly. Use a towel to blot gently without damaging the leaves. Drier leaves make better salads. Peel the whole citrus fruit, then separate the segments. Be gentle: orange segments are fragile. Grate or peel the carrot. If using a box grater, use the largest holes. If using a peeler, be sure to stabilize the carrot on the cutting board while peeling. Vinaigrette: Measure and pour the vinegar, citrus juice, and honey into a small bowl and whisk to combine. While stirring, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl. Continue to stir until fully blended. Add the chicories, oranges, carrots, and beans to the large bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Tear the leafy parts of herbs from the stems. Use the leafy parts to top the salad. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Enjoy tasting the winter rainbow! At a time when housing supplies and affordability have become increasingly pressing issues throughout California, the states cities, including those in Napa County, have been working on their long-term plans known as housing elements. 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 city of Napa recently released a draft of its new housing element, which will establish long-range housing plans for eight years until 2031 once finalized. (The Napa City Council is expected to vote on the housing element, which is technically part of the citys general plan, in April.) A portion of the draft plan available for review through the end of January at napahousingelement.com is devoted to demonstrating how the city can meet a state-set housing allocation of 2,669 new housing units by 2031, a significant increase from the 835 units the city was allocated in the current 2015-23 cycle. The plan also details community engagement carried out to put it together, includes a section on goals and policies, and also include a series of implementation programs the city is committed to carrying out over the next eight years. And it includes hundreds of pages of appendices to demonstrate the context in which the element was created. As for the allocation, the state of California assigns housing to regions in eight-year cycles. Regional authorities, including as the Association of Bay Area Governments, then divide those allocations among local municipalities. Locally, the city of Napas housing allocation compares to a mandated 622 units in American Canyon, 119 units in Calistoga, 256 units in St. Helena, 106 units in unincorporated Napa County and 72 units in Yountville. A reason the city of Napas allocation is comparatively high is because the city agreed to take on about 700 additional units from Napa County about 80% of Napa Countys original mandate for the unincorporated area as part of the deal that allowed the city to annex the Napa Pipe property, which is planned to include roughly 945 homes and a Costco store. Cities are also required to show how theyll meet housing needs for specific income groups. The city of Napas allocation includes 770 very-low-income units (29% of the total); 444 low-income units (17%); 405 moderate-income units (15%); and 1,050 above-moderate-income units (39%). But according to the draft element, the city already has 1,963 units in the planning pipeline dwellings that the document says are currently pending, under review, approved, or under construction. The city expects to meet the rest of its commitment by adding a projected 366 accessory dwelling units small dwellings built within or on the same lots as existing homes along with developing vacant or underused properties. In total, the city estimates it has capacity among those three categories to outstrip the allocation by 656 dwellings. PHOTOS: Napa County officials sworn into office County officials sworn in 5 County officials sworn in 1 County officials sworn in 2 County officials sworn in 3 County officials sworn in 4 County officials sworn in 6 County officials sworn in 7 County officials sworn in 8 County officials sworn in 9 County officials sworn in 10 County officials sworn in 11 County officials sworn in 12 County officials sworn in 13 County officials sworn in 14 County officials sworn in 15 County officials sworn in 16 County officials sworn in 17 County officials sworn in 18 County officials sworn in 19 County officials sworn in 20 County officials sworn in 21 County officials sworn in 22 The New Year was off to a sunny, dry start after a record-setting atmospheric river storm pummeled the Bay Area on Saturday closing roadways, trapping drivers, forcing some evacuations and overwhelming local creeks. National Weather Service Meteorologist Dial Hoang described the entire Bay Area as basically a mess during Saturdays storm. There were numerous reports of flooding, he said. And numerous reports of trees coming down. Downtown San Francisco recorded its second-wettest day in 173 years with 5.46 inches of rainfall Saturday, which was just shy of hitting the all-time record by 0.08 inches. The storm accounted for nearly half of all rainfall in December. Oakland was soaked with 4.75 inches of rain in 24 hours, beating out the previous record set back on Jan. 4, 1982, by just 0.01. All lanes on Highway 101 at Oyster Point in South San Francisco reopened by 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Traffic had been redirected for several hours as Caltrans crews worked to clear the water from the roadways. In the East Bay, some floodwaters remained along Whipple Road in Hayward, Redwood Road in Castro Valley and Gleason Drive in Dublin, according to the California Highway Patrol. Caltrans crews were working to pump out standing water near Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas through Saturday evening. But the reprieve wont last long; modest rainfall is expected to begin Monday, with forecasters predicting less than an inch of precipitation. And the next atmospheric river storm is predicted to hit Wednesday. The Wednesday event is expected to potentially produce some flooding, according to the NWS, and he advised Bay Area residents to avoid any unnecessary travel until Thursday. People should start to prepare, he said. It is not impossible for there to be flooding. The storm will bring up to 2.5 inches of rain in the Santa Clara Valley, San Francisco and East Bay, while the regions mountainous areas will get up to 6 inches. One person found dead in submerged vehicle on flooded Sacramento County road A person has been found dead inside a vehicle submerged in flood waters in south Sacramento County. Dan Quiggle, deputy fire chief for operations for Cosumnes Community Service District Fire Department, said crews found the person inside a vehicle around 10:30 a.m. Sunday along Dillard Road, near Highway 99. Emergency workers believe the individual was the same motorist they were searching for earlier in the morning. No details on the driver were made available. The area around Dillard Road, south of Elk Grove, has been inundated with flood waters from the Cosumnes River following a strong rain and wind storm that struck the region Saturday night. Rain monitors in the area registered nearly 4 inches of rain in the 24-hour period ending at midnight, with heavier rain in the foothills that pushed the Cosumnes past its brink. Highway 99 is closed in both directions in the area, with no estimated time for reopening. Several other roads near Wilton and Galt are also under several feet of water. Quiggle said that despite a flash flood warning, people continued to attempt to drive on flooded roads Sunday afternoon. We do still have significant risk, we have significantly high water levels and fast-moving water, he said. Were still finding folks that were stranded last night and we continue to have people driving onto flooded roadways. We want everyone to stay on dry ground and do not drive your vehicle on flooded roadways. Ryan Lillis, The Sacramento Bee EU monitoring mission in Armenia not present in the area when Azerbaijan attacked Armenia National Security Service Border Guard Troops commander dismissed Armenia MOD: Tegh village incident that led to undesirable consequences was due to deployment adjustment Mayor of Frances Lyon expresses unconditional support to people of Karabakh Pashinyan: Armenian side had recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan Criminal proceedings launched into Armenia soldiers being killed, wounded by Azerbaijan near Tegh village Chairman-in-Office: OSCE supports continuation of Armenia-Azerbaijan direct contacts MFA: Russia asked Armenia to explain information about participating in joint military exercises with NATO Zakharova does not disclose details of Russian, Turkish FMs talks on Armenia-Turkey relations Russia MFA spox: CSTO mission deployment details can be talked about when Armenia is ready Zakharova: Russia favors complete unblocking of Lachin corridor Russia MFA: Other players engagement will lead to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations destabilization EU calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to intensify border delimitation talks, until then to respect 1991 line Russia MFA spox: Yerevan, Baku accepted proposal to hold another bilateral talks Pallone: This is another senseless provocation from Azerbaijani forces against Armenia Zakharova: Russia Border Guard Service, army took measures to de-escalate situation near Armenias Tegh village Armenia deputy defense minister on possible Azerbaijan provocations again: Nothing can be ruled out Armenia MP: Azerbaijanis demanded not to do engineering work, our soldiers responded, battle started from that Marukyan: This is continuation of attacks carried out against Armenia in May and November 2021, in September 2022 About 100 killed in airstrikes in rural Myanmar Criminal proceedings to be launched against Armenia opposition MP Mher Sahakyan Armenia MP: Army corps commander was there, talks were to be held but Azerbaijan resorted to provocation Mher Grigoryan, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State discuss security issues in Armenia, region Parliament observes minute of silence in memory of Armenia soldiers who died yesterday Newspaper: How Europe reacts to yesterday's provocation by Azerbaijanis? Anahit Manasyan is elected Armenia ombudsperson Armenia MOD: No significant ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan recorded at night MOD: 3 of wounded Armenia soldiers in satisfactory condition, other 3 in moderate, severe, critical condition RA MOD announces names of soldiers killed by Azerbaijani Armed Forces As of 10:15 p.m., the situation on the frontline is relatively stable. RA Ministry of Defense The destruction of Artsakh and Syunik is a key issue for Turkey and Azerbaijan. David Babayan Suren Papikyan interrupts his working visit and returns to Armenia Azerbaijans provocation is another encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. MFA Azerbaijan MOD publicizes data on own losses during latest Baku provocation Russia MOD: 2 ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh The reason for Azerbaijan's aggression is not being sanctioned by the international community. Edmon Marukyan Four Armenian soldiers killed, six wounded because of Azerbaijani provocation. MOD Video shows how Azerbaijani soldiers approach and open fire at Armenian soldiers Armenia National Assembly cancels special session Legislature deputy speaker on Azerbaijani infiltration into Armenia: Not case where accountability is implied Azerbaijanis opened fire in direction of Sotk Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan army continues provocation, uses mortars Azerbaijani shooting resumes in direction of Armenias Tegh village Haykakan Zhamanak: Armenia Special Army Corps commander wounded in skirmish MOD: Armenian side has casualties and wounded, according to preliminary data Shots fired at Tegh village area, Armenia has casualty Armenia parliament vice-speaker: Turkey border shall be open for 3rd countries citizens at summers beginning Armenia lawmaker: Azerbaijan has violated mutual understanding on Karabakh issue Sargis Khandanyan: Armenia does not play football on CSTO issue Armenia Prosecutor General submits petition to parliament for consent to prosecute opposition MP Ruling force MP: Before sending mission, CSTO must record Armenia territorys occupation Photo traps of Armenias Khosrov Forest State Reserve capture grizzly bear again Peskov calls information about Egypt president's covert shipment of rockets to Russia sensational lie The Washington Post: Egypt planned to secretly send up to 40,000 rockets to Russia, leaked US document says Earthquake hits Iran-Turkey border zone, also felt in Armenia Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan flight that landed in Turkey arrives in Armenia capital Bortnikov: Terrorists want to destabilize the situation in Caucasus 15 more people from Karabakh transferred to Armenia medical centers, 10 patients return Russia airspace to be closed for flights to Europe until 2029, Eurocontrol announces Armenia defense minister visits NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (PHOTOS) North Korea leader announces strengthening of war deterrence forces AraratBank provides support to 100 children from underprivileged families Foreign Affairs: External threat may force Iran to enter into open conflict on Armenias side Foreigners make about 400 real estate sales transactions in Armenia in February Russia emergency service: UAV falls in Belgorod city airport territory on Monday Armenia becomes donor to International Development Association of World Bank Bitcoin rises nearly 7% to $30,200 Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan flight lands in Turkey Karabakh authorities send proposal to hold meeting to Azerbaijani side shamshyan.com: Man, 57, found dead at downtown Yerevan churchyard Yerevan city council supposed to elect new mayor today but majority faction not attending session Armenia legislature kicks off regular 4-day session Newspaper: Armenia, Azerbaijan see further negotiations on Washington platform Next-generation Countryman crossovers first photos surface Scientific miracle: Atoms first photo is 5 years old shamshyan.com: Man who returned from Moscow dies suddenly at Yerevan international airport Woman who threw umbrella at Armenia PM is released from custody Turkey FM: We coordinate every step with Armenia with Azerbaijan Woman detained after throwing umbrella at PM Pashinyan in Armenia village Tokayev: Kazakhstan supports Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process Aliyev: Work on peace treaty with Armenia not going very smoothly Turkey FM: It would have been difficult for Azerbaijan to take Karabakh if we had not manufactured UAVs Yerevan subway resumes normal operations Shamkhani: Any geographical change in South Caucasus will play into hands of enemies of regional security, stability Politico: EU mission in Armenia may cast shadow over Azerbaijan-EU natural gas deal Technical breakdown at Yerevan subway Philippines, US to hold largest joint military exercise in their history Azerbaijan arrests 4 more people suspected of collaboration with Iranian special services CNN: US wiretaps Zelenskyy telephone conversations MTS Armenia company to not be sold Sputnik Armenia: CSTO mission ready to arrive in Armenia, Russian ambassador says Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Selection Committee honorary co-chair Benjamin Ferencz passes Mayor of Frances Lyon pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims, Karabakh wars martyrs US Navy destroyer illegally enters South China Sea, Beijing says Azerbaijanis found in Armenia rural community, they knock on house door MOD: Azerbaijan soldier found, detained in Armenia Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan goal is to subject Karabakh to ethnic cleansing even 35 years after Maragha crime EU mission presence in Armenia near Azerbaijan border worries Baku 2 Azerbaijan servicemen go missing Russia interior ministry notes countries whose citizenship is most often obtained by Russians, Armenia among them Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year address Saturday evening in Beijing to ring in 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed hard work and unity, and called on the young generation to shoulder their responsibilities to deliver China's ambitious blueprint for the future. Giving his New Year Address to ring in 2023, Xi lauded the country's economic performance, COVID approach and sci-tech breakthroughs over the past year. The nationally televised and livestreamed speech delivered in his office in central Beijing is the tenth of its kind since Xi became the Chinese president in 2013. Reviewing the past year, Xi first commended the successful 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which drew an ambitious blueprint for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. On the Chinese economy, Xi said it has remained the second largest in the world and enjoyed sound development, adding that GDP for the whole year is expected to exceed 120 trillion yuan (about 17 trillion U.S. dollars). "Despite a global food crisis, we have secured a bumper harvest for the 19th year in a row, putting us in a stronger position to ensure the food supply of the Chinese people," Xi said. He also praised the country's poverty elimination and rural revitalization efforts, and tax and fee cuts and other measures to ease the burden on businesses, as well as active efforts to solve the most pressing difficulties of high concern to the people. Xi said China has put the people first and put life first all along since COVID-19 struck. "Following a science-based and targeted approach, we have adapted our COVID response in light of the evolving situation to protect the life and health of the people to the greatest extent possible," said the president. "With extraordinary efforts, we have prevailed over unprecedented difficulties and challenges, and it has not been an easy journey for anyone," he said. Noting that China has entered a new phase of COVID response where tough challenges remain, Xi called on the Chinese people to make an extra effort to pull through. "Perseverance and solidarity mean victory," he said. He also took a moment to remember late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. "Comrade Jiang Zemin passed away in 2022. We pay high tribute to his towering achievements and noble demeanor, and cherish the great legacy he left behind," Xi said. "We will honor his last wishes and advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era," he added. TODAY'S CHINA Xi said today's China is "a country where dreams become reality," citing some of the milestone achievements in the past year, including the Olympic Winter Games, China's manned space missions and space station, the 95th founding anniversary of the armed forces, the third aircraft carrier Fujian, the homegrown large passenger aircraft C919, and the Baihetan hydropower station. Calling today's China "a country brimming with vigor and vitality," Xi said the Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality, and the fundamentals sustaining its long-term growth have remained strong. "As long as we stay confident and strive for progress while maintaining stability, we will realize the goals we have set," Xi added. "On my visit to Hong Kong earlier this year, I was deeply glad to see that Hong Kong has restored order and is set to thrive again," he said. "With determined implementation of 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong and Macao will surely enjoy long-term prosperity and stability," he added. Xi also hailed China's national character, which has been demonstrated in coping with natural disasters and accidents, and will be a source of confidence for the country. On the close link between today's China and the world, Xi said the country cherishes peace and development and values friends and partners as it has always done. MAKE TOMORROW'S CHINA A BETTER PLACE Vowing to make tomorrow's China a better place, Xi said the country will perform miracles through hard work. "Long as the journey is, we will reach our destination if we stay the course; difficult as the task is, we will get the job done if we keep working at it," he said. Xi said China will be a country that draws its strength from unity. "Ours is a big country. It is only natural for different people to have different concerns or hold different views on the same issue," he said. "What matters is that we build consensus through communication and consultation," he added. "The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are members of one and the same family. I sincerely hope that our compatriots on both sides of the Strait will work together with a unity of purpose to jointly foster lasting prosperity of the Chinese nation," said the president. Voicing expectations of the younger generation, Xi said for China to develop further, young people must step forward and take on their responsibilities. Youngsters should keep their country in mind and cultivate keen enterprise, he said. Turkey expects the U.S. and Russia to fulfill their security commitments on the border with Syria, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said. "We reiterate our expectation that the U.S. and Russia will fulfill their obligations under the 2019 agreements and clear our borders of terrorism. Our fight against terrorist elements that pose a threat to our national security will continue resolutely until our country and the border region are completely secure," NTV quoted Kalin as saying. Commenting on Ankara-Washington relations, Kalin said the U.S. attitude toward terrorist organizations continues to affect relations between the two countries. "We expect the U.S. to act in accordance with the spirit of the alliance and to take Turkey's security concerns seriously," Kaln said, adding that Ankara "will not accept unilateral imposition of policy, no matter who it comes from." Damascus has repeatedly called the presence of Turkish forces in Syria's border territory, which carries out operations against Kurdish formations there, illegal and called on Ankara to withdraw troops. With the support of the U.S. military, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), based on the YPG self-defense groups, control most of the Syrian provinces of al-Hasake and Raqqa, and some settlements in Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces. In particular, they control most of the neighborhoods in the cities of al-Hasakah and Qamishli. Official Damascus does not recognize the autonomous administration in northeastern Syria. Two years after their last war over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan appear to be headed for a new confrontation. Russia's failures in Ukraine have upset the calculations in the region, the International Crisis Group writes. The new war will be shorter but no less dramatic than the six-week conflict of 2020. Since then, the balance has shifted further in favor of Azerbaijan. The Armenian army has not been replenishing its troops and armaments because Russia, its traditional arms seller, lacks supplies. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, is gaining ground. Its army is several times larger than that of Armenia, it is much better equipped and has the support of Turkey. Baku was also encouraged by the increased European demand for Azerbaijani gas. In particular, the report notes that after the 2020 cease-fire, Russia deployed peacekeepers to Karabakh and reinforced its border forces and military personnel on those parts of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border that became the new front line after the 44-day war. The idea was that even a small Russian contingent would deter attacks on Armenia because Baku would be wary of Moscow. After the war in Ukraine, however, these calculations did not materialize. Russian forces failed to prevent several outbreaks last year. In March and August, Azerbaijani troops seized new territories in Nagorno-Karabakh, including strategic heights. In September, the Azerbaijani military seized territory from Armenia. Terrorist attacks became more and more bloody, the International Crisis Group notes. Experts say the war in Ukraine also overshadowed Armenian-Azerbaijani talks. According to their information, at the end of last year, Moscow accepted the European Union's petition, hoping it would strengthen Russia's peacekeeping mission. However, after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Moscow perceived Brussels' mediation as another attempt to curb Russia's influence, and no matter how much the Western capitals try to convince them otherwise, the Kremlin refuses to intervene. As a result, two draft agreements are being circulated - one was developed by Russia, the other was developed by Armenia and Azerbaijan with the support of the West, the report notes, specifying that each of the documents concerns the restoration of communication and trade channels and the stabilization of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, leaving the fate of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh separate from the unstarted process for now. The Armenian-Azerbaijani project, supported by the West, is probably more promising, partly because it was developed by the sides, the experts express their opinion, stressing, however, that it is not clear how Moscow will react if this happens. On the other hand, according to the international crisis group, although the sides are trying to work out a joint project, their approaches are still very far from each other. All cards are in Baku's hands, and Azerbaijan would benefit more from a possible deal, especially in terms of military and foreign policy, than if it tried to achieve these goals militarily, experts say, warning that the danger is that negotiations will lead nowhere, and either another military conflict will destroy the ways sponsored by both Moscow and the West, and Azerbaijan will take what it can by force. Vietnamese rescuers fight to save trapped boy, 10 Rescuers gather at the site where a 10-year-old boy is thought to be trapped in a 35-metre deep shaft. Photo: AFP Hundreds of rescuers in Vietnam battled on Monday to free a 10-year-old boy who fell into a 35-metre-deep hole at a construction site two days ago. The boy, named Thai Ly Hao Nam, fell into the shaft of a hollow concrete pillar just 25 centimetres wide, sunk as part of a new bridge in southern Dong Thap province, apparently while looking for scrap metal, a rescuer said. "We are trying our best. We cannot tell the boy's condition yet," the rescuer reported, identifying himself only as Sau. According to media reports, rescuers have tried drilling and softening the surrounding soil to try to pull the pillar up to save Nam. Authorities "are not sure about the current condition of the boy. He has stopped interacting with the outside though oxygen had always been pumped into the" hole, Vietnam's Tuoi Tre newspaper reported. On Monday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked federal-level rescuers to join efforts by local authorities to save the boy. (AFP) After a gap of two years, India's tax corporate collection exceeded 3 per cent in fiscal 2021-22 of the gross domestic product (GDP). Increased demand of goods and services was one of the reasons which made India Inc improve in profitability. The net corporate tax collection was Rs 7.12 lakh crore in 2021-22 while GDP was at Rs 236.64 lakh crore at the current market price. The percentage of net corporate tax to GDP is 3.01 per cent. This ratio was the highest in 2018-19, according to data of corporate tax collection for a span of five years. The corporate tax collection of 2018-19 stood at Rs 6.63 lakh crore or 3.51 per cent of GDP. In 28 years, the government had gone for the highest cut by almost 10 percentage points in corporate tax rates for new manufacturing units in 2019-20. The mop up and ratio slipped to 2.77 per cent of GDP in 2019-20 on account of reduction in corporate tax rate. The government in September 2019 had cut tax rate and came out with a norm that any Indian company incorporated on or after October 1 in that year, which makes fresh investment in manufacturing, could pay income tax at 15 per cent if they start its production on or before March 31, 2023. This has been extended by one year. Another norm was that if any domestic firm gives up exemptions and sops, they could pay taxes at a lower 22 per cent. In addition, the minimum alternate tax (MAT) too was cut to 15 per cent from 18.5 per cent. Also, domestic companies were given option to pay taxes at a lower 22 per cent rate if they gave up exemptions and incentives. Besides, the rate of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) too had been reduced to 15 per cent from 18.5 per cent. The tax cut reflected in the realisation of corporate taxes in 2019-20, when collections declined to Rs 5.56 lakh crore which was 2.77 per cent of GDP. The ratio of corporate tax to GDP during 2020-21 dropped further to 2.31 per cent due to impact of Covid-19, coupled with tax rate cuts of the previous year. The net corporate tax collection during this year was Rs 4.57 lakh crore. (ANI) BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- When President Xi Jinping's New Year address was televised on Saturday to ring in 2023, the photos placed on the bookshelf behind him once again caught the eye of the public, as in previous years. Along with the pictures of Xi at important events in 2022 and personal ones with his family were three photos showing him talking with villagers in north China, standing with a cheerful crowd in Xinjiang, and checking apples with farmers in a northwestern orchard. The president standing among ordinary people is a familiar theme of the photos on the bookshelf and the phrase -- "the people" -- has appeared in Xi's 10 New Year addresses on a total of nearly 90 occasions. Over the past 10 years in his addresses, Xi mentioned deliverymen, taxi drivers and medical workers, expressed concerns about the lives of millions of poor rural people, and applauded the devotion of unsung heroes and the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people. On New Year's Eve, he expressed concern for what the people experienced in the face of surging COVID-19 infections, stressing that it has not been an easy journey for anyone. He said that everyone is holding on with great fortitude, and encouraged them to make an extra effort to pull through, with "the light of hope right in front of us." Shi Basan, a resident of the ethnic Miao village of Shibadong tucked away in the mountains of central China's Hunan Province, was a main figure in a picture that appeared on the bookshelf when Xi delivered the New Year address to ring in 2018. The picture of Xi holding the hand of Shi was taken in 2013 during Xi's inspection tour in Hunan. When Xi walked into Shi's home, she welcomed him with the question -- "What should I call you?" "I am a servant of the people," Xi had replied, greeting Shi as an elder sister. Since that year, Shi has watched the televised New Year address every year. "So many years have passed, but my heart is always warmed up when I think about the moment when the president called me an elder sister," Shi said. Also in that year, Shibadong -- where 57 percent of its residents had lived below the poverty line -- began to change due to the country's targeted poverty elimination programs. Used to living in a dilapidated house, Shi now greets tourists from across the country in her renovated new home, while the television on which she watched the New Year address on Saturday evening, is the third TV she has bought during the past decade. In his first New Year address as the Chinese president on Dec. 31, 2013, Xi admitted that "a huge amount of work" needed to be done to ensure a better life for the people. On the New Year's Eve of 2015, Xi pledged to continue with efforts to act upon people's expectations and to turn their aspirations into reality. In his New Year address to welcome 2021, Xi said proudly that China has secured a great historic achievement for fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a decisive victory in poverty eradication. In 2020, all of China's nearly 100 million impoverished rural residents, living below the poverty line, had shaken off poverty in the eight years of a national anti-poverty campaign led by Xi, and all 832 poor counties had been lifted out of poverty. On Saturday evening when reviewing the year 2022, Xi said the Chinese economy had remained the second largest in the world and had enjoyed sound development. He added that the gains in poverty elimination had been consolidated, while rural revitalization was advanced across the board and active efforts were made to solve the most pressing difficulties of high concern to the people. China today is a country where dreams become reality, a country brimming with vigor and vitality, a country that keeps to its national character and is closely linked with the world, he announced. He also expressed a vision of China's future: a country that performs miracles through hard work, draws its strength from unity, and has great expectations of its younger generation. "President Xi's New Year address is inspiring and powerful," said Zhang Jin, president of Siasun Robot and Automation Co. Ltd. based in northeast China's Liaoning Province. "As a hi-tech firm, we will be brave in pursuit of innovation, in order to remove more technological bottlenecks." Back in Shibadong, 26-year-old Shi Kang, one of the village youngsters returning home to start a business, felt the weight of Xi's address, as the president called on the young people to step forward and take on their responsibilities to develop China. "As a young man in the new era, I must be strict with myself, embrace the fighting spirit of the older generation, and devote the best of me to rural revitalization," he said. As President Xi believes and declared in his address -- when 1.4 billion Chinese work with one heart and one mind and stand in unity with a strong will, no task will be impossible and no difficulty insurmountable. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has lauded the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, terming it industry-friendly. "It has struck the right balance between protecting the interests of the data principals while leaving enough room for tech start-ups to innovate and grow," the industry body said in a statement on Monday. Three months after the withdrawal of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill from the Lower House of the Parliament, the central government in November 2022 came up with a new draft Bill seeking views from the public. The data protection framework in the Draft Bill to balance innovation and economic growth with the interests of users will go a long way to assuage concerns of digital businesses and help make India a trillion-dollar digital economy by 2025, the statement said, citing feedback received from the majority of its member associations. "By following a deep and wide process of consultation including that of a joint parliamentary committee, excluding non-essential provisions, by making a clear commitment that no Rules exceeding the provisions of the Act would be made, and yet protecting the interests of the state, citizens and the digital economy, this Bill has possibly set up new standards of law-making," said Subho Ray, president of Internet and Mobile Association of India, in the statement. However, it said there remain 'ambiguities' surrounding the timelines for implementing the various provisions of the Bill and mechanisms for obtaining verifiable parental consent to process the personal data of children. "As the inclusion of specific timelines will provide a roadmap for the industry to better comply with the Bill, IAMAI has requested the government to clearly indicate reasonable timelines by which the various provisions of the DPDP will be implemented and to adopt a graded approach to prescribing such timelines. IAMAI has also urged the government to consider a flexible approach to obtaining parental consent, as prescriptive mandates may have an adverse cascading impact on sectors that provide services to younger individuals." the IAMAI's statement said, adding that it is confident the final version of the law will help stakeholders in the digital ecosystem of India. (ANI) Indian aviation authorities are planning to recommend putting passengers, who were involved in a recent onboard brawl, on a no-fly list. "We are in touch with the local police and we are waiting for the police investigation report after which we can take a decision or recommend them to put on the fly list," a top official of the Indian aviation authority told ANI. In 2017, the government of India formed a committee called The National No Fly List, which is compiled and maintained by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) based on inputs from airlines. The no-fly list regulates the behavior of passengers on scheduled and non-scheduled flights only. A police case has been registered in connection with the onboard brawl at Kolkata airport and an investigation has been initiated. The aviation authorities including the Ministry of Civil Aviation are in touch with the Kolkata police, and after investigation, the authorities may recommend a no-fly list for the concerned passengers. Meanwhile, Thai Smile Airways said in an internal report that, "the row erupted when the passenger on seat 37C refused to follow the safety instructions of the crew." Despite repeated requests, the passenger remained seated with his seat reclined, it said, adding that the Captain delayed the fight due to the same. Earlier, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), a body that monitors aviation security has taken strong cognizance of a video that has gone viral on social media showing passengers on a Bangkok-Kolkata flight engaged in a mid-air brawl. "The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has sought a detailed report from the concerned authority. The matter has been viewed seriously. We will decide on the further course of action once we are in receipt of the report," said Zulfiquar Hasan, DG of BCAS. The purported video from the Bangkok-Kolkata Thai Smile Airways on December 26 flight shows two passengers engaging in a heated argument even as a flight attendant attempts to calm them. One man is then seen slapping the other as the cabin crew member desperately attempts to separate them. (ANI) As many as 50 electric buses were launched in Delhi with support under the FAME India Phase II scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, informed the government on Monday. In 2019, the government approved Rs 10,000 crore for a period of three years. Out of total budgetary support, about 86 percent of the fund has been allocated for incentives so as to create demand for electric vehicles. Union minister for heavy industries Mahendra Nath Pandey said the government placed orders for 3,538 electric buses. Out of those, a total of 1,716 buses have been deployed so far. Pandey stated that for the Union Territory of Delhi 400 Electric Buses -- 300 to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for intra-city operations and 100 to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for last Mile connectivity -- were sanctioned in August 2019. "The supply orders were to be placed by 15th January 2020. DMRC issued a supply order in December 2019 to the successful Bidders whereas Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) could only issue a supply order in March 2021. To facilitate DTC, MHI extended the last date of the supply order by DTC 31st March 2021, as a special case for providing a pollution-free world-class transit system to Delhi," according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries. With the launch of the 50 buses today, the commitment to providing 300 electric buses to DTC has been fulfilled, the ministry said. (ANI) The unions in the government-owned general insurance companies and General Insurance Corporation of India Ltd (GIC Re) on Monday called off their January 4 strike, said an union leader. The strike has been called off following an agreement reached with the management of the companies at the conciliation meeting called by the Chief Labour Commissioner, Central. "Various arguments took place in the meeting from both sides and finally, the CLC advised the managements to give proper bilateral opportunity for discussion with the Associations within 15 days and take the suggestions," Trilok Singh, Convenor-North Zone, Joint Forum of Trade Unions and Association (JFTU), told IANS. He said the CLC had further advised that the managements should consider the suggestions of the associations positively. "Managements agreed to meet the Associations within 15 days for the same. In the light of these instructions from the CLC's office and the managements' decision, we have decided to defer the strike till further advices," Singh said. At the conciliation meeting, the management representative said since 2016 it has been a matter of existence for the insurers. They said even after infusion of capital by the government, the companies are struggling to survive. The companies have to maintain solvency ratio and for that, they have to cost effective. The representative of the Department of Financial Services also maintained that the insurers have to improve their performance. The strike notice was given by Girish Khurana, National Convenor, JFTY protesting against the unilateral implementation of the EY recommendations on rejigging the five reinsurers. The CLC had called the Chairman-cum-Managing Directors of the five companies, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Khurana for a conciliation meeting. The unions have been demanding the copy of the EY report for a long time. The management had given them a copy of the power point presentation made to them about the EY report. "Bullet points contained in PPT (powerpoint presentation) reveal no details and we are unable to submit our view-points and suggestions in the matter," Khurana said in a letter to Suchita Gupta, Chairperson GIPSA and Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Insurance earlier. --IANS vj/vd ( 365 Words) 2023-01-02-19:40:03 (IANS) Rapper and former member of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia Gangsta Boo passed away aged 43 on Sunday. Boo, whose real name was Lola Mitchell, was discovered dead on Sunday afternoon at about 4 p.m., according to Fox 13. Her death's cause hasn't been made public. According to Variety, a US-based news outlet, Boo, a hip-hop artist who came out of the Dirty South school in the 1990s, was the vivacious Memphis equivalent to rappers Eve from Philadelphia, Lil' Kim from Brooklyn, and Trina from Miami. Boo's career began with a well-established local gang, Three 6 Mafia, which was created by DJ Paul, Juicy J, and Lord Infamous, and with which she collaborated on a number of studio albums before leaving in 2002. But in addition to a successful solo career that began with 1998's "Enquiring Minds" and its first single, "Where Dem Dollas At," Boo also appeared as a guest on songs by a number of other artists, including Blood Orange, Latto, Gucci Mane, Run the Jewels, OutKast, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and more. As per a report by Variety, Gangsta Boo stayed a member of Three 6 Mafia through 2001's "Choices: The Album," but she left the hip-hop group in 2002 to focus entirely on her solo career, just a few years after T6M achieved platinum success with its "Most Known Unknown" album and won the 2006 Academy Award for the best original song with "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from the movie "Hustle & Flow." Boo and her boyfriend Emmet Flores had an appearance on WEtv's "Marriage Boot Camp: The Hip Hop Edition" in 2022. She and GloRilla collaborated with Latto on the song "Fuck the Club Up" (commonly known as "FTCU") in December; the music video for the song was just made public two weeks ago. Along with releasing solo albums like "Both Worlds *69" (2001), "Enquiring Minds II: The Soap Opera" (2003), and "The Memphis Queen Is Back" (2007), as well as mixtapes like "It's Game Involved" (2013) and "Candy, Diamonds & Pills" (2016), Boo also made a name for herself by contributing her snarky raps and tense flow to other artists. Gangsta Boo contributed vocals to OutKast's "Stankonia" album from 2000 and Foxy Brown's "Chyna Doll" album from 1999 before leaving Three 6 Mafia. Gangsta Boo released feature verses after 2002 on Lil Jon's "Crunk Juice" (2004), Yelawolf's "Radioactive" album in a duet with Eminem on "Throw It Up" (2011), the Jeezy/T.I./Lil Wayne triple album "Prime Time Players" (2013), and Run the Jewels' song "Walking in the Snow" from "RTJ4" (2020). (ANI) Co-founder of rock band Modest Mouse and drummer Jeremiah Green passed away at 45, as he lost his battle against cancer. In a statement released by the band on Instagram late Saturday, read, "Today we lost our dear friend Jeremiah. He laid down to rest and simply faded out." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm28AkErYXn/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9428fbda-82c5-4444-88ad-5e448586df90 On Tuesday, the rocker's brother Adam Green told Fox News Digital, "He is doing great considering the circumstances ... He played a lot of shows with cancer, but the doctor gave him the green light to play all the way up to the last West Coast date. His goal is to be back on tour this spring in South America. He has about 4 weeks of Chemo and Radiation left." His mother, Carol Namatame, also confirmed the loss, writing on Facebook that her son "lost his courageous battle with cancer on December 31." Also to their Instagram, Modest Mouse wrote, "I'd like to say a bunch of pretty words right now, but it just isn't the time. These will come later, and from many people. Please appreciate all the love you give, get, have given, and will get. Above all, Jeremiah was about love. We love you." According to Fox News, a US-based news outlet, Green, Isaac Brock, and Eric Judy, the band's co-founders, created the Grammy-nominated band in Washington in 1992. The band is currently scheduled to play the festival Lollapalooza Argentina 2023 in March. Brock expressed optimism regarding Green's recovery in a direct post to the band's Instagram four days prior. He wrote of Green's treatment, "It seems to be going smoothly and making a positive difference. Jeremiah, as am I, are believers in the power of positive energy, so if you would be so kind as to send "good vibes"( to quote Jeremiah) in the direction of Jeremiah and his family, that'd be great." His mother echoed the sentiments, writing on Facebook, "He's [sic] so strong and so brave and hanging in there!" The severity of Green's cancer was revealed on his own social media by Seattle-based DJ Marco Collins. According to Deadline, a US-based news outlet,Green, born on March 4, 1977, in Oahu, Hawaii, co-founded Modest Mouse with bassist Eric Judy in 1992 in Washington State. Judy remained with the band until 2012. The Moon & Antarctica, the band's third studio album from 2000, which achieved gold status in the United States, marked their breakthrough. Modest Mouse's first successful album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, peaked at No. 18, went platinum, and featured the band's first hit single, "Float On," which topped Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and peaked at No. 68 on the Hot 100. Green took a year-long break from the band in 2003-2004 and did not participate in its breakout 2004 album. As per a report by Deadline, Green was back behind the drum kit for the group's follow-up set, 2007's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the alt-rock top 10 hits "Ocean Breathes Silly" and "Dashboard." Its 2015 album Strangers to Ourselves, propelled by "Lampshades on Fire," another alternative rock chart-topper, peaked at No. 3. The third No. 1 alternative single for Modest Mouse, "We Are Between," appeared on the band's most recent album, The Golden Casket from 2021. (ANI) Taking to Instagram, Kartik shared a video on her stories in which he could be seen interacting with her little fan who remembered Kartik from 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'' In the clip. the actor is also seen asking her if she liked the film, to which the girl replies in the affirmative. Kartik recently jetted off to London from Paris to ring in the New Year. The 'Luka Chuppi' actor shared a video on his Instagram page with the caption,"Paris to London." He has been frequently sharing photos and videos from his overseas trip. 2022 was a successful year for Aaryan as he gave two mega hits -- 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' and 'Freddy'. The former, a horror comedy earned over Rs 260 crores worldwide while the romantic thriller 'Freddy' aslo did exceptionally well on OTT. He will be next seen in director Rohit Dhawan's upcoming masala entertainer 'Shehzada' opposite Kriti Sanon, which is all set to hit the theatres on February 10. He also has director Kabir Khan's next untitled film, Hansal Mehta's next 'Captain India' and a romantic musical 'Satyaprem Ki Katha', which marks his second collaboration with Kiara Advani after the blockbuster hit 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'. (ANI) Being overweight increases the risk of an imbalance in sugar metabolism and even of diabetes. A research group at the University of Basel has now shown the opposite is true as well: deficits in the body's insulin production contribute to being overweight. Poor nutrition, too little movement and too many pounds on the scale -- lifestyle influences the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes. But the relationship works the other way round as well, as a research group led by Dr. Daniel Zeman-Meier of the university's Department of Biomedicine and the University Hospital of Basel reports. If insulin production is compromised, as is the case in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, this can contribute to overweight. The researchers report their findings in the journal Nature Communications. The research team focused on protease PC1/3, a key enzyme in the body that transforms various inactive hormone precursors into the final, active forms. If this enzyme isn't functioning properly in a person, the result can be severe endocrine disorders. The consequences include a feeling of uncontrollable hunger and severe overweight. "Until now, it was assumed that this dysregulation is caused by a lack of activation of satiety hormones," explains the study's leader, Dr. Zeman-Meier. "But when we turned off PC1/3 in the brains of mice, the animals' body weight did not change significantly." The researchers concluded from this that something other than a brain malfunction must be responsible. In their next step, they tested whether overweight could be caused by incorrect activation of other hormones. PC1/3 activates insulin, among other things. Insulin plays a key role in the regulation of blood sugar and fat metabolism. "Investigating the role of insulin production as a cause of overweight was obvious," says Dr. Zeman-Meier. The researchers shut off PC1/3 specifically in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas in mice. The animals consumed significantly more calories and soon became overweight and diabetic. "These results are also interesting because PC1/3 is reduced in the pancreas of patients with prediabetes," says Professor Marc Donath, the research group leader and final author of the study. This indicates that incorrect insulin activation could be not only a consequence but also a cause of being overweight. (ANI) A panel of 3 doctors on Monday conducted the post-mortem examination of the 20 year-old girl, who was killed in an horrific accident on Delhi's outskirts on late Saturday, being dragged 10 to 12 km from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala under the vehicle. The autopsy was conducted by the panel at Maulana Azad Medical College on Monday evening and the sources said that the report will come on Tuesday. Earlier, addressing a press conference here, Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Sagar Preet Hooda, said that a medical board had been constituted to conduct the post-mortem and fresh charges could be added against the five accused as per the autopsy report. --IANS ssh/vd ( 126 Words) 2023-01-02-21:58:03 (IANS) After four people were killed and six others were injured in a terror attack in Rajouri, security forces have launched an operation to neutralize two terrorists who attacked three houses in Dangri area, Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Monday. An incident of firing was reported in Dangri area of Rajouri on Sunday in which four people were killed and six injured, police reported. The firing was done by two terrorists at three houses separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other at upper Dangri village. Meanwhile, two injured were airlifted to Jammu for further treatment at Government Medical College Hospital. "As per the information, two terrorists came and targeted three houses in Upper Dangri area. Four casualties were reported. The search operation is on. Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Army troops have cordoned off the area. We will try to neutralize the two terrorists soon," said Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone. Dr Mehmood, Medical Superintendent, Associated Hospital, Rajouri said, "All the injured are being treated. Police and District administration have reached the spot, and an operation has been launched. Multiple bullet injuries were found on the body of the injured." Further details are awaited. Several organisations have called protests in Jammu on Monday against the terrorist attack in Rajouri. (ANI) JN Pankaj, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), EOW, Bhubaneswar said, "In 2022, EOW detected financial fraud of over Rs 100 crore and arrested 60 accused." He said these 60 arrests were made in 22 cases related to Income Tax fraud, cyber and job frauds, cheating and forgery in real estate, fake loan apps operated through shell companies, mule accounts and virtual/cloud-based numbers. The DIG further said, "all these cases had extensive areas of operation from the interiors of India to places outside Indian territorial boundaries like China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, and Sri Lanka." Pankaj said EOW worked with various law enforcement agencies of central and other states like Directorate Enforcement (ED), Income tax, FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Intelligence Bureau, Bureau of immigration, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Interpol, CISF, various banks, GST authorities, Mumbai Police, Delhi Police, Kolkata Police, Bangalore police, Hyderabad Police, Rajasthan Police etc. EOW was also in regular touch with Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Go-Daddy etc in connection with the investigation of some cases, said the DIG. "Not only our action saved many persons from frauds but also because of proactive, comprehensive, multi-agency action taken in Digital Loan App fraud saved many lives. It is reported that 108 people committed suicides getting trapped in cruel Loan app cases in India. Fortunately, no one committed suicide in Odisha though there were many people who were victims of this fraud," he said. (ANI) The arrests were made by the Ghatkopar unit of Anti-Narcotics Cell from Mahim and Virar areas. The officials recovered 610 gram of MD drugs worth Rs 1.22 crore in the international market. A case was registered and further investigation is underway. Earlier on December 30, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (Worli unit) of Mumbai Police arrested two drug peddlers and recovered MD drugs worth Rs 24 lakh from their possession in the Mahim area. Mumbai Police said the accused were "planning to supply the drugs likely to be used at a party for New Year". (ANI) The incident occurred at MK Chowk in Srinagar. However, the grenade missed the target and caused injury to a local boy. "There was an attempt to throw a grenade on a CRPF vehicle in a crowded area of MK Chowk, Srinagar. it missed the target and caused a minor splinter injury to one local boy. Operations were launched in the area to nab the culprit," said Srinagar Police. Further details awaited. (ANI) "All schools from classes 1 to 8 will remain closed. Along with this, Anganwadi centres will also remain closed. The school closure order will apply to all primary schools, CBSE board, ICSE board, Madarsa board, etc," said the District Magistrate. On Monday, the Lucknow District Magistrate issued an order that recognised schools in Lucknow will function between 10 am and 2 pm from Monday till January 10 for classes 1 to 8. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Sitapur District Magistrate (DM) issued an order extending holidays for students of class 1 to class 12 of all recognized schools till January 4 in view of severe cold and excessive fog. The step was taken considering the student's interests and health. The Gorakhpur DM on Sunday also directed the closure of government and other recognized schools from LKG to class 8 for two days on January 2 and January 3 in view of the cold. On Saturday, the weather department predicted dense to very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar during the next five days. (ANI) The Mumbai Police nabbed a person who allegedly threatened to blow up Mount Mary Church in Bandra area, police said on Monday. According to the police the accused was arrested from Kolkata after he sent a mail threatening to blow up the Mount Mary Church. The police traced the accused's location by tracking the IP address and arrested him. Mumbai Police further informed that the motive of the accused in sending those mail is yet to be ascertained and will be known only after the enquiry. On December 30, the Mount Mary church in Bandra received a threatening email warning of an attack by the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, informed police officials. Police registered a case u/s 505(3) of IPC against unknown persons. The police officials later in the day informed that another email was received following the first one where the sender claimed to be the mother of the child who allegedly sent the first threat email. "In it, the mother apologized saying that her child is mentally ill so he sent such a message," informed police officials. In a separate incident on the same day, the Mumbai Police control room received an anonymous call on Friday night saying that there will be explosions in Mumbai on New Year's Eve. The caller identified himself as Azhar Hussain from Uttar Pradesh and said that he has weapons and RDX. Acting on the call, a team from the Azad Maidan Police station immediately started the investigation and arrested the caller. The police later found out that the call was a hoax, and arrested the caller. The police revealed that the accused caller was identified as Narendra Kavle and he had made this call in an inebriated condition. Further investigations are underway in both cases, the police have said. (ANI) The incident occurred in the Keezvaipur area of the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The affected people have been admitted to various hospitals in the district where they are currently undergoing treatment. The Kerala Health Minister ordered an enquiry into the matter and the Food Safety Commissioner has been instructed to conduct the probe and submit a detailed report. The incident occurred on Thursday, December 29 when people attending a baptism ceremony consumed food at the event. After returning home, they started falling ill and were admitted to various hospitals. Police have already registered a case against the catering service agency which supplied food at the function. Food samples from the venue of the event were collected by the police and sent for testing. Cases have been registered under sections 268, 272 and 269 of the Indian Penal Code against the catering agency. (ANI) A child was killed and five others injured in a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that took place in Rajouri's upper Dangri village on Monday morning, the police said. Officials said that the explosion took place near the house where on Sunday four civilians were killed by terrorists in a shooting incident. "A blast has taken place near the house of the first firing incident. Five persons have been injured, and a child has succumbed to injuries. Another is critical," ADGP Mukesh Singh told the media. ADGP Singh cautioned people as another suspected IED was spotted in the area. "Senior officials of the security forces including IG CRPF are reaching the spot," he added. An incident of firing was reported in the same village on Sunday evening in which four people were killed and six injured. Two terrorists fired at three houses separated by a distance of around 50 metres from each other in the upper Dangri village. The office of LG Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to the kin of those killed in the firing incident. "An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in the dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured," the Office of LG J-K said in a statement. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on January 4 the plea of Uttar Pradesh government challenging the Allahabad High Court order directing the State poll panel to hold urban local body elections without reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for an urgent hearing. The apex court said it will hear the case on Wednesday. The Uttar Pradesh government has approached the top court challenging the December 27 order of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court where it quashed a government's order of December 5 proposing reservations for OBCs in civic elections. The High Court had ordered the State Election Commission to "immediately" notify elections to the urban local bodies without OBC quotas. The High Court had said that until the "triple test" as mandated by the Supreme Court is completed in all respects by the State government, no reservation for the Backward Class of citizens shall be provided in the urban local body polls. The High Court had asked the State government to set up a commission to conduct an empirical study on the nature and backwardness to be able to have OBC quotas in the next election to urban local bodies but stressed that it could not pause the election process till this humongous and time taking task was completed. After the order, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a statement, said his government would constitute a survey commission to ensure that the benefits of the reservation are provided to the OBCs on the basis of the "triple test". The government later constituted a five-member committee to carry out a survey to ensure adequate reservation for OBCs in the State urban local body polls by fulfilling the "triple test" formality as mandated by the Supreme Court. The High Court had directed to include reservations for women as per the constitution. The order of the High Court came on a bunch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) alleging that the entire exercise of reservation of seats in the municipalities is being carried out by the State government in "complete derogation and defiance" of the mandate of the Supreme Court. On December 5, the Urban Development Department of the Uttar Pradesh government announced reservations for the seats of the Mayor in municipal corporations and Chairpersons of Nagar Palika Parishads and Nagar Panchayats. (ANI) Locals in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged a protest over the attack in Dhangri in Rajouri district on Sunday in which four villagers died of gunshots and at least six people were injured after gunmen fired indiscriminately on three houses of Hindu residents, separated around 50 metres apart. Locals gathered at Main Chowk in the mountainside village of Dhangri, in Jammu division and raised slogans against police and district administration demanding that J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to listen to their demands. The locals have also called for Rajouri Bandh as a protest against the administration. According to the police, an incident of firing was reported on Sunday evening in which four people were killed and six injured. The firing was done by two terrorists at three houses separated at a distance of around 50 metres from each other at upper Dangri village. "LG Manoj Sinha hosh mein aao" the protesters raised slogans. "The district administration has failed. We want L-G Manoj Sinha to come and listen to our demands," Dhiraj Sharma, the Sarpanch where the firing incident occurred said. He further said that the incident took place at around 7 pm and the police reached the spot around 8.30 pm. "Had the locals not taken up the initiative, all of these 10 people would have been killed. They came to the hospital after they saw that the civilians are active. All the agencies have failed here," he added. The head of the village further pointed out the "failures of administration" here and said that the police released the dead bodies at 2 am with no security. Police and civil administration should be reshuffled, the Sarpanch demanded further seeking the army deployment here. Another local, Ranjeet Tara said that the alleged terrorists inquired before firing at the deceased persons as "Hindus are being targeted here". "They checked their Aadhar card before firing at him. These shells were found at their home, They are targeting Hindus to evacuate the area. We request the Centre and the L-G to strengthen VDC (village defence committees) further and provide people here with VDC guns, so that people can protect themselves because by the time forces reach here, the entire area could have been finished," Ranjeet Tara said. Ranjeet Tara further said that they won't vacate the side of the protest until action is taken.Police have strengthened the presence of security and forces and are continuing their search operation in the Dhangri village. (ANI) National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Monday "unequivocally" condemned a terrorist attack that killed four civilians in Dhangri village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district and expressed his condolences. "Deeply shocked as more details emerge of this targeted attack in Rajouri district of Jammu. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack & send my condolences to the families of the deceased. I hope those injured in this attack will make a swift & complete recovery. #RajouriAttack," Omar Abdullah tweeted. An incident of firing was reported in Dhangri on Sunday evening in which four locals were killed and six others were injured. According to the police, two terrorists targeted three houses barely 50 metres apart in upper Dhangri village. "As per the information, two terrorists came and targeted three houses in the Upper Dhangri area. Four casualties were reported. The search operation is on. Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Army troops have cordoned off the area. We will try to neutralize the two terrorists soon," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh said. However, Dr Mehmood, Medical Superintendent of Associated Hospital in Rajouri said that multiple bullet injuries were found on the body of the injured. Several organisations have called protests in Jammu on Monday against the terrorist attack in Rajouri. Locals in Rajouri gathered at Main Chowk in the mountainside village of Dhangri, in Jammu division and raised slogans against the police and district administration. "Had the locals not taken up the initiative, all of these 10 people would have been killed. They came to the hospital after they saw that the civilians are active. All the agencies have failed here," Dhiraj Sharma, the Sarpanch where the firing incident occurred said. The Sarpanch also said that the police released the bodies at 2 am with no security. Police and civil administration should be reshuffled, the Sarpanch demanded further seeking the army deployment here. Another local, Ranjeet Tara said that the alleged terrorists inquired before firing at the deceased persons as "Hindus are being targeted here". "They checked their Aadhar card before firing at him. These shells were found at their home, They are targeting Hindus to evacuate the area. We request the Centre and the L-G to strengthen VDC (village defence committees) further and provide people here with VDC guns, so that people can protect themselves because by the time forces reach here, the entire area could have been finished," Ranjeet Tara said. Ranjeet Tara further said that they won't vacate the side of the protest until action is taken.Police have strengthened the presence of security and forces and are continuing their search operation in the Dhangri village. (ANI) According to the Police, the victim, identified as Subashree (34), went missing on December 18 after attending an eight-day yoga programme at Isha yoga centre. The woman's husband had filed a missing person's complaint on December 19, when he could not find her at the yoga centre after the programme. Police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem examination. The body was later handed over to the family members, Alandurai Police said. Further details are awaited. After the incident came to light, members of the Tamil community and local organisations have also called for a protest against the Yoga Centre. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to visit Upper Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district where five people, including a child, were killed and many more were injured in two separate terrorist attacks since Sunday evening, sources said. Highly placed sources indicated that a team led by a senior NIA official may visit the spot any time today or tomorrow following a new modus operandi adopted by the agency to visit places where such terror incidents happen. The team will be sent from NIA's Jammu branch, which will note down details of the incidents along with the sleuths of Jammu and Kashmir police in order to keep a tab on the methods of killings of civilians in two terror attacks-- first occurred on Sunday evening and the second one that took place on Monday-- in the same village, Dhangri, of Rajouri district. In the latest terror attack, a child was killed and five others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that took place in Rajouri's Upper Dangri village on Monday morning, the police said. ADGP Mukesh Singh cautioned people as another suspected IED was spotted in the area near Upper Dhangri village, which is about eight kilometres from Rajouri town. Officials said that the explosion took place near the house where four civilians were killed and many more injured by terrorists in a shooting incident on Sunday evening. Nearly a dozen people were reportedly injured in the two terror attacks by the terrorists since Sunday evening. The injured are being treated in Jammu hospital. Two armed terrorists barged into three homes separated by a distance of around 50 metres from each other on last evening and opened indiscriminate fire. The attack led to the killing of four civilians and injuries to six others. These separate attacks are the third such incident of civilian killings in the Rajouri district in the past two weeks, after two people were killed outside an Army camp on December 16. The attack has sparked panic in the district. Several organisations have called for a strike today to protest against the incident and demand swift action. Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have launched a massive search operation to nab the two "armed men" behind the attack at Upper Dhangri village. The office of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job to the kin of those killed in the firing incident. "An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in the dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured," the Office of LG J-K said in a statement. (ANI) Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed the discharge application filed by Lt Col Prasad Purohit in the Malegaon 2008 blast case. He had filed this as an appeal against the Special National Investigation Case (NIA) court framing charges against him in the blast case. High Court division bench has observed that Lt Col Purohit was not discharging duty as an officer of the Indian army while he was attending meetings of the Abhinav Bharat Group, as alleged by the NIA. Purohit's appeal was mainly based on his argument that there was a lack of sanction under section 197(2) of the CrPC from the Indian Army to prosecute him in the blast case because the charge framing was not valid against him, his plea argued. But NIA had confronted his sanction related argument in their reply. "that Sanction was not required to prosecute Lt Col Prasad Purohit because he was not discharging his duty while he was attending those meetings," NIA said in their reply The court accepted the NIA's argument and dismissed Purohit's appeal. A bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Prakash D Naik of the Bombay High Court passed orders today. On August 1, the Supreme Court asked the Bombay High Court to decide expeditiously the plea of Lt Col Prasad Purohit, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, regarding the prior sanction for his prosecution. Purohit had said that the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him in the case, was wrong in law. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Justice Vikram Nath asked the High Court to decide the plea of Purohit pending already for quashing the sanction for his prosecution in the case. "The writ petition filed by the petitioner bearing Writ Petition is pending consideration before the High Court wherein the petitioner has sought quashing of the sanction under Section 197(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, we deem it appropriate to request the High Court to take up the said writ petition and decide the same expeditiously in accordance with the law. The writ petition is disposed of in above terms," the bench in its order stated. Purohit had moved the High Court with his plea challenging the validity of the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the case. A prior sanction for Purohit's prosecution was required since he was a serving Army officer at the time. Earlier, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court had dismissed his plea to discharge him from the case. In the 2008 Malegaon blast case, six people were killed and over 100 injured after an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque at Malegaon in north Maharashtra, about 200 kilometres from Mumbai. All the seven accused in the case are currently out on bail.BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Sameer Kulkarni, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahilkar and Sudhakar Chaturvedi are the other accused in the case. (ANI) A bench of Justices BR Gavai Justice Vikram Nath also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and sought its response. The trial court had acquitted the former Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Ansari, but the Allahabad High Court reversed the trial court order and convicted and sentenced him to seven years of jail term. Ansari approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order. On September 21, 2022, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court sentenced gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari to seven years in jail for threatening to kill a jailer and pointing a pistol at him. The High Court had set aside the order of the trial court acquitting Ansari. The case dates to 2003 when Lucknow district prison jailer SK Awasthi registered an FIR with Alambagh police alleging he was threatened for ordering the frisking of people who came to meet Ansari. Awasthi also alleged that Ansari had pointed a pistol at him and abused him. The High Court, while convicting Ansari had noted he has the reputation of a dreaded criminal and mafia don who had more than 60 cases of heinous offences registered against him. Ansari is currently lodged in Uttar Pradesh's Banda jail. He was brought to Banda jail from a Punjab jail on April 7, after an order from the top court. (ANI) MP and General Secretary (Communications) All India Congress Committee, Jairam Ramesh said that the Supreme Court's verdict on demonetisation has not specified whether the stated goals of this 'disastrous' decision were met or not. Ramesh has issued a statement in reaction to the Supreme Court's Monday verdict upholding the decision of the Central government taken in 2016 to demonetise the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. Ramesh said in his statement, "The Supreme Court has only pronounced on whether Section 26(2) of RBI Act, 1934 was correctly applied or not before announcing demonetisation on November 8 2016. Nothing more, nothing less. One Hon'ble Judge in her dissenting opinion has said that Parliament should not have been bypassed." Ramesh added, "It has said nothing about the impact of demonetisation which was a singularly disastrous decision. It damaged the growth momentum, crippled MSMEs, finished off the informal sector and destroyed lakhs and lakhs of livelihoods" A five-judge Constitution bench dismissed a batch of petitions on Monday challenging the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and said the decision, being the Executive's economic policy, cannot be reversed. Supreme Court bench said: "There was consultation between the Centre and the RBI on before demonetisation. There was a reasonable nexus to bring such a measure, and we hold that the doctrine of proportionality did not hit demonetisation." Ramesh has also pointed out, "The verdict has nothing to say on whether the stated objectives of demonetisation were met or not. None of these goals- reducing currency in circulation, moving to a cashless economy, curbing counterfeit currency, ending terrorism and unearthing black money-was achieved in significant measure." "The majority Supreme Court verdict deals with the limited issue of the PROCESS of decision making not with its OUTCOMES to say that demonetisation has been upheld by the Honourable Supreme Court is misleading and wrong," concluded Ramesh. (ANI) Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while interacting with reporters on the first day of 2023 on Sunday, apprised the people of this positive news. Sharing the data of year-wise rhino poaching incidents in the state, GP Singh, Special DGP of Assam, taking to Twitter, said: "Our efforts against Rhino poaching have yielded good results. In 2022, not a single Rhino was killed by poachers in Assam. The last such incident happened on December 28, 2021, in Hilkund, Kohora, Golaghat district. Our efforts against poaching will continue." The special DGP shared figures for rhino poaching in the state since the year 2000. The highest number of poaching, as per his shared data, was in 2013 and 2014 at 27 each. In 2015 and 2016, the number of rhinos killed by poachers was 17 and 18, respectively, which subsequently declined to two in 2020 and 2021 and zero in 2022. Poaching of Rhinos was rampant in the past, which has now come down due to stringent surveillance and other elevated security arrangements being put in by the authorities. Assam is known for its one-horned Rhino and the state attracts a large number of tourists who come to visit such sites. Kaziranga National Park is now home to 2,613 Rhinos and the numbers are increasing, as per the latest census data put out by the national park authority. To give a clear message to poachers that Rhino horns don't attach any medicinal or monetary value, the Assam government publicly burnt a stockpile of 2,479 horns in September 2022. "The use of rhinos' horns for medicinal purposes is a myth," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had then said. (ANI) In view of the air quality of Delhi continuing to remain in the 'Very Poor' category, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), decided that the ongoing actions implemented under Stage III of GRAP shall continue for the present, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed in a release on Monday. Stage III of GRAP means a ban on all construction activities except those of national importance. Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 357 today as per the 4 pm AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement that Delhi's overall AQI was showing an increasing trend due to low wind speeds and unfavourable weather/meteorological conditions. Moreover, the AQI today is in the upper end of the 'Very Poor' category. "Considering this, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), after comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario and relevant aspects has decided that the ongoing actions implemented under Stage III of GRAP shall continue for the present" the Ministry added. Ministry further said that The Sub-Committee is keeping a close watch on the situation and will review the air quality scenario accordingly on a regular basis. (ANI) Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday, slammed the Congress party after the Supreme Court's judgement upholding the 2016 decision of the Central government to demonetise the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. Rijiju said, "Congress Party's attempt to twist the issue and misinform the people is exposed. Their malicious efforts to undo the legitimate action of an elected Govt won't succeed and P Chidambaram fails again." Explaining a few highlights of the SC decision, he said, "The Supreme Court never examines the impact of a decision like demonetisation. That question could never have been raised for consideration of the Supreme Court as it is essentially for the executive." "However, the positive impact of demonetisation like increase in income tax, curbing black money which disrupted terror finance, disclosure of bogus companies and direct transfer of benefits to the needy is for all in the public domain", he added. In a series of tweets made by law minister Kiren Rijiju said, "India's cashless pivot in UPI is being celebrated by the world. Our citizens know this and showed that trust through the ballot towards PM Modi." He also attacked Congress leader P. Chidambaram and asked him not to "misinform" the citizens. "P. Chidambaram knows he's making a political argument when he states that the objectives were not met, as neither the majority judgment nor even the minority judgment has accepted the said contention. My request to Congress Party "please don't misinform our citizens", he said in a tweet. Earlier, Former Union Finance Minister and Senior Advocate P Chidambaram, has said on the SC judgement, "Once the Supreme Court has declared the law, we are obliged to accept it. However, it is necessary to point out that the majority has not upheld the wisdom of the decision; nor has the majority concluded that the stated objectives were achieved." He said that this judgement will rank among the "famous dissents" recorded in the history of the Supreme Court. "In fact, the majority has steered clear of the question of whether the objectives were achieved at all. We are happy that the minority judgement has pointed out the illegality and the irregularities in the Demonetisation. It may be only a slap on the wrist of the government, but a welcome slap on the wrist. The dissenting judgement will rank among the famous dissents recorded in the history of the Supreme Court," he said. The Supreme Court's constitution bench on Monday with a 4:1 majority dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the central government's decision of Demonetisation, saying that there was no flaw in the decision-making process. The SC in its judgement said that the Centre had the power to demonetise all series of a banknote and the demonetisation decision can't be said to be unreasonable nor was it hit by the doctrine of proportionality. (ANI) Director General of Himachal Pradesh Police Sanjay Kundu on Monday said that the police focused more on securing borders including with China in 2022 and also on curbing crimes against women last year. The DGP presented data on reducing crimes against women in the state among others. He also detailed the challenges and work done to bring down the crime rate in the state last year and said that the police have achieved success in doing so. "During the last two years, security has been strengthened in the borders. More focus has been given to the borders of the state with China. The security system of the Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has also been improved. Two persons accused of espionage were also arrested," DGP Kundu told a press conference. Notably, Himachal shares its borders with Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, China, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Punjab. "The year 2022 has been full of challenges and achievements for the Police Department and many big dimensions have also been established by the Himachal Police," he added. He said that the police got success in curbing crimes including drugs, women and children. "The state police worked to bring down crime and accidents involving drugs, women and children, in which the police got successful. Himachal Police used ITMS (Intelligent Traffic Management System) technology to reduce road accidents. The work was done on black spots and crash barriers," he said. Mentioning the Assembly elections which were held on November 12 last year, the DGP said that the police did a good job during the day of polling and the day of the counting of votes, that is, on December 8. He said that there has been an increase in the percentage of convicted prisoners arrested for crimes against women. "44.3 per cent increase in convicted prisoners in crimes against women and 41.9 per cent increase in total prisoners in NDPS cases," he said. According to the data shared by the police, the state witnessed an uptick in rioting incidents in 2022. There were 341 incidents of rioting in 2021 while this number climbed to 381 in 2022. The number of cases registered under the SC/ST Act dropped from 224 in 2021 to 195 in 2022. And the total number of criminal incidents against women which was totalled at 1,700 in 2021 reduced to 1,606 in 2022, as per the police data. Kundu, during his briefing, presented the achievements of the state police and said that the Himachal Pradesh Police has also won many awards. "Ensuring participation in sports, it has also won 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. Police Orchestra has brought laurels to Himachal across the country. In Madhya Pradesh too, the aim of the state police will be to reduce crime related to drugs, women and children," he said. According to the police, the weekly monitoring of crime data for deep data analytics led to a reduction in crime (overall, IPC crime, violent crime and crime against women). "Over 4300 sexual offenders identified so far, out of which 55 are repeat offenders," the police said. "About 14000 FIRs are registered under IPC and 5500 under Local & Special Laws in a year," the police added. (ANI) In his capacity as the Union Home minister and one of the BJP's key campaign mascots, Amit Shah rarely has a dull day. And, if his itinerary at the start of the New Year is anything to go by, the heavyweight BJP leader has a packed schedule this January as he will visit as many as 11 states as part of the ongoing Lok Sabha Pravas programme of the BJP, which is aimed at laying focus on Lok Sabha seats where the party's hold is said to be weak. The second leg of the Lok Sabha Pravas was recently launched by the party's national president JP Nadda, with visits to Odisha and Tamil Nadu. According to the January schedule of the Union Home minister, he has visits lined up across the length and breadth of the country -- from Nagaland in the Northeast, Punjab in the north to Andhra and Karnataka in the south. According to top BJP sources, the Union Home minister is also sheduled to visit to Tripura on January 5. The BJP is seeking its second term in power in the tiny northeast state, which will go to polls for the Assembky in February, this year. In the 2018 Assembly polls, the saffron party wrested power in Tripura, ending the decades-long Left rule. The party fought the polls under the leadership of Shah, who was the BJP's national president at the time. The BJP went into the battle for Tripura with the slogan 'Chalo Paltai', which translates to 'Come! Let's witness change'. Two other states that Shah will visit as part of the BJP's 'Lok Sabha Pravas' is Manipur and Nagaland, on January 6. While the BJP succeeded in forming the government in Manipur for the second time in 2022, it is also in power in neighbouring Nagaland in alliance with Chief Minister Nephiu Rio's Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. Nagaland will also poll for the Assembly in the first quarter of this year. On January 7, Shah will be touring Chattisgarh and Jharkhand where the party is in the Opposition. On January 8, the Union Home minister is scheduled to visit in the YSRCP-ruled Andhra Pradesh. He will also visit Uttar Pradesh on January 16. On January 17, the Union Home minister will be touring West Bengal where the BJP is locked a fierce tussle for power with the ruling Trinamool Congress. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party had managed to win 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and made further inroads in the state in the last Assembly polls, winning more than 70 seats. At a recent review meeting, the BJP added a few Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar to its tally of 'weak' seats. With the addition of the new seats, the tally of the BJP's 'weak' Lok Sabha constituencies has expanded to 160 from 144. On January 28, Shah will be in Karnataka's Hubli. The state, where the BJP holds the administrative reins currently, also goes into polls in the middle of this year. On January 29, the Union Home minister will visit the twin states of Punjab and Haryana. During his visits to states where the BJP has identified 'weak' LS seats, Shah will hold public meetings, discussions with party workers and also preside over a host of organisational meetings. "Of the 160 weak (LS) seats, half will be covered by our national president JP Nadda and the other half will be vsited by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh," a source in the BJP said. The idea behind the exercise is to focus on strengthening booths, increasing the presence of party leaders and taking the benefits of central schemes to the public. Several union ministers, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Smriti Irani, Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Pralhad Joshi, are part of the committee tasked with boosting the party's hold in the 'weak' Lok Sabha seats. Vinod Tawde is the convenor of the panel while CT Ravi is the co-convenor. (ANI) Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP and Party National Secretary Binoy Viswam on Monday said that Justice Nagaratna's observations on demonetisation reflect the "pulse of the nation". Reacting to the Supreme Court Constitutional bench judgement on demonetisation, Binoy Viswam said that the majority voice reflected the voice of the Modi government. Speaking to ANI, Binoy Viswam said, "The demonetisation stroke in the night was a blow to the foundations of the Indian economy and was proven to be a futile exercise." He questioned the government on the "mellow promises" made by the PM on the end of black money, the eradication of terrorism, and the shift to digital transactions and said that none were realised. "Thousands of industries and businesses were closed, crores of people were laid off, and nearly all of the notes were returned." However, the majority of the judges on the bench refused to see this truth. For the poor and affected, life is the truth," he further stated. CPI Upper House MP from Kerala further criticise the government for keeping the Parliament in the dark about ending black money, terrorism and going digital transaction. "Nothing happens! Industries and shops closed, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. SC was least concerned about these factors," he continued to criticise. Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Central government taken in 2016 to demonetise the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. A five-judge Constitution bench dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and said that the decision, being the Executive's economic policy, cannot be reversed. Supreme Court said there was consultation between the Centre and the RBI before demonetisation. "There was a reasonable nexus to bring such a measure, and we hold that demonetisation was not hit by the doctrine of proportionality," Supreme Court said. (ANI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday took stock of the developments in the unfortunate Kanjhawala incident and asked the police to ensure that the accused are treated as per law, irrespective of their socio-economic standing or political affiliations, sources said. They said Lt Governor held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and said responsibility should also be fixed for any lapse or laxity on part of the police. He told the Police Commissioner that every angle and aspect of the case be looked into and the strictest possible sections and provisions of IPC should be invoked against the accused, who are already in custody. The LG, who is keeping a tab on the situation on a 'Real Time Basis', also asked the authorities to keep him abreast of the autopsy report and its corroboration with the findings of the Police investigation. "LG instructed the Police Commissioner to strictly ensure that the accused are treated as per law, irrespective of their socio-economic standing or political affiliations. The LG also asked him to ascertain whether there was any lapse on part of the Police and directed that responsibility be fixed for any lapse or laxity on part of the Police," a source said. The LG also asked officers to ascertain if anyone in the victim's family could be provided government employment. "LG has again requested to all to not politicize this unfortunate incident and refrain from insensitive and opportunistic scavenging," the release said. The incident took place in Delhi's Kanjhawala where a 20-year-old woman was killed after her scooty was hit by a car and she was dragged for a few kilometres on Sunday. The police have arrested five accused in the case who were granted three days of police remand by Delhi's Rohini Court on Monday. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday alleged that Delhi Police is shielding Kanjhawala case accused Manoj Mittal, who is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Bhardwaj also alleged that there is a possibility of rape of the victim and said no action has been taken against the police for alleged laxity. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari accused AAP of indulging in politics and said "whoever is guilty should be punished severely" (ANI) Television actor Sheezan Khan on Monday filed the bail application in the Vasai court after which the court has given a date of January 7 for the next hearing of the case. Earlier, on Monday the family of Sheezan Khan alleged that Tunisha's depression was due to her childhood trauma and accused the deceased's mother of it. Addressing a press conference, Sheezan's sister and co-actor Falaq Naaz, accused Tunisha's mother of "neglecting" her and said that the deceased actor's depression was due to her childhood trauma. "Tunisha's mother accepted that she has been neglecting Tunisha and didn't take care of her. Tunisha's depression was due to her childhood trauma," said Falaq Naaz. Falaq Naaz also denied that Sheezan had any other girlfriend, than Tunisha and called it a false narrative being spread. "Sheezan didn't have any other girlfriend. That girl was called to record her statement. There's no secret girlfriend," said Falaq Naaz. Incidentally, Falaq had on the day of Tunisha's cremation announced that they would speak to the media and put their side of the story. Sheezan Khan is the reported former boyfriend and co-star of 21-year-old Tunisha, who was allegedly found hanging at a TV serial set on December 24, a fortnight after the two broke up their months-long relationship. He was arrested on charges of abetment to suicide on December 25. So far, the police have recorded the statements of 27 people in the matter. (ANI) A boy in Telangana's Kalwakurthy, who was allegedly taken away for forceful religious conversion at extremist training camp, was later found to have left the house of his own volition to marry a girl from a different community who he loves, the police informed on Monday. The parents of the boy, identified as Shiva Ramchari, an adult, alleged that their son had been missing for 20-30 days, adding that he had fallen in love with an adult Muslim girl. The boy's parents had further alleged that their son had been taken to an extremist training camp for being converted into Islam. However, the Nagarkurnool police refuted the claims of 'religious conversion' and 'extremist training' after tracking the boy down and bringing him back. Kalwakurthy DSP Giribabu said Shiva decided to convert to Islam by himself. "We found the boy. He fell in love with a Muslim girl and insisted on conversion. We tried to advise him against it but he said he likes Islam and will marry the girl come what may. He claimed to have run away from the torture perpetrated on him by his parents. All reports about conversion and terror training is fake," the DSP said. The police further informed that in a video recorded by them, the boy confessed to visiting Vijaywada to learn Namaz (Muslim prayer) and that no one forced him to do so. "I work in an egg shop at Kalwakurthy. I went to Vijayawada to learn Namaz and no one forced me to do so. I went there almost 10 days ago and informed my mother on call that I was in Vijayawada on some work. No one forced me to go anywhere," the boy said in the video. Earlier, the boy's father had lodged a complaint claiming that he had been missing for the last 20 days. "I am a carpenter from Kalwakurthy. My son is missing for the last 20 days. He had been working in a nearby egg shop for the last eight years. He never did anything like this before. We came to know that we went to a Muslim meeting in Vijayawada. I have lodged a complaint. Please bring my son back to me," the father told reporters earlier. Shiva's mother said he was in love with a Muslim girl. "He told me that he is in love with a Muslim girl and wouldn't be back home for a month. Some people said he went to Vijayawada. Now, everyone is saying that he converted to Islam," she said earlier. (ANI) The experts have pointed out that an uptick has been noticed in H3N2 influenza cases in Delhi and NCR region recently, which is affecting people of every age group including children. Senior consultant of Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospital, Dr S Chatterjee told ANI that most of the recent infections have been diagnosed to be Influenza. "In the last two weeks, there have been a lot of respiratory tract infections happening in the form of fever, cough, runny/blocked nose, body ache and headache. The diagnosis in most of the cases is influenza in the form of Influenza A, H3N2, H1N1 and also some other respiratory viruses," he said. He said that people with pre-conditions like diabetes and lung problems need to be more careful. "COVID-19 is very infrequent. Most of the cases are responding well to symptomatic care but people with underlying lung problems, cardiac patients, diabetics, elderly and immunocompromised people need to be careful," he added. Public Health Expert Director at Star Imaging and Path Lab, Dr Sameer Bhati said that among the recent flu cases, the majority of the cases have been found of H3N2. "We have observed an increase in Flu cases where H3N2 is found majorly after diagnosis. We do RT PCR for its confirmation where RNA is extracted from the samples and then it is amplified using RT PCR technology. The results are interpreted on the basis of specific fluorescent dye for each Influenza virus like H1N1, H3N2, H5N1 and H7N9. Generally, when H3N2 dominates the flu cases, the cases are severe for people in At-Risk Groups like older adults and younger children while people with chronic medical issues have more chances of experiencing flu complications due to weak immune systems and may also require hospitalisation," he said. Senior Consultant at Pediatric Critical Care Unit, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Dr Chandra Sekhar Singha told that children are also getting infected by H3N2. "Influenza virus infection has a range of presentations, from asymptomatic to life-threatening disease. H3N2 infection is a variant of the Influenza A virus. This season we are seeing many cases of H3N2 infection," he said. He said that these viruses infect children less than five years of age. "Along with other viruses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Rhinovirus. They usually infect children less than five years of age and even more those less than two years. Children may have a high-grade fever, cough and cold. Some children are having severe respiratory problems. This is occurring especially among children less than one year of age, and those with the underlying neurological problem and chronic respiratory problem," he said. Dr Chandra Sekhar Singha said that some children are also requiring hospital admissions. "Even some children require hospital admission for oxygen therapy. H3N2 infection may cause life-threatening viral pneumonia, requiring advanced respiratory support like mechanical ventilator," he added. Explaining the prevention, he said that visits to crowded places must be avoided, in addition to wearing masks and hand washing. "Infection by H3N2 can be prevented to some extent by avoiding visits to a crowded place, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask. High-risk children, like children with Chronic respiratory disease, Chronic renal disease, and immune deficiency should receive a flu shot on a yearly basis," he further said. (ANI) Telugu Desam Party leader Varla Ramaiah on Monday suspected the role of the "sleeper cells" of the ruling YSRCP behind the death of three persons in the stampede at Chandrababu Naidu's public meeting in Guntur. "The State Government should answer whether the three persons really died in the stampede as reported or they were done to death. I suspect the role of the sleeper cells of YSRCP"," he said. The TDP leader blamed Jagan Mohan Reddy and his government for the deaths and alleged that the Chief Minister was shaken by the "massive gatherings" in Chandrababu Naidu's public meetings. His remarks came a day after three people died in a stampede at the public meeting of Naidu in Guntur. Ramaiah sought an answer from the state government if the deaths occurred due to a stampede or they were made to occur and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. "How did the three persons die, particularly after Chandrababu left the venue? Even though 200 policemen were on security duty?" he said while speaking to the media. "The State Government should answer whether the three persons really died in the stampede as reported or they were done to death," Ramaiah added. Stating that he will blame the Chief Minister and his Government for the deaths, Varla Ramaiah said that he is unable to digest the fact that huge crowds are gathering for the meetings of Chandrababu. Varla Ramaiah suspected that the three persons were done to death only with a view to creating hurdles to Chandrababu's meetings and demanded that the Guntur District Superintendent of Police, Arif, order for an impartial inquiry to bring the facts to light as to who is responsible for the deaths. Suspecting a conspiracy behind the killing of the three persons, Varla Ramaiah demanded that cases under Sections 120 (B) and Sections 302 be registered against the persons responsible for the deaths. "In the Guntur incident, all the fingers are pointing towards the State Government. The Ministers, who generally respond very late towards any incident, reacted very fast on the Guntur incident and visited the spot immediately," he alleged. Demanding a CBI probe into the whole incident, Ramaiah said that the facts will not come to light if the State police conduct the inquiry. Earlier on Sunday, three persons died and several others were injured in a stampede at Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu's public meeting in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur on Sunday, police said. This is the second such incident occurring in the TDP chief's public meeting in a week. Eight people had died in a stampede on December 28 last year in Nellore. According to the police, three women have lost their lives and several other people are injured in the stampede. The injured ones have been moved to the hospital. "Three people died and several were injured during a public meeting held by TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu in Guntur district," Arif Hafeez, SP Guntur said. The police said that Chandrababu Naidu had planned to present gifts for the upcoming festival Pongal. The TDP leaders arranged the public meeting at 2 pm on Sunday. "Naidu left the meeting after its completion, however, public rushed to collect the gifts leading to a stampede," the police said. (ANI) "Tributes to Sri Mannathu Padmanabhan on his birth anniversary. His contribution to social reform and his service motivate several people. He was also widely respected for his efforts to further rural development and made a great contribution to India's freedom movement," PM tweeted. Mannathu Padmanabhan, a social reformer and freedom fighter lived from January 2, 1878 - February 25, 1970. On October 31, 1914, he founded the Nair Service Society (NSS). He received the Padma Bhushan award in 1966. (ANI) BJP leader and former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister, Kavinder Gupta, on Monday claimned a conspiracy against India in the wake of a firing incident and an IED blast in Rajouri district which left at least five civilians dead and 11 injured. Two suspected terrorists entered three houses in the Rajouri district on Sunday night and opened fire on the residents, killing four people and injuring six others. According to local reports, the attackers fled into the nearby forests after the incident. In another incident on Monday morning, an explosion near one of the houses at Upper Dangri Village targeted by the suspected terrorists the previous night, killed a child and left five others injured. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. "The manner in which the terrorists entered the three houses and fled into the forests after killing the residents is a matter of concern. It clearly indicates a larger conspiracy against the country," Gupta said. "The incident is aimed at creating a negative impact in the minds of civilians at the start of a new year," he added. The former Jammu & Kashmir deputy CM claimed that the same 'terrorists', who broke into the houses and sprayed bullets on unarmed civilians, could also be behind the explosion. "A blast took place near one of houses targeted in the earlier firing incident. A child, who was among the five injured persons, succumbed to his injuries. Another person is critical," ADGP Mukesh Singh told the media. He cautioned civilians as another suspected IED had been spotted in the area."Senior officials of the security forces, including IG CRPF, are reaching the spot," he added. Meanwhile, the office of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each and a government job to the kin of those killed in the firing incident. "An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a government job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in the dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure the best treatment to injured," the Office of LG J-K said in a statement. (ANI) The SI was identified as Raghavendra Kumar Singh. The incident took place on Saturday. The accused, Bittu Kumar, was wanted in connection with multiple cases and an arrest warrant was issued against him, said Raj Kumar Pandey, SHO of Digha police station. "On reaching the Jahaj Ghat area, he went to arrest the accused but was beaten up by miscreants insteas," the SHO said. He added that a search is on to nab the attackers who are absconding since the incident. The DGP of Bihar Police RS Bhatti had recently ordered the state's police force to send the state's criminals on the run. The directive followed an incident last week in which a chowkidar (watchman) was found dead in the Bihta police station area of Danapur sub-division. He was allegedly pelted with stones and killed. (ANI) Inspector General of Police of Bastar, P Sundarraj on Monday said that the situation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district is under control and a high alert has been issued in the nearby areas after a scuffle between tribals and Christians in the area. "The situation is normal now. Strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the incident. FIR is being registered. High alert issued in nearby areas," IG said. Earlier, a Superintendent of Police (SP) sustained injuries after a group of tribals attacked him when they were stopped from vandalising a church in Bangla Para locality in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Monday. The church was also vandalised in the incident. According to reports, there was a scuffle between tribals and Christians in the area for the past few days over alleged illegal conversion in the district. There was also a bloody clash between the two sides last night, after which the tribals organised a meeting to shut down the city today. The injured Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadanand Kumar said, "A meeting was called by the tribal community in which we have advised the tribal leaders to organise the meeting in a peaceful manner. In the meantime, a few members of the community became uncontrollable and went to vandalise the church. I also met with police personnel and tried to alleviate the situation." "They seemed convinced and were stepping back, but some people attacked me from behind in which I sustained injuries. The police administration, however, exercised restraint in the area and separated them from the spot. An investigation into the matter will be conducted and further action will be taken accordingly," SP Kumar added. Collector Ajit Vasant said, "A community of the district has formed a plan to stage a protest here. A few members of the community were headed to vandalise a church in the Bangla Para area. The police officials present on the spot tried to pacify the situation but the mob got out of control." "In the incident, Narayanpur SP sustained head injuries and his health is normal now. A few police personnel also sustained injuries in the incident. The administration showed restraint and efforts were made to convince and to separate them from the spot," Vasant added. (ANI) Additional Director General of Punjab Police AK Pandey, who is also security chief of the Chief Minister, said they had informed the Army also about the recovery of the bombshell and that there was "no risk". He said the misfired bombshell has been found in bushes in Rajindra Park and that the place is near shops of scrap dealers. Chandigarh's Nodal officer, Disaster Management, Sanjeev Kohli had said earlier a live bombshell has been found here. "It has been secured with help of the Police and the Bomb Disposal Squad. An Army team has been called in. The area is being cordoned off," Kohli had said. Pandey said Chandigarh Police is investigating how the shell reached the place. "The residence of the Chief Minister is about two-and-a-half to three kilometers. This is an old shell. Such misfired shells have been found in the past too," Pandey said. (ANI) Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha on Monday urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the liquor prohibition act, and rising crime and corruption of the state rather than going for another Yatra. "Nitish Kumar did 13 yatras in the past and he did the 'terahwi' (13th day mourning ceremonies after death) of Bihar. The people of Bihar know when the terahwi happens. After the terahwi, he has planned to do another Yatra. People of Bihar know it's all over. "A leader of his alliance already said that his previous 13 Yatras have had no result. If they would have been effective, another Yatra would not be required for him. Hence, don't go for a picnic in the name of a Yatra," Sinha said. Nitish Kumar is going for the Yatra in Bihar from January 5 to make people aware about the benefits of liquor ban, its social benefits and health. He will also concentrate on benefit schemes and policies of the state governments. Sinha, however, said that the Chief Minister should instead review the current situation, especially how liquor mafias are flourishing in Bihar with the help of local police. --IANS ajk/vd ( 212 Words) 2023-01-02-19:22:03 (IANS) The last rites of Karnataka seer Siddheshwara Swamiji, who passed away on Monday, will be performed with State honours, said the Karnataka government. Siddheswara Swamiji breathed his last on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 81 years old. "Siddheshwara Swamiji of Jnana Yogashram, Vijayapura passed away on Monday. State honour will be provided for the last rites of Siddeshwara Swamiji. Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Vijayapura on Tuesday, January 3," said the statement of the Karnataka government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the demise of Karnataka seer Siddheshwara Swamiji. "Paramapujya Sri Siddheshwara Swami Ji will be remembered for his outstanding service to society. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of others and was also respected for his scholarly zeal. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his countless devotees. Om Shanti," tweeted Prime Minister Modi. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed condolences over Swamiji's demise. "Very saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shri Siddheshwar Swamiji of Jnana Yogashram, Vijaypura. He strived for the salvation of mankind through his discourses. His service was excellent and unparalleled. Swamiji's passing is an irreparable loss. May his soul rest in peace. May God give strength to his devotees to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti," Bommai tweeted in Kannada. Spiritual leader Siddheshwar Swamiji of Jnana Yogashram was often referred to as the 'Walking God of North Karnataka'. Pertinent to mention, Siddheshwar Swamiji, in 2018, respectfully declined to accept the 'Padma Shri' award. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi then, the Vijayapura-born spiritualist, popularly known as Buddiji, wrote, "I am very grateful to the Government of India for awarding me the prestigious 'Padma Shri'. But will all respect to you and the government, I want to convey my unwillingness to accept the great award". His preaching was often described as hard teachings delivered in a pleasant and enjoyable manner. (ANI) Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, Sunil Saraf, has come under fire for firing in the air from his revolver during a New Year party organised at his residence in Anuppur district on Saturday night. The MLA had thrown a party for his supporters with a view to give push the campaign for the Assembly elections scheduled later this year. However, he courted trouble by brandishing a revolver. A video of the New Year celebrations went viral on social media, wherein Saraf could be seen brandishing firing in the air while dancing to a Bollywood number. The video triggered a political controversy, with the administration being asked to investigate the matter. When the song 'Main Hoon Don' was played, Saraf could be seen dancing to the popular number while flashing his gun. When questioned about his act later, the Congress MLA claimed that he was holding a 'toy gun'. On Monday, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra told mediapersons that the Anuppur district SP has been directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter and take action if the MLA is found to have broken the law. Following the Home Minister's order, a case was registered at the Kotma police station. Anuppur SP Jitendra Singh Pawar said that the matter is being probed and an FIR has been registered against the MLA. "After examining the viral video, we investigated the matter. We found that the MLA misused his licenced gun. The matter is under probe," Pawar added. Few months back, Saraf, a first-time MLA, was accused of harassing a woman co-passanger while travelling on a train from Rewa to Bhopal. Saraf was then accompanied by another Congress MLA, Siddharth Kushwaha. The woman, who was travelling in the first AC compartment of Rewanchal Express, had accused that the Congress MLAs misbehaved with her in a 'heavily drunk' state. --IANS pd/arm ( 320 Words) 2023-01-02-20:40:03 (IANS) "Hearty congratulations to Luiz IaAicio Lula da Silva on assuming office as the President of Brazil. I wish him a successful third term and look forward to working with him to strengthen India-Brazil Strategic Partnership," he tweeted. Popularly known as Lula, he took office on January 1 for a third term as Brazil's President, vowing to fight for the poor and the environment and "rebuild the country" after far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro's "divisive" administration. The 77-year-old veteran leftist, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, took the oath of office before Congress, capping a remarkable political comeback for the metalworker-turned-President less than five years after he was jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges. --IANS ans/vd ( 149 Words) 2023-01-02-20:42:03 (IANS) Nadda, on a day's visit to the state in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, visited the dargah, with his head covered, and offered a 'chadar' with folded hands, with help from the dargah's servitors and officials. A large number of BJP activists also accompanied him in the small dargah premises. The BJP chief also went to the nearby renowned Aradhya Devi's Mahakali Temple and prayed there with the temple authorities giving him a rousing reception, before departing for Aurangabad. --IANS qn/vd ( 130 Words) 2023-01-02-21:14:04 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' will end in Srinagar on January 30 with hoisting of the national flag after it resumes on January 3 after covering 9 states and a Union Territory in its first leg, party leaders said on Monday. The Bharat Jodo Yatra has covered 3,122 km so far from Gandhi Mandapam in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari to the Red Fort in Delhi. Over 108 days, it has covered 49 districts in 9 states and a Union Territory - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Congress General Secretary, in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said: "Rahul Gandhi and the Bharat Yatris have been meeting, interacting, and conveying the message of Bharat Jodo to tens of thousands of people every single day. This Yatra is truly a Yatra for listening to the people of India. The Yatra listens to people through large numbers of meetings." "There have been 87 sitting interactions of 30-40 minutes with various groups, usually of 20-30 people. These groups raise various issues of the localities and states we are walking through. There have been over 200 planned walks with smaller groups of 4-5 people, from celebrities to intellectuals to activists to ex-servicemen to local children. "To convey the message of the Yatra, there have been 95 corner meetings, where Rahul Gandhi makes a short speech about the message of the Yatra at the end of the day. In addition, 10 large public meetings have been held, to which lakhs of people have attended. There have also been 9 press conferences, one in each state, where media, especially local media, have freely asked questions," Ramesh added "The spirit of Bharat Jodo has also been celebrated with visits to several important religious and spiritual centres, interactions and performances by numerous artistes, and two Bharat Jodo concerts," he said. The Congress said through these range of mass contact efforts, the Yatra is a significant milestone in the Congress's rich tradition of representing the voice of all Indians. Resuming from Delhi on Tuesday, it will enter Uttar Pradesh on the same day, and move till there till January 5, will be in Haryana from January 6 to 10, in Punjab from January 11 to 20, and also spending a day in Himachal Pradesh on January 19. The Yatra will enter Jammu and Kashmir on the evening of January 20. "The message of Bharat Jodo is not limited only to the 12 states and 2 Union Territories through which the Yatra passes. Several state-level Yatras have already been announced, and the upcoming Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan will take the message of Bharat Jodo to the door step of every Indian," Ramesh said. --IANS miz/vd ( 467 Words) 2023-01-02-21:46:03 (IANS) A court in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Monday issued arrest warrants against four Trinamool Congress leaders in connection with a post-poll violence probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the murder of BJP worker Debabrata Das at Nandigram in the district. The warrants issued by the Haldia sub-division court include the name of Sheikh Sufian, who was the election agent of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the high- profile "battle for Nandigram" in the 2021 Assembly elections. In that high- profile battle, she ultimately got defeated by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, who is currently the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly. The other three against whom the arrest warrant has been issued include Abu Taher, Sheikh Amanulla and Sheikh Kushobi. It is learnt that CBI has recently filed a supplementary charge sheet in the case that was registered at Nandigram police station. In that charge sheet, the central agency sleuths besides the four also mentioned the names of two other persons, namely Sheikh Saiyam Kazi and Sheikh Samsuddoah. They are charged under Sections 147 and 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The CBI informed the court that though Kazi and Samsuddoah were cooperating in the course of investigation, the remaining four were in total non-cooperation mode and hence, an arrest warrant be issued against them. The CBI has already arrested 12 persons in connection with the investigation, which include the son-in-law of Sheikh Sufian as well. --IANS src/vd ( 281 Words) 2023-01-02-21:54:03 (IANS) In the first study of its kind, Rutgers determined how many more species of bees are required over the long term to maintain crop production. Scientists said in a report just published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution that the biodiversity of the bee population is essential to preserving the ecosystem function of crop pollination, which is crucial to the availability of food for humans. "We found that biodiversity plays a key role in the stability of ecosystems over time," said Natalie Lemanski, lead author on the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). "You do actually need more bee species in order to get stable pollination services over a growing season and over years." The team on the study focused on various populations of bees at dozens of farms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California and found that many more bee species were not only needed for pollination than expected over an entire flowering season but even more were needed over multiple years. The researchers said they discovered different bee species pollinated the same types of plants at different times of the year. They also found that different bee species were the dominant pollinators on the same kind of plants in different years. Because of natural fluctuations in bee populations, researchers said, all bee species present were needed to maintain a minimum threshold of pollination during lean years. "This research shows that abundance [of a species] matters, but bee diversity matters even more," said Michelle Elekonich, the deputy division director of the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Biological Sciences, which funded the study. "It's not the same bees that are abundant at a given point in time, and variety is necessary to provide balance during a growing season - and from year to year." Lemanski said the study offers substantiation to long-standing concept ecologists refer to as the "insurance hypothesis." The idea is that ecosystems probably benefit when nature "diversifies the portfolio," supporting multiple species of a category of a plant or animal, rather than relying on one dominant species. "We found that two to three times as many bee species were needed to meet a target level of crop pollination over the course of a growing season compared to a single date," Lemanski said. "Similarly, twice as many species were needed to provide pollination over the course of six years compared to a single year." The researchers based their analysis on their own extensive observations of bee visits to flowers and measurements of the number of pollen grains deposited on individual flowers over weeks and months within a given calendar year and then over multiple years. They collected the data, with permission of farmers, at 16 blueberry farms in South Jersey, at 25 watermelon farms in Central Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania and at 36 watermelon farms in the Northern Central Valley of California. "The magnitude of increase in species needed over multiple years was remarkably consistent among crop systems when considered over the same interval of time," Lemanski said. "In addition, the fact that the relationship between timescale and the number of species needed did not level off suggests that even longer time series, spanning multiple seasons, may further bolster the need for biodiversity to ensure reliable ecosystem service." (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Blinken said, "Spoke by phone this morning with incoming People's Republic of China Foreign Minister Qin Gang as he departs Washington for his new role. We discussed the US-PRC relationship and maintaining open lines of communication." On Friday, China appointed Qin Gang, who was the ambassador to the US, as the country's new foreign minister, Chinese state media said. This decision was made by the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Friday, Global Times reported. Qin, 56, will replace Wang Yi, who is now a Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, the report added. On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador had warned Washington that it could face "military conflict" with Beijing over the future status of Taiwan. "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict," Qin told US-based publication NPR in his first one-on-one interview since assuming his post in Washington, D.C., last July. Qin, who arrived in Washington last year at a time of bipartisan discontent with China, told NPR that any ideas of "changing China" were always "an illusion." (ANI) Ten security guards and four inmates were killed in Mexico's Ciudad Juarez after gunmen attacked the state prison, according to Mexican local newspaper Reforma. "So far, the investigative authority has documented the death of 14 people, including 10 prison security and custody officers and 4 people deprived of liberty," the Chihuahua Prosecutor's Office reported. The mishap occurred around the time when the family visited to meet their members, which is approximately 7 am. Gunmen arrived in vehicles at the Penitentiary Center, where they shot at the security officers. In the confusion and panic of relatives, 24 inmates escaped from the prison. "According to the first inquiries, around 7:00 am, armed with firearms and on board armoured vehicles, they arrived at the Penitentiary Center, where they shot at the security officers. Minutes before what happened, it was reported in the Avenida Manuel Gomez Morin, an armed attack against elements of the Municipal Police, in which, after a chase, four men were captured and a Ford Expedition truck was seized," Reforma quoted Prosecutor's Office as saying. "Later, on Panamericana Avenue, preventive agents repelled the armed aggression of two crew members of a Hummer-type vehicle, who were shot down," the Prosecutor's Office detailed. In Cereso there are members of the criminal organizations "Gente Nueva" and "La Linea", armed wings of the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels, respectively. The Chihuahua Police indicated that the personnel of the Northern Zone and the Undersecretary of the General Staff are in coordination with elements of the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), the National Guard (GN), the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) and the Juarez Municipal Public Security Secretariat at the prison facilities to maintain control of the situation. Moreover, the security corporations of the 3 levels of government are deployed in the streets of Ciudad Juarez, reported Reforma. "The SSPE, through the Undersecretariat for Police Deployment, sent State Police personnel from the Central-South Zone and the Western Zone to support the operations in Ciudad Juarez." (ANI) China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in an op-ed piece for US-based magazine, The National Interest, has indicated that Beijing seeks to improve ties with New Delhi. Days before replacing Wang Yi, Qin in an article titled "How China Sees the World", referred to India-China border issues and said, "both sides are willing to ease the situation and jointly protect peace along their borders." The Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake in the west of the LAC, have hosted flashpoints in recent years. In the east in Tawang, the site of the latest scuffle, there are discussions about Buddhist holy sites whose control can have implications for China's authority over Tibet and its next spiritual leader according to a report in Newsweek. Recently, India and China held the 17th Round of Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side on December 20 and agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector. "In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The MEA statement said the two sides agreed to stay in close contact, and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. Qin, meanwhile also blamed the US for challenging the status quo on Taiwan, and Japan for altering the status quo in the South China Sea. "China's development means a stronger force for peace, not a growing power poised to 'break the status quo', as some call it. The tension across the Taiwan Strait was not created by the Chinese mainland breaking the status quo, but by 'Taiwan independence' separatists and external forces continually challenging the status quo of 'one China'," Qin wrote. "In the case of the East China Sea, it was Japan who attempted to 'nationalize' Diaoyu Dao ten years ago, altering the "status quo" between China and Japan by agreeing to put aside differences. In the South China Sea, the status quo is that regional countries are consulting on a code of conduct that will lead to meaningful and effective rules for the region," he wrote. Earlier, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call with Qin, discussed the Washington-Beijing ties and keeping the lines of communication open. Taking to Twitter, Blinken said, "Spoke by phone this morning with incoming People's Republic of China Foreign Minister Qin Gang as he departs Washington for his new role. We discussed the US-PRC relationship and maintaining open lines of communication." Qin, who was China's ambassador to the United States, was appointed as the country's new foreign minister on Friday. This decision was made by the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Global Times reported. Qin, 56, replaced Wang, who is now a Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councillor, the report added. On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador had warned Washington that it could face "military conflict" with Beijing over the future status of Taiwan. "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely will involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict," Qin told US-based publication NPR in his first one-on-one interview since assuming his post in Washington, last July. Qin, who arrived in Washington last year at a time of bipartisan discontent with China, told NPR that any idea of "changing China" was always "an illusion". (ANI) Gwadar Rights Movement leader, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, issued a warning to Chinese nationals to leave the Gwadar port area, reported The Maritime Executive. Maulana issued a threat to the Chinese nationals living in Gwadar, according to reports, warning that if the government "ignores" their peaceful protests, the participants have a right "to pick up and use weapons to protect our rights." Media reports suggest that there are fewer than 500 Chinese in Gwadar, all based in the Gwadar Port compound, reported Asian Lite International. Protests on the expansion of Pakistan's Gwadar Port, a key asset for China's BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) in Asia, continue to escalate, potentially jeopardizing economic ties between China and Pakistan, reported The Maritime Executive. Last week, the events took a new twist after a protest leader warned Chinese nationals to leave Gwadar by the end of the week. Chinese citizens are facing increasing threats from different militant groups in Pakistan, with a rise in recent incidents of targeted attacks on China nationals. The growing anti-China sentiment in Gwadar may adversely impact the progress of key CPEC projects. The protests led by Rehman, affiliated with the Gwadar Rights Movement, have been going on for about two months. The protests mainly involve blocking Gwadar's port entrance and the Gwadar East Bay Expressway, a key artery connecting the port with Pakistan's main highway network, reported The Maritime Executive. Participants are demanding an immediate ban on illegal trawling in Balochistan's maritime boundaries, recovery of missing Baloch people, closure of unnecessary security checkpoints, primacy to local workers over Chinese citizens, maximum concessions in border trade with Iran, and end to narcotics, among other Gwadar-related issues. The protesters also want the government to ease curbs on informal border trading with Iran. While these demands are not directly linked to Chinese projects in Gwadar, experts argue that many locals believe the developments are part of the problem, reported The Maritime Executive. Last year, Rehman led similar protests for over 32 days. He called the action off after the government promised to address his raised demands, which the protesters now say were never resolved. Rehman and the other protestors had largely avoided threatening China openly last year. Rehman's decision to issue a warning to Chinese nationals is seen as a move to coerce the Pak Government into a negotiation, reported The Maritime Executive. Since 2021, Chinese nationals have been the target of terror attacks in Pakistan. This includes a bomb attack in July 2021, which killed at least nine Chinese workers on a bus heading to the Dasu hydropower project site. These threats have prompted Beijing to press Islamabad to guarantee security for its nationals. When Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Beijing last month, the security of the Chinese in Pakistan was among the items on the agenda. With protesters demanding urgent government attention, it may well be that the security of the Chinese is being used as leverage for negotiations. Rehman has also vowed to stop all Chinese projects in Gwadar and prevent the movement of high-profile dignitaries in the port town, reported The Maritime Executive. Pakistan enjoys a special economic relationship with China, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is regarded as the crown jewel of the BRI. It will offer China the shortest access to the markets of Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe through the deep-sea port of Gwadar. CPEC is slated to cost over USD 50 billion, including the development of highways, railways, and special economic zones. Gwadar Port is the linchpin of the initiative. Although CPEC was launched back in 2015, local resistance has significantly affected its pace. The project further slowed during the administration of the previous Prime Minister Imran Khan due to friction between his government and China, but the new administration appears keen to revive CPEC, reported The Maritime Executive. (ANI) As many as 24 Chinese military aircraft and four naval ships breached Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), reported Taiwan News. The Ministry of National Defence (MND) tracked 24 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am Saturday (December 31) and 6 am on Sunday (January 1). Taiwan used aircraft, naval ships, and land-based missile systems to monitor People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and vessels, reported Taiwan News. Of the 24 PLA aircraft, 15 were tracked in ADIZ, including 12 which crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. Four Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, four Chengdu J-10 fighter planes, and four Shenyang J-16 fighter jets crossed the median line. Meanwhile, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, one Harbin BZK-005 reconnaissance drone, and one BZK-007 reconnaissance drone were monitored in the southwest corner of Taiwan's ADIZ, reported Taiwan News. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan's air defence identification zone. Grey zone tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force." Meanwhile, amid growing tensions between China and the US over Beijing's growing aggression in the South China Sea, the Chinese Navy simulated an attack on an American Navy task group on December 21, the same day that a Chinese J-11 fighter jet intercepted a US Air Force RC-135 surveillance aircraft, in what the Pentagon termed an "unsafe manoeuvre," reported The Drive. On December 21, according to the SCS Probing Initiative, the US military sent three P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, one RC-135V surveillance aircraft, and one E-3G airborne early warning and control aircraft from Clark Air Base and Kadena Air Base to operate over the South China Sea and south of the Taiwan Strait. The RC-135V in question could very well have been the one intercepted by the J-11. Intense Chinese military activity in the South China Sea is hardly unusual, although it's interesting to note that, in this case, the exercise scenario apparently targeted US Navy vessels specifically. The Chinese leadership has taken an increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan in recent years, while officials in the United States are now more openly expressing concerns that Beijing may seek to take control of the island sooner rather than later. (ANI) Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence under the caretaker Taliban regime in a statement on Monday said that the recent speech of the Pakistani Interior Minister about the presence of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan and their possible attack inside Afghanistan, is considered as "provocation and baseless" by the Ministry. According to Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence, the allegations damage the good relations between the two neighbouring and brotherly countries. Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah recently said that Pakistan will target TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan. "When these problems arise, we first ask Afghanistan, our Islamic brother nation, to eliminate these hideouts and hand over these individuals to us, but if that doesn't happen, Islamabad will target these hideouts inside Afghanistan," the Pakistan minister had said. According to the Taliban-led Defence Ministry, Pakistan officials make such claims despite the existence of evidence indicating that the (TTP) centres are inside Pakistan. "We request that any concerns and problems should be resolved through understanding, the Taliban-led Ministry", said in a statement on its official website. Afghanistan is not without its owner, as always, we are ready to defend the territorial integrity and independence of our homeland, and it is mentionable that we have a better experience than anyone in defending and protecting our country, the statement read. Recently, the media reported that in a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Pakistani civilian government and its military establishment, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced its new appointments dividing the outfit into various ministries. "Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced its new appointments dividing the outfit into various ministries, Defence, Judiciary, Information, Political affairs, Economic Affairs, Education, a fatwa issuing authority, Intelligence and a department for construction," TTP said in a statement, as quoted by The Khorasan Diary (TKD) publication. TTP is allied with the Taliban, which seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August last year. The radical Islamic outfit has stepped up attacks in Pakistan since it announced the end of an Afghan Taliban-brokered ceasefire with the government in November last year. The year 2022 ended with the deadliest month for Pakistan's security personnel in over a decade, said an Islamabad-based think tank as it pointed to the emergence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the biggest threat to the country. In its annual report released on Saturday, the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) said Pakistan security forces lost at least 282 personnel during 2022 in attacks that included IED ambushes, suicide attacks, and raids on security posts, mostly in the Pakistan-Afghan border regions. (ANI) Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg hailed ties with New Delhi in Vienna on Monday saying he was looking forward to more investment, exchange and more people-to-people contact between the two countries. He said the two countries have a lot of potential and lot to learn from each other. "I want more....more trade, more investment, more exchange, more people-to-people contact, more Indian scholars here, more Austrian students and scholars in India, the other way around. I believe there is a lot of potential and a lot of things we can learn and gain from each other," Schallenberg said during a joint presser with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the Austrian capital. The Austrian Foreign minister announced that the two sides initialed the agreement on a Comprehensive Migration Mobility Partnership which, he said, was of great strategic importance to Austria. The Austrian minister said, "Most importantly, today we just initialed the agreement on a comprehensive migration mobility partnership. This is of strategic importance for Austria." During the joint statement, Schallenberg underlined that the intensified cooperation is a matter of utmost importance to both countries as Austria experienced the highest number of asylum-seekers last year, as high as 100, 000, including an exploding number of Indians coming illegally from Serbia. "This is a sign of very intensified cooperation in a matter which is of higher importance because last year we experienced the highest number of asylum seekers in Austria, over 100, 000 and we had exploding number of Indians coming illegally from Serbia to Austria. Reaching 2021, we had 600 asylum applications from Indian citizens in Austria and suddenly they reached 18000 last year," the Austrian Foreign minister said. He added, "The number has number decreased. We have pressured our Serbian friends to align the visa liberalization policy to EU policy which they have done thankfully. I am especially happy about this agreement. The problem is not immigration, the problem is not migration. We want that, we need that. The problem is illegal immigration and here we are having the very common view that this is something we do not want." Calling the mobility agreement exemplary, Schallenberg said immigration is needed but not the kind which is controlled by states and not by organised crimes and human traffickers. "India takes back people who come illegally. Austria has now undertaken to make mobility and migration easier," Schallenberg said, adding that thousands of Indians living in Austria "are enriching our society". "This agreement is exemplary as on one side India takes to take back people who come back illegally and on the other side, we undertake to make mobility and migration easier... to have students, to have scholars, to have skilled workers coming to Austria," the Austrian Foreign minister added. During the joint press briefing, Jaishankar praised Schallenberg for inviting him to the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's concert. Thanking Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer for receiving him, the EAM said they shared Austria's views on relations between the two countries as well as current international problems. On the agreements between India and Austria, Jaishankar said, "We have concluded a number of agreements...I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initialising of the Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronized with their availability." Jaishankar noted that India has concluded similar agreements with other nations, including France, Germany, and Portugal. He assured that India will support Austrian companies who come forward in this regard. Saying India is a strong supporter of legal migration and mobility, Jaishankar stressed that it wants a "fair, legal and equal opportunity" to showcase the contributions to Indian skills and talent. Jaishankar emphasised on the contribution of India to Austrian economy, saying, "I'm glad to note that India's presence in the Austrian economy has grown substantially this is particularly so with the digital and auto industries. There is again scope to grow more here. " Earlier, Jaishankar met Bulgarian President Rumen Georgiev Radev in Vienna and held discussions on bolstering cooperation between the two nations in the 'Make in India' space, near-shoring, and building resilient supply chains. Jaishankar tweeted, "A good meeting in Vienna with President Rumen Georgiev Radev of Bulgaria. Discussed strengthening of our cooperation in the context of Make in India, near-shoring and building resilient supply chains." EAM Jaishankar will hold a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Tuesday. Prior to his visit to Austria, Jaishankar had travelled to Cyprus, calling on former Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides during his three-day trip. In a tweet, Jaishankar said, "Good to catch up with an old friend, former Foreign Minister @Christodulides." Jaishankar also met his Cyprus counterpart Ioannis Kasoulide, with whom he signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence and Military Cooperation. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that India considers Austria a "serious and consequential partner" in terms of bilateral cooperation and noted that the European country has capabilities that are relevant to India's modernization and progress. During the joint press briefing with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Jaishankar said India is a strong votary of legal migration and mobility and wants a fair, legal and equal opportunity to demonstrate the contributions of Indian skills and talent. "We view Austria as a serious and consequential partner when it comes to bilateral cooperation. You have experiences and capabilities that are relevant to India's modernization and progress. These are guided by government policies but ultimately implemented through business transactions," Jaishankar said. "Our commitment today is to take both aspects forward in tandem and I look forward to concrete initiatives in that regard," he added. Jaishankar thanked Schallenberg for inviting him to the New Year's concert of the Vienna Philharmonic. "We currently have a trade turnover of approx USD 2.5 billion, and more than 150 Austrian companies are present in India. We would like those numbers to grow substantially. Our understanding is that this endeavour will be pursued through government-encouraged business-led meetings in the course of this year." Highlighting India's presence in Austria's economy, EAM S Jaishankar said, "I'm glad to note that India's presence in the Austrian economy has grown substantially this is particularly so with the digital and auto industries. There is again scope to grow more here, " he said. Jaishankar embarked on a two-nation visit to Cyprus and Austria on December 29. His visit to Austria will conclude on January 3. (ANI) Amid the ongoing conflict, the Russian Defence Ministry today said that 63 soldiers of Russia have been killed due to Ukraine's strike through US-manufactured HIMARS, TASS reported. Speaking to reporters, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukrainian forces hit six rockets of HIMARS at the temporary deployment point of one of the units of Russian armed forces in Makiivka region of Donetsk. "The Kyiv regime struck with six rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system at the temporary deployment point of one of the units of the Russian armed forces in the area of the settlement of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic," TASS quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying. "As a result of the destruction of four missiles with a high-explosive warhead of the temporary deployment point, 63 Russian servicemen were killed," it further said. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the air defence systems of Russia shot down two HIMARS rockets, according to TASS. In its daily report on the situation in Ukraine released on the website, the Russian Defence Ministry said that its air defence facilities shot down 15 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Shipilovka, Liman, Kremennaya, Ploshchanka, Chervonaya Dibrova, Petrovskoye, Novognatovka, Nikolayevka, Skelki, Ocheretovatoye, Rubanovka and Lopatki. Furthermore, the Russian Defence Ministry in its statement said that Moscow intercepted three rocket-propelled projectiles launched by Olkha and Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) near Krasnaya Gora, Podgornoye and Radensk. Meanwhile, Ukraine on Monday claimed that five people were injured due to Russian shelling in the city market of Beryslav, CNN reported citing the regional governor. Kherson Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych said that three people among the five injured are in critical condition. "This morning Russians attacked the center of Beryslav - they shelled the city market," CNN quoted Yaroslav Yanushevych as saying on his Telegram channel. "Presumably, the fire was conducted from a tank from the temporarily occupied Kakhovka," he added. (ANI) The US Chamber of Commerce announced a new leadership team to oversee its operations in New Delhi with Alexander Slater to serve as Managing Director of the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and Shreerupa Mitra will serve as the Deputy Managing Director. The appointments have come into effect from Monday. A US Chamber of Commerce release said that Ambika Sharma, USIBC's current Managing Director, will move to a new role as Principal Advisor to USIBC President Ambassador Atul Keshap. It said Alexander Slater, a globally recognized expert in law, economics, and business, has served as USIBC's Deputy Managing Director in New Delhi since December 2019. He has managed the day-to-day operations of its India-based team and led its financial services, tax, and real estate vertical to new heights. During his tenure, Slater helped facilitate significant gains in USIBC membership, especially in venture capital and private equity, areas central to fueling India's startup ecosystem and cross-sector growth. The release said Shreerupa Mitra has served as USIBC's Senior Advisor in New Delhi since September 2022 and is a deeply respected veteran of policy and government. "With deep expertise in Government of India and strong connections to business leaders in the energy, defense, and advisory sectors, Shreerupa Mitra will lead USIBC's activities around India's G20 presidency in 2023 and support the US Chamber's leadership in the B20," it said. "The US-India Business Council is a trusted and powerful driver of ever closer commercial and strategic cooperation between the world's two largest democracies," said Ambassador Atul Keshap, USIBC President. "We're ecstatic to have two policy innovators - Alexander Slater and Shreerupa Mitra - serve USIBC's new India leadership team. Their deep expertise and substantial global networks across the public and private sectors in the United States and India will power our organization to even greater heights and serve our over two-hundred member companies well. I'm also looking forward to continuing to receive wise counsel and strategic advice from Ambika Sharma, who has been a pillar of our organization during her distinguished tenure as Managing Director during a time of significant growth." Slater said as the next Managing Director of USIBC, he is grateful for the opportunity to continue the organization's 48-year mission of strengthening trade and investment ties between India and the United States. "During this volatile period for geopolitics and geoeconomics, I am focused on making sure we provide our members and both governments the best advice on how to capitalize on these conditions to enhance the commercial activity that underpins the bilateral relationship," he said. "Having lived in India the last three years, it holds a most special place in my heart. When I first came here 20 years ago, I never imagined that I would marry into an Indian family, and that our son would be born here. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to help our member companies expand and advance the burgeoning strategic partnership between two countries I love so much." Shreerupa Mitra said the US- India bilateral cooperation, including trade, is broad-based and multi-sectoral. "Although current geopolitical challenges will significantly impact global growth prospects, this can be a particularly fertile circumstance for India and the US to enhance trade relations and iron-out roadblocks. I feel particularly grateful to lead a team that the Government of India considers a critical stakeholder in this space," Mitra said. Ambika Sharma said she is thrilled to be assuming a new position at USIBC. Nisha Biswal, Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Ambika, Alexander, and Shreerupa have been "colleagues and friends of mine for years". "Both at USIBC and beyond, I've relied heavily on their wisdom, creativity, and hard work to tackle tough challenges. They have been tireless advocates for the U.S.-India relationship and made significant contributions to its continuing strength and vitality. With this transition, USIBC goes from strength-to-strength in support of our members." The release said the US Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Formed at the behest of the US and Indian governments in 1975, USIBC has represented top global companies operating across the United States, India, and the Indo-Pacific for the past 48 years. (ANI) Ukraine has claimed that 400 Russian soldiers were killed and 300 others injured after Ukrainian armed forces struck a Russian military base in the Makiivka region of Donetsk, The Kyiv Independent reported citing the Strategic Communications Department of Ukraine's military post on Telegram. According to the Ukraine-based news publication The Kyiv Independent, Russian soldiers were stationed in a local school building. Ukrainian General Staff has not reported on the strike in Makiivka. However, in its daily update, Ukraine's General Staff said that 760 Russian troops were killed on December 30. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukraine's strike has killed 63 soldiers of Russia through US-manufactured HIMARS, TASS reported. Speaking to reporters, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukrainian forces hit six rockets of HIMARS at the temporary deployment point of one of the units of Russian armed forces in the Makiivka region of Donetsk. It further announced that Russian air defence systems shot down two HIMARS rockets. "The Kyiv regime struck with six rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system at the temporary deployment point of one of the units of the Russian armed forces in the area of the settlement of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic," TASS quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying. "As a result of the destruction of four missiles with a high-explosive warhead of the temporary deployment point, 63 Russian servicemen were killed," it further said. The Russian Defence Ministry in its daily report on January 2 said that its air defence facilities shot down 15 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Shipilovka, Liman, Kremennaya, Ploshchanka, Chervonaya Dibrova, Petrovskoye, Novognatovka, Nikolayevka, Skelki, Ocheretovatoye, Rubanovka and Lopatki. Furthermore, the Russian Defence Ministry in its statement released on the website said that Moscow intercepted three rocket-propelled projectiles launched by Olkha and Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) near Krasnaya Gora, Podgornoye and Radensk. In the statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Russia destroyed two US-manufactured M-777 artillery systems at their firing positions near Chasiv Yar and Minkovka. It further claimed that one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled howitzer has been destroyed near Antonivka and four Ukrainian D-30 howitzers have been destroyed at their firing positions near Serebryanka. (ANI) A Ukrainian drone strike hit an energy facility in Russia's Bryansk region on Monday, causing a power outage in a nearby village, RT reported citing Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz. Aleksandr Bogomaz in a post on Telegram said that the attack occurred in the Klimovsky district on the Russia-Ukraine border. He said that no fatalities were reported due to the attack. However, the energy facility caught fire, as per the RT report. According to Bogomaz, a nearby village has been left without power due to the strike. A hospital and other key sites in the region were connected to a reserve power line, according to RT. Aleksandr Bogomaz said that the blaze has been localized and repairs will start after the fire is fully extinguished. On Monday, Moscow said that 63 Russian soldiers have been killed due to Ukraine's strike through US-manufactured HIMARS in Donetsk, TASS reported. The Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukrainian forces hit six rockets of HIMARS at the temporary deployment point of Russian armed forces in the Makiivka region of Donetsk. "The Kyiv regime struck with six rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system at the temporary deployment point of one of the units of the Russian armed forces in the area of the settlement of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic," TASS quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying. "As a result of the destruction of four missiles with a high-explosive warhead of the temporary deployment point, 63 Russian servicemen were killed," it further said. On January 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the country's determination to overcome the Russian offensive, saying that "when we win, we will hug." In his first nightly video address of 2023, Zelenskyy said, "let this year be the year of return," according to the statement released by Ukraine's President's office on its website. "We will be happy. New hits? We will be steadfast. Continuation of the fight? We will fight. And when we win, we will hug," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy further said, "Let this year be the year of return. The return of our people. Soldiers - to their families. Prisoners to their homes. Immigrants to their Ukraine. Return of our lands. And the temporarily occupied will become forever free. Return to normal life. To happy moments without curfew. To earthly joys without air alerts." (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with Foreign Ministers Alexander Schallenberg of Austria, Jan Lipavsky of the Czech Republic, and Rastislav Kacer of the Slovak Republic on Monday afternoon in the Slavkov format and said that it was very useful. The Slavkov format, also known as "Slavkov Trilateral" is a loose cooperation between the Central European countries Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. The regular exchange takes place at all political levels. Focused on regional cooperation, it is also referred to as the Austerlitz format, based on the place where it was set up in 2015. The ministers of the three countries conversed about the relations between India and the European Union, Indo-Pacific as well as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine due to Russian aggression. Taking to Twitter, the EAM wrote, "Very useful meeting in the Slavkov format with Foreign Ministers Alexander Schallenberg of Austria, Jan Lipavsky of Czech Republic and Rastislav Kacer of Slovak Republic. Conversed about India-EU relations, our neighborhoods, Indo-Pacific, and the Ukraine conflict." Jaishankar took to social media and said that he was glad to meet his counterpart from the Czech Republic on the sidelines of the Slavkov meeting today afternoon. The two sides discussed further intensification of bilateral partnership and expansion of multilateral cooperation. "Glad to meet FM Jan Lipavsky of Czech Republic on sidelines of the Slavkov meeting today afternoon. Discussed further intensification of our bilateral partnership and expanding multilateral cooperation," Jaishankar tweeted. Furthermore, Jaishankar also held a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on Monday morning which he termed as "productive". Jaishankar tweeted, "Productive meeting with FM Alexander Schallenberg today morning. Discussed deepening our bilateral relationship, especially in economy and business. Exchanged perspectives on Ukraine, West Asia, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific." EAM Jaishankar embarked on a two-nation visit to Cyprus and Austria on December 29. His ongoing visit to Austria will conclude on January 3.In the joint press briefing with Schallenberg, Jaishankar further said India considers Austria a "serious and consequential partner" when it comes to bilateral cooperation. "We view Austria as a serious and consequential partner when it comes to bilateral cooperation. You have experiences and capabilities that are relevant to India's modernisation and progress. These are guided by government policies but ultimately implemented through business transactions," Jaishankar said. "Our commitment today is to take both aspects forward in tandem and I look forward to concrete initiatives in that regard," the EAM added. On the agreements between India and Austria, Jaishankar said, "We have concluded a number of agreements. I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initializing of the Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronized with their availability." (ANI) Around 20 police personnel were killed in 2022 in Pakistan. Lahore police personnel who were killed included an ASI, three constables and one traffic assistant, The News International reported. Two police officers of Sheikhupura and Nankana police each were killed. A police inspector was killed in Bhakkar, a sub-inspector each in Narowal and Pakpattan were killed. Furthermore, an ASI rank officer was killed in Chiniot. One police personnel was killed in Mandi Bahauddin. One policeman was killed in every below-mentioned districts, Khanewal, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Jhelum, according to The News International. As per the news report, a total of 1,590 officers and personnel of the Punjab Police have been killed so far while on duty. Rs 137.50 million have been released for the families of nine police personnel killed in 2022 while the welfare cases of the remaining police personnel are in the final stages of completion. Inspector General Aamir Zulfiqar Khan paid tribute to the police personnel who were killed and called the police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty "national heroes." Khan announced that steps will be taken for the best welfare of their families. According to The News International, Aamir Zulfiqar Khan ordered the supervisory officers of the province to use all available resources for the welfare of the families of the police personnel who had been killed. Motorcyclists remained at the top spot in traffic law violations during the year 2022. At least 2,291,565 motorcyclists violated traffic rules, as per the news report. Furthermore, challan tickets were issued to around 372,148 car and jeep drivers. Moreover, more than 343,000 rickshaw drivers and 155,000 public service and commercial vehicles were given challan tickets. Meanwhile, Pakistan witnessed the highest number of terrorist attacks in 2022 during the past five years as the terror incidents rose by 28 per cent in comparison to 2021, according to The Nation. Pakistan also saw four times more suicide attacks in 2022 in comparison to 2021. Pakistan witnessed at least 15 suicide bombings while only four suicide attacks were reported in 2021. It is the highest number of suicide attacks in a year since 2018, as per the data released by the Islamabad-based security think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), according to The Nation. According to the data, there has been a 37 per cent increase in deaths while a 35 per cent rise was witnessed in the number of injured in 2022. As per The Nation report, Pakistan witnessed at least 376 terror attacks in 2022, in which 533 people were killed and 832 were injured. (ANI) Differences in the Balochistan coalition government came to the fore over the formation of a parliamentary commission for recovery of missing persons on Sunday, as the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-Mengal) and Mir Asad Baloch, parliamentary leader of BNP-Awami, opposed the provincial government's move, saying a commission was already working on the issue, headed by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, reported The Dawn. According to the Dawn report: "The Balochistan government established a five-member high-powered commission two days ago, headed by Home Minister Ziaullah Langove after approval of the Balochistan cabinet." Provincial Minister for Agriculture Asad Baloch and the Opposition's Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, who are also parliamentary leaders of BNP-Awami and BNP-Mengal, were also members of the commission. BNP-Mengal, in a statement issued on Sunday, expressed its 'astonishment' over the establishment of the commission at the provincial level. The party said the issue is already being addressed by a commission headed by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the Dawn reported, adding that the commission was established on orders of the Islamabad High Court. The commission recently visited Quetta and held meetings with all stakeholders, including families of the missing persons. The commission will submit its report to the Islamabad High Court after meeting all stakeholders across the country, the BNP-Mengal said. According to the party, the parliamentary commission at the provincial level had been deliberately established to counter the efforts of the commission working under the chairmanship of Mengal. "This is an attempt to divert the attention from the real issue of missing persons in the province as, instead of recovering the missing persons, the forced disappearances of political activists and students are still continuing," the party was quoted as saying in the Dawn report. The report further said, "Provincial Minister and Secretary General of BNP-Awami Mir Asadullah Baloch also expressed his ignorance about the formation of the provincial parliamentary commission and said that before announcing the establishment of the commission and making members, he had not been taken into confidence." "I am not satisfied with such a commission as I believe that no result of such a commission will come out on the issue of missing persons, as did other commissions which were set up in the past," Baloch was quoted as saying in the report. "It is a waste of time so I cannot become a part of this commission announced by the provincial government," the BNP-Awami leader said, according to the Dawn. Head of the provincial parliamentary commission, Ziaullah Langove, however, said the commission was established after the provincial cabinet's approval. (ANI) All forms of traffic between Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan's Punjab and Quetta were suspended on Sunday as hundreds of coal mine contractors blocked the Quetta-Loralai route in the Duki area by setting fire to tyres and erecting barricades, Dawn reported on Monday. They were protesting the administration's alleged failure to apprehend those extorting money from contractors and coal mine owners. They claimed that these individuals also opened fire on their trucks delivering coal from Duki and other Balochistan mining regions to Punjab. The protests halted traffic on both carriageways and the demonstrators claimed that despite the filing of FIRs. The accused in the case have still not been taken into custody, Dawn stated. (ANI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday said that as Sri Lanka walks into the New Year with the baggage from 2022, 2023 will be a critical year for the country to turn around its crisis-struck economy, reported Daily Mirror. According to the Daily Mirror report: "Wickremesinghe in his New Year message acknowledged that the citizens of the country are looking at the year 2023 after having undergone the bleakest of times, immense hardships, as well as the uncertainties and hopelessness of the last year." Wickremesinghe said: "I understand the great burdens that are placed on all of us and the setbacks that a majority of us have suffered due to the country's abject economic collapse." The year 2022 which kicked off with optimism and hopes of reviving from the issues stemming from the COVID pandemic turned out to be somewhat of a nightmare for the citizens of the country. The president said that 2022 started with optimism and hopes for reviving from the crisis caused by COVID. The year, however, turned out to be a nightmare for the country's citizens. Wickremesinghe said that just as economic activity was picking up in 2022, the poor policy decision taken over the years, brought the economy to its worst state in history. "The lack of foreign exchange, revenue, and also food security threatened, and continues to threaten the people and businesses of the country, which has resulted in a flight of human resources," Wickremesinghe said according to Daily Mirror. The report also quoted the Sri Lankan President saying: "While at present the exit of workers is celebrated by the government as it is expected to bring the required foreign exchange by way of remittance, the impact of the loss of talent required to build the economy will soon be felt. The tourism sector is already feeling the impact." According to Wickremesinghe, the worst is over. "I believe that we have already gone through the worst of these times. I sincerely appreciate all of you who are committed to our country first and I thank you for your patience and courage as we took the critical, initial steps to stabilise the economy," he said. The critical situation of the currency crisis in Sri Lanka has resulted in political, economic and social turmoil. Further, this currency collapse has resulted in a rise in food prices by 100 per cent in two years. Amid all this, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sought support, The Island Online reported. In Sri Lanka around 40 per cent of households depend on agriculture. And two out of ten homes have suffered income reduction from June to December 2022. And to recover from the income reduction one out of two households use negative coping mechanisms like loans to cope with the lack of food or money to buy it, according to The Island Online English-language daily in Sri Lanka. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday held talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Leyen for European Union's support. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is waiting for the first tranche of macro-finance aid in January. He tweeted, "Glad to start the year talking to @vonderleyen. Thanked for the EU support. Waiting for the 1st tranche of macro-fin aid in Jan, the 1st batch of LED-lamps, school buses, generators & modular houses. Coordinated steps on Ukraine European Union Summit. We feel support & will win together. Ursula von der Leyen assured Volodymyr Zelenskyy that European Union continues to stand with Ukraine. She stated that European Union will support Ukraine's "heroic struggle" and fight for freedom against the offensive. In a tweet, Leyen said that the EU is supporting Ukraine with generators, light bulbs, shelters and school buses. Ursula von der Leyen tweeted, "In the 1st call of the new year with President @ZelenskyyUa, I conveyed my wholehearted support and best wishes for 2023 to the Ukrainian people. The EU stands by you, for as long as it takes. We support your heroic struggle. A fight for freedom and against brutal aggression." In another tweet, Leyen stated, "We are supporting you through this winter with generators, light bulbs, shelters, school buses. And we continue our strong financial assistance. Soon we'll start disbursing our EUR18 billion support package in monthly tranches. I look forward to meeting you again in soon." The two sides agreed that the first 15 million LED lamps financed by the EC would be delivered to Ukraine in January, according to the statement released by Ukrainian President's office. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the importance of quick practical implementation and involvement of the EU member states to purchase school buses for the affected regions of Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the implementation of the project on the reconstruction of 74 destroyed Ukrainian schools. He informed Leyen of the progress of Ukraine's implementation of the seven recommendations of the European Commission, according to the statement released by the Ukrainian President's office. Earlier in December, Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union has mobilised around 800 power generators to Ukraine since the Russian offensive began. She said that the EU Commission will mobilise around EUR30 million for the purchase of up to 30 million energy-saving lightbulbs for Ukraine, according to the press release issued by European Commission. According to the press release, the European Commission has allocated EUR523 million for humanitarian aid programmes to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine since February 24. Notably, EU Commission has been offering support to Ukraine ever since Moscow began its offensive. (ANI) Pakistan's former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan admitted being a "playboy" after ex-army chief General (Retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa called him that before his ouster, The News International reported. While interacting with media persons in Lahore, Khan said, "General Bajwa called me a playboy, and in reply, I said to him 'Yes, I had been a playboy'. Bajwa was stabbing us in the back and also showing sympathy." He further claimed that Bajwa's set-up is still working with the Pakistan army. Without taking anyone's name, Khan said, "In Pakistan, the establishment is the name of one person," according to The News International. Talking about his relations with Bajwa, the former PM said that the former army chief did not want accountability in the country, hence, his relationship with him worsened. Referring to a question, Imran said Bajwa was expressing solidarity with him after stabbing him in the back. The former army chief was against the rule of law in the country, Imran claimed. Khan, who was constitutionally removed from power in April, last year, accused Bajwa of hiring the services of Husain Haqqani, former Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, for lobbying in the US. Haqqani was accused of seeking US action against Pakistan's military through the so-called memo months after the US raid in Abbottabad in 2011 on Osama Bin Laden's compound amid an increasing rift between the civilian and military leadership. He was accused of issuing visas to Americans without due process, bypassing relevant authorities, and embezzling funds, according to The News International. Asked about his thoughts on returning to the parliament, Khan said that "there is no benefit" in returning to the National Assembly, The Express Tribune reported. "What will we do by going to the National Assembly, there is no benefit," he said."The ex-PM reiterated that transparent elections will bring stability to the country. "Let there be transparent elections in the country and make a sustainable government," he maintained," reported The Express Tribune. Khan said that the establishment could play an important role in getting the country out of all crises. "Talking about the ruling coalition filing a vote of no confidence against Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, Imran claimed that "the establishment had asked our [PTI's] three members of the Punjab Assembly to remain neutral for the vote of confidence"," reported The Express Tribune. Recently, Khan criticised the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government for "pushing the nation towards terror incidents." He made the remarks during a consultative meeting attended by the party's senior leadership and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's leader Moonis Elahi. "The imposed, corrupt and incompetent rulers are pushing the nation towards [terror] incidents," The News International quoted Imran Khan as saying. Imran Khan has often criticized Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on national security. His statement regarding terrorism comes at a time when Pakistan is witnessing increased terror attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. "Leaving national security at the mercy of [Asif] Zardari's politically-immature son is criminal stupidity," The News International quoted Khan as saying. (ANI) Southern Jordan has experienced violent rain, causing floods that prompted the evacuation of its famous World Wonder, Petra. According to Middle East Eye, more than 1,7000 tourists were packed into pick-up trucks and transported out of the area. What we know: Videos emerging online earlier this week showed water rushing down the cliff sides near the Treasury, causing the narrow valleys to turn into rivers. Amman Net reported that three people were injured after the rising waters caused a van to tip over. The head of Jordans meteorological department, Raed Khattab, said Southern Jordan was hit the hardest by the precipitation. The road running along the Dead Sea also experienced landslides and rocks falling onto the road as a result. Constant flooding This is not the first time Petra has experienced severe floods. Twenty-two French tourists and their local guide were killed by floods at Petra in 1963. After the deaths, authorities in Jordan constructed a dam to prevent water from entering the area surrounding the Treasury. An alarm system was added in 2014 to sound when waters rose to dangerous levels. Safety issues Despite this, 12 people were killed in floods at the UNESCO World Heritage site in 2018, just weeks after 21 people (most of whom were children, died on a school trip to the Dead Sea region. In addition to Jordan, other areas of the Middle East have experienced flooding caused by the heavy rainfall. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and UAE were all affected by torrential downpours. Related: Floods In South Africa, The Largest In Decades, Kill 400 People And Leave Thousands Homeless Rebecca Romijn, Anson Mount, and Ethan Peck in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Paramount+ Sometimes TV series spin-offs surpass the originals that spawned them. Insider rounded up many of the best TV spin-offs that topped the shows they originated from. From "Better Call Saul" and "The Good Fight" to "The Flash," here are 10 great TV spin-offs. "Better Call Saul" Bob Odenkirk in "Better Call Saul." Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television Generally considered one of the best TV spin-offs in recent memory with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%, "Better Call Saul" centers on Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) six years before he represented Walter White (Bryan Cranston) on "Breaking Bad." Goodman at the time was simply known as Jimmy McGill, a struggling, shifty Albuquerque-based attorney and underdog whose morals and ambitions frequently clash while working with low-income clients. Jimmy works with private eye Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), a former Philadelphia cop and expert "fixer" of sticky situations that Jimmy learns to appreciate. Throughout the course of six seasons, "Better Call Saul" is meticulously plotted, visually arresting, and emotionally engrossing, eventually culminating in Saul's fateful first meeting with Walter and Jesse (Aaron Paul). "Intelligent to the core, 'Better Call Saul' was also, for all its blood and death, the most fundamentally humanistic drama of its time," wrote Time's Judy Berman. "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Kiernan Shipka and Michelle Gomez in "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina." Netflix This supernatural teen drama, spun-off from "Riverdale," followed Archie Comics' Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) as she reconciles her dual nature as an incredibly powerful half-witch who battles the evil forces that threaten her, her aunts Hilda (Lucy Davis) and Zelda (Miranda Otto), and her friends. While the critically acclaimed show tackled two crossovers during the sixth season of "Riverdale," Netflix prematurely axed "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ross Lynch, who played Harvey Kinkle, told NME. "The Flash" Grant Gustin in "The Flash." The CW Spun-off from "Arrow," "The Flash" is now The CW's longest-running Arrowverse show, with its ninth and final season expected to air in February. Story continues "The Flash" follows Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), a crime-scene investigator who gains superhuman speed after the explosion of the S.T.A.R. Labs' particle accelerator. As the Flash, Allen uses his power to fight criminals in Central City and embarks on wild adventures in the process, like creating an alternate timeline and meeting his future daughter Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy) and son Bart (Jordan Fisher). "Producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg (already delivering the green with "Arrow") have adhered pretty closely to Flash lore, while making modest adjustments that aim to cater to the uninitiated," wrote Variety's Brian Lowry. "Yet perhaps the best things this 'Flash' has going for it compared with its predecessor are the current mainstreaming of superhero fare and the liberating freedom that comes with playing on a niche network, where audience demands are considerably smaller." "The Good Fight" Christine Baranski in "The Good Fight." Paramount+ It's difficult to top a show like "The Good Wife," which consistently brought enthralling drama to your living room each week. But over the course of six seasons, "The Good Fight" managed to outsmart the original thanks to strong performances from its lead Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), a late-career feminist lawyer perpetually flirting with retirement, and attorney Liz Reddick (Audra McDonald). Coupled with the show's unwavering willingness to take risks the season four opener, for example, imagined an alternate reality where Hillary Clinton won the 2016 election "The Good Fight" remained captivating until the very end. "Good Trouble" Maia Mitchell and Cierra Ramirez in "Good Trouble." Freeform "Good Trouble" picks up where "The Fosters" left off, trailing Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) and Callie (Maia Mitchell) as they settle in Los Angeles to begin the next chapter of their lives, which started by moving into The Coterie, a communal living building downtown. As the show progresses, Mariana, Callie, and the residents at The Coterie overcome significant challenges in their professional and personal lives, and learn hard lessons, making "Good Trouble" a surprisingly compelling spin-off, even after spoiler alert Mariana exits the show during season four. "Grown-ish" Yara Shahidi in "Grown-ish." Freeform A spin-off of "Black-ish," "Grown-ish" largely follows the Johnsons' oldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) as she leaves home to attend the fictional California University of Liberal Arts (Cal U), pursues a career in fashion styling, and moves to New York to help start a fashion company. From season five on, "Grown-ish" changes gears, focusing on the Johnsons' oldest son "Junior" and his time at Cal U. "It's a potent, college-comedy-with-basic-cable-cursing chaser to its still-formidable parent series," wrote AV Club's Erik Adams. "House of the Dragon" Emma D'Arcy and Matt Smith in "House of the Dragon." HBO "House of the Dragon" may have only just wrapped its first season, but already the "Game of Thrones" spin-off has made a big impression on critics, edging out the original on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 93%. This prequel, which takes place nearly 200 years before "Game of Thrones," follows the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war (and presumably the war itself), including the Targaryen children's battle for control of the Iron Throne. Despite two major casting changes nearly halfway through the first season, the show's performances, particularly from an ill and aging King Viserys (Paddy Considine), are particularly strong, and the palace intrigue is surprisingly compelling. "Yet somehow, with 'House of the Dragon,' the new showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik (with some help from Martin) made more than reheated "Game of Thrones" leftovers," wrote Kyle Chayka of The New Yorker. "To my own surprise, I was back to appointment viewing, next-day debriefs, and scattershot plotline predictions ahead of the finale on Sunday." "Legends of Tomorrow" Franz Drameh, Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Falk Hentschel, and Arthur Darvill in "Legends of Tomorrow." The CW Spun-off from "Arrow" and "The Flash," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" gathers heroes and villains from both shows, bringing them together in London in 2166 under the guidance of time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) on a mission to prevent the destruction of Earth by immortal Vandal Savage (Casper Crump). Sporting flashy action sequences, several recognizable comic superheroes in rotation, and some punchy dialogue, "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" aired for seven seasons before wrapping in 2022. "This is the kind of unapologetic fantasy escapism that used to scare TV executives," wrote Rolling Stone's Noel Murray in 2016. "Now it's rapidly becoming the norm which means that if this show succeeds, our tomorrows could get a lot more legendary." "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" Anson Mount in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Paramount+ A spin-off of "Star Trek: Discovery," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise as they explore new worlds throughout the galaxy during the decade before "Star Trek: The Original Series." Although it's only one season in, "Strange New Worlds" has made a positive impression on critics, earning a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, who praised the cast's strong performances and memorable, episodic narratives, with some episodes like "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach" offering surprising depth and moral dilemmas that sometimes lacked tidy resolutions. "True to its roots, 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' is the story of a complex universe bound by the hope that mensches can make a positive impact or die trying, and that humanity's most shining moments come at times of crisis," wrote The Wrap's Thelma Adams. "The stunning ensemble space-drama remains true to the original while reaching for the stars." "Young Sheldon" Iain Armitage in "Young Sheldon." Robert Voets/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. In this prequel to "The Big Bang Theory," 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) wrestles with having a brilliant mind capable of calculating advanced mathematics and science in East Texas, an area where church and football are king. While the vulnerable, gifted, and naive Sheldon deals with the world, his father George (Lance Barber), a high-school-football coach, and protective mother (Zoe Perry) struggle to understand him. "'Young Sheldon' hasn't fully delivered on the promise of its pilot just yet," wrote Indiewire's Ben Travers in 2017. "But in subsequent episodes, it's achieved a stronger balance between comedy and drama and surpassed its predecessor in the most unexpected of ways." Read the original article on Insider Photo: The Canadian Press UPDATE: 6:50 a.m. Russias defense ministry said Monday that 63 Russian soldiers have been killed by a Ukrainian strike on a facility in the eastern Donetsk region where military personnel was stationed. Ukrainian forces fired six rockets from a HIMARS launch system and two of them were shot down, a Russian defense ministry statement. The strike, using a U.S.-supplied precision weapon that has proven critical in enabling Ukrainian forces to hit key targets, delivered a new setback for Russia which in recent months has reeled from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military has not directly confirmed the strike, but tacitly acknowledged it. The Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraines Armed Forces claimed Sunday that some 400 mobilized Russian soldiers were killed in a vocational school building in Makiivka and about 300 more were wounded. That claim could not be independently verified. The Russian statement said the strike occurred in the area of Makiivka and didnt mention the vocational school. Meanwhile, Russia deployed multiple exploding drones in another nighttime attack on Ukraine, officials said Monday, as the Kremlin signaled no letup in its strategy of using bombardments to target the countrys energy infrastructure and wear down Ukrainian resistance to its invasion. The barrage was the latest in a series of relentless year-end attacks, including one that killed three civilians on New Year's Eve. ORIGINAL: 5:57 a.m. Russia deployed multiple exploding drones in another nighttime attack on Ukraine, officials said Monday, as the Kremlin signalled no letup in its strategy of using bombardments to target civilian infrastructure and wear down Ukrainian resistance to its invasion. The barrage was the latest in a series of relentless year-end attacks, including one that killed three civilians on New Year's Eve. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Monday that 40 drones headed for Kyiv overnight. All of them were destroyed, according to air defense forces. Klitschko said 22 drones were destroyed over Kyiv, three in the outlying Kyiv region and 15 over neighboring provinces. Energy infrastructure facilities were damaged as the result of the attack and an explosion occurred in one city district, the mayor said. It wasnt immediately clear whether that was caused by drones or other munitions. A wounded 19-year-old man was hospitalized, Klitschko added, and emergency power outages were underway in the capital. In the outlying Kyiv region a critical infrastructure object and residential buildings were hit, Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba said. Russia has carried out airstrikes on Ukrainian power and water supplies almost weekly since October. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of energy terrorism as the aerial bombardments have left many people without heat amid freezing temperatures. Ukrainian officials say Moscow is weaponizing winter in its effort to demoralize the Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine is using sophisticated Western-supplied weapons to help shoot down Russias missiles and drones, as well as send artillery fire into Russian-held areas of the country. Moscow's full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 has gone awry, putting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin as his ground forces struggle to hold ground and advance. He said in his New Year's address to the nation that 2022 was a year of difficult, necessary decisions. Putin insists he had no choice, but to send troops into Ukraine because it threatened Russias security an assertion condemned by the West, which says Moscow bears full responsibility for the invasion. Russia is currently observing public holidays through Jan. 8. Drones, missiles and artillery shells launched by Russian forces also struck areas across Ukraine. Five people were wounded in the Monday morning shelling of a Ukraine-controlled area of the southern Kherson region, its Ukrainian Gov. Yaroslav Yanushevich said on Telegram. The Russian forces attacked the city of Beryslav, the official said, firing at a local market, likely from a tank. Three of the wounded are in serious condition and are being evacuated to Kherson, Yanushevich said. Seven drones were shot down over the southern Mykolaiv region, according to Gov. Vitali Kim, and three more were shot down in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a missile was also destroyed, according to Reznichenko. He said that energy infrastructure in the region was being targeted. Ukraine's Air Force Command reported Monday that 39 Iranian-made exploding Shahed drones were shot down overnight, as well as two Russian-made Orlan drones and a X-59 missile. We are staying strong, the Ukrainian defense ministry tweeted. A blistering New Years Eve assault killed at least four civilians across the country, Ukrainian authorities reported, and wounded dozens. The fourth victim, a 46-year-old resident of Kyiv, died in a hospital on Monday morning, Klitschko said. Multiple blasts rocked the capital and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday and through the night. The strikes came 36 hours after widespread missile attacks Russia launched Thursday to damage energy infrastructure facilities, and the unusually quick follow-up alarmed Ukrainian officials. In Russia, a Ukrainian drone hit an energy facility in the Bryansk region that borders with Ukraine, Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz reported on Monday morning. A village was left without power as a result, he said. On Jan. 13, Florida Blue will be hosting a breakfast honoring Martin Luther King Jr. This event will be at the Prime Osborn Convention on 1000 Water Street. For more information people can visit the website https://specialevents.coj.net/Special-Events/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Breakfast.aspx. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: National survey shows nearly half of teens experiencing harassment and bullying online Read: Jacksonville businesses reaping benefits of Jaguars playoff push [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SmartAsset: How to avoid depreciation tax on rental property It can pay to be a responsible rental property owner. For instance, if youre always investing in your rental property and making improvements, not only will your tenants appreciate it and remain tenants longer, you can get a depreciation deduction on your taxes. Unfortunately, upon selling the property, depreciation sometimes becomes a migraine for landlords in the form of a depreciation recapture tax. You have options, however, to avoid depreciation recapture tax. Heres how. If you need help with taxes, a financial advisor can help you create a tax strategy. What Is a Depreciation Recapture Tax? The depreciation recapture tax is the difference between a rental propertys sale value and its depreciated value. This is extra income that will be taxed on your next tax return, after selling the property. In other words, the Internal Revenue Service is recapturing what they see as lost taxable income. This is a tax that the IRS collects, assuming that one has sold the property for a profit. And also assuming that it has received a depreciation deduction over the years. How to Avoid Depreciation Tax on Rental Property If its important to you to avoid the depreciation recapture tax, there are several strategies you may want to adopt. Take advantage of IRS Section 121 exclusion. This allows you to exclude up to $250,000 of the profits from the sale of your primary residence if youre single and up to $500,000 if youre married and filing jointly. If you live in your property for two out of the five years before you sell the property (and those years need not be consecutive), the property would be considered your primary residence. And all of those years of depreciation deductions would be forgotten. Conduct a 1031 exchange. This is a strategy that allows you to defer paying capital gains tax on the sale of an investment property provided you use the revenue earned to purchase another similar property. There are a lot of onerous rules to follow to profit from this strategy, but it may be worth investigating and discussing with a financial advisor. Pass on the property to your heirs. When your children or grandchildren someday sell the property, they will not inherit a deferred depreciation recapture tax or a capital gains tax. They may create their own tax issues, of course, if they rent out the property themselves. Sell the property at a loss. That may not be appealing, but it is a way to avoid the depreciation tax on a rental property. Story continues Why Land Isnt Considered a Depreciable Asset SmartAsset: How to avoid depreciation tax on rental property The IRSs policy is that a depreciation recapture tax affects doesnt affect your land but only the property, like a house or building. Those often will go down in value unless it is maintained and improved. In other words, the IRS treats rental property like any other business asset. That can include items like a delivery van or a desktop computer. For a residential building, the IRS allows a property owner to depreciate it over 27.5 years. To calculate how much you can deduct each year, you divide your propertys cost basis by the useful life of the asset to get the annual amount of depreciation. (Incidentally, that 27.5 is the federal governments number; if youre working out the depreciation recapture tax for your states taxes, you may be working with another number.) Example of Depreciation Recapture Tax Lets say that you purchased a house for $300,000, and then you had tenants living there for a decade. After that, you decide to sell the property. Divided by 27.5, a rental property owner could take a depreciation deduction of $10,909 a year. (Thats $300,000 divided by 27.5.) And then 10 years later, if they sell their property for $500,000, they may have taken $109,090 in depreciation deductions. In this case, the IRS would tax the remaining $390,910 ($500,000 minus $109,909) at a short-term or long-term capital gains rate. And that rate is anywhere from 0% to 37%. (The percentage the rental owner receives depends on factors such as the property owners income and tax bracket and how long theyve owned the property.) The total depreciation deductions ($109,090) will be taxed at a recapture rate that can go as high as 25%. Sometimes the deprecation recapture tax can cause a tax bill to be much higher than a property owner expected. And thats when some people look for an escape hatch that can reduce their tax bill. Fortunately, there are some options. The Bottom Line SmartAsset: How to avoid depreciation tax on rental property For some property owners, the deprecation recapture tax will likely not cause a lot of headaches. But it may be for others, especially those in high tax brackets with valuable assets and a lot of depreciation deductions. However, before you make any rash decisions about selling your property or leaving it to your beneficiaries, it would be a good idea to discuss your next move with either a financial advisor a licensed tax professional, or both. Tips for Calculating Your Taxes Whether you need help with retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning or investment portfolio organization, a vetted financial advisor can help. SmartAssets 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 youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. If you dont know whether youre better off with the standard deduction versus itemized, you might want to read up on it and do some math. You might find that youd save a significant amount of money one way or another. So its best to educate yourself before the tax return deadline. Photo credit: iStock.com/Feverpitched, iStock.com/RapidEye, iStock.com/William_Potter The post How to Avoid Depreciation Tax on Rental Property appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. OPINION: Of course, Ghana and South Africa are on our list of places for African-Americans to visit when returning to the Motherland. But four other countries may also be worth a trip. Malcolm did it. Stokely, aka Kwame Ture, did it. Even Du Bois did it, at the improbable age of 91. They all made it to the African homeland. As have thousands of African-Americans who over the years made two countries their most frequent destinations, Ghana and South Africa. We want to tell you about the adventures that await you both in Ghana and South Africa, as well as a whole bunch of other African gems that are off the beaten path for diaspora Africans. But first, on the allure of the continent for anyone with a bit of adventurous wanderlust. If you need to know where you came from to know where youre going or where you have been then Africa is a must-visit destination. For centuries, the continents story was told by outsiders, usually Westerners, who imposed their own often distorted and poisonous worldview on the reality of Africa. They called a land where the sun doesnt stop shining the Dark Continent! Far from reality. Maya Angelou, in her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, wrote about her experiences in Africa and the sense of connection and belonging that she felt while there. She described Africa as a place where she felt among my own kind, among people who understood my heritage and my culture, and she spoke about the pride and empowerment that she felt as an African-American visiting the continent. For the first time, I felt that I was among my own kind, among people who understood my heritage and my culture, she wrote. I felt at home in Africa, and I knew that this was a place where I belonged. In case you doubt you need Africa to give you a sense of grounding, ask Dave Chapelle. In 2005, Chappelle abruptly left his Comedy Central show to travel to South Africa. He said he felt that the demands of producing the series were taking a toll on his mental health and that he was not being treated fairly by the network. He also reportedly felt that he had lost control over the direction of the show and that it was no longer true to his vision. Story continues Chappelle spent a few weeks in South Africa, where he took time to reflect on his career and his life. He eventually returned to the United States and resumed his career to even greater fame and fortune. It is difficult to say exactly how many African-Americans visit the African continent each year, as there are no comprehensive statistics on this topic. However, it is likely that the number of African-Americans visiting Africa has increased in recent years due to a number of factors, including increased economic development on the continent, the growth of the African diaspora, and the proliferation of affordable air travel. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of African-Americans traveling to Africa for ancestry-based travel, or roots tourism, which involves visiting the countries or regions of Africa from which their ancestors were taken as slaves. This trend has been fueled in part by the availability of DNA testing and genealogy services, which have made it easier for people to learn more about their ancestry and to connect with their cultural roots. Ghana A group of African-American tourists hold hands as they enter the ocean in a remembrance ceremony after visiting the Door of No Return at the Cape Coast Castle on Aug. 18, 2019. (Photo by Natalija Gormalova/AFP via Getty Images) Ghana is the most popular destination for those seeking a homecoming. And the West African nation has been proactive in attracting African-Americans to its shore, in 2000 passing the Return of Abode law, which granted the right of return to people claiming ancestral descent from the continent. Ghana was the final home of W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois moved to Ghana in 1961 at the invitation of the countrys first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who offered him citizenship and a position as a faculty member at the University of Ghana. Du Bois accepted the offer and spent the last years of his life in Ghana, where he continued to write and work on civil rights issues. He died at the age of 95 while in Ghana and was buried in the capital, Accra. South Africa A view from the Apartheid Museum, which takes its visitors on a journey through the countrys recent history of racism, in Johannesburg, South Africa on Aug.12, 2022. (Photo by Murat Ozgur Guvendik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) South Africa looms large in our imagination because of its storied history of triumph over apartheid with the leadership of Nelson Mandela. But the country also happens to be so beautiful that it is impossible to exaggerate. It is also highly developed, and Western visitors feel more easily at home because of its developed infrastructure and highly advanced tourism industry. South Africa has a first-class health care system, an affordable cost of living for Westerners and English is widely spoken, making it a place where it is easy to land and navigate. It does present major challenges because of its distinction as the most unequal place on earth. But its a country with a vast potential that people of African descent from around the world call home. Tanzania One word: Zanzibar. Or two: Kilimanjaro. Or three: the Masai Mara. So it goes with Tanzania, which is endowed with numerous natural beauties but still remains off the beaten path for many international visitors. Kenya A Maasai woman arrives with collected firewood at a village nearby Selenkay Conservancy, a community-owned conservation area run by a private company, in Amboseli, Kenya, on June 22, 2022. The camps 10 luxurious tents see tourists flocking again, after the shutdown linked to COVID-19. (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images) Kenya is a tech pacesetter in Africa as its young population creates innovations from fintech to ridesharing. That is before we even get into its Indian Ocean beaches, vast lands of wild animals and tea plantations. Senegal Senegal is the cool cousin of Africa. The laid back, Francophone country is an epicenter of Christianity and Islam. The capital, Dakar, maintains its reputation as the home of an Afro-French nightlife infused with Latin-inflected African tunes from bands such as Africando. Ethiopia When Ethiopia gets its act together anytime now, it will be an African powerhouse ready to take off in a way that befits its long and incredible history of independence, unique traditions and the second-largest population on the continent. Ethiopia is hard to crack, but once you do it with the help of local friends, you have a treasure trove of the past, the present and the future representing an intoxicating brew that is uniquely Habesha, as the Ethiopians call themselves. Samson Mulugeta has reported from 45 of Africas 54 countries and has lived and worked in South Africa for two decades. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post 6 countries to visit on a return to Africa appeared first on TheGrio. Kevin McCarthy. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images Kevin McCarthy's race to become House Speaker looks set to go down to the wire. Several hardline GOP lawmakers are making further demands before McCarthy can secure their votes. Some want just a single lawmaker to be able to call for a vote to oust the Speaker. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy faces further hurdles from a group of nine hardline GOP figures who are withholding their support for his bid to become Speaker of the House, according to multiple reports. McCarthy spoke to the group in a conference call on Sunday, Politico and CNN reported. The House GOP then announced several concessions in a provisional rules package, per CNN. However, the nine lawmakers said in a letter that "there continue to be missing commitments with respect to virtually every component of our entreaties, and no means to measure whether promises are kept or broken." The letter was signed by Reps. Scott Perry, Paul Gosar, Dan Bishop, Chip Roy, Andy Harris, Andrew Clyde; and Reps.-elect Andy Ogles, Anna Paulina Luna, and Eli Crane. Politico reporter Olivia Beaver tweeted the full text of the letter: With the vote looming on Tuesday, it's unclear whether McCarthy has the support he needs which has emboldened some lawmakers to seek considerable influence over the rules package that governs the position. Among the issues being thrashed out is the procedure for ousting a House Speaker, something that some conservative hardliners want to make far easier. Currently, the threshold to force a floor vote on vacating the Speaker's chair is a party majority. On Sunday's call, McCarthy agreed to set the threshold to five lawmakers, CNN reported. But some GOP hardliners want that figure to be as low as one person, CNN reported. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who has long opposed McCarthy for Speaker, indicated he might waiver if McCarthy made a credible offer of a one-person threshold, CNN reported. Story continues After a poorer-than-expected showing in the 2022 midterm elections, the Republican Party holds a thin majority in the House (222-213), giving each Republican lawmaker considerable influence. Other concessions from McCarthy included a promise to make sure committees "closely reflect the ideological makeup of our conference," The Hill reported him as saying in a letter to GOP colleagues. McCarthy has also promised to set up a House Judiciary Select Subcommittee in order to scrutinize the "Weaponization of the Federal Government," The Hill reported, citing the GOP package. The demand comes amid stated Republican concerns over the politicization of federal agencies and is expected to hone in on the Biden administration, The Hill reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Air defence forces have destroyed nine Iranian-made Shahed UAVs and one high-precision guided missile over Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Source: Air Command Skhid (East) on Facebook Quote: "The air and anti-aircraft missile forces have destroyed six Shahed attack UAVs and one Kh-59MK2 high-precision guided missile that was going towards the city of Dnipro over Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Another three Shahed drones were shot down by air defence units of the Ground Forces together with Air Command Skhid (East)." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A ground crew worker at a regional Alabama airport was killed on Saturday by being sucked into the engine of a parked plane. The person, whose name has not been released, was ingested into the engine of an aircraft at Montgomery Regional Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board told Insider. The airplane, an Embraer 170, was parked at the gate with its engine running after arriving from Dallas. The flight had been operated by Envoy Air, which is a subsidiary of American Airlines. The person who died was an employee of Piedmont Airlines, a regional airline also owned by American Airlines. A file photo of engineers inspecting the engine cowling of a prototype Embraer 170. An Embraer 170 was the type of aircraft involved in the fatal accident in Montgomery, Alabama. A file photo of engineers inspecting the engine cowling of a prototype Embraer 170. An Embraer 170 was the type of aircraft involved in the fatal accident in Montgomery, Alabama. We are devastated by the accident, American Airlines said in a statement to Fox Chattanooga, adding, Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. Montgomery Regional Airport said in its own statement that it was saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Related... Mike Wolfe and Danielle Colby from "American Pickers." The History Channels long-running television series American Pickers will return to North Carolina for the first time since early 2021, with plans to film throughout the state in February, according to a news release from its production company. Since 2010, the documentary-style series follows professional pickers as they hunt for "Americas most valuable antiques ... and the interesting stories behind them" at sizeable, private collections across the country. Along the way, the pickers meet interesting people with exceptional items, give historically significant objects a new lease on life and learn about American history. While filming, they also spotlight the colorful histories of the towns they visit. Mike Wolfe from "American Pickers." Do you have a collection of antiques, vintage items, American memorabilia, and rare and hard-to-find treasures? Then the show wants to hear from you. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, contact americanpickers@cineflix.com, @GotAPick on Facebook or call 646-493-2184 with your name, phone number, location, description of the collection and photos to be considered. The show does not film at stores, flea markets, malls, auctions, museums, or anywhere else open to the public, the release notes. The last time "American Pickers" visited North Carolina was in 2021, when picker Mike Wolfe bought an Abraham Lincoln statue from a 57-year-old womans late husbands collection. In 2016, Wolfe and former co-star Frank Fritz picked collections in Harnett County and Rutherford County. The show has also visited Salisbury, Waynesville, Hamptonville and Concord in previous seasons. American Pickers returns for season 24 at 9 p.m. Jan. 4, with new episodes every Wednesday and available on streaming services the following day. Viewers can also catch previous episodes on The History Channel at history.com/shows/american-pickers. Reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: American Pickers TV show seeks NC collections for February filming Two people were arrested after a 17-year-old was killed in a shooting on Milwaukees north side late Sunday. The two arrested a 16-year-old boy and 22-year-old man were also injured in the same shooting, which was reported at 11:20 p.m. on the 3200 block of West Villard Avenue. The victim has not yet been publicly identified. Police said the 16-year-old was taken to a hospital from the scene, while the 22-year-old initially fled but later summoned help on the 2600 block of West Hampton Avenue, less than a mile to the southeast. He was then hospitalized, police said. Charges are pending with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. More:Milwaukee mourns after another unprecedented year of violence The fatal shooting is the third in three days in Milwaukee, closing out a December that saw a slight increase in homicides after they had been steadily decreasing from 2022s peak month of July through November. As of Dec. 28, Milwaukee police reported 27 children died by homicide in 2022. Its the third consecutive year more than 20 children died in such a manner, after no more than 10 died by homicide annually from 2016 to 2019, according to the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission. Children have also made up a higher percentage share of victims, according to the commission. Prior to 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, children annually accounted for 7% to 8% of victims from 2016 to 2019, compared to 11% and 14% each year since 2020. Its horrific, its terrible, Tracey Dent, a community activist who focuses on youth and high-risk behavior, said in a Dec. 27 interview. Losing our children, our babies, I get a knot in my stomach when I hear it. Dent said one factor in youth violence is the neglect many children in Milwaukee feel. He said many youth face hardships at home and are then more likely to engage in dangerous behavior. Theres nobody really out there to guide them and do certain things, he said. They mimic everybody else. Story continues The neighborhood where Sundays shooting occurred has been a priority for Milwaukees modestly-sized team of violence interrupters, called 414Life, which is contracted through the Medical College of Wisconsin. Through Nov. 11 of last year, the college reported that homicides were down 40% and nonfatal shootings 16% from the year before in the neighborhood. Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two arrested after teen dies in north side Milwaukee shooting Photo: The Canadian Press Police say they are investigating after a 30-year-old woman was shot Sunday in the Town of Mount Royal, an affluent suburb on Montreal Island. Montreal police say the woman was transported to hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive. Police say in the woman was in her car with two other people when they were shot at from another vehicle. They say one person fled the scene before police arrived, while the other was not injured. Montreal police said in early December that there had been 43 attempted murders using firearms on Montreal Island in 2022, down from 50 the year before. Police say there were 41 homicides on Montreal Island in 2022, the highest number in 15 years. LINCOLN, R.I. A 22-year-old Ashland man was killed early Saturday morning after a crash on Route 146, according to WCVB-TV, citing Rhode Island State Police. The victim was identified as William Molloy. He was a front-seat passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by Christopher Vincent, 25, of Watertown, according to the WCVB report. Police responded at about 2:34 a.m. Saturday to reports of a motor-vehicle crash on Route 146 North, near Route 116. According to the WCVB report, the car was traveling north on Route 146 and lost control, striking a highway barrier head-on as it entered the highway, police said. Vincent and a rear-seat passenger were each taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries, according to the report. Vincent is being charged with driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, death resulting; driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, serious bodily injury; driving to endanger, death resulting; and driving to endanger resulting in personal injury. The crash remains under investigation. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ashland man, 22, killed in single-car crash in Rhode Island Getty Images The novel coronavirus could help us cure cancer. Well, certain cancers. The COVID pandemic gave the pharmaceutical industry the push it needed to finally finish developing messenger-RNA technology so that companies such as Moderna and Pfizer could use the tech for its COVID vaccines. Now the pharmaceutical industry is using the same mRNA platforms for cancer vaccines. Dozens of these new vaccines are in developmentand experts say theres a chance theyll drive the biggest decrease in cancer mortality in decades. Its worth noting a key difference between mRNA shots for COVID versus mRNA shots for cancer. MRNA vaccines prevent COVID. They wont prevent cancer. Instead, theyll treat cancer after youve caught it. In that sense, vaccineeven though its the accepted termis something of a misnomer when it comes to mRNA applications for cancer. Therapy might be a better term. In any event, mRNA vaccines for cancer have been in the works for a couple of years now, but the first tangible sign of real progress came just last week. On Dec. 13, Massachusetts-based Moderna and partner Merckthe New Jersey pharma giantannounced the initial results of the first ever randomized human trial for an mRNA cancer vaccine. The two companies enrolled 157 people with late-stage melanoma for the trial. Volunteers received either the antibody therapy Keytruda, or Keytruda combined with a new vaccine called mRNA-4157. Adding mRNA-4157 reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 44 percent, the companies reported. The key to mRNA-4157, and any other mRNA cancer vaccine, is that it can be tailored for an individual patient. As its name implies, messenger RNA is just a medium that communicates a message. The message is a scrap of genetic materialRNAthat tells a persons immune system to produce a particular, disease-fighting protein. What the World Should Really Expect From COVID in 2023 Developers can encode mRNA to produce a wide array of proteins. For, say, preventing COVIDor reducing different cancerous tumors. The flexibility is extraordinarily attractive, Elias Sayour, a University of Florida neurosurgeon whose RNA Engineering Laboratory is working on cancer vaccines, told The Daily Beast. Story continues But the flexibility that makes an mRNA vaccine so attractive is also a problem. How do you know exactly what RNA to add to a particular patients vaccine? Not all cancers are the same, Sayour explained. To overcome this, prediction algorithms are used to identify unique information in an individual's cancer that will be recognized by their immune system. MRNA was in development for nearly 50 years before COVID finally compelled governments to pump money into the effort, helping the industry finally finish the first mRNA vaccines two years ago. The basic platform for an mRNA cancer jab is actually pretty old. Its the algorithms that are new. The manufacturing process starts with the identification of genetic mutations in a patients tumor cells that could give rise to neoantigens, the U.S. National Cancer Institute explained. Neoantigens are proteins that form on cancer cells. Computer algorithms then predict which neoantigens are most likely to bind to receptors on T-cells and stimulate an immune response, the institute added. In theory, an mRNA-maker could produce a personalized cancer vaccine in as little as four weeks, Sayour said. In practice, we need a lot more mutation-detecting algorithms and a lot more testing before mRNA vaccines are ready for routine use on cancers. Sayour stressed that mRNA will probably work better for some cancers than for others. Not all cancers are immunogenic, meaning they trigger an immune response. Without an immune response, we might not know which protein to encode in an mRNA jab. MRNA vaccines are likely to work in cancers like melanoma that are considered immunogenic, Sayour explained. Temper your expectations for other cancers. There are other possible limitations on mRNA as a cure for cancer. Henry Wang, a chemical engineering professor who studies vaccine production at the University of Michigan, told The Daily Beast hes worried about production. You cant churn out mRNA cancer shots the same way you churn out mRNA shots for COVID. How do you scale and manage production of a drug that requires such careful and detailed individualization? It creates an entirely different set of [quality-control] and manufacturing issues, Wang said. Theres also the issue of cost. Because theyre essentially boutique products, each vaccine would be designed for one or a few people and manufactured in small quantities. That means mRNA cancer jabs may end up being really expensive. Its possible mRNA will work great against some or many cancers, but be too pricey for most people. Someone has to address the issue of cost versus benefit, Wang said. Sayour, for one, said hes optimistic. Even taking into account the problems of customization and production, mRNA seems to be our best near-term pharmaceutical tool for reducing cancer deaths. It seems to have the best balance of commercialization and personalization. If pharmaceutical developers can write a host of algorithms, complete large-scale trials, figure out the production processes and thread the cost-benefit needle, cancer vaccines might be viableand save a lot of lives. Even if they cant, and mRNA jabs for cancer fall flat, the basic tech could still have a bright future. Moderna is already working on mRNA jabs for around two dozen diseases, including herpes and Zika. German firm BioNTech SE is even working up mRNA for multiple sclerosis. MRNA got its start preventing COVID. Treating cancer might be next. Its a safe bet that neither disease will be the last to square off with this particular tech. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. If you want to know who really controls Auto Trader Group plc (LON:AUTO), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 88% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Auto Trader Group, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Auto Trader Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Auto Trader Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Auto Trader Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Auto Trader Group's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Auto Trader Group. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc. with 11% of shares outstanding. With 7.4% and 7.2% of the shares outstanding respectively, Baillie Gifford & Co. and Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 13 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Auto Trader Group The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that Auto Trader Group plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It's a big company, so even a small proportional interest can create alignment between the board and shareholders. In this case insiders own UK45m worth of shares. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 10% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Auto Trader Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in Bega Cheese Limited (ASX:BGA). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. View our latest analysis for Bega Cheese The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Bega Cheese The insider John Forrest made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$35m worth of shares at a price of AU$4.84 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$3.88). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Bega Cheese insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Bega Cheese is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Bega Cheese Insiders Bought Stock Recently We saw some Bega Cheese insider buying shares in the last three months. Insiders shelled out AU$65k for shares in that time. It's good to see the insider buying, as well as the lack of recent sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Bega Cheese Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Bega Cheese insiders own 14% of the company, worth about AU$162m. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Bega Cheese Tell Us? It is good to see recent purchasing. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Bega Cheese insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. That's what I like to see! So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 3 warning signs for Bega Cheese that deserve your attention before buying any shares. Of course Bega Cheese may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Reuters) - Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new COVID variants as part of new steps against the spread of the coronavirus as infections in China surge, the government announced on Monday. "This will be an additional monitoring objective to verify that the data we receive from China is accurate," Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano national public health institute told Reuters. He said Belgium was aware that some COVID-infected passengers might not use the toilet during their flights, and therefore the new measure was "not meant to track people but to track independently what is happening in China." Belgium is also asking travellers from China to test themselves for COVID-19 if they show symptoms seven days after arriving, but will not enforce this measure. At a press conference announcing the new measures, Belgian Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said that a European Union-wide policy was needed towards China's COVID surge. EU health officials will hold talks on Wednesday on a coordinated response. Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China, including mandatory testing for COVID, as infections there spread following Beijing's relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Mark Heinrich) (Adds dropped word in paragraph five.) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden will join Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a Wednesday event in Kentucky aimed at highlighting the effects of the $1 trillion 2021 infrastructure bill, a White House official said Sunday. The pair, along with Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, are to appear at a ceremony highlighting the $1.64 billion in funding awarded to for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project connecting the two states across the Ohio River. Funding for the crossing includes a new bridge and rehabilitation of the heavily congested 60-year-old one. The new bridge is intended to rehabilitate a heavily congested 60-year-old span and add a second crossing. McConnell, of Kentucky, was among the Republicans who voted for the infrastructure law, which was passed in November 2021, while many House Republicans including Representative Kevin McCarthy opposed it. McConnell said last week in a statement that "building a new companion bridge on the Brent Spence Bridge corridor will be one of the bill's crowning accomplishments." The event is set to take place the day after McCarthy's Republicans take the majority in the House, breaking Democrats' control of Congress and ushering in a period of divided government. Kentucky and Ohio had sought funding for the project for years. "This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn't stall on this nationally significant corridor," DeWine said. Then President Barack Obama visited the crossing in 2011 and urged Congress to pass a jobs bill costing billions of dollars that he said could include rebuilding the bridge, which by then had already been declared functionally obsolete. During his 2016 run for the White House, Donald Trump backed funding for the project, but he failed during his four years in office to secure money for it or to pass the big infrastructure bill he repeatedly promised. Story continues The 2021 infrastructure law includes $27 billion over five years to fix and replace thousands of aging U.S. bridges. Other administration officials including Vice President Kamala Harris will also tout infrastructure awards in other events this week. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Bradley Perrett) BILD journalist Bjorn Stritzel, who covers the Russian war in Ukraine, received a shrapnel wound while on duty. Source: BILD editor-in-chief Johannes Boyer and injured Stritzel on Twitter Quote: "BILD correspondent Bjorn Stritzel has been injured by shrapnel while covering Russian aggression in Ukraine. Hes safe (as safe as possible) and the injury is not too bad. However, this is a reminder of all the hardship reporters are going through to tell the truth." Details: Stritzel himself reported that he got cut on the forehead by a glass splinter while having dinner. He presumes that the target was most likely a train station located around the corner; the journalist also said that there were a couple of other explosions. Was sitting behind the window here. My best guess is it was some part of missile coming down close by. pic.twitter.com/5pJZD4mNMK Bjorn Stritzel (@bjoernstritzel) January 2, 2023 Stritzel Quote: "I am fine, just a cut on the forehead most likely by glass splinter. Was having dinner when the blast happened (not quite sure about the ordnance, havent found any debris yet). My best guess is it was some part of a missile coming down close by. The target was most likely a train station located around the corner, though I havent seen any big impact site yet, as one would expect for missiles with a bigger warhead. The location is out of range of RF artillery and Uragan also, so it is also possible that it was an UAV." The journalist did not report his whereabouts in Ukraine, but he published photos and videos from Bakhmut and Svatove at the end of December. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! soldiers Soldiers partied their way through lockdown on ecstasy because they were bored being stuck in their barracks, The Telegraph can reveal. Figures obtained from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show the number of Army personnel caught taking MDMA nearly tripled from 2019 to 2020, rising from 80 cases to 230. However, in 2021 this had plummeted to just 20 cases. While cocaine and cannabis use fell during 2020, the latest statistics reveal their use has now overtaken pre-lockdown levels. More than 1,000 service personnel were expelled in total from the Armed Forces between the beginning of 2020 and the end of 2021 for failing compulsory drug tests. Ahmed Al-Nahhas, a partner and the head of military claims at Bolt Burdon Kemp, a law firm, attributed the spike in ecstasy to the isolating experience of soldiers being confined to their quarters. He told The Telegraph: It may say something about what their habits were during, so for example it may have something with the need for mood-enhancement during Covid years, wanting to be happy so to speak. It doesnt surprise me that their cannabis use has been increasing, probably for the same reason they are doing lots of them in lockdown. It is shocking that there are such high numbers. Drugs have been increasingly prevalent in the Army. They are twiddling their thumbs, arent they? You have got these individuals who are trained to be physical and to exert themselves. They cant go to the gym. They cant socialise. They can go out for a run and that is pretty much it. But it becomes a very isolated experience even if you are training and staying fit on your own. A Freedom of Information Request submitted by The Telegraph found that just shy of 5,000 service personnel across the Armed Forces have been discharged for taking cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, ketamine, mephedrone and steroids since 2014. All MoD staff can be expected to be drug tested randomly, at the very minimum, once a year. Story continues However, if a Commanding Officer suspects there is a problem within a particular unit, they can request as many rounds of additional testing to stamp out the problem. The number of soldiers caught taking cannabis fell from 180 in 2019 to just 80 the following year. However, by 2021 it had soared to 250. Similarly, cocaine use, the worst offending drug, halved from 570 in 2019 to 280 in 2020. But by the end of the following year, it also overtook pre-lockdown levels with 610 failed tests recorded. A former general in the British Army told The Telegraph that the military is no longer offering the same level of excitement to soldiers it once did which may be pushing soldiers to recreational drug use. He said: The Army is largely UK-based now. It doesnt have 10,000 soldiers deployed in southern Afghanistan. Its much less operationally busy now than it was. Thats a boredom factor. It doesnt offer the appeal to young soldiers with a sense of adventure that it did do a few years ago. And then, of course, you add Covid on top of that. Young men who join the Army, they dont necessarily want to be cooped up in camp. Theres only so much training you can do before people get bored They need to go on deployments, we need to go on operations, otherwise soldiers get bored and cause mischief, quite frankly. An MoD spokesman said: Armed Forces personnel caught dealing or taking drugs can expect to be discharged. Drug testing is mandatory in the Armed Forces and each of the services has a comprehensive education programme on the dangers and consequences of substance misuse. A missing boy has been found dead in a Washington river after he vanished months ago, authorities said. Lucian Munguias skeletal remains were discovered in Yakima River on Thursday, Dec. 29, according to a Dec. 31 news release from the Yakima Police Department. Our hearts are forever broken and we will never be the same, a loved one wrote on a Facebook group dedicated to finding Lucian. Lucian was last seen at Sarg Hubbard Park in Yakima on Sept. 10, police said. At the time of his disappearance, police said they determined 4-year-old Lucian left the playground alone and walkedin the directions of multiple bodies of water, including a fast-moving river, a pond and a lake, McClatchy News previously reported. Despite search efforts, Lucian was not found. After his remains were recovered, police and the coroners office were able to determine the remains found in the river belonged to Lucian using dental records, police said. Investigators are still conducting DNA testing. Based on the results of the autopsy, there is no indication of criminal acts that led to Lucians death, police said. Days before Lucians remains were found, his mother, Sandra Munguia, took to Facebook to share her sorrow. I wish you were here with us spreading joy like you would every day of our lives, Sandra Munguia wrote. Christmas isnt so merry without you. Yakima is about 140 miles southeast of Seattle. 4-year-old missing for days wandered off from playground alone, Washington police say 4-year-old found dead in pond hours after vanishing from front yard, Iowa cops say Toddler crawls out of bed and escapes home. He was found dead 12 hours later, cops say Photo: The Canadian Press Scuffles broke out on Monday outside a village in western Germany that is to be razed to allow the expansion of a coal mine, a plan that is drawing resistance from climate activists. Activists threw fireworks, bottles and stones at police outside the village of Luetzerath before the situation calmed down and officers pulled back, German news agency dpa reported. Protesters previously had set up a burning barricade, and one glued his hand to the access road. The hamlet is to be demolished to expand the Garzweiler lignite mine, despite protests from environmentalists who fear millions more tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere. Activists have been living in houses abandoned by former residents. The Heinsberg county administration has issued an order barring people from Luetzerath and, if they fail to leave, authorizing police to clear the village from Jan. 10 onward. Officials have called for a non-violent end to the activists occupation. In October, the federal and regional governments both of which include the environmentalist Green party and energy company RWE agreed to bring forward the exit from coal use in the region by eight years to 2030. But, amid concerns about Germany's energy security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the agreement also foresees the life of two power plant units that were supposed to be switched off earlier being extended until at least 2024 and Luetzerath being razed to enable further mining. Multiple insiders secured a larger position in Accent Group Limited (ASX:AX1) shares over the last 12 months. This is reassuring as this suggests that insiders have increased optimism about the company's prospects. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Check out our latest analysis for Accent Group Accent Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Director Brett Blundy bought AU$5.6m worth of shares at a price of AU$1.28 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (AU$1.68), we still think insider buying is a positive. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. Accent Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Does Accent Group Boast High Insider Ownership? I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Accent Group insiders own about AU$350m worth of shares (which is 38% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About Accent Group Insiders? The fact that there have been no Accent Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Accent Group insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Accent Group. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with Accent Group and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Genting Berhad (KLSE:GENTING) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Genting Berhad The Calculation We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM3.95b RM3.00b RM2.51b RM2.25b RM2.11b RM2.04b RM2.02b RM2.02b RM2.04b RM2.08b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -16.38% Est @ -10.40% Est @ -6.21% Est @ -3.28% Est @ -1.23% Est @ 0.20% Est @ 1.21% Est @ 1.91% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 18% RM3.4k RM2.2k RM1.5k RM1.2k RM931 RM764 RM641 RM545 RM468 RM405 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM12b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 18%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM2.1b (1 + 3.6%) (18% 3.6%) = RM15b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM15b ( 1 + 18%)10= RM2.9b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM15b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM4.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Genting Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 18%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Genting Berhad Strength Net debt to equity ratio below 40%. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Good value based on P/S ratio compared to estimated Fair P/S ratio. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Paying a dividend but company is unprofitable. Moving On: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Genting Berhad, we've compiled three further items you should consider: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for Genting Berhad we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does GENTING's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Heavy rain caused landslides and flooding in California this week, including along State Route 299. Micah Crockett/Caltrans District 2 via AP California is recovering from an atmospheric river with another expected this week. The term was coined in 1994 and increasingly appears in news stories and research. An atmospheric river is a long, narrow region of moisture that transports heavy amounts of water. An atmospheric river caused flooding and mudslides in California this week, with another expected in the next few days, spiking West Coast interest in a weather term that's relatively new, but increasingly part of conversations, news stories and academic research. Early research studies on the weather phenomenon include a 1994 paper by MIT researchers Yong Zhu and Reginald E. Newell about "atmospheric rivers and bombs." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes atmospheric rivers as "relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere like rivers in the sky that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics." Atmospheric rivers can carry the water vapor equivalent of the water flow at the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the federal agency. The vapor is released as snow or rain when the rivers make landfall. They start near the equator when the sun heats water, which evaporates and rises into the atmosphere, according to the US Geological Survey, which also notes they are expected to intensify in California because of climate change. Since the term first appeared in 1994, it's increasingly been used in academic research and news reports. In 2019, researchers at UC San Diego announced a new scale that measures the strength of atmospheric rivers. Similar systems exist for tornadoes and hurricanes. In 2021, the LA Times published an explainer on atmospheric rivers, a term which now regularly appears in headlines. Google Trends shows a spike in searches for the term in California since December 18, when heavy storms started to threaten the state. Those storms arrived over the holidays, causing flooding, power outages, some fatalities, and flight delays. There are still 44,000 customers without power in California. Story continues AccuWeather meteorologists expect another atmospheric river to hit the state in the middle or later this week. But the repeat deluges aren't expected to solve the state's ongoing problems with drought. "The moisture that we're getting now is a big help, but we need more a lot more to really put a major dent in the drought," Richard Heim, a meteorologist with the National Centers for Environmental Information and one of the authors of the U.S. Drought Monitor, told the LA Times. Read the original article on Insider Almost any way you look at it, the current request by Californias largest utility company for $1.36 billion over the next three years in subsides for its wildfire prevention program can only be described as yet another attempt to rip off its 16 million customers. It will be up to the five-member California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to decide whether the company gets away with this latest attempt at highway robbery. Plus, its a virtual certainty that if PG&E gets the money it now seeks, the states other big privately-owned electric companies Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric will shortly beg for a similar handout. These companies, are never bashful about asking for handouts. This was evident when Edison tried to get consumers to foot almost the entire bill of about $5 billion for shutting down its disabled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, destroyed in 2012 by a company blunder. Also when the utilities in 2020 gladly accepted a $13 billion state-mandated subsidy from their customers to pay for damages from future wildfires they might cause. And now, as PG&E gladly takes more than $2.5 billion from consumers and federal taxpayer subsidies to keep its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open five years beyond the previous retirement date. What makes the newest PG&E request for a big consumer subsidy (an average of about $7.50 per month per customer for the next three years) especially outrageous is that the big utilities collected maintenance money from their customers every month between 1955 and 2005, a total of about $65 billion over 50 years. Most of that money was never used for maintenance. Rather, it went to executive bonuses, salary increases and other goodies until the PUC finally stopped the practice. But none of the states three large private electric companies was ever fined for misuse of this money, nor were any executives punished, or any funds repaid. Meanwhile, vegetation near power lines grew nearly unchecked for decades, trees began encroaching on those same lines and both gas pipes and power lines deteriorated, mostly without being replaced or repaired. Bingo: major fires and a huge explosion resulted. Story continues That was one reason PG&E was convicted of criminal negligence after its massive 30-inch-wide gas pipeline beneath the suburb of San Bruno exploded, causing multiple deaths and extensive damage. Negligence was also likely one reason for the unprecedented, almost four-month natural gas leak from Southern California Gas Co.s Aliso Canyon storage facility just above the Porter Ranch subdivision in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles in 2015 and 2016. Not to mention the 2018 incineration of Paradise and dozens of its people. No executive has ever been criminally punished for misuse of the maintenance money, despite these consequences and many more. Even now, utility company maintenance is demonstrably inadequate. For example, an independent safety monitor overseeing recent PG&E anti-wildfire work found the company during one recent three-month period missed issues like damaged poles in about 30 percent of all inspections. For sure, this type of history and performance demonstrates that utility companies, their executives and shareholders not customers who have no voice in corporate policy should pay for current maintenance work and repairs. Yet, the PUC, long a utility company lapdog, appears likely to give the consumer subsidy at least temporary approval this winter, with refunds possible if a more thorough consideration set to follow should cause the charge to be disapproved. Thats a procedure playing into PG&Es hands. For once it has money in hand, its very rare for customers to get it back. Far better would be for the commission instead to have PG&E use some of the maintenance money it collected over those previous decades. And if some statute of limitations on punishment for earlier misuse of funds has expired (the PUCs code requires only prompt hearings on suspected wrongdoing), then the PUC ought at least to force PG&E to advance whatever money is needed for the anti-wildfire work while it considers whether to reduce or fully disapprove the subsidy PG&E now seeks. But this would require the commission to give consumers equal treatment with the big corporations it supervises. And that would be almost unprecedented. Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Will PUC allow another consumer rip-off? Over the past year, many Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, shareholders should take a deeper look if several insiders are selling stock over a specific time period. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. Check out our latest analysis for Citigroup The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Citigroup The insider, Sara Wechter, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$1.0m worth of shares at a price of US$68.56 each. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. The good news is that this large sale was at well above current price of US$45.23. So it is hard to draw any strong conclusion from it. In the last year Citigroup insiders didn't buy any company stock. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! I will like Citigroup better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Insider Ownership For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 0.1% of Citigroup shares, worth about US$92m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Citigroup Insiders? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. We don't take much encouragement from the transactions by Citigroup insiders. But it's good to see that insiders own shares in the company. Therefore, you should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Citigroup. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Channel 2 Action News learned more about a mechanic who was killed while test-driving a customers car in Decatur. Daniel Gordon, 24, was shot and killed on the job at Tires Plus Saturday afternoon after police say a customer mistook him for someone who was trying to steal his car. On Monday afternoon, the shooter, 30-year-old Quandarious McDowell, was denied bond. Police said McDowell dropped his car off for brake work around 1:30 p.m. Sunday and then shot Gordon when he returned to pick up the car. Hes been charged with malice murder. Channel 2s Dave Huddleston talked to co-workers Monday, who said they didnt understand how McDowell could make a mistake like that. I dont understand, John Claude Edwards said. He saw him in uniform. Hes got his bag with the work order in it and everything to test-drive the vehicle. Why would you think anything different? It was a test drive. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Sunday, friends left flowers at the spot where Gordon died and coworkers who showed up sat down in tears trying to make sense of this. We shouldnt have to go through this. Its just a test drive for him to get killed, a young brother, Edwards said. I mean just ambitious, you know just really ambitious. He wanted to be the greatest tech there is always smiling always just happy we joke all the time in the back room. TRENDING STORIES: McDowell didnt say anything during his court appearance Monday. He will remain behind bars until the case is moved to superior court. Meanwhile ,the store had a message on the front door saying that they were temporarily closed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A rescue team dog, like this one, found the skier over two hours after the avalanche occurred. AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images A father and son went skiing in Breckenridge, CO Saturday and got caught in an avalanche. The father was able to free himself and called 911, but his son was found dead two hours later. Deadly avalanches are becoming more common as a result of climate change. A father was unable to help rescue his son after the two were swept up in an avalanche while skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. The two had been backcountry skiing at some 11,600 feet, when, at 1 p.m., packed snow cascaded down the side of the mountain, partially burying the father and fully burying the son, according to a Colorado Avalanche Information Center report released Sunday. The father was able to free himself and searched for his son to no avail. He moved to find cell service and called 911, but his son was found dead by a rescue dog at 3 p.m. after authorities arrived, the report stated. The site of the avalanche. Colorado Avalanche Information Center The two skiers' names were not publically released, but the Denver Post identified them as father and son. The son was one of two to die this season in an avalanche, according to the information center. Deadly avalanche accidents in Colorado are bound to become more common in the changing climate, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Ethan Greene told CBS in November, because there is greater fluctuation in temperature throughout the ski season, so there are more "rain-on-snow" events even during the coldest months of the year, making avalanches more likely. While avalanches used to be common for a specific and narrow period of time each year, they are now happening throughout the season, according to CBS' report. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: The Canadian Press A man accused of attacking police with a machete near New Yorks Times Square on New Years Eve, injuring two officers, was arrested Monday on attempted murder charges, police said Monday. Trevor Bickford, 19, also faces attempted assault charges, the New York Police Department said in a release. Bickford was hospitalized after police shot him in the shoulder during the confrontation and was awaiting arraignment. It wasnt immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could speak to the allegations. A law enforcement official has told The Associated Press that investigators were looking into whether he was inspired by radical Islamic extremism. The violence happened about two hours before midnight Saturday, just outside the high-security zone where revelers are screened for weapons before gaining entry to one of the worlds biggest and most famous New Years celebrations. Two of the officers were struck with the machete before the suspect was shot, authorities said. The two officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull and the other with a bad cut, and were expected to recover. So was the suspect. People look at literature for sale at the Boulder Public Library. Jeremy Papasso/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images A Boulder, Colorado library closed after testing revealed meth contamination in the bathrooms. After a spike in reports of people smoking in the bathrooms, several employees got sick. The contaminated areas require professional clean-up and the bathrooms may never reopen, the city said. A public library in Boulder, Colorado closed after testing revealed methamphetamine contamination in bathrooms and seating areas. The library first closed on December 20, 2022. In a Wednesday update, the City of Boulder said that further testing had identified "nearly all" the contamination was on the surfaces and in the air ducts of public-facing bathrooms. Meth was also found in some high-traffic seating areas, according to the statement. The city said these areas would require professional clean-up, and the furniture in the seating areas may be replaced with something that can be cleaned regularly. "It is not yet clear if, and when, public restrooms will be brought back," the update said. The library building could reopen on Tuesday at the earliest. "This is truly a sad situation and represents the impact of a widespread epidemic in our country," David Farnan, the city's library director, said in a statement. Crystal Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth). REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo The city first ordered testing after a spike in reports of people smoking in the library's public restrooms, and two incidents where employees reported symptoms consistent with exposure to meth. Medical staff evaluated and cleared those employees, Farnan said. Symptoms of meth exposure include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, and respiratory irritation. "Meth contamination is not primarily transmitted through air. The issue is the residue on surfaces that individuals can come into direct contact with, through touch, and then transmit on their skin and clothing to other surfaces," the update said. According to the city, risk of serious health effects from one-off exposures is low. "Nonetheless, the results in the impacted areas are troubling," the update said. The city said it was awaiting a full report and results from the contractor it hired for environmental testing. With that information, the city said it would confer with its health department to plan clean-up and reopening, and release the results within a week. Read the original article on Business Insider California Rep. Jackie Speier said the dysfunction and glacial pace of Congress could be frustrating. But she'll miss the place when she retires. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) When Jackie Speier was a lawmaker in Sacramento, before mass shootings became a sad and sick part of everyday life, she helped push through the first state ban on military-style assault weapons. During a scorching debate, an opponent challenged Speier, wondering whether shed ever fired one of the weapons targeted for extinction. Her response was swift and sharp: No. But have you ever been shot by an assault weapon? In 1978, as a congressional aide, Speier was part of a delegation that traveled to South America to investigate the Jonestown cult and its murderous leader, Jim Jones. The delegation and some would-be defectors were ambushed at a nearby landing strip as they attempted to leave Guyana. Five people died in the spray of automatic gunfire, including California's Rep. Leo Ryan. Speier was strafed at point-blank range. Bullets pierced her arm, back and leg, leaving her permanently disfigured. I look at my body every day, Speier said, and recognize that its not the way it should be. In some ways, her career has come full circle. After serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, in the Assembly and in the state Senate, Speier for the last 14 years has represented much of Ryans old congressional district in the suburbs south of San Francisco. She leaves office reluctantly on Tuesday. When I first ran for Congress I was 58, the 72-year-old Speier said in a recent conversation via Zoom. And I said, 'You know, I just want to do this til Im 70.' Sort of just threw out that number. I had no idea that the work would be so challenging and so rewarding. So when 70 rolled around," she continued, "I said, You know, Im now chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee. I mean, Im on the cusp of maybe transforming the way the military looks at sexual assault and harassment." Her husband gave her a pass, she said, referring good-naturedly to the push-pull of marriage a one-time deal, it turned out. I assumed I would get another dispensation to seek reelection in 2022, Speier said with a smile and rueful laugh. I didnt get it. Story continues She did, however, help bring about the historic change she sought, a reform of the military she calls the proudest achievement of her decades in public life. As she leaves Congress, Speier has decidedly mixed views of the institution, as well as the hateful, venom-dripping culture that suffuses Washington today. Its been the greatest privilege of my life, she said of her time on Capitol Hill. But she added that its a pretty dysfunctional place right now. Consensus is a dirty word, Speier said. Compromise is a dirty word. Her dismal critique went on. Reelection has become the be-all and end-all for too many lawmakers, Speier said, and they too often sacrifice principle in the service of personal ambition. Gun safety a career-long focus for Speier, for obvious reasons has been a particular disappointment. Despite strong public support for a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and for other common-sense measures, such as requiring background checks for private and gun-show sales, Congress managed to pass only modest legislation this summer after a string of particularly horrific mass shootings. The bill was a breakthrough the first significant gun control measure signed into law in decades but Speier was not impressed. The frustration I have is that it takes so long to move the needle just a fraction, she said. The conversation turned to Jones and another malevolent leader, Donald Trump. Theres extraordinary similarities, Speier said, describing both men as charismatic, power-mad and utterly self-absorbed. Jones, she noted, convinced hundreds of true believers to follow him into the jungle of Guyana. Once there, they became somewhat enslaved by him, and in the end, they didnt commit suicide. They were murdered." Trump, she said, created this cult of personality that allowed him to then telegraph to his supporters to do things that were illegal, destructive, personally harmful. Speier was in the House chamber on Jan. 6, 2021, when it was overrun by violent, jacked-up Trump supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election. She recalled the fearful sensation with grim clarity. Panic. Broken glass. Ambush. I remember pressing my cheek to the floor and feeling how cold it was and this whole sense of resignation kind of came over me," she said. "I thought, This is it, Im going to die here in what we think is this sanctuary of democracy after surviving Jonestown. Her two dogs, Emma and Bubba, capered into Speiers sunny living and dining room, lightening the mood. Please, she asked, dont make me out to be angry, bitter or anything less than honored for the chance to serve in elected office. If a young person reached out to express an interest in politics the way a 16-year-old Speier did when she volunteered for Ryans first campaign she would absolutely encourage them. Young people recognize that climate change is real weve got to fix it, Speier said. They want to make sure theres a Social Security system when they retire. Gun violence is something that they grew up with in schools where they had to do drills. So, yeah, I think theyre better prepared than we are to address these issues. Going forward, Speier plans to work again at the local level, starting a foundation aimed at fighting poverty in San Mateo County, which is one of the wealthiest in America thanks to its abundance of tech millionaires and billionaires. Still, as critical as she is of Congress, Speier admits shes sorry to go. Im going to miss putting on the armor and getting into the battlefield and trying to make the place more functional and holding people accountable, she said. Thats now up to a new generation of determined optimists. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. What in the world are we supposed to do with this one, this latest embarrassment from the Chicago Bears, the teams record-setting ninth consecutive loss that went into the books Sunday as a 41-10 pummeling by the Detroit Lions? I dont know, man, Bears center Sam Mustipher said inside a worn-out visitors locker room at Ford Field. It was just an ass-kicking, to be honest with you. Disappointing for sure. This wasnt just an ass-kicking, though. This was the Bears playing the role of Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story right about the time Ralphie took a snowball to the glasses and blew a fuse. With little warning, the Bears endured a seemingly endless flurry of punches right to the kisser and with no help in sight. The 504 yards they gave up were the most a Bears defense has allowed in a four-quarter game since Week 16 of 2013 in Philadelphia. Matt Eberflus, architect of the current defense, wasnt pleased on his way out of the stadium and likely will be even more discouraged when he reviews the video for all of his teams flagrant violations of his H.I.T.S. principle. Eberflus wont have any takeaways to break down. Hell be hard-pressed to find much hustle, intensity or situational smarts either. It doesnt sit well, Eberflus said. And the Bears abysmal showing on offense, which produced just nine first downs and 10 points against the leagues worst defense? That was pretty discouraging, too, with the Bears having an equal number of punts, sacks allowed and pass completions. (That number was seven for those wondering how far their jaw should drop.) Consider this the most troubling offensive showing in a bumpy season. Its really frustrating, said tight end Cole Kmet, the only Bears player to reach the end zone in the teams 13th loss. Its hard not to be frustrated. Every level Ive ever played at, Ive been a winner. I want to win. That doesnt go away. The Bears went right down the field on the opening possession. Nine plays, 75 yards, touchdown. Looked good. Felt good. Story continues On a gadget short-yardage play the Bears had been hoping to get to for weeks, Kmet went under center on third-and-1 for an apparent sneak. Instead he took the snap and pitched to quarterback Justin Fields in the backfield. Fields turned that into a 31-yard gain as part of a first quarter in which he ran for 105 of his 132 yards. Its nice just carrying out a fake and then watching Justin run, Kmet said. Fields returned the favor three plays later, hitting Kmet for a 13-yard touchdown to put the Bears ahead 7-0. Said Mustipher: Anytime you come out like that, you score on the opening drive and you really move it, you do think youre going to have success moving forward. From there, though, over the final 55 minutes and 54 seconds, the Bears were outgained by 344 yards and outscored 41-3. Their embarrassing moments seemed to triple their big plays. Things already were slipping away early in the second half with the Bears behind by two scores and needing a whole lot to go right to jump-start a rally. But on the Lions first possession of the third quarter, the Bears had them backed into a third-and-18 corner inside their 20. Thats when DAndre Swift broke loose on a draw play for 35 yards with linebacker Joe Thomas getting Velcroed to a block, Dominique Robinson and Nick Morrow missing tackles and no one in the secondary coming to their aid. Missed tackles, Eberflus said. One of our defensive linemen missed a tackle. (Swift) spun out of that and then our corner lost leverage and our safety lost leverage. On the next play, rookie receiver Jameson Williams erupted for 40 yards on an end around, and the Lions capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jamaal Williams. Story of the day, right? Swift had two touchdowns, a 17-yard run in the second quarter and a 21-yard reception in the third. He wasnt touched on either and barely impeded. Lions quarterback Jared Goff, meanwhile, was decisive and efficient, completing 21 of 29 passes for 255 yards with three touchdowns and a 133.5 passer rating. In its first seven series, the Bears defense gave up five touchdowns and a field goal. Fields and the offense werent any better. Coming into Sunday, no NFL team had allowed more points or more yards than the Lions. With the game indoors and the Bears offense entering the day as healthy as it had been in weeks with receivers Chase Claypool, Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis and offensive linemen Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins all able to play things seemed set up for a productive day. Instead, the leagues worst passing attack had its worst outing of an abysmal season with just 30 net yards. Fields completed only 7 of 21 passes for 75 yards. He fumbled in the second quarter as he tried to take off on a scramble but held the ball out with his right hand. And on the final play of the first half, he threw an interception to Aidan Hutchinson on a play that seemed all sorts of discombobulated as the Bears tried to squeeze something out of a possession that began at the Lions 45 with 7 seconds left. That was just one snapshot in a collage of ugliness. The offensive line was shaky all day. Fields didnt seem very settled in the pocket. And during one long, agonizing, maddening stretch, the Bears went nine consecutive possessions without creating multiple first downs. Jenkins was lost to another neck injury on the first drive. Bears wide receivers combined for three catches and 36 yards. Running backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert totaled 55 rushing yards on only 11 attempts. By afternoons end, the Bears had little to build on and so much more to clean up. Included in that process will be an effort to calm Claypool, who had more sideline outbursts (one) than receptions. The veteran receiver, upset with the offenses struggles, was visibly upset on the Bears bench. Its good to have emotion in a game, Fields said. But you just have to know how to control it. And you cant let it come out like that. Because at the end of the day, thats not helping anybody. Fields tried to set a steady and focused tone as he processed the continued ineptitude of a passing attack that has been held below 100 net yards four times this season while topping 200 yards just once. Sundays struggles were pronounced. This isnt going to kill me on the inside, Fields said. Its simple. You learn from the mistakes and get better from them. Im not the type of person to (groan) on this and that. Im not that type of person mentally, spiritually. Ive been through tough times before. My only response is to keep working, keep getting better, keep learning, keep growing. For the most part, Bears players seemed more agitated than accepting of Sundays failures, aware of the embarrassment they had suffered. Every man has to look himself in the eye and decide how they want to finish this season, Morrow said. If youre a man who wants to finish and try to compete, then youll compete. If not, youll lay down. But that goes only so far. And with one week left in a last-place season that has confused a large segment of the fan base, the Bears seem to have much more to worry about than they have to be confident about. In 103 seasons, no Bears team has lost more often or gone this long without a victory. To downplay that as trivial or insignificant to the long-term goals would be foolish. Kevin McCarthy has already moved into the speakers office, even as an influential conservative group urges members to vote against him unless he concedes to key rules changes. With the House slated to start voting on who will command the gavel in less than 24 hours, McCarthy remains short of the necessary 218 votes. And his last-ditch efforts, including a long list of concessions he released to his conference over the weekend, has done little to sway his most ardent detractors. And even as McCarthy predicted concessions he made to the House rules are helping him pick up support, his opponents and skeptics spent Monday lobbing new criticisms his way. Why didnt we get McCarthys proposed rules package at least 72 hours in advance? tweeted Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), a Freedom Caucus member. Electing a speaker is typically a symbolic moment, with the vote decided weeks if not months ahead of time. But absent a sudden flip among his detractors, McCarthys bid for the gavel will prompt a historically rare showdown, marking just the second time since the Civil War that the race could go beyond one ballot. In fact, many Republicans are bracing for votes that could last multiple days, as McCarthys allies vow to only vote for him and five conservatives promise to oppose him, with no clear alternative candidate. McCarthy met briefly with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of his most ardent opponents, as well as Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), neither of whom have committed to voting for the California Republican. But while Gaetz quipped heading into the meeting that they could be on the verge of a New Years miracle, he said afterward that the talk was brief and productive and, critically, that he and five others are still no votes. The conservative Club for Growth released a whip notice for the speakership vote on Monday, urging a no vote on McCarthy without explicitly naming him if he didnt concede to various rules being pushed by some of those opposing him, many of them members of the House Freedom Caucus. Story continues Those lawmakers demands have included allowing any one member to force a vote on the House floor to depose a speaker. The Club for Growth also mirrored those members' calls for prohibiting the Congressional Leadership Fund, a campaign committee closely aligned with McCarthy, from spending money or providing grants to any Super PAC to engage in open Republican primaries or against any Republican incumbent. The group also took issue with the lack of "true conservatives" being represented in leadership. The fresh signs of trouble come as McCarthy convened a strategy session on Monday evening with dozens of his supporters. The meeting, according to GOP attendees, was meant to motivate his backers, as they gathered in the speakers office for the first time, and McCarthy vowed to fight no matter how many ballots it takes. Theres still a few things up in the air, said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who attended the meeting. [But] I think he gets there. The question is when. Despite not yet having a lock on the gavel, McCarthy is spending Monday working out of the speakers office, a tradition routinely granted to the speaker-elect. If he falls short, he would have to move back out of the prestigious office. Republicans are preparing for a grueling day Tuesday. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), a McCarthy ally, predicted Republicans will go however long it takes. But the first vote would provide some early indications on how the day would play out, he added. The way the alphabet works, youll know on the first ballot pretty quickly. And then well figure out how it grinds out, Armstrong said, referring to the alphabetical process for calling on members to cast their votes. Armstrong predicted that it would be a long night. When asked if that meant votes would last until Wednesday's early hours, he quipped back: January 10th? Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who McCarthy opponents are backing as a figurehead for their frustration, described the Californian as being in total bargaining mode but that he doesnt believe McCarthy will ever get to 218 votes. Others issued more cryptic takes: Some people who run campaigns against the swamp sure are quick to wilt in the face of challenges (to different degrees) to that very swamp tweeted Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on Monday. But as McCarthys opponents take a hard line, some of his supporters are reviving their own threats. McCarthy ally Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said Monday his previous warning that a band of moderate Republicans would work with Democrats to elect a centrist GOP speaker, if conservatives tank McCarthy remains on the table. If a few wont be part of the 218 members we need to govern, well then find other ways to get to 218, Bacon wrote in an op-ed in the Daily Caller. Some Republicans have floated Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) as a possible alternative to McCarthy if he fell short, though his No. 2 is vowing to support him. However, Bacon told reporters on Monday night that if McCarthy withdraws he and a bipartisan group would put forward another name besides Scalise. I love Steve but I just dont think its fair to say we want Kevins scalp, so then well take Steve. I think youre paying ransom money to the hostage takers by doing that, Bacon said. If there was any doubt Donald Trumps vilification of early voting is only hurting the GOP, new receipts from the midterm elections show it. Election data from a trio of states that dramatically expanded the ability to cast ballots before Election Day, either early or by mail, demonstrate that the voting methods that were decidedly uncontroversial before Trump do not clearly help either party. Lawmakers of both parties made it easier to vote by expanding availability of mail and early voting in a politically mixed group of states: Vermont, Kentucky and Nevada. The states had divergent results but shared a few key things in common. Making it easier to vote early or by mail did not lead to voter fraud, nor did it seem to advantage Republicans or Democrats. In Kentucky, Republicans held on to five of the states six congressional districts and a Senate seat. Both Vermont and Nevada saw split-ticket voters decide statewide races, by a gaping margin in Vermont and a narrow one in Nevada. It reflects a broad lesson for other states that might consider expanding voter access or encouraging voting before Election Day: While voting methods have become deeply polarized by party, expanding access to early and mail voting does not appear to benefit one party over the other. Republicans do not do themselves any favors when they follow in Trumps footsteps and vilify early voting: It puts more onus on their voters to cast ballots on a single day. But there is little evidence that expanding voter access tilts elections toward Democrats, either. Weve shown that it is bipartisan, said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, of his states new early voting window. Both sides are comfortable using it. Vermont, a heavily Democratic state at the federal level that still occasionally votes for Republicans locally, set turnout records for the modern era in November after switching permanently to universal mail-in ballots. But Nevada, which adopted automatic voter registration and also mailed ballots to all voters in 2022 after a pandemic trial run in 2020, saw only a slight increase in ballots cast despite hotly contested statewide races. Story continues In Kentucky, a rare red state that expanded access to early voting, most voters still voted on Election Day and turnout in the November midterm election was lower than 2018, though a lack of competitive races may have contributed to that. Many states expanded mail and early voting options on short notice in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. They faced prompt backlash from Trump, who falsely claimed that mail ballots were linked to widespread voter fraud. His rhetoric helped drive an unprecedented partisan split among voting methods, with Democratic voters becoming far more likely to use mail and early voting options while Republican voters mostly cast ballots on Election Day. That divide fueled further election-related conspiracy theories because of the order in which votes were counted in key states such as Pennsylvania. A handful of Republican-controlled states responded in 2021 by rolling back pandemic-era voting reforms or further restricting access to alternative voting methods. GOP-controlled Texas enacted legislation banning overnight and drive-by voting options that had been used in populous Harris County, a Democratic stronghold. But elsewhere, the successful use of mail and early voting during the pandemic provided a model for expanding voting access. In Vermont, legislation to send every active registered voter a ballot passed with bipartisan support in 2021 and was signed by Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican. Scott, a moderate, easily won reelection in November with more than 70 percent of the vote, while Democrats won other statewide races in Vermont. The state also saw its highest turnout ever for a non-presidential election, with 57 percent of adults casting ballots something Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters attributed in part to the ease of voting by mail. There were a number of Republicans who were worried about the security aspect of vote-by-mail and potential voter fraud that came forward afterward and said, You know what, this helped a lot of people turn out who normally would not vote, Winters said. In Nevada, the Democratic-led legislature moved to make universal mail voting permanent in 2021 after it was used during the pandemic. The expansion came as part of a litany of electoral reforms. Nevada voters previously enacted automatic voter registration for individuals obtaining or updating their drivers licenses via a 2018 referendum, and they supported a referendum in November to use ranked-choice voting in future elections, though it will have to pass again in 2024 to go into effect. The number of voters on the rolls has ballooned over the past two years, likely in part due to the easier registration. But despite those growing numbers and the fact that every registered Nevada voter was sent a ballot ahead of the November election, the total number of ballots cast in Nevada this election ticked up only slightly compared with 2018. The share of registered voters who cast a ballot was actually lower. Turnout is not just about voting laws. Sondra Cosgrove, a Nevada voting-rights advocate and history professor at the College of Southern Nevada, expressed concern that the state had not allocated enough resources to voter education. A small but not insignificant share of mail ballots were thrown out, she said, because voters had made errors and not cured them. For the states primary earlier in the year, about 4,000 mail ballots were not counted for that reason. Statistics are not yet available for the general election. But both parties targeted their voters whose ballots needed curing after Election Day as key races remained close a less than ideal outcome, Cosgrove noted, saying curing ballots shouldn't be a partisan exercise. Nevada did see some polarization by voting type. Democrats were more likely to vote by mail while Republicans tended to cast their ballots on Election Day. But both parties still came out with statewide victories. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, the GOP nominee for governor, narrowly defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak, while Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto held on in one of the countrys closest Senate races. In Kentucky, lawmakers took a different path. The states GOP-led Legislature reached a deal with Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, to permanently establish three days of early voting. Previously, Election Day had been the only day for voting for more than a century. During the pandemic, the state had expanded absentee voting for the 2020 primary and added several weeks of early voting for the general election, but the three-day period was less costly, noted Adams, the secretary of state. And it still allowed voters to cast ballots on the days when early voting had been most popular. In 2020, the state also blasted the airwaves and covered billboards with ads encouraging early voting, a strategy aimed at reducing crowds on Election Day that was made possible by an influx of federal pandemic dollars. With those funds long gone and fewer concerns about Covid-19, there was not a similar push in November. Most Kentucky voters returned to casting their ballots on Election Day, and there was no significant polarization by voting method, with Republicans and Democrats largely using the early voting window at similar rates. Adams speculated that the use of early voting might slowly increase over the next few election cycles as voters become more accustomed to it. I think the biggest factor in turnout is voter motivation, he said. Thats peripheral to what election rules are. CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct the name of Vermont Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters. As of the evening of 2 January, the occupiers continued to focus on conducting offensive operations on the Bakhmut front. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "The enemy launched a missile attack and 28 air strikes. It is worth noting that the Russian occupiers carried out 27 air strikes on civilian infrastructure using the Shahed-136 UAV. All these drones were shot down. The Russians, losing a lot of manpower, continue to focus on conducting offensive actions on the Bakhmut front and aim at improving their tactical position on the Kupiansk and Avdiivka fronts. During the day, Ukrainian aviation carried out 10 strikes on clusters of military personnel and 5 strikes on the positions of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Details: On the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the situation has not changed significantly. The Russians shelled Ukrainian settlements on the Sivershchyna, Slobozhanshchyna, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Novopavlivka, and Zaporizhzhia fronts. The Russians also fired mortars and rocket artillery on the Kupiansk front. On the Kherson front, the enemy continues shelling settlements along the right bank of the Dnipro river. In particular, the civilian infrastructure of Kherson, Antonivka and Beryslav was damaged in artillery shelling. There are wounded among the civilians. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! man preparing Semaglutide Ozempic injection control blood sugar levels Getty Tirzepatide, a new drug that could have far-reaching impact and billions in sales is likely to be approved for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. The drug, made by U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, is already approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, at higher doses it has been proven to be highly effective for weight loss by reducing food intake and appetite and improving how the body breaks down sugar and fat. A clinical trial found that a high dose of tirzepatide helped patients lose about 52 pounds, or an average of 22.5% of their body weight. Tirzepatide, when approved by the FDA, is predicted to hit a record $48 billion in sales, Bank of America analyst Geoff Meacham told NBC News. While the drug is expected to gain tremendous popularity for weight loss, it is unlikely most people will be able to receive the prescription medication taken by injection in the thigh, stomach or arm through insurance companies. Lower doses of the drug, used to treat diabetes, are covered by most insurance companies. However, there is very minimal coverage for cases where the drugs are prescribed for obesity. Researchers estimate that tirzepatide could cost about $13,000 annually, or about $1,100 per month, NBC reports. RELATED: Doctor Criticizes Trend of Using Diabetes Drugs for Weight Loss: 'People Who Need These Drugs Can't Get Them' RELATED: What to Know About Plenity, the New Prescription Weight Loss Treatment Tirzepatide is the latest diabetes treatment that has been known to help with weight loss. Recently, Ozempic and Wegovy have been trending on social media after TikTok users speculated that a number of celebrities have used the drugs for weight loss, even though they don't have diabetes or clinical obesity. Further, Elon Musk tweeted earlier this month that he used Wegovy for his recent slimdown. Bravo's Andy Cohen also tweeted about the growing popularity of the drugs for weight loss. Story continues 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. However, Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, warned that use of these medications strictly for weight loss is causing less availability for "underserved" diabetic patients whose lives are at risk without the drugs. Ozempic and Wegovy are both listed as "currently on shortage" on the FDA's website. Novo Nordisk said in a release that the shortage is caused by a recent increase in demand, as well as supply chain issues. "The Hollywood trend is concerning," Apovian recently told PEOPLE. "We're not talking about stars who need to lose 10 pounds. We're talking about people who are dying of obesity, are going to die of obesity." "You're taking away from patients with diabetes," she continued. "We have lifesaving drugs and the United States public that really needs these drugs can't get them." Photo: DriveBC Highway 1 conditions west of Revelstoke as of 10:20 a.m. UPDATE 3:50 p.m. The Trans-Canada Highway has reopened west of Revelstoke after avalanche control work, reports DriveBC. ORIGINAL 10:30 a.m. Avalanche control work will close the Trans-Canada Highway this afternoon, west of Revelstoke. DriveBC advises the work is planned between the Griffin Lake and Boulder Mountain avalanche gates. It will close a 16-kilometre stretch of the highway starting at 2:30 p.m. The closure is expected to last one hour. Watch for traffic control. No detour will be available. In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited (SGX:C07) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Jardine Cycle & Carriage The Model We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.11b US$989.2m US$922.2m US$883.7m US$862.8m US$853.3m US$851.5m US$855.0m US$862.2m US$872.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -6.77% Est @ -4.18% Est @ -2.37% Est @ -1.10% Est @ -0.21% Est @ 0.41% Est @ 0.84% Est @ 1.15% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.5% US$1.0k US$825 US$703 US$615 US$549 US$496 US$452 US$414 US$382 US$352 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$5.8b Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$872m (1 + 1.9%) (9.5% 1.9%) = US$12b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$12b ( 1 + 9.5%)10= US$4.7b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$11b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$28.6, the company appears about fair value at a 20% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Jardine Cycle & Carriage as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.368. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Jardine Cycle & Carriage Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Industrials market. Opportunity Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Jardine Cycle & Carriage, we've put together three essential elements you should look at: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Jardine Cycle & Carriage you should be aware of, and 1 of them is significant. Future Earnings: How does C07's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Silverlake Axis Ltd (SGX:5CP) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Silverlake Axis Crunching The Numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM200.0m RM220.0m RM230.0m RM237.9m RM244.9m RM251.3m RM257.3m RM263.1m RM268.7m RM274.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.42% Est @ 2.95% Est @ 2.63% Est @ 2.40% Est @ 2.24% Est @ 2.12% Est @ 2.04% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 9.1% RM183 RM185 RM177 RM168 RM158 RM149 RM140 RM131 RM123 RM115 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM1.5b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM274m (1 + 1.9%) (9.1% 1.9%) = RM3.9b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM3.9b ( 1 + 9.1%)10= RM1.6b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM3.1b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$0.4, the company appears about fair value at a 5.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Silverlake Axis as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.018. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Silverlake Axis Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Software market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Singaporean market. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Silverlake Axis, we've compiled three additional factors you should further research: Financial Health: Does 5CP have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does 5CP's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Two days after the death of a young girl and man that neighbors told Action News Jax was her father, a community held a vigil at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon to honor the young girls death. At around 1 p.m. on Friday afternoon, The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office said deputies got a call to Bucktail Ave. about suicide threats. Inside the home, they found the man dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a young girl nearby shot. She was taken to Wolfsons Childrens hospital where she died. Deputies say the incident was a murder-suicide. Today everyone is hurting for a good reason. Its been an unbelievably hard few days and will continue to be so, Forest Coulter, a member of the community and organizer of the vigil told Action News Jax. Coulter also cited how important it is for those struggling with this loss to ask for help if needed. Those who are feeling the weight of circumstances if theyve lost hope, call 988. Thats our national suicide hotline to talk to someone, Coulter said. The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office also released a statement following the incident on Friday with a list of organizations for those struggling after this tragedy: The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office responded to a call for service in reference to suicide threats in the Nocatee area of St. Johns County. Once on scene, deputies breached the residence and located the subject deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. While clearing the residence, a juvenile with a gunshot wound was also located. Both individuals were located in close proximity to each other. The juvenile was transported to a nearby hospital where they were later pronounced deceased. SJSOs Major Crimes Unit also responded and is on the scene conducting an investigation. This is believed to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. There will be no further updates at this time. The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office encourages anyone who is struggling to reach out for help. There are many local resources including Here Tomorrow, The National Alliance for Mental Illness, and Epic Behavioral Health. Individuals can also call 988 which is a 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline. Story continues The family has also organized a GoFundMe following the incident. That GoFundMe can be found by clicking here. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Daily Beast Photo by: Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesComedian Michael Che has a history of deleting his social media posts. But he might want to keep his latest one up.On Tuesday, the co-anchor of Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update posted a message on Instagram that read, ya kno... a lot of people are not drinking bud light, cause the company used a trans person in their ad.. and these mostly right wing bud light customers have tossed all their bud lights in the trash in a blind rage.. and it got me ta BERLIN (Reuters) - Fading supply chain problems helped ease the downturn in Germany's manufacturing sector in December, although weaker demand continues to weigh on sentiment, a survey showed on Monday. S&P Global's final Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for manufacturing, which accounts for about a fifth of Germany's economy, rose to 47.1 from November's 46.2. While it was the third month-on-month increase in a row, the index is still below the 50 mark, meaning activity continues to shrink, albeit at a slower pace. A Reuters poll of analysts had pointed to a December reading of 47.4, in line with an earlier flash reading. "The survey signalled better availability of materials, and with it an easing of the decline in production," leading to some of the gloom around the sector lifting, said Phil Smith, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Price pressures also lifted somewhat with the improvement in material availability. The input prices index was at its lowest since November 2020, though above the pre-pandemic average. "Still, rapidly falling new orders remains an issue for many manufacturers, particularly intermediate goods producers (i.e. makers of components for other businesses), with high stocks being just one of the factors weighing on demand," said Smith. New orders were in contraction territory for the ninth month in a row in December, due to stock levels as well as heightened levels of market uncertainty and a marked increase in prices. (Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Hugh Lawson) By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -A steady stream of tens of thousands of people filed into St. Peter's Basilica on Monday to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI, whose body was laying in state without any papal paraphernalia ahead of his funeral this week. Benedict, a hero to conservative Catholics who yearned for a return to a more traditional Church, died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the secluded Vatican monastery where he had lived since 2013, when he became the first pope in 600 years to resign. "I feel like he was a grandfather to us," Veronica Siegal, 16, a Catholic high school student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is in Rome for a programme of religious study, told Reuters in St. Peter's Square after viewing the body. She said she had read one of Benedict's books on Jesus for one of her courses. "I know that he is in a better place because he was a holy man and he led so well," said her classmate, Molly Foley, also 16, from Atlanta, Georgia. A third girl in the group wore an American flag on her back. Security was tight, with visitors going through several check points before entering the basilica. Many stopped to pray after viewing the body or stayed to attend Mass in side chapels. Vatican police said that 65,000 people had filed past on the first day. Benedict's body, dressed in red and gold liturgical vestments and placed on a simple dais, was moved in a procession just before dawn through the Vatican Gardens from the monastery to a spot in front of the main altar of Christendom's largest Church. Two Swiss Guards stood at attention on either side of the body, which bore no papal insignia or regalia, such as a crosier, the silver staff with a crucifix, or a pallium, a band of cloth worn around the neck worn by archdiocesan bishops. Both were on Pope John Paul's body when it lay in state in 2005. It was not clear if the pastoral cross or any other items he used will be buried with him but the decision not to have them during the public viewing appeared to have been decided to underscore that he no longer was pope when he died. Story continues Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Benedict will be buried according to his wishes in the same spot in the crypts under St. Peter's Basilica where Pope John Paul II was originally interred in 2005 before his body was moved up to a chapel in the basilica in 2011. ITALY'S LEADERS PAY RESPECTS Before the Church was opened to the public, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Georgia Meloni were the first outsiders to pay their respects. Benedict's closest aide, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, sat in the first pew to the side of the body along with Benedict's household and medics who looked after him in his final days. After a few hours, they rose to pray before the body. Ganswein stayed behind to receive condolences from visitors. "I had to come," Sri, a woman visiting from Jakarta, Indonesia, told Reuters. "He was the pope and I am a Catholic," she said, declining to give her surname. Benedict will lie in state until Wednesday evening. His funeral will be held on Thursday in St Peter's Square and be presided over by Pope Francis. The Vatican has said it will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony in keeping with Benedict's wishes. The Vatican has painstakingly elaborate rituals for what happens after a reigning pope dies but none for a former pope, so what happens in the next few days could become the template for future ex-popes. Bruni said the details of the funeral Mass were not yet completed. While the number of visitors was large, there were no signs of the huge crowds who came to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II, when millions waited for hours to enter the basilica. (Reporting by Philip Pullella, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Nick Macfie) The family of the suspect charged with the murder of four University of Idaho students said in their first public statement that they were cooperating with police and were seeking to "promote his presumption of innocence. We have fully cooperated with law enforcement agencies in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence," the family of suspect Bryan Kohberger said in a statement through his lawyer on Jan. 1. On Friday Dec. 30, authorities took Kohberger into custody at his parents home in northeastern Pennsylvania in connection with the slayings of four college students in Moscow, Idaho, police said. Kohberger, 28, was charged with four counts of first degree murder and one felony burglary charge, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said at a press conference. Kohberger is suspected in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 four students at the University of Idaho who were killed in their home near campus in the early morning hours of Nov 13. Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. (TODAY) The arrest in the grisly killings, in which police said the four were stabbed to death in their beds, marked the end of a seven-week manhunt. Public defender Jason LaBar on told NBC News on Dec. 31 that Kohberger was "shocked by the arrest" and "believes he will be exonerated." LaBar also confirmed that Kohbergers father recently flew to Washington state, where Kohberger was enrolled as a student, to meet his son and make a 2,500-mile road trip back to Pennsylvania with him. LaBar said Kohbergers father told him that he didnt notice anything different about his son during the trip. Everything was ordinary, and he saw nothing unusual about it, LaBar told NBC News. At Kohbergers parents home in Pennsylvania, authorities seized a white Hyundai Elantra, the same model of car that Moscow police previously said they had seen in the immediate area of the crime scene around the time of the attack. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News that detectives used genetic genealogy to track down the suspect. The process allows investigators to identify close relatives of potential suspects. Story continues Kohberger was in custody in Pennsylvania. He was expected to waive an extradition hearing and agree to face murder charges in Idaho, authorities said over the weekend. Officers investigate the deaths of four University of Idaho students at an apartment complex south of campus on Nov. 14, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho. (Zach Wilkinson / The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP) Kohberger was enrolled in a doctoral program in the criminal justice and criminology department at Washington State University, which is located in Pullman, Washington just miles away from the University of Idaho campus and the scene of the murders. The first-year PhD student also worked as a teaching assistant in the university's criminal justice and criminology program, according to the WSU online directory. Austin Morrison, who took a criminal justice class with Kohberger, told NBC News that the suspect was just rather quiet very off to the side, standoffish." "He sat in the class didnt do a whole lot, Morrison said. Kohberger received his bachelor's degree in 2020 and a master's degree in 2022 from DeSales University in Central Valley, Pennsylvania. The owner of a brewery in nearby Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, told NBC News that Kohberger was a former patron and was known to make creepy and inappropriate comments. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A Monroe County deputy sheriff on Friday arrested a felon found with a loaded handgun during a traffic stop in Bedford Township. The traffic stop occurred at 11:14 p.m. in the 6200 block of South Telegraph Road, near the Michigan-Ohio state line, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said in a news release. Deputy Jacob Llewellyn was on patrol when he initiated the traffic stop for a traffic violation. It was discovered the driver, a 53-year-old Toledo man, did not possess a valid driver's license. He was placed in custody and a search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, a loaded .38-caliber revolver was found. The driver, a convicted felon, admitted ownership of the weapon. Felons may not legally possess firearms in Michigan. The subject was lodged in the Monroe County Jail, the release said. His identity was not immediately released by the sheriff's office because he had not yet been formally arraigned in Monroe County District Court. The case remains under investigation by Llewellyn of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Uniform Services Division. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 734-240-7000. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Felon arrested after gun found during traffic stop in Bedford Township A fit and healthy father diagnosed with stage four cancer says he was left looking like the Nightmare on Elm Street after a horrific reaction to chemotherapy left him too embarrassed to go to his young sons cricket matches and is now hoping to save his life with a ground-breaking vaccine. Geoffrey Seymour, 41, a procurement specialist, loved playing tennis, basketball and cricket and had always been healthy until just before his 41st birthday when he began experiencing blood in his stool. Geoffrey was aware of this being a symptom for cancer from adverts on the television, so quickly went to his GP. Geoffrey, who lives in Richmond, London, with his wife Santa, 44, and their son Marco, 10, was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer, which had spread from his colon to his liver a situation so severe and seemingly hopeless he likened it to being wrapped in a paper bag that is on fire. He also had a bad reaction to chemotherapy severely blistering the skin on his face and, according to Geoffrey, making him look like Freddy Krueger from the 1984 horror film, Nightmare on Elm Street. The chemotherapy stopped working however and now, in an attempt to save his life, Geoffrey has travelled to Germany for dendritic cell therapy where a personalised vaccine is created in a lab with the aim of stimulating the immune system. Research in this area is at an early stage, according to Cancer Research UK, and so the treatment was not cheap just one injection in Germany, on October 17, cost 17,000 and Geoffrey is now waiting to see if it was enough to help him, while continuing to fundraise to pay for it. He said: I couldnt even wait until the end of the fundraising to have it done just because Im so worried that the disease was going to spread. Geoffrey was determined to find a new approach after three sessions of five doses of chemotherapy didnt work and left him with side-effects so bad he no longer wanted to go out in public, even to see his little boy play cricket Story continues I had a really bad reaction in my face, it was full of painful blistering that made my face feel like it was on fire, he said. I just got to the point where I was looking a bit like Nightmare on Elm Street. Unless I went there with a bag on my head, Id have other people coming up to me and looking at me thinking, Whats wrong with this guy? when Im quite happy blending into the crowd. Geoffreys ordeal began in April 2021, just two weeks before his 41st birthday on March 4, when he got the first warning signals of cancer. After spotting blood in his stool, Geoffrey decided to visit his GP, as he knew it could be a symptom of cancer. And in late March at Kingston Hospital, he was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer, which had metastasized in the liver. After the diagnosis, in March 2021, he had five cycles of chemotherapy every three weeks which initially reduced the lesions in his liver. At this point he says he felt optimistic. In December 2021, he had surgery to have a third of his liver removed, and the medical team began getting him ready for radiotherapy which was going to be used on his colon he even had radio markers tattooed for the laser alignment. A month later, a scan showed more tumours in his liver, so he had another round of chemotherapy. This time it was a success and liver surgery was booked in for June 2022. But, just as things were looking up, a few weeks before the surgery, a scan revealed disease progression. Geoffrey was put back on chemotherapy with a different agent and the surgery was cancelled. After just two cycles, blood work and a scan showed disease progression again, all while the side effects were getting unbearable for Geoffrey. He said: The side effects have gotten worse, worse, worse, and now, chemotherapy is just not effective anymore, the bodys gotten used to it. Explaining why he reacted badly to a chemotherapy drug, he said: Essentially it kills all your fast-growing cells, which include your cancer cells, but also includes your hair and nails. I had a really bad reaction to that in my face. Determined to find an alternative, Geoffrey started doing his own research by looking online and found dendritic cell therapy, only to be told it would not be available to him in the UK. He decided to fly to a laboratory in Ulm, Germany to have the week-long treatment on October 17 2022. Friends and family rallied round to contribute towards his Go Fund Me appeal, which has raised over 14,000 and helped to pay for the 17,000 injection. I am still in pain, I have a lot of pain, which Im trying to find a good balance of very strong medications, he said. Geoffrey is due to meet with his oncologist on November 1 in the UK, but knows he may well need to pay for further vaccine doses and more treatment abroad and is continuing to fundraise to pay for that. Specialist cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK Caroline Geraghty said: Dendritic cell therapy is a type of vaccine that can treat cancer. Dendritic cells help immune system recognise and attack abnormal cells, such as cancer cells. To make the vaccine, scientists grow dendritic cells alongside cancer cells in the lab. The vaccine then stimulates your immune system to attack the cancer. Its still being researched, so the evidence base is not yet strong enough for it to be available in the UK. Decisions about the best course of treatment must be based on sound evidence of benefit so its important patients talk to their doctor about any alternative treatment they might be considering. She added: Thanks to ongoing developments in research, there continues to be many new cancer drugs showing effectiveness in clinical trials, providing potential options for people with cancer. But while regulators have improved the speed at which they assess these for routine NHS use, there are still, unfortunately, times when particular drugs arent yet easily accessible for people who may benefit. We understand how frustrating this can be. Starbucks employees react and cheer at the sound of honking motorists supporting them in a nationwide strike at the Starbucks at 1601 W. Irving Park Road on Dec. 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) As snow fell on the picket line outside a Bucktown Starbucks in November, striking unionized baristas kept warm with cups of Colectivo Coffee, which is brewed by members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a union that also represents baristas at Chicago-based Intelligentsia Coffee. Two years ago, Starbucks, Colectivo and Intelligentsia werent unionized. But filings for new unions have swelled over the last couple of years as workers reevaluated their relationship with work during the pandemic while a tight labor market gave them more leverage in the workplace. Advertisement The Starbucks campaign in particular has spread like wildfire: The union won its first elections in December 2021 and now represents workers at nearly 270 stores nationwide, including about 10 in Chicago and its suburbs. Former Starbucks employee Maria Fantozzi holds an image of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz as the Grinch and stands with Starbucks employee Nicole Deming as they participate in a one-day national strike on Nov. 17, 2022, outside the Starbucks at 2101 W. Armitage Ave. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) But its not just Starbucks: In Chicago, museum workers at the Art Institute, faculty and staff members at its affiliated school and employees at the Newberry Library have all unionized this year. So have workers at Howard Brown Health, budtenders at Zen Leaf cannabis dispensaries and booksellers at Half Price Books in Niles. Baristas at four La Colombe Coffee Roaster locations filed for union elections in December. Thousands of graduate students at Northwestern and the University of Chicago filed petitions within two weeks of each other in November. Advertisement For the hundreds of newly unionized workers in Chicago, the hard work has only just begun; now they must negotiate a first contract with their employers. Labor leaders see a contract as the gold standard for protecting workers rights and securing gains in areas like pay and benefits. But the process can take years. Just over a third of all new unions secure a contract within a year, but another third still dont have a contract after three years, according to research by Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations. The NLRB can force an election under our labor law, but the NLRB cant force a contract, Bronfenbrenner said. Workers frustrations mount At Starbucks, conflicts over bargaining came to a head in Novemberwhen workers at more than 100 of the companys stores walked off the job, taking aim at what they described as the companys failure to bargain in good faith. Im more frustrated than I would have guessed, said Teddy Hoffman, a shift supervisor at an Edgewater Starbucks that was one of the first in Chicago to unionize. A lot of us have been sort of surprised by how brutal and kind of cunning the union-busting has been. Hoffman, a member of his stores bargaining committee, said Starbucks representatives showed up to a bargaining session but left the table almost immediately because the union planned to allow members who could not attend in person to watch negotiations via Zoom. Lawyers showed up, they saw that we had our laptop open, and they walked outside. And that was kind of it for eight hours, Hoffman said. The coffee giant says it is bargaining in good faith and claims Starbucks Workers United is engaging in ongoing misconduct by allegedly unlawfully recording bargaining sessions, including in Chicago during negotiations with Hoffmans store. Advertisement Former Starbucks Worker Jessica Jaszewski, far right, holds a sign in a crowd during a rally in solidarity on the first anniversary of the union first election victory at Chicago's Federal Plaza on Dec. 9, 2022. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) Weve come to the table time-after-time prepared to bargain in good faith only to be met with Workers United representatives who insist on broadcasting the sessions to unknown individuals not in the room and, in some instances, post recordings of the sessions online, said Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull in a statement, adding that some excerpts of proceedings have been shared broadly by individuals on social media. The union denies it has recorded bargaining sessions. Both the union and the company have filed unfair labor practices charges with the NLRB alleging misconduct during bargaining, including in Chicago. On average, it takes workers 465 days to sign their first collective bargaining agreement after they unionize, a delay that is getting longer, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Law. Bargaining can take a long time even if both a union and an employer are working in good faith as union members and managers get up to speed on what the law requires, said Robert Bruno, director of the labor studies program at the University of Illinois. They dont have experience doing this before, Bruno said. Its not a mature relationship. Another factor that can slow the process: Many employers simply dont want to share power with workers, Bruno said. Advertisement That is what a collective bargaining agreement is going to do. Its going to compel the employer to give up some unilateral control over the labor force, Bruno said. Petitions for union representation to the National Labor Relations Board were up 53%. Chicago-area filings were up more than 17% over the prior year. Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, said public support for unions was nothing new in the city. Were a working-class city that has people across the income strata that have respect for collective voice and having representation in the workplace, he said. In what was touted as a historic win for organized labor, voters elected in November to add an amendment to the state constitution stating that workers have a fundamental right to unionize and collectively bargain with their employers. The amendment prevents the passage of right-to-work laws, which can weaken private sector unions by allowing workers to refuse to pay the dues used to support collective bargaining and legal action. Advertisement Labor experts said that, depending on how the amendment is interpreted by courts, it could also expand labor rights by extending the right to collectively bargain to new groups of workers, such as farmworkers or gig workers, or by expanding the kinds of issues that can be subject to bargaining. Labor board takes action Beyond allegations that it is deliberately slow-walking bargaining, Starbucks has faced widespread allegations of lawbreaking by the union and in some cases by the labor board. In Chicago, the labor boards regional director has accused Starbucks of firing a worker in Wilmette for trying to unionize, disciplining a Hyde Park barista for testifying at a labor board hearing and illegally threatening and interrogating baristas at stores that were attempting to unionize. Starbucks has denied those allegations; a hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled for January. Starbucks informs and trains managers that no partner will be disciplined for engaging in lawful union activity and that there will be no tolerance for any unlawful anti-union behavior, if ever found to be true, Trull said. He declined to comment further on the Chicago-area labor board complaints. Advertisement Starbucks has also faced accusations of closing stores for union activity. The company announced it would close a store in Chicagos Edgewater neighborhood shortly before it was set to begin bargaining in October, citing safety issues. Starbucks said employees at the store had reported a range of issues such as theft, vandalism, threats of violence and assault. Workers United slammed the decision as union-busting. Barista Aryssa Burton agreed there were safety issues at the store but said other city Starbucks had safety problems, too and they werent closed. Workers were suspicious of the intent behind the closure because Starbucks announced it so close to its bargaining date, she said. Its about power, Burton said. Its about capital. Negotiating as equals Bargaining sessions at the Art Institute take place in the museums Modern Wing, in a meeting room overlooking Grant Park. Negotiations start after work and can last for hours, said Lorenzo Conte, an exhibitions project manager at the museum and a member of the workers bargaining committee. We get to see the city of Chicago go to sleep, said Conte, who coordinates the debut of new exhibits at the museum, such as its Obama portraits and the Bisa Butler show. Since museum workers unionized in January, theyve met with the museums management and its attorneys in about 20 bargaining sessions. At the end of bargaining nights, Conte said, most bargaining committee members take public transit home. Management hops in their cars in their parking spots right (outside) of the building, he said. Advertisement The union has tussled with the Art Institute over adding positions to the unit and said management has sought delays, a claim the museum denies. In a statement, the Art Institute said it was proud of the substantive progress that we have made so far and looked forward to continuing to bargain in good faith with the union. Unionizing has already changed things for workers at the museum, Conte said. The Art Institute of Chicago Workers United now represents more than 1,200 people, including staff and non-tenure-track faculty members at the museums affiliated school. Theres accountability that never existed, Conte said. We walk into that room as equals. When employers do not come to the table to bargain with workers, there is little the NLRB can do to compel them to do so, said Bronfenbrenner. The worst penalty theyre going to get is a piece of paper saying, You are ordered to bargain in good faith, she said. Advertisement Jake Lytle, a Curaleaf worker, stands outside the Curaleaf dispensary at 923 W. Weed St. in Chicago on Dec. 20, 2022. Workers at the dispensary voted to unionize in March 2021, but the company has been pushing back on recognizing them. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) In December, the labor board issued such a decision when it ordered cannabis company Curaleaf to bargain with workers at a Chicago dispensary on Weed Street. Workers filed for an election with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 almost two years ago and voted to unionize in a narrow election in March 2021. When youre selling cannabis every day, and youre ringing people up and theyre buying two vape cartridges and its costing like $150, you start to wonder why you are only being paid $16 an hour, said Jake Lytle, who works at the Weed Street dispensary. The NLRB found Curaleaf violated federal labor law by refusing to recognize and bargain with workers there, but the company is appealing the decision. Curaleaf had initially challenged the result of the election, which the union won by one vote, but the labor board later ruled in UFCWs favor. The ongoing state of legal limbo has impacted morale at the Weed Street dispensary, Lytle said, because workers lack the legal protections of a contract. Lytle said Weed Street workers have also seen the company treat them differently from workers at other stores that are not caught in litigation over their status. After receiving a 50-cent merit raise earlier this year, Lytle makes $16.50 an hour. But in October 2021, he said, the company announced market adjustment raises for workers at other dispensaries, including nonunionized locations and a few where the company has recognized the union. Lytle said he was set to make $18 an hour but was told workers at his store would not receive the raises, although they could get backpay after the labor board process is complete. Advertisement It really does feel like just retaliation for having unionized, Lytle said. Curaleaf said it vehemently denies that market adjustments were not given to Weed Street workers as retaliation for union activity. The company declined to comment further on wages and raises. We respect the voices of our team members and will negotiate with union leaders in good faith, the company said. Lytle said he still thinks it was the right decision to unionize, but he wants more support from his union. The local did not respond to a request for comment. If people are going to keep voting to join unions, those benefits are going to have to be apparent, Lytle said. One contract comes quickly On Dec. 16, workers at four North Side Starbucks went on strike again, this time protesting the companys alleged retaliation by closing union stores, a charge the company denies. The strike was a three-day effort by workers at dozens of unionized stores across the U.S. On the same day, baristas at five Intelligentsia Coffee locations in Chicago ratified their first contract after less than two months of bargaining. Advertisement Intelligentsia baristas filed for representation with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in May and won an election in August. Our management really bargained in good faith and really wanted to get a contract done and finished with so that we could move on and grow the company, said Jordan Parshall, a shift lead at Intelligentsias cafe in the Monadnock Building in the Loop. In their contract, workers secured paid meal breaks, raises and additional vacation, said Parshall. The paid meal breaks alone are equivalent to raises of between 6% to 8%, he said. I want to have kids, I want to have a family and I want to be a good, generous member of my community, Parshall said. And now that I have this extra pay and this extra time, Ill really be able to do that. IBEW business representative Brett Lyons praised the coffee company for bargaining in good faith. I wish I could tell you why that was so rare, he said. Advertisement Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A two-pack is just $17. Amazon One thing you must think about when traveling to a new country is how youre going to charge your phone, laptop, hair tool, and other devices. It might sound trivial, but if you dont plan ahead, your chargers simply wont fit into the ports your destination has available and youll be off-grid until you track down a compatible charger. 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Flight attendants and frequent fliers alike swear by this adapter for their trips, with one customer sharing, I am an international flight attendant and these have come in handy when I am sent to Europe, adding, One is more than enough [but] getting the second outlet is definitely worth the cost. Another shopper traveling Europe revealed, We loved that it had two extra USB slots so we could charge everything we needed. Even further, one other traveler went as far as to call the outlet an essential item for European travel. Amazon To buy: amazon.com, $21 with on site coupon (originally $27) Story continues If youre going to be staying in accommodation with minimal plug options, travelers swear this is also a great option to give yourself more space to charge your devices. One customer wrote that they had to have this for their last cruise because the room only had one plug in the cabin and one plug is never enough. Another added that its perfect for travel to any country that uses a C plug, noting, in the airport they will charge you $30 for a single adapter with one USB port. Traveling with a variety of electronic devices and a multitude of people can also make for a tricky situation with outlets, but shoppers swear by these adapters to remedy the issue. One customer noted that they were perfect for our trip to Iceland. Especially with all the phones, cameras, and other tech gear we needed to plug in, adding, [the] multipack came in great for the six others traveling with us. Making sure you have the proper technology and gadgets for your travels is essential to improving your overall experience, and these flight attendant-loved adapters should be one of the first things you grab when preparing to head to Europe. Right now, the two-pack is on sale for 25 percent off, or grab a pack of three adapters for just $21. At the time of publishing, the price started at $17. Shop More T+L Deals: Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. F/A-18E Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron 136 "Knighthawks" fly in formation over California. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe The US Navy's premiere fighter pilot training school, commonly known as TOPGUN, fines people for various infractions. Quotes from the classic 1986 film "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise cost those at fault $5, Guy "Bus" Snodgrass, a retired Navy commander and former TOPGUN instructor, says in his book, "TOPGUN's Top 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit." The reason for the rule against "Top Gun" quotes is not that people are tired of them but because the pilots that attend the school are at the top of their game, so no one is allowed to make a joke out of the school by referencing the movie, Snodgrass told Insider. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. If you feel "the need for speed" at the US Navy's elite fighter pilot school, you'd best not say it out loud, or be prepared to pay the price. At the Navy's decades-old tactical air combat training center commonly known as TOPGUN, there are fines for various infractions. Any quote from the iconic 1986 film "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise as the hotshot naval aviator Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell will cost you $5, former fighter pilot and TOPGUN instructor Cmdr. Guy "Bus" Snodgrass reveals in his book, "TOPGUN's Top 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit." Snodgrass' book shares lessons on successful leadership from his career as a naval aviator while offering unique insight into the TOPGUN experience, everything from dogfighting to daily life at this prestigious training center. While assuming that the reason for the rule against "Top Gun" quotes is that TOPGUN instructors are tired of hearing "you can be my wingman any time" or "your ego is writing checks your body can't cash" is reasonable, there is actually more to it than that, Snodgrass explained. It's about preserving the seriousness and significance of the institution. Story continues Snodgrass says in his new book that he fell in love with aviation at a young age. He had posters of planes on the walls of his room, and watching air shows as a kid with his Boy Scout troop in Texas fueled his interest in flying. "I watched with utter fascination as the US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels amazed crowds with their precise maneuvers and outofthis-world skill level," he wrote. "The energy, excitement, and jet noise were all I needed I was hooked." But, the movie "Top Gun" was also an inspiration. "I think that's where my real true initial love for naval aviation started," Snodgrass told Insider. "I loved the flying scenes. It was exciting. I felt myself going, 'Man, if I could ever do that, it would be a dream come true.'" Guy "Bus" Snodgrass. Courtesy photo 'You don't turn TOPGUN into a joke' Looking back on the action film as someone who had the opportunity to serve as a Navy fighter pilot, he said, "The 'Top Gun' movie had such an impact on most of our lives." He revealed that as a junior officer, it was common for pilots to make jokes and throw out lines from the movie. "It's ingrained in our culture to a certain extent," he said. "But," Snodgrass explained to Insider, "when you get to TOPGUN, because it is such a professional organization and you want to emphasize that you are at the top of your game, that it's about professionalism, about good leadership, you don't turn TOPGUN into a joke by referencing the movie." The Navy's advanced Fighter Weapons School was established on March 3, 1969, during the Vietnam War at Naval Air Station Miramar in California with one very important mission: "To teach aircrew how to not just survive in dogfighting but to win," Snodgrass wrote of TOPGUN's origins. Decades later, the school, since relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada, is still producing some of the world's top combat aviators. And, the Navy pilots selected to attend the institution take it seriously. "So, it is a part of our bylaws that if someone overtly references the movie it could be a direct quote, it could be something that is really close to a direct quote that's an automatic $5 fine. And it's enforced. And you are expected to pay right then. You pull out your wallet and pay the $5," Snodgrass said. Old habits die hard though. "I think at some point we were all fined because it's so ingrained in our aviation culture," he told Insider. Snodgrass declined to reveal his favorite "Top Gun" film quote but did say he loved the movie and is looking forward to the sequel. Although he never quotes it, Snodgrass does reference the "Top Gun" movie in his book, calling attention to the scene where Maverick abandons his wingman and flight lead, Hollywood, in a dogfighting training situation to chase an "enemy" fighter. By acting impulsively and looking out only for himself, Maverick gets his wingman "killed" and falls right into the trap of the "enemy" aircraft. "There's a reason why the actual TOPGUN instructors consulting on the movie insisted on this scene being included: it accurately reflected real combat," Snodgrass wrote. "When you fly the skies alone and unafraid, bad things can and do happen," he said, explaining in his book that both in the air and in life, it's good to "always have a wingman." This is something Snodgrass learned himself in the Navy and one of a number of lessons he picked up from his time at TOPGUN. Snodgrass served in the US military for two decades. He is a TOPGUN graduate and former instructor, as well as a retired naval aviator who flew combat missions overseas. He is also a former Pentagon official who worked closely with the secretary of defense and authored the 2018 National Defense Strategy. This post was originally published on 9/16/2020. Read the original article on Business Insider FALMOUTH Eric Jensen credits his sons, his friend Louie Kerr and his daughters, stubborn persistence and pure luck for finding a message in a bottle that brought him and Kerr a $500 reward. The treasure hunt was the latest of several sponsored by The Brewster Boys, a nonprofit whose goal is inspiring Indiana Jones experiences while supporting the Capes nonprofit organizations. Jordan Fowler and Aaron Lynn, aka The Brewster Boys, have been putting on treasure hunts since 2020, trying to recreate the fun and adventures they had growing up in Brewster. This is the fifth treasure hunt they have planned. During the Dec. 23 rain storm on Cape Cod, friends Louie Kerr (left) and Eric Jensen put their heads together to figure out the location of a message in the bottle and a $500 reward. The Cape-wide treasure hunt was sponsored by Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth and The Brewster Boys. The hunts get people outside and bring them to places that showcase the geography, history, and beauty of the Cape. Successful hunters who solve the riddles find items that they turn in for real loot. Treasure hunters win, but so do area nonprofits. And businesses who sponsor the hunts get publicity aimed at helping their bottom lines. This latest hunt was sponsored by the Whydah Pirate Museum. This time hunters were searching for a bottle (bamboo case) that contained a message written by the pirate Sam Bellamy, and a key to a treasure chest. The key opened a chest filled with $500 in gold coins, and an opportunity to donate another $500 to a charity of the finder's choice. More:A $500 cash reward? Whydah Pirate Museum sponsors Cape-wide treasure hunt. The Brewster Boys decided on the hiding spot, and Lynn wrote a poem laden with clues. They launched the hunt on Dec. 16 and set Dec. 31 as a deadline for finding it. If no one found it by then, the entire "treasure" would go to a nonprofit of the Whydahs choice. Jensen and Kerr started tossing around ideas about the riddles clues on Dec. 22. Both men work at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. Jensen enlisted his sons, Aksel and Gunnar, and within minutes they were sending texts back and forth to each other. In the first stanzas of the riddle/poem were words and phrases that stood out. Story continues More:Second pirate lovers' treasure hunt on Cape Cod comes to an end The ground on which this treasure stands Is not far from the crane But without wings, the silent spring Is visible in rain. The men knew the Crane family was famous in Falmouth. They knew Rachel Carsons book "Silent Spring," and that a statue of her sat at Waterfront Park. They also thought Nobska Light figured prominently in the riddle. Jensen decided to try his luck alone that day. What he found was confirmation that he was close to the treasure. Treasure hunter Eric Jensen holds the bamboo bottle he found on Dec. 23 in Falmouth, in a hole in a rock. The Cape-wide treasure hunt was sponsored by the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth and The Brewster Boys. He called for backup and Aksel and his five college friends met him. They searched for hours but came up short. Jensen stayed. Another group of treasure hunters came along, and they teamed up, but again couldnt find the treasure. That night Jensen spent the night thinking about the clues. Kerr and his daughters, Hadley and Sarah, drove to the area on Dec. 23, even though Surf Drive was flooded and a winter storm sent gusts of 60 miles an hour his way. Jensen joined him and they continued the search. Hadley and Sarah went off in search of something to eat. Jensen and Kerr sat on a bench and reconsidered the clues. Lets look one more time, Jensen said. Two wooden poles drew his attention. Twenty minutes later Jensen found the bamboo bottle in a hole in a rock. They ran to the car as rain started pouring. The day before, the group hed been searching with had scoured that area and come up short. Meredith Katz holds a sterling silver replica of a 1693 coin made into a necklace at the Whydah Pirate Museum. The replica necklace is part of the prize put together by the West Yarmouth museum for the person who solved The Brewster Boys poem riddle by Dec. 31. An interesting side note is that the men found a real note in a bottle during their search. An 8-year-old girl from Connecticut had written it in 1997 and thrown it into the water at Vineyard Haven. Jensen and Kerr split the $500. Jensen gave his $250 to his sons, calling them instrumental in the find. His wife got the necklace. Kerr, his wife and daughters are going out to eat with their winnings. The men chose Wings for Falmouth Families as recipients of the $500 donation. The charity provides financial assistance to local families experiencing a medical crisis or tragic event. Their message hit home, Jensen said, adding that a good friend is currently receiving treatment for a brain tumor. Contact Denise Coffey at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT. Keep connected with the Cape. Download our free app. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Treasure hunters weathered storm to find bamboo bottle in Falmouth Cyberattacks have surged in recent years, with the health care system and other critical sectors increasingly coming under digital assault as the threat of malware like ransomware and foreign spyware continues to evolve. Last year in particular saw officials and lawmakers renew their focus on cybersecurity and seek to secure the countrys critical sectors from rising cyber threats. The issue is expected to continue to take center stage in the coming year, as many of those threats are still escalating while the cyber sector is confronting an ongoing workforce shortage in its efforts to bolster the U.S.s digital defenses. Here are four cyber concerns expected to take priority in 2023. Threats to critical sectors The financial, energy and health care sectors are all facing a skyrocketing number of hacks. Cyberattacks have robbed companies in those industries of hundreds of millions of dollars, exposed data and even disrupted essential services, as when a ransomware attack forced the Colonial Pipeline to shut down in 2021, causing gas shortages in several states. The health care sector in particular has seen a rise in cyberattacks in the last few years, particularly ransomware attacks targeting hospitals in order to gain access to sensitive information like patient data or medical research and technology. Increasing threats to the sector have set off alarm bells in Washington, with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warning this fall that cyberattacks could lead to delays in treatment and even patients deaths. Officials have already stepped up their efforts to protect critical sectors from those evolving threats, and have indicated that doing so will remain a top priority this year. Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said in October that theres been a relentless focus by the Biden administration on securing such sectors especially those where disruptions could lead to hazards, such as in hospitals, the oil and gas industry and companies that transport chemicals. Story continues Our concerns have evolved to where were most concerned about degradation or disruption of critical services, Neuberger said. But lawmakers and industry experts have called for federal agencies to further increase their efforts in recent months. Securing critical infrastructure like the energy and health care sectors plays a key part in mitigating cyber risks, said Josephine Wolff, an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. All of those are areas where I would say theres still a lot we could be doing to try and shore up defenses and build in more resilience, Wolff said. In a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services in August, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) expressed appreciation for moves the Biden administration has taken to respond to cyber threats to the health care sector but said more action was necessary. We remain concerned, however, about the lack of robust and timely sharing of actionable threat information with industry partners and the need to dramatically scale up the Departments capabilities and resources. With cyber threats growing exponentially, we must prioritize addressing the [health care and public health] sectors cybersecurity gaps, they wrote. Zinet Kemal, a cloud security engineer at Best Buy, said the government should continue to work with industry leaders to identify and address vulnerabilities found in critical sectors as well as to create contingency plans for responding to cyber incidents. I think they need to work with the industry to ensure that the systems are protected against cyber threats, she said. Ransomware attacks Recent years have seen an especially dramatic spike in ransomware attacks, particularly targeting the health care and financial sectors. Last year alone, ransomware groups caused outages in multiple hospital systems, temporarily closed schools in parts of the U.S., carried out multimillion-dollar hacks on a number of companies and drove Costa Rica to declare a state of emergency in May as a barrage of attacks impacted its government services. Tackling ransomware at home and abroad is also expected to take precedence this year as the U.S. and its allies have come together to counter the heightened threat. In 2021, the Biden administration, along with several other countries, launched its first annual initiative intended to counter ransomware globally. In November, the White House held its second International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit, in which it invited more than 30 countries to discuss steps they can take to curb the rise of ransomware globally. Ransomware is a pocketbook issue that impacts thousands of companies and individuals every year globally, the White House said in a press release. During the summit, the countries laid out several initiatives, including establishing an international counter-ransomware task force, actively sharing information between the public and private sectors and taking joint steps to stop ransomware actors using the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The ransomware task force, which is led by Australia, is expected to become operational in January, CyberScoop reported. Australia is leading the task force because theyve had some very major ransomware attacks, including one that targeted one of the countrys largest private health insurers, a senior administration official told CyberScoop. Wolff said while ransomware will certainly remain a hot topic this year, she thinks the U.S. and its allies have to some extent reached their capacity when it comes to addressing the issue, unless other major countries like Russia decide to join in and support the initiative. I think what were most likely to see with that initiative is countries like the United States and the United Kingdom trying to help countries with less capacity to investigate ransomware and build up their capabilities, she said. Foreign spyware Foreign spyware garnered attention last year following controversy surrounding the embattled Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, which was blacklisted by the Department of Commerce in 2021 for allegedly facilitating unlawful surveillance used against government officials, journalists, dissidents and human rights activists. Congress has since taken steps to address the allegations. In July, the House Intelligence Committee included a provision in the Intelligence Authorization Act authorizing the director of national intelligence to prohibit the U.S. intelligence community from buying and using foreign spyware. The bill would also allow the president to impose sanctions on foreign government officials and firms that target U.S. officials with spyware. The legislation was included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and has since become law. Advocates against foreign spyware hope more will be done in the future to address the matter as threats continue to evolve. Mike Sexton, a senior policy adviser for cyber at Third Ways national security program, said although some actions were taken last year to counter foreign spyware, theres still a lot more progress to be made. I think blacklisting NSO Group in 2021 was really good, but I think its important not to rest on our laurels on this, Sexton said. Labor shortage Rising cyber threats have brought new urgency to a long-time labor shortage in the industry as both federal agencies and private companies have scrambled to fill key cyber roles. The industry has sought to address the shortage by investing in workforce development, and is expected to continue doing so moving forward. The Department of Homeland Security has said that addressing the shortage is a top priority for the agency. Previously, it tackled the issue in 2021 by conducting a 60day hiring sprint to hire cybersecurity professionals. Out of the 500 job offers the department sent out, the department was able to hire nearly 300 new cyber workers. National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, whos expected to retire in the coming months, has also pushed the government to hire more tech and cyber workers. We have been successful in filling two-thirds of the jobs that have the word cyber and IT in it, and thats the good news, Inglis said during a cyber event held in October. However, he said there was still a long way to go because at the time, one-third of those jobs were still vacant. Inglis also hosted a cyber workforce and education summit in July, during which participants pledged to improve diversity and inclusion in the cyber field as well as build a national cyber workforce and education strategy. Experts said to expect more government funding designed to help with workforce training and educational initiatives, including partnering up with the private sector and universities to increase the pipeline of cyber workers. To address this gap, in the future, I think its important for organizations and governments to invest in training and education programs that develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, Kemal said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jacob Davidson State troopers in West Virginia on Sunday night arrested a fugitive wanted in a shootout with police in Bucyrus, Ohio, who had escaped from a Columbus mental health hospital last week. Jacob Davidson, 38, escaped from Twin Valley Behavioral Health Hospital on Columbus' West Side on Thursday, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which holds jurisdiction over Twin Valley. The highway patrol told WBNS-10TV that Davidson exited through a window. He was re-arrested on Sunday at around 10:30 p.m. in Chapmanville, West Virginia, and is being held in the state's Southwestern Regional Jail awaiting extradition to Ohio, according to the West Virginia State Troopers office. Davidson had earlier been arrested on Nov. 11 after Crawford County and Morrow County sheriffs offices responded to shooting incidents in which one person was injured, according to a sheriff's office news release. Officers pursued Davidson in a vehicle chase and exchange gunfire with him before arresting him. Davidson was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 15 on charges of felonious assault, a first-degree felony; disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony; improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; and discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a third-degree felony, according to records from the Crawford County Common Pleas Court clerk's website. Davidson had been transferred from the Crawford County Jail to Twin Valley in Columbus on Dec. 20. Peter Gill covers immigration and new American communities for The Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America here:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ. pgill@dispatch.com @pitaarji This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jacob Davidson re-arrested after escaping from Columbus hospital MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican authorities on Monday raised the death toll from an attack on a state prison in Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso, Texas to 17, a brazen operation that appeared designed to free the leader of a local gang. Twenty-five inmates escaped in the attack. Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said 10 of the dead were prison guards who were attacked by gunmen who arrived early Sunday in armored vehicles and fired on the entrance and inside dormitories. Rodriguez identified the inmates who escaped as being with the Mexicles gang, which she associated with the Caborca Cartel. She said the Mexicles' leader was among the fugitives. The Mexicles have been one of Juarez's main gangs for decades and for many years were known to work with the Sinaloa Cartel. The Caborca Cartel had been led by drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero who was recaptured in July. Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said the soldiers and state police who retook control of the prison found 10 VIP cells outfitted with televisions and other comforts. One even had a safe filled with cash. Authorities also found cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana inside the prison. Sandoval said two other gunmen killed after attacking local police a short time before the attack on the prison were likely a diversion. They were not included in the 17 dead, which were made up of 10 guards and seven inmates. In August, a riot inside the same state prison spread to the streets of Juarez in violence that left 11 people dead. In that case, two inmates were killed inside the prison and then alleged gang members started shooting up the town, including killing four employees of a radio station who were doing a promotion at a restaurant. Violence is frequent in Mexican prisons, including in some where authorities only maintain nominal control. Clashes regularly erupt among inmate of rival gangs, which in places like Juarez serve as proxies for drug cartels. Spark doesn t contain alcohol, but it does contain energy-boosting ingredients. (Three Spirit Drinks/Three Spirit Drinks/TNS) Expect nonalcoholic bottles to start taking up even more real estate on bar shelves. Ever since Seedlip hit the market in 2015 with the worlds first distilled nonalcoholic spirit, the producers success has proven that many want to drink, but not everyone wants to get tipsy. Now an influx of beverage brands are jostling for space in restaurants and on store shelves. Advertisement Nonalcoholic beverage sales are jumping in the U.S. as more people prioritize healthier lifestyles and millennials feel less social pressure to drink. In the year ending in August 2022, nonalcoholic drinks sales hit $395 million, a year-over-year growth of 20.6%, according to NielsenIQ. The wine category was up 23.2% in that time period, to be worth more than $52 million; booze-free spirit sales grew 88.4% from the previous year. Exhibit A is the rapid success of the nonalcoholic drinks shop Boisson. It opened during the pandemic as a storefront in Brooklyn, New York, and in less than two years, co-founder Nick Bodkins has expanded his booze-free brand to eight brick-and-mortar shops spread between there and Los Angeles. In addition to selling more than 100 unique premium nonalcoholic drinks, Boisson also sells its own namesake wine label. Advertisement Boisson Blanc tastes just like a floral, high-acid white wine; youd be hard-pressed to guess that its alcohol-free. Bodkins teamed with German-based winemaker Johannes Leitz. He says Leitz goes through the traditional winemaking process and then de-alcoholizes it at a low temperature, in a vacuum, to make it zero-proof. The result tastes remarkably like wine, as opposed to most overly sweet alcohol-free wines. Thats just one of the innovative techniques that nonalcoholic producers employ. Another trend is to spike drinks with adaptogenic herbs supporting the immune system by helping the body adapt to stress to produce new beverages with healthful benefits. Just in time for Dry January, here are the best new faux wines, cocktails and liquors to seek out. WINE Boisson Blanc from Boisson For an alcohol-free wine, Boisson tastes an awful lot like a classic riesling. Bodkins, co-founder of the bicoastal nonalcoholic boutique brand Boisson, tapped the winemaker behind Weingut Leitz, to create this floral, high-acid white, made from a blend of grapes grown in Germanys lauded Rheingau wine region. $16 for 750ml 7 from Non Consider this a booze-free lambrusco. Tart and spicy, with a leathery backdrop, the sophisticated, crimson-hued sparkler blends ingredients such as sour cherry, cold-brewed coffee and garam masala to mimic the acid, tannins and spice found in some red wines. Founder Aaron Trotman created his Non alcohol-free drinks line three years ago in Australia. Each varietal is designated by a number. Earlier in December, they became available in the U.S. $29 for 750ml Pink Salt from Proxies Advertisement Like any good rose, this bottle is extremely easy to sip. The pretty pink drink has notes of grapefruit and juicy strawberry, and white tea adds body. It embodies summer, although, like all roses, its good year-round. If youre going for a pairing, try this refreshing drink alongside fish or vegetable-focused dishes. $150 for six 750ml bottles Sparkling Verdejo from Studio Null Capped with a wire cage enclosing its cork, you could easily mistake this 2019 vintage bubbly for Champagne. But the single-varietal sparkling white is produced at Diez Siglos winery in northern Spain using the areas most famous grape, verdejo. The vinified wine is de-alcoholized via vacuum distillation to yield an almondy and lemon-forward booze-free alternative to cava. $36 for 750ml Spark from Three Spirit Blurred Vines This deep pink-hued, strawberry and red currant-flavored rose Champagne alternative does double duty as a functional beverage. Its energy-enhancing capabilities come thanks to the addition of guayusa caffeinated leaves from a tree native to the Amazon that are brewed as a tea and endurance-supporting schisandra berry, though it also works well as an alcohol-free elixir. $27 for 750ml COCKTAILS Lacewing from Tilden Cocktails Advertisement This handsome bottle contains a multidimensional, well-balanced mocktail that tastes like a margarita crossed with a Moscow mule. The exotic, flowery notes come from the addition of Sichuan peppercorn and lychee. Founders Mariah Wood and Vanessa Royle set out to create a spirit-less drink that lives up to special occasions. It starts shipping in January. $29 for 750ml Prickly Paloma from Parch Tequila fans, this ones for you. After spending a decade working at the booze conglomerate Diageo Plc, Parchs co-founder Ila Byrne branched out in a cleaner direction with her adaptogenic canned mocktail line, which is spiked with immune-supporting plants such as ginseng and ashwagandha. The agave-based Paloma cocktail riff swaps tequila for blue weber agave nectar and blends jicama and prickly pear juice, along with citrus. Find some tacos to serve with it. $44 for eight 8.4-oz cans Lolo Hops Cascadia Field Blend from Aurora Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > These cute canned drinks rely on three Pacific Northwest-grown hops varieties the plant that brewers add to beer to impart a bitter taste for their floral flavor. But this newly released booze-free spritz omits bitterness and instead offers flowery notes of grapefruit. $21 for six 12-oz cans LIQUORS and LIQUEURS Bittersweet Aperitivo from Wilderton Advertisement Aperol and Campari spritz fans, rejoice. The unofficial drink of summer is now available, alcohol-free. Wilderton founding distiller Seth OMalleys obsession with Italian botanical spirits led him to create this drink that tastes like beloved aperitifs as well as sweet vermouth. Bittersweet notes of orange and grapefruit combine with a botanical blend including gentian, bay leaf and sandalwood. $37 for 750ml Highland Malt from Lyres You could build an entire booze-free bar with the Australia-based Lyres, a brand that produces myriad mock spirits including absinthe and dark rum. The company has already won several beverage awards for those products; now founders Mark Livings and Carl Hartmann have introduced the first drink meant to be sipped neat: a woodsy, cereal- and toffee-flavored Highland-inspired malt whiskey. $36 for 700ml Hemp & Root from the Pathfinder Hendricks Gin brand creator Steven Grasse, Diageo alum Guy Escolme and cannabis vet Chris Abbott have teamed up to produce this amaro-inspired cannabis-based spirit. They add a blend of angelica root, wormwood, saffron and more into a distilled hemp base to yield an herbaceous (although not psychoactive) bittersweet elixir. $40 for 750ml Crypto broker Genesis, owned by Digital Currency Group (DCG), is in a bad spot. The companys lending arm halted customer withdrawals in November amid the downfall of FTX, and it reportedly owes users of crypto exchange Geminis Earn product some $900 million. Now, one of Geminis founders is calling out DCGs CEO over what he calls bad faith stall tactics. Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss tweeted an open letter to DCG founder and CEO Barry Silbert on Monday, addressing what he characterized as evasive tactics by DCG and Silbert as they collectively try to resolve the situation. Winklevoss wrote that Gemini has repeatedly tried to work out a consensual resolution to the dispute with DCG and Genesis over returning funds to users, but alleged that Silbert and his companies have slow-walked the process. We appreciate that there are startup costs to any restructuring, and at times things dont go as fast as we would all like, Winklevoss wrote. However, it is now becoming clear that you have been engaging in bad faith stall tactics. Winklevoss, who started Gemini with his twin brother Tyler, wrote that Silbert has thus far refused to get into a room with Gemini leadership to hash things out, along with refusing to agree to a timeline with key milestones. After six weeks, your behavior is not only completely unacceptable, it is unconscionable, Winklevoss added. The idea in your head that you can quietly hide in your ivory tower and that this will all just magically go away, or that this is someone elses problem, is pure fantasy. A $1.7 billion struggle Winklevoss noted that DCG owes Genesis $1.675 billion, citing combined figures that Silbert shared with investors in November. That figure includes a $575 million loan due in May, plus a $1.1 billion promissory note due in June 2032 tied to the collapse of Three Arrows Capital. Story continues In a tweet response, Silbert refuted the framing around the money that DCG owes to Genesis, while also claiming that DCG recently sent a proposal to both Gemini and Genesis. DCG did not borrow $1.675 billion from Genesis DCG has never missed an interest payment to Genesis and is current on all loans outstanding; next loan maturity is May 2023 DCG delivered to Genesis and your advisors a proposal on December 29th and has not received any response Barry Silbert (@BarrySilbert) January 2, 2023 DCG did not borrow $1.675 billion from Genesis. DCG has never missed an interest payment to Genesis and is current on all loans outstanding; next loan maturity is May 2023, Silbert tweeted at Winklevoss. DCG delivered to Genesis and your advisors a proposal on December 29th and has not received any response. Winklevoss asked Silbert to publicly commit to solving the crisis by January 8, but did not suggest any potential consequences or future actions if Silbert does not follow suit. In a follow-up tweet, Winklevoss added, Will you, or will you not, commit to solving this by January 8th in a manner that treats the $1.1 billion promissory note as $1.1 billion? What is Gemini Earn? Gemini Earn is a high-yield savings product that offers customers up to an 8% annual return on crypto deposits, depending on which assets are held. Genesis served as Geminis primary lending partner, and after Genesis suspended loan withdrawals in November, Gemini similarly halted withdrawals for its Earn users. Winklevoss pegged the total amount of money owned by Genesis to Gemini Earn customers at more than $900 million, echoing the $900 million figure reported by the Financial Times in early December. Last week, Gemini customers filed a class action suit against the company, alleging that Earns interest-bearing products should have been registered as securities. In a November letter, Silbert attempted to reassure investors that DCG faced no imminent threat amid the industry-wide shockwaves following FTXs collapse. However, the company is alleged to be suffering liquidity problems, as suggested both by the creditor committee working through Geminis issues as well as by Dutch crypto exchange Bitvavo. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on 31 December, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 10 units of military equipment in the area of concentration of military personnel in the city of Makiivka [Donetsk Oblast]; the losses of Russian military personnel are still being determined. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "On 31 December, up to 10 units of enemy military equipment of various types were destroyed and damaged in the area of concentration of military personnel in Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast; the losses of Russian military personnel are still being determined." Details: In addition, the Russian invaders continue to commit illegal actions against local residents in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast. In particular, the occupiers collect information about individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities and seize their vehicles and goods. Background: Earlier, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (StratCom) reported that about 400 mobilised Russians were killed and about 300 more invaders were wounded with varying degrees of severity in a precision strike on Makiivka on New Years Eve. It was noted that the Russian soldiers had been stationed in the building of a local vocational school, No. 19. Igor Girkin (Strelkov), a Russian terrorist and former so-called "Minister of Defence of the Donetsk Peoples Republic", confirmed that a large number of Russian servicemen had been killed in occupied Makiivka, adding that something like this could happen again. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed a group of Russian servicemen in the temporarily occupied city of Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast, but is claiming that the losses are much smaller than those reported by StratCom. Russia officially admitted that 63 occupiers died in Makiivka. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said Sunday that Rep.-elect George Santos, R-N.Y., should consider resigning after he admitted that he had fabricated and embellished several claims about his background involving his education and work history. Santos, who made LGBTQ political history when he won the race in New Yorks 3rd Congressional District in November, is set to be sworn in Tuesday when the new Congress begins. Despite increasing calls by Democrats and some GOP officials for Santos to resign or not be sworn in, the House Republican leadership has remained silent. Brady, who is retiring from Congress, said an interview on Fox News Sunday that Santos would need to take some huge steps to regain public trust. This is troubling in so many ways. Certainly, hes lied repeatedly, Brady said. He certainly is going to have to consider resigning. However, Brady said, Santos could redeem himself by owning up to his missteps. Were a country of second chances," Brady said. "And when you own up to this, then do what it takes to earn respect and trust again, you know, were willing to do that. So Im hopeful, you know, he chooses the right path." Brady said a decision about whether Santos steps down is one to be made between he and the voters who elected him. The New York Times published a bombshell investigation last month that said it was unable to substantiate many of Santos alleged qualifications, such as that he had worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup and had graduated from Baruch College. Federal prosecutors in New York have opened an investigation into Santos over his congressional campaign. Two sources confirmed last week that prosecutors are examining Santos finances, including potential irregularities involving financial disclosures and loans he made to his campaign as he was running for Congress. NBC News previously reported that the probe, which a spokesperson for the prosecutors declined to comment on, has not zeroed in on any one allegation yet. Story continues Santos is also being investigated by the Nassau County district attorney. While the focus of that probe is unclear, District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, a Republican, said in a statement Wednesday that the numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning. No one is above the law and if a crime was committed in this county, we will prosecute it, Donnelly said. The state attorney generals office also has said it was looking into a number of issues surrounding Santos but did not confirm whether it had opened an official investigation. A representative for Santos did not previously respond to a request for comment on the inquiries, and his campaign did not immediately respond to Brady's comments. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the outgoing chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, have ignored questions from reporters about Santos and whether he should be seated. Santos has previously tweeted that he was backing McCarthys bid to be speaker in a leadership fight within the House GOP, which will have only a narrow majority in the new Congress. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The annual Banished Words List is back, and this time it's calling on people to remove "imprecise, trite and meaningless words" like "gaslighting" and "quiet quitting" from their vocabulary. The list is a "tongue-in-cheek" compilation done every year by Lake Superior State University, which says more than 1,500 words were nominated for "banishment" due to their "misuse, overuse and uselessness." Nominations came from dozens of countries and across the United States, organizers said. "Words and terms matter. Or at least they should. Especially those that stem from the casual or causal. That's what nominators near and far noticed, and our contest judges from the LSSU School of Arts and Letters agreed," said Peter Szatmary, the university's executive director of marketing and communications, in a press release. At the top of the list isn't actually a word, but an acronym: G.O.A.T., or greatest of all time. The press release noted that the title has been bestowed on athletes, game show champions and more, with critics complaining it has become an "indiscriminate flaunt" that's "applied to everyone and everything from athletes to chicken wings." Next on the list is "inflection point," described as a "mathematical term that entered everyday parlance and lost its original meaning," followed by "quiet quitting," the much-discussed label for an employee who does what companies see as the bare minimum. "Gaslighting" is fourth on the list, due to "overuse" that "disconnects the term from the real concern" of dangerous psychological manipulation. (Clearly not everyone agrees, however: Merriam-Webster's dictionary chose "gaslighting" as its 2022 word of the year.) Also making the list are "irregardless" (often incorrectly used in place of "regardless"), the overused superlatives "amazing" and "absolutely," and several common phrases: "moving forward," "does that make sense?" and "it is what it is." That last one was banished in 2008, but its resurgence prompted its inclusion again. Story continues "Our linguists, editors, and philosophers, comics, gatekeepers, and pundits didn't succumb to quiet quitting when laboring over rife miscommunication. Rather, they turned in discerning opinions about rampant verbal and written blunders with equal parts amusement, despair, and outrage. But our nominators insisted, and our Arts and Letters faculty judges concurred, that to decree the Banished Words List 2023 as the GOAT is tantamount to gaslighting. Does that make sense?" said LSSU President Dr. Rodney S. Hanley in the press release. "Irregardless, moving forward, it is what it is: an absolutely amazing inflection point of purposeless and ineptitude that overtakes so many mouths and fingers." Student-athlete pays off sister's student loans Tennis star Martina Navratilova diagnosed with 2 cancers Jeremy Renner critically injured in snowplow accident Russian troops struck a market in Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, on the morning of Jan. 2, wounding five people, three of which are in serious condition, reported Kherson Oblast Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych. Beryslav may have been fired upon from occupied Kakhova, added Yanushevych. Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson on Nov. 11 after eight months of occupation. On Jan. 1 alone, Russian forces attacked liberated parts of Kherson Oblast 71 times, killing one civilian and injuring four. The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said on Jan. 1 that Russias military has been shelling settlements in Kherson Oblast with the intention of forcing civilians to flee the region. The first day of the 118th Congress ended Tuesday without a new House speaker. Voting resumed Wednesday and still no speaker. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough votes to become speaker of the House on six ballotsover both days, heightening tumult around the new GOP majority. For the first time in a century, the House was unable to pick a speaker on the first vote. The speaker is the most powerful role in Congress, in line behind the vice president to succeed the president should the commander in chief be incapacitated. But the more immediate and prominent authority the speaker wields is controlling the agenda and committee assignments that shape legislation in the lower chamber of Congress. When Republicans took the majority in November's midterm elections, McCarthy became the top contender for the speakership after GOP lawmakers elected to keep him last month as head of the caucus. But a faction of the party balked at giving him the support he would need to secure the position. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., challenged McCarthy for the powerful leadership role and earned 10 votes on the first ballot Tuesday. By Wednesday, Biggs appeared to be out of the running for the gavel as did Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who received 20 votes on the third ballot. Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds became the McCarthy alternative, earning 20 votes on the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots. In contrast, every one of the 212 elected Democrats voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the House Democrats, in all six rounds. McCarthy allies who outnumber the never Kevin bloc have said they arent budging in supporting only Kevin. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter More: Kevin McCarthys race for speaker risks upending the House of Representatives Story continues The speaker of the House is the only political position in the House elected by all its members. Here's how the election works and what could happen if McCarthy does not reach the vote threshold needed for the speakership. How does the speaker vote process begin? Prior the start of a new Congress, both parties hold a private meeting where they elect the party leadership for the next Congress. This takes place before Jan. 3, the official start of the new term when all House members vote for the speaker. A candidate only needs a majority of votes from their respective party to win the endorsement in the private meeting for leadership. Even if a colleague votes against a candidate in the private caucus meeting, the party typically sticks together to back their nominee on the House floor in January, according to Matt Glassman, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Government Affairs Institute. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks to his office from the chamber following votes on Dec. 2, 2022. More: A poor GOP showing in the midterms could hamper Kevin McCarthy's path to be House speaker However, when the whole House votes, anyone can be nominated. And just a few votes in opposition to a candidate from their own party could cost them the speakership if the majority is narrow as is the case with the Republicans: as few as five GOP House members could block the party leader from winning the gavel. "Which creates a scenario where people could dissent, a very small faction could stop you from winning on the floor in your own party," Glassman said. How is the speaker vote held? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks from the floor of the House of Representatives after announcing she will step down from her leadership role when the Republicans claim a majority in the House in the next congressional term, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The clerk of the House from the prior Congress gavels in the opening session and presides as speaker until one is elected. The clerk first calls for a quorum to establish that enough members are present to conduct business and then proceeds immediately to the speaker election before the swearing in of newly elected members. The clerk calls lawmakers in alphabetical order by last name who then announce their choice for speaker by calling out the last name of the candidate. This differs from the usual electronic voting conducted in the House on legislation. Candidates for speaker are nominated from the floor by members of their parties. There is always one Democratic nominee and one Republican, but the speaker does not have to be a member of the majority party or even a member of Congress. How many votes are needed to be chosen as Speaker? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California smiles as she holds the gavel as the House votes on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Dec. 18, 2019. The magic number is 218 kind of. A candidate requires votes from a majority of lawmakers who are voting to be elected speaker. That means if all 435 members are present and voting, the number of votes needed is 218. But lawmakers can decide to skip the vote, or vote "present," which reduces the vote threshold needed to win the speakership. Speakers Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and John Boehner, R-Ohio, both won the speakership without reaching 218 votes. More: Kevin McCarthy wants to block three Democrats from committees if he becomes House speaker In the new Congress, all 434 members (one fewer than 435 because Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin recently died and a successor has yet to be chosen) can vote. If the results, for example, are: 216 votes for McCarthy, 212 for a Democratic candidate and 6 representatives vote for someone else, the 216 votes would not be the majority of 434 needed for the speakership. McCarthy would come up short. However, if those six representatives do not vote for someone else, they don't count toward the total votes needed. This lowers the threshold to 428, meaning a 216 vote could secure the speakership for McCarthy. Glassman said this is often used as a tactic by speaker candidates who convince their colleagues to, in essence, abstain as a compromise between voting for another candidate and supporting their candidacy. "That's certainly a viable strategy," he said. What happens if a candidate doesn't get the majority of votes? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hugs former Speaker John Boehner of Ohio during her portrait unveiling ceremony in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on December 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. If the first ballot fails to provide a speaker, lawmakers will continue to vote until a candidate receives a majority. Members can vote for different candidates each ballot. It's not common that there is more than one ballot, but it has happened. In 1923, it took multiple ballots nine to elect a speaker. On three occasions prior to the Civil War, a speaker was not elected on the first ballot. In one instance, it took 133 ballots over a period of two months. As a last resort, lawmakers can adopt a resolution that would elect a speaker by a plurality or by rank-choice voting instead of a simple majority. Glassman said McCarthy needs at least 213 votes because the 212 House Democrats are likely going to all back their party leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Of the remaining nine GOP lawmakers who have expressed reservations about supporting McCarthy, the California Republican will need some combination of votes for him, "present" vote or no votes. "The important thing functionally is nothing else happens in the House until they have a speaker," Glassman said, adding that the House won't be able to adopt rules, assign committees or consider legislation until the speaker is chosen. How do members typically vote? Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., heads into House Republican caucus leadership elections in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on November 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Lawmakers traditionally vote for their party's nominee, but some in recent years have chosen to vote "present" or not vote. "This is sort of a modern thing in the last 10 years," Glassman said. "We've had members of the majority party threatening not to vote for their party's nominee on the floor." He cites one reason as the current media environment where outliers realize they can gain attention from opposing a speaker nominee and separate themselves from the leadership to appeal to voters. More: Nancy Pelosi's legacy: 'A troublemaker with a gavel' leaves her mark, from health care to impeachment "It's a way to stand out," he said. The last to vote for the opposite political party was Democratic Rep. Jim Traficant from Ohio. He voted in 2001 for the Republican speaker nominee and faced severe consequences: Democrats stripped him of his committee assignments. How will this play out for McCarthy? House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks at his election night watch party after the midterm elections, early on November 9, 2022, in Washington, DC. A two-month speakership election is not likely. McCarthy won the closed-door vote leadership election, and by wide margins, after facing challenger Biggs, the Republican of Arizona and a member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus. The votes on Tuesday and Wednesday, which included all members of the House and not just the Republican party, have yet to put McCarthy or anyone else over the vote threshold to win the speakership. The speaker vote could play out in a few ways. Members will continue to vote for days, weeks or months until a speaker candidate receives enough votes, which means no other legislative business will be conducted and members will not be officially sworn in. One option for McCarthy is to continue to try to bargain with his colleagues to gain enough votes, though that hasn't worked so far. He could also drop out of the race for speaker, leaving an opening for another Republican to win the gavel. Despite the repeated ballots, no McCarthy challengers have come close to gaining the majority of votes for the gavel. "If none of those things happen, then you're in for a real chaos situation because then you have to try to find candidates somewhere in the party who weren't even on the radar screen," Glassman said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How the House picks a speaker: What happens after McCarthy loses? Outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2015 riots in Baltimore and his cancer diagnosis were the greatest challenges he faced during his time as governor. Hogan met with the Washington, D.C.-based Fox affiliate Fox 5 for an interview to reflect on his time as governor as his second term comes to an end, saying the pandemic was probably the toughest challenge he faced. But he said handling the violence that occurred in Baltimore following the killing of Freddie Gray and his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma were also difficult. We had all these plans and things we were going to focus on, turning the economy around, getting Maryland to be more competitive, and we focused on that, but 89 days after being governor, we had the worst violence in 47 years break out in our largest city, he said. Hogan sent in 4,000 members of the National Guard and 1,000 police officers to maintain order in Baltimore after the 25-year-old Gray died in police custody as a result of spinal and neck injuries he sustained while being transported in a police van. He later fell into a coma. The medical examiner ruled Grays death a homicide. The protests initially were peaceful but turned violent, leading to rioting, looting and damage to the city. A state of emergency was declared and eventually lifted after more than a week. Hogan said he had been governor for only five months when he was diagnosed with cancer. It was pretty bad. This hit me from out of the blue, but I had 40 or 50 tumors all over my body, he said. It was about as far as you could get without it being a very difficult situation at stage 4. He said he did five or six months of off-and-on chemotherapy, and he kept working through it. He was eventually considered free of the cancer after undergoing the treatment. Hogan will leave office later this month after two terms as one of the most popular governors in the country, especially as a Republican leading a reliably blue state. Story continues He said he is satisfied with what he accomplished as governor and left it all on the field. Its not like we solved every single problem that was out there, but I feel a sense of satisfaction that we actually got a lot of things done that we said we were going to do, he said. Democrat Wes Moore will take over the governors mansion on Jan. 18. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Aalora Vyas was born at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital at 12:37 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023, weighing 6 pounds and 10 ounces. (Vyas family photo) Jan. 1 is always a day of new beginnings. But for some Chicagoland parents, the early morning hours of New Years Day were a special kind of beginning a time when they welcomed their babies into the world. Lopa and Aashish Vyas welcomed their baby, Aalora, at 6 pounds and 10 ounces, after midnight Sunday. She was among the first children born in Chicagoland hospitals in 2023, and possibly the very first. Advertisement The couple, from Lemont, had their daughter at 12:37 a.m. at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. Aalora, who is 19.5 inches tall, arrived with a 3-year-old brother, Aaiden, waiting for her. We honestly probably would have been sleeping had she not wanted to make her way into this world, Aaloras mother, Lopa Vyas, told the Tribune amid joyous laughs. Advertisement Before Aalora was born, the Vyas family had attended a few kid-friendly New Years Eve parties, so they were back home early. At 7:30 p.m., Lopas contractions were 10 to 15 minutes apart. And then my husband told me, he was like, Just lay down. Try and relax. Lets just count the contractions, the mother recalled. And then I tried to lay down in bed and I told him, Its really hard to lay down, which is weird. So he helped me lay down and then, all of a sudden, my water broke. The couple headed to the hospital at 11 p.m. Saturday. Aalora was born a little less than two hours later. Everyone was so wonderful. Our experience here has been so good, Lopa Vyas said. The nurses were fantastic. They kept me so calm because everything was happening so fast. I was having my temperature taken and my blood pressure and my COVID test and my IV everything was happening all at once. And if they felt stressed, I didnt feel that stress, which was so helpful and also probably made the labor process shorter. She said she feels that, with a son and a daughter, her family is complete. We really wanted her to come in January and she heard us, she came right after the new year, she said. So were really excited for this year. A few minutes after Aalora was born, NorthShore Evanston Hospital welcomed a baby boy at 12:45 a.m. His parents chose not to release a name or photo. Cook County Health reported a baby named Nyvvia was born at Stroger Hospital at 2 a.m. Advertisement At 2:28 a.m., Hanover Park residents Alex, 30, and Ana Corman, 26, welcomed their firstborn child, Kevin Cristian at Ascension St. Alexius in Hoffman Estates. He weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces and measured 19.29 inches. I like the fact that his name is Kevin. And what I found out when I Googled it, his name, it means a beautiful birth, Ana Corman told the Tribune. So, I really had such a beautiful birth and the new year following up, so its amazing. The new mother was just over 39 weeks pregnant this weekend. She said she was calm when her water broke Sunday morning as she shifted her position in bed. Ana Corman said labor went smoothly and that, at the end, her little miracle was happily born. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > At 2:38 a.m., the daughter of Elgin residents Monserrat Sarmiento and Brayan Reza was born at Advocate Sherman Hospital. The babys name is Lilliana Xiomara Reza Sarmiento, and she weighed 6 pounds and 3 ounces and measured 19.5 inches at the time of birth. Shortly afterward, at 2:53 a.m., Noah Turner was born in Advocate Christ Medical Center to Brittany Nowell and Terry Turner of Evergreen Park. He weighed 6 pounds and 7 ounces and was 20 inches tall. Advertisement Baby Anna came to the world at 3:52 a.m. to the arms of her parents Yuliya Mykhaylyuk and Vitalii Bobeliuk of Hanover Park. She was born at Ascension Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village, weighing 6 pounds and 12 ounces and measuring 19.75 inches tall. At 5:03 a.m., Jaylah Resendez became the first baby born in 2023 at the Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Family Birth Center. Jaylah is the second child of Alejandra Castillo and Ahbran Resendez of Chicago Heights. She weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces and was just over 18 inches long. adperez@chicagotribune.com EVANSVILLE 2022 proved to be one of Evansville's deadliest years in recent memory, with homicides claiming the lives of victims ranging in age from just a few days old to more than 80 years. According to police records and a count by the Courier & Press, 24 people died by homicide in Evansville this year, surpassing last year's total of 21 killings. The majority of the 24 killed in 2022 died due to gunshot wounds, but stabbings, neglect, and a hit-and-run during an attempted car jacking claimed lives, too. The year also saw two fatal officer-involved shootings, including one in December. And three of the deaths occurred on one day alone. It all makes 2022 one of the deadliest years since at least the mid-1960s, according to police homicide records. Evansville Police Department records list 19 homicide victims for 2022, leaving out the two police shootings and one case that occurred in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office's jurisdiction. Not all cases of homicide are murder in at least one case from this year, police deemed a homicide justifiable and in self defense. Under Indiana law, murder is defined as the intentional killing of another person, or the act of killing someone while committing another crime, including burglary, drug-dealing and others. Homicides, meanwhile, can include deaths from neglect or accidents. Of cases investigated by the EPD, four remain open and unsolved, according to the department's internal list of homicide investigations. Feb. 4: Phillip Dill dies in police shooting According to 911 audio obtained by the Courier & Press, 34-year-old Phillip Dill called police dispatch Feb. 4 and told them he was "losing his mind" and preparing to shoot and kill his family. "I have a gun and I'm going to kill everyone in the house," Dill told dispatchers. Evansville police spokesman Sgt. Nick Winsett said officers shot and killed Dill after attempts to negotiate failed. According to Winsett, Dill was threatening the lives of a woman and multiple children. Story continues Feb. 6: Evansville teenager shot to death on porch of Madison Avenue home An 18-year-old Evansville man died after he was shot in the 300 block of Madison Avenue. According to an EPD news release, officers found the victim on a porch suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. EPD spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray told the Courier & Press Thursday the case is still active. No suspects have been arrested. March 24: David Anthony Macke and Kara Frederick shot to death The Evansville Police Department said 68-year-old David Anthony Macke and 31-year-old Kara Frederick were shot to death on March 24 inside a West Side residence. The alleged shooter, 30-year-old Samuel Aaron Robb, led Indiana State Police on a car chase into Harrison County, Indiana, following the incident. ISP spokesman Sgt. Carey Huls said authorities believe Robb shot himself at some point during the chase. "Nobody witnessed anything happening as far as a gunshot," Huls said. "But evidence showed thats most likely what happened. Robb's death isn't included in the Courier & Press' homicide count since it occurred in another county. March 30: Candilyn Michelle Sexton and her unborn child killed by ex-partner Scott L. Terry Jr., 30, reportedly confessed to shooting and killing his ex-partner, Candilyn Michelle Sexton, in March. Sexton was in her third trimester of pregnancy at the time, leading prosecutors to charge Terry with two counts of murder. The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office said Sexton died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. According to court records, a jury trial in Terry's case is scheduled to begin Feb. 27. April 3: 33-year-old Megan Schaefer killed following attempted car theft Mateo Rodriguez, 16, was charged with murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, auto theft, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and operating a vehicle without a license following a reported attempted car jacking and fatal hit-and-run that led to the death of Megan Schaefer, 33, in April. According to court records, Rodriguez's jury trial has been rescheduled twice, and is now set to begin May 3. April 17: Vito Allen and Thomas James shot under unclear circumstances EPD officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of West Mill Road around 9 p.m, according to police reports, and on scene they found 43-year-old Vito A. Allen and 50-year-old Thomas R. James deceased inside a North Park apartment. Gray said detectives ultimately determined the two men shot each other, and the case is labeled "possible murder & self defense" in an EPD list of homicides it investigated this year. June 1: 85-year-old Betty Ann Stevens allegedly killed by her grandson John M. Stevens, 40, was arrested and charged with murdering his 85-year-old grandmother, Betty Ann Stevens. According to Gray, officers found Stevens "beyond help" in the backyard of her East Michigan Street residence. In addition to the murder charge, John Stevens faces two counts of battery by bodily waste against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony, and eight counts of intimidation, also a Level 6 felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2023. June 5-6: Javion Presley-McNary shot to death Officers responded to the 800 block of Line Street around midnight between June 5 and 6 and found Javion Presley-McNary suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest, Evansville police said. Presley-McNary was just 17 years old. As of December, the EPD said the case remains open, and no arrests have been made. June 8: Wade Wilson, a 12-day-old baby, dies due to alleged neglect Following the death of an Evansville infant, police arrested the child's parents and charged them with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. The parents, Taylor Smith, 26, and Timothy Wilson, 47, are charged with neglect of a dependent causing death, reckless homicide, maintaining a common nuisance and drug possession charges. The mother reportedly told police she fell asleep and woke up with the child underneath her. Wade Wilson was born on May 27, according to records obtained by the Courier & Press. Court records list Smith's trial data as Jan. 9. Timothy Wilson's trial is scheduled to begin May 8. July 27: James Christopher McClernon shot and killed in Evansville trailer park Vanderburgh County Sheriff's deputies arrested 34-year-old Ricky Allen Kiper Jr. following a shooting in the 5900 block of Maggie Valley Drive, which is located in a Northwest Side trailer park. According to a sworn affidavit of probable cause, Kiper Jr. told detectives he shot the victim, 41-year-old James Christoper McClernon, because McClernon was a sex offender. Kiper Jr. faces one count of murder, a Level 1 felony, and is set to appear in court for a review hearing on September 13. Aug. 3: Nicholas Fenwick and Brett Coulson killed in double shooting One man shot and killed another man outside an Evansville convenience store, only then to be shot and killed himself by an armed bystander, city police say. Police said they believe the bystander acted lawfully and in self defense. Vanderburgh County Deputy Coroner David Anson identified the deceased men as Nicholas Fenwick, 28, and 33-year-old Brett Coulson. Police haven't said which man was reportedly the initial shooter, and the bystander hasn't been publicly identified. In October, a spokeswoman for the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office told the Courier & Press the incident had been deemed "non-criminal." Aug. 9: TelMajae Caimron McGee, 19, fatally shot Nineteen-year-old Tel'Majae Caimron McGee was shot and killed in the 600 block of Jefferson Avenue in Evansville, according to the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office and city police. Gray said a shots-fired call and a report of a person down came in around 2:45 a.m. When police arrived on scene, they found McGee in an alleyway with multiple gunshot wounds and attempted life-saving measures. McGee was pronounced dead a short time later, Gray said. The case remains open and unsolved as of December, according to Gray. Aug. 9: Ronald Eugene Eastwood Jr. shot and killed EPD says it is still investigating the shooting that killed 35-year-old Ronald Eugene Eastwood Jr. Police said he was gunned down in the 1000 block of East Mulberry Street around 2:45 a.m: the same time and day as McGee's killilng. In a news release, police said there are potentially two suspects in the investigation, and that at least one of them was allegedly wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask. Neither suspect had been apprehended as of December. Aug. 9: Missing person found deceased, wrapped in a tarp; police make arrest Fifty-seven-year-old Patrick White, who had been missing since July 7, was found dead and wrapped in a tarp inside a home in the 1800 block of South Linwood Avenue on August 9. According to an EPD news release, a tip prompted police to search the home. The coroner's office later confirmed the deceased man was indeed White and ruled that he was shot to death. EPD detectives and SWAT subsequently served a search warrant that resulted in the arrest of 33-year-old Michael L. Thomas, who was then booked into the Vanderburgh County jail and charged with murder. According to court records, Thomas' trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 21. Aug. 28: Trey Lashaune McGillicuddy shot to death In September, prosecutors accused 34-year-old Brandon Artis of killing 27-year-old Trey Lashaune McGillicuddy, who was found shot to death on Aug. 27 following a violent robbery. Artis was first arrested Sept. 7 on drugs and weapons charges, but he now faces seven new counts, including murder, for allegedly killing McGillicuddy. According to an affidavit of probable cause, EPD detectives said cellphone data connected Artis to McGillicuddy's killing, which they said occurred during a drug-related robbery that endangered the lives of children and an eyewitness. Artis' jury trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 13, according to court records. Oct. 7: Jermon Weathers fatally stabbed According to Gray, 42-year-old Jermon Weathers was fatally stabbed in the 1200 block of Park Street just after 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Park Street is located about 10 blocks northeast of Franklin Street. When officers arrived on scene, Gray said they located Weathers inside a residence with a stab wound to the chest. Three days later, police arrested 26-year-old Zachary Lee Page, who would go on to be charged with murdering Weathers. Police said Page admitted to the stabbing but claimed it was in self-defense. According to court records, Page's jury trial is scheduled to begin March 13. Oct. 8: Zachary Parksey fatally stabs Colin McHargue inside Mo's House bar According to police records, 29-year-old Zachary Parksey and 30-year-old Colin McHargue appeared to be "really good friends." But on Oct. 8, Parksey allegedly stabbed McHargue to death inside the bathroom of Mo's House bar, which is located in the 1100 block of Parrett Street. According to a sworn affidavit, an employee at Mos House told police the men came together to the bar in the 1100 block of Parrett Street and opened a tab. She said they were friendly with one another. They eventually went to the mens room. According to a witness who was inside the room at the time, thats when they began shoving each other and arguing, the affidavit states. An employee in the womens restroom at the time of the fight told police she overheard someone scream oh my God, oh my God through the rooms shared wall. She ran out and, through the open men's room door, saw McHargue lying on the floor. Parksey allegedly told an employee he stabbed McHargue in self defense. Police later wrote they found no signs of injury on Parksey. According to court records, Parksey is charged with felony murder and a trial date is set for April 10. Dec. 4: Gamia L. Stuart shot and killed at Clayton Avenue apartment According to a probable cause affidavit, 44-year-old Clifton Bryant Fletcher Sr. allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Gamia Lechelle Stuart in the 1600 block of Clayton Avenue Dec. 4. Police responded to the scene after dispatch received several 911 calls for a person shot outside a home on Clayton Avenue. When officers arrived, they found Stuart lying on a concrete pad between two apartments. She had been shot several times and was declared dead at the scene. Witnesses and other evidence linked Fletcher to the crime early in the investigation, Gray said. Detectives learned Fletcher had "left the jurisdiction," but police set up a roadblock and stopped him when he reentered Evansville. He was arrested without incident and booked into the Vanderburgh County jail just after 11 p.m. Dec. 4. Fletcher is currently charged with one count of felony murder, according to court records. A review hearing in his case is scheduled for Jan. 19. Dec. 12: Kentar R. Collins allegedly shoots, kills Jaylen Alexander Curlee The EPD said Kentar R. Collins, 23, turned himself in after detectives accused him of fatally shooting 25-year-old Jaylen Alexander Curlee in the 1500 block of Judson Street just after 4 a.m. on Dec. 12. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Collins allegedly opened fire on Curlee from his vehicle. EPD officers arrived shortly after the shooting and found Curlee lying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, a police incident report states. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and Curlee was pronounced dead at the scene. On Dec. 19, Collins filed a notice in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court stating his intent to argue he acted in self defense, according to court records. The court scheduled an early trial to begin Feb. 8, 2023. Dec. 16: EPD officer fatally shoots man amid mental health 'episode' Evansville police shot and killed 47-year-old Mauricio Cisneros, who they believed to be suffering from a mental health disorder, Dec. 16 in the 1300 block of North Third Avenue. The incident began when Cisneros called 911. In the call obtained by the Courier & Press, dispatchers struggle to understand Cisneros, who speaks mostly in Spanish. At one point, the dispatcher believed he cryptically said "they are killing people." More:Officer who shot, killed Mauricio Cisneros was trained in crisis intervention In body camera footage released by the EPD, officers are seen struggling to communicate with Cisneros as well. The first responding officer asks Cisneros to put a knife down multiple times. While Cisneros' voice is calm, he repeatedly claims people are trying to kill him. "Hes talking about people who arent here. I think he might be schizophrenic, having some kind of episode," the first officer says when another officer arrives about five minutes into the first video. More:Police identify officer who shot, killed Evansville man The EPD said officer Kyle Campbell shot and killed Cisneros after he "lunged" at officers with a knife. Campbell, and the other officers on scene, had received more than 40 hours of crisis intervention training, according to the department. Campbell has been placed on pending further investigation. That is standard EPD practice after a police shooting. Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com with story ideas and questions. Twitter: @houston_whh This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville homicides: 2022 was one of the city's deadliest years ever Former White House aide Hope Hicks told a fellow aide in text messages during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that we all look like domestic terrorists now as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Texts released by the House select committee investigating that day show Hicks texting with Julie Radford, former chief of staff to Ivanka Trump, as the violence unfolded. In one day he ended every future opportunity that doesnt include speaking engagements at the local proud boys chapter, Hicks said, apparently referring to former President Trump. Radford responded, Yup, seemingly agreeing. And all of us that didnt have jobs lined up will be perpetually unemployed, Hicks said, also saying she was so mad and upset, adding, We all look like domestic terrorists now. Oh yes Ive been crying for an hour, Radford replied. Hicks texted that former White House Director of Strategic Communications Alyssa Farah Griffin, who resigned about a month before the attack, looked like a genius. The two women also discussed the resignation of Stephanie Grisham, who served as chief of staff to former first lady Melania Trump. Radford texted that Grishams decision seemed self serving. Grisham has emerged as a significant critic of the Trump administration in the nearly two years since the end of his presidency. The Jan. 6 committee has released many materials and transcripts with witnesses over the past week as it has wrapped up its work ahead of the conclusion of this session of Congress. The committee completed its final report last month, referring four criminal charges against former President Trump to the Justice Department. The criminal referrals are nonbinding, but the committees action marked the first time a congressional panel has recommended a former president face criminal charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas stands by a row of portraits of county auditors outside of her office in the Peoria County Courthouse. PEORIA Appellate Court judges said Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas' challenge to a ballot measure that eliminated her office was fairly decided at the local level. In a 22-page decision, the 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield explained its reasoning behind its order in November that allowed the ballot measure to stand. The trio of judges noted that normally they wouldn't tackle issues that were already resolved but this case was a bit different. "At the time we issued our order affirming the trial court on November 21, 2022, the ballots of the November 8 election had been counted, and the result of the referendum had been declared. However, the Election Commission had not yet certified the results. Accordingly, we concluded that this case was not moot. Thus, we proceed to the merits of this appeal," they wrote in the Dec. 21 opinion. Previously:Peoria County auditor wins latest round in court. Here's what's next Thomas and community activist Karrie Alms felt the way the ballots were not done within the rules. Their lawsuit, filed on Sept. 15, contended the language for the referendum that was sent by County Clerk Rachel Parker was not what was approved by the County Board in August. As such, it was invalid. Also, they argued, Parker's attempts to fix the error meant the correct language was past the deadline. A local judge found that argument unpersuasive in September. Alms and Thomas appealed and the 4th District ruled that Peoria County Judge James Mack got it right. Also, the appellate judges noted that Alms and Thomas raised issues for the first time in their appellate brief, which didn't allow Mack to consider them. Justin Penn, Thomas' attorney, said the ruling was not unexpected. "We are disappointed, but not surprised. The ruling is clearly only focused on conducting the election, which is over. The real issue of whether the Countys referendum is appropriate and legal will ultimately be decided by the appeal in the pending case, and we look forward to the opportunity to defend Judge Macks well-reasoned decision," he said in a recent email. Story continues That other case is also pending before the 4th District. In that case, Mack held that as long as a 2021 lawsuit Thomas filed is pending, the county has to fund her office at the budgeted levels. Currently, that's only her salary and benefits because the County Board didn't include any employees in her 2023 budget. In 2021, Thomas sued the county, saying efforts to defund her office, as a precursor to the voter referendum, were illegal. And then after the election, county officials had wanted to shut off the money to Thomas' office in late November, saying the referendum closed her doors. But Mack said no. Twice Mack has blocked efforts since the election to stop the money. The county has appealed his decisions. County officials have declined to comment, saying it's ongoing litigation. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois appellate court explains denying Peoria County auditor appeal Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , Brazil (Photo/U.S. Department of the Interior) The first Native American to serve in a secretarial position within a presidential cabinet, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo)on Sunday, January 1, 2023, led the Presidential Delegation of the United States on behalf of President Joe Biden to the presidential Inauguration of His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. I was honored to represent President Biden, our administration, and the American people at President Lula's inauguration and to celebrate the longstanding and important partnership between the United States and Brazil, Secretary Haaland said. Our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, Indigenous peoples, equitable economic growth, environmental protection, and other core values makes us natural partners. The Biden-Harris administration intends to use every opportunity to broaden and deepen that partnership with President Lula's government in the years to come. This will be Lula's third term, after previously governing Brazil for two consecutive terms between 2003 and 2010. Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction, Lula said in a speech in Congress Lower House after signing the document that formally instates him as president. The great edifice of rights, sovereignty and development that this nation built has been systematically demolished in recent years. To re-erect this edifice, we are going to direct all our efforts. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Secretary Haaland was joined by Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council Juan Gonzalez, and Charge dAffaires of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil Douglas A. Koneff. Secretary Haaland and the delegation participated in all the major inaugural events and held other meetings with counterparts and partners. Story continues Interior Secretary Deb Haaland at Brazil's Congress. (Photo/U.S. Dept of the Interior) The Department of the Interior has a long history of collaboration with Brazilian counterparts on a wide range of environmental and natural resources issues. The U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation engage in technical exchanges with the National Water Agency, on topics such as hydrologic surveys and dam safety. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service partner with the Environment and Sustainable Natural Resources Ministry on conservation and protected area management. And the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are in dialogue with counterparts in Brazil about offshore wind development and carbon sequestration. Most recently, in November the Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) facilitated a knowledge exchange between officials from six U.S. Tribes and representatives of Indigenous communities in the Amazon. My Department looks forward to continuing these important partnerships with our Brazilian colleagues, added Secretary Haaland. In addition to attending the inauguration, Secretary Haaland met with Joenia Wapichana (incoming President of the National Indigenous Foundation), Toya Manchineri (Coordinator of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon), and other Indigenous leaders and partner institutions implementing U.S.-funded environmental programs in Brazil. In those meetings, the delegation discussed the priorities and challenges of Indigenous peoples in Brazil, opportunities to deepen collaboration between U.S. and Brazilian Indigenous communities, and partnership with the USAID to engage communities whose lives depend on the integrity and conservation of the Brazilian Amazon ecosystem. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil. Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters Jair Bolsonaro was missing from the inauguration of Brazil's new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro rented an MMA fighter's house in Florida to flee multiple investigations, according to The New York Times. In Bolsonaro's place, a 33-year-old garbage collector gave Lula da Silva the presidential sash. Brazil recognized its new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with an elaborate inauguration ceremony on Sunday. The leftist incumbent snagged the office from the country's far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, in a tight runoff election in October. Bolsonaro refused to formally concede the election, and on Sunday he ditched the inauguration for a trip to Orlando, Florida, The New York Times reported. According to the NYT, Bolsonaro flew there on Friday and plans to stay for at least a month while he faces investigations from his term as president. The Times reported that he is staying in a rented home owned by an unnamed professional mixed-martial-arts fighter, just miles from Disney World. As per tradition, Bolsonaro was supposed to pass Lula da Silva a presidential sash during Sunday's ceremony, symbolizing a peaceful transition of power. Instead, according to The Times, a voice announced that Lula da Silva would accept the sash from "the people of Brazil," and a 33-year-old garbage collector placed the sash over his shoulder. Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) waves to supporters on the day of his swearing-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil, January 1, 2023. Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters Bolsonaro is facing five inquiries, according to The Times, including an investigation into his misinformation-laden attacks on Brazil's voting machines and another into his possible links to "digital militias" that spread misinformation. He no longer has the prosecutorial immunity that comes with the office of Brazil's President. The Times also reported that an anonymous source, who is a close friend of the Bolsonaro family, said the former president is waiting in Florida to see if the Lula da Silva administration will push any of those investigations. Read the original article on Business Insider Image: 20th Century Studios Anya Taylor-Joy teases the blood and dirt of Furiosa. Scream 6's new poster teases potential victims for Ghostfaces New York trip. Charlie Cox still isnt sure just what parts of his Matt Murdock are carrying over to Daredevil: Born Again. Plus, new pictures from the return of Shadow and Bone. Spoilers, away! Avatar 3 Speaking with the French news outlet 20 Minutes (via Culture Crave), James Cameron revealed Avatar 3 will introduce a villainous group of Navi called the Ash People. Read more I want to reveal the Navi from another angle because [so far] I have only shown their good sides. In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Navi examples. In Avatar 3, well do the reverse. A-Force In conversation with Cinepop (via Screen Rant), Evangeline Lilly one again reiterated shed like to make an A-Force movie with her fellow female MCU co-stars. Yes! I would like to be on it. I would like to make it happen. That day that we did the scene in [Avengers:] Endgame where it was just us women was the most special day Ive ever had. It was maybe tied with the most special day Ive ever had filming a Marvel movie. Furiosa Anya Taylor-Joy also told IndieWire Furiosa will see the actress at the dirtiest and bloodiest shes ever been on screen. Its the dirtiest and the bloodiest I have ever been. Any time I get to be dirty or bloody and not perfectly prim and pretty, Im just having a ball, thats where I feel most comfortable. So yeah, Furiosa was definitely right up my street. Scream VI Ghostface maps the NYC subway system with a list of potential suspects on a new poster for Scream VI. Daredevil: Born Again During a recent interview with iNews, Charlie Cox stated he still isnt sure whether the Matt Murdock we meet in Born Again is the same character from the Netflix series. Story continues I dont think its a different character. I just think its maybe a different period of his life. I dont think my interpretation will change they hired the same actor. Were saying this is a whole newera, or variant? I havent read the scripts, so I dont know. But like, its part of the multiverse? Shadow and Bone Netflix has released a couple more images from Shadow and Bones new season premiering March 16. can't wait for March 16? here are some bonus sneak peeks at SHADOW AND BONE Season 2! pic.twitter.com/HMtR4JAJoS Shadow And Bone (@shadowandbone_) December 27, 2022 Fantasy Island Helene believes her biological father is attending a Fantasy Island bachelor party in the synopsis for Hurricane Helene/The Bachelor Party airing January 9. In the wake of her mothers passing, Helene visits the Island in search of her biological father. She thinks he might just be one of the guys whos come to celebrate a Bachelor Party. Roarke and Javier grow closer, while Ruby gives herself a spiritual cleanse with a bonfire and a night swim, where she encounters an old friend in the all-new Hurricane Helene/The Bachelor Party episode of Fantasy Island airing Monday, January 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (FAN-202) (TV-14 D,L,S) Cast: Roselyn Sanchez as Elena Roarke; Kiara Barnes as Ruby Akuda; John Gabriel Rodriquez as Javier Guest Cast: Alexa Mansour as Helene; Frankie J Alvarez as Mateo; Jai Rodriguez as Shawn; Izzy Diaz as Eli; Xiomara Yordan as Nadia; Alexon Duprey as Luis; Estefania Soto as Camilla; Pedro De Leon as Burly Man; Maria Gabriela Gonzalez as Isla [Spoiler TV] Quantum Leap Ben leaps into the body of a doctor tending to train crash victims in the synopsis for Paging Dr. Song, the January 9 episode of Quantum Leap. Ben leaps into Alexandra Tomkinson, a medical resident in a Seattle hospital. As victims from a train crash pour into the ER, Addison reveals a very complicated mission facing Ben during this leap. Ben must go up against hospital bosses to save lives and Alexandras career. [Spoiler TV] Ghosts Finally, the best candidate for Sam and Jays assistant position is supernaturally tethered to a car in the trailer for The Perfect Assistant, the January 5 episode of Ghosts. Ghosts 2x11 Promo The Perfect Assistant (HD) Rose McIver comedy series Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan said on Monday it scrambled jet fighters and dispatched aircraft and warships over the past two weeks to keep tabs on China's Liaoning aircraft carrier and five warships that conducted naval manoeuvres and flight operations in the Pacific. Japan monitored the operations after the Chinese naval group, which included missile destroyers, sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima island into the Western Pacific from the East China Sea on Dec. 16, Japan's Ministry of Defence said in a press release. Before returning the same way on Sunday, the Chinese carrier conducted more than 300 take-offs and landings of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, added the ministry, which did not report any incursions into Japanese territorial waters or skies. While China has conducted similar operations in the past, including one in May, the latest large-scale military drills close to Japanese islands come after Japan announced it would double defence spending over the next five years in a bid to deter China from using its military to push territorial claims in the region, including against neighbouring Taiwan. Japan also reported that it had detected flights by a Chinese WZ-7 drone close to Miyakojima on Sunday and again on Monday, the first time it has spotted the high-altitude drone in the area. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Robert Birsel) The post Jeremy Renner Offers Update From Hospital Following Snow Plow Accident [UPDATED] appeared first on Consequence. Jeremy Renner is in critical but stable condition from injuries sustained in a snow plow accident in Reno, Nevada on Sunday. We can confirm that Jeremy has suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries and has undergone surgery today, January 2nd 2023, the actors family said in a statement released on Monday evening. He has returned from surgery and remains in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition. Renner offered his own update in an Instagram post on Tuesday evening. Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all, Renner captioned a photo of him in a hospital bed. TMZ reports that Renner was using a machine called Snow Cat to remove snow from his home, near Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe. (The region saw upwards of 18 inches of snow on New Years Eve.) At some point, the machine accidentally ran over his body, resulting in a substantial loss of blood. A neighbor, who is a doctor, was able to put a tourniquet on his leg until paramedics arrived. He was then airlifted to a local hospital. In a statement, the Washoe County Sheriffs Office said they responded to a traumatic injury in the area of Mt. Rose Highway in Reno at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time on January 1st, 2023. Upon arrival, Deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Mr. Jeremy Renner via care flight to a local area hospital. Mr. Renner was the only involved party in the incident. Renner, a two-time Academy Award nominee, currently stars in The Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+ and Hawkeye on Disney+. Editors Note: This article has been updated with additional details about Renners injury, as well as statements from Renner and his family. Story continues Jeremy Renner Offers Update From Hospital Following Snow Plow Accident [UPDATED] Alex Young Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Vianney Le Caer / AP Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner is in critical but stable condition and being treated for injuries after a snowplowing incident, according to his representative. "Jeremy has suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries and has undergone surgery today, January 2nd, 2023," Renner's representative said in a statement sent to BuzzFeed News on Monday evening. "He has returned from surgery and remains in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition." Earlier on Monday, Renner's representative confirmed to NBC News that the Avengers actor was hospitalized and in "critical but stable condition," with "injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today." His family is with him, and he is receiving excellent care," the representative added. In a press release, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said that at approximately 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, officers responded to a traumatic injury in Reno, Nevada, where Renner reportedly has a home. When they arrived, officers arranged medical transportation for Renner and flew him to a local hospital. The sheriff's office confirmed that Renner was the only person involved in the incident and that the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Major Accident Investigation Team is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding it. Renner, 51, is well known for his role as Hawkeye in the Avengers series and has twice been nominated for an Academy Award. "Jeremys family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve, and the Carano and Murdock families," Renner's representative said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans." Chicago police investigate a Kia vehicle at the scene after four people were shot on Jan. 1, 2023 in the 5600 block of South Prairie Avenue in Washington Park. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Four boys between the ages of 14 and 17 were shot in the Washington Park neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, police said. The shooting happened a little bit before 1:19 p.m. when police were called to the 5600 block of South Prairie Avenue for four teenage boys who were shot in a silver Kia headed south on Prairie Avenue, police said, adding that the Kia was stolen on December 30. Advertisement Another vehicle had pulled up next to the one with the teenagers inside and a gunman took out a firearm and began shooting at all four boys. Two of the four teens had unspecified gunshot wounds to the body and were taken to Comer Childrens Hospital initially in critical condition. After treatment, both were in fair condition, authorities said. Advertisement Another teen was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. The driver of the silver Kia, who also had multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a weapon was recovered on the scene. There is a $15,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the gunman involved in the shooting. Area 1 detectives were investigating. This is a breaking story. Check back for updates. tatturner@chicagotribune.com Jeremy Renner was hospitalized after a snow-plowing incident. Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images Jeremy Renner was airlifted to a Reno area hospital following a snow-plowing incident Sunday. The sheriff's office said that Renner suffered a traumatic injury. His publicist told local outlets that he was in "critical but stable condition." Actor Jeremy Renner, 51, was hospitalized after a snow-plowing incident in Reno, Nevada, on Sunday morning, according to local news reports and a press release from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. According to the sheriff's office, Renner was airlifted to a local hospital after suffering a traumatic injury. He was the only person involved in the incident, which the sheriff's office is currently investigating. The incident took place near Mt. Rose Highway in Reno. "As of now, we can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today," Renner's publicist, Samantha Mast, told local station KABC late Sunday night. TMZ reported that Renner was injured while using a snow plow to clear the road near his home in Lake Tahoe, which was hit by winter storms over New Year's Eve. According to TMZ's report, the snow plow ran over one of Renner's legs. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office said Monday morning there were no additional details to share about the incident at this time. Insider contacted Mast for updates on Renner's condition. Renner was nominated for an Oscar for his roles in "The Hurt Locker" and "The Town." He is also known for playing Hawkeye in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Read the original article on Insider Update: In a press conference Tuesday (3 January) afternoon, Sheriff Darin Balaam appeared to debunk a report that Renner was saved by a doctor neighbour. Balaam said that there were no doctors on the scene but that neighbours immediately rushed to his aide with towels. Actor Jeremy Renner is in critical but stable condition after a snowplough accident in Nevada over the weekend. We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while ploughing snow earlier today, a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday night. Renner is getting excellent care, the spokesperson said. New details are now emerging with TMZ reporting that Renner was ploughing the road around a quarter mile from his home to get his family out after a snowstorm on New Years Eve. The plough, a Snowcat, accidentally ran over one of the actors legs, despite a large array of safety features, leading to major blood loss, a neighbour said, according to the outlet. Another neighbour, a doctor, put a tourniquet on Renners legs to hold them in place until the arrival of paramedics. Police arrived at the scene around 9:30 am on Sunday morning, impounding the Snowcat, which the actor has shown himself using on social media. The Washoe County, Nevada sheriffs office has said that Renner suffered a traumatic injury on Sunday morning. The office added that he was the only person involved in the incident and he was airlifted to an area hospital. The Reno-Gazette Journal reported in 2019 that Renner has a home in the Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe area. He has made several snow-related social media posts this winter. Nearly done With sledding hill For the kids, he wrote in an Instagram caption of a video showing a plough. Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke, he tweeted on 12 December. Following the news of the accident, supportive messages poured in for the actor on social media. My sweet @JeremyRenner. Loved you for decades. From a Senior Trip to the #MCU. Sending you & your closest healing love, light & strength for a full recovery, Tara Strong wrote. Story continues Prayers up for Jeremy Renner. Hawkeye is crazy underrated in the Avengers, Will Carroll added. Speedy recovery @JeremyRenner, thinking of you buddy, Domenick Lombardozzi said. This Jeremy Renner report could not be more vague or alarming. Hope he has a full recovery! Heidi MacDonald tweeted. My God. Praying for @JeremyRenner and his family, Josh Gad wrote in reaction to the news. Thoughts with Jeremy Renner and his family. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery, Danny Hatchard added. The National Weather Service issued a snow warning over the weekend for Reno and the surrounding areas. A warning had also been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Weather Service in Reno reported that the Tahoe Basin at the lake level saw between 20 and 24 inches of snow on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, the Weather Service warned those with travel plans in the Sierra Nevada region to be ready for winter conditions, including icy roads. More than 22,000 customers were without power in the state on Monday, according to poweroutage.us. More than 12,000 of those customers are in Washoe County. Renner has a number of snow ploughs and firetrucks at his rural Nevada home. The residence, which has five bedrooms and is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, also has a recording studio with various instruments, and an outdoor swimming pool along with a firepit, according to DailyMail.com. The Hurt Locker and Thor actor has renovated a large number of firetrucks, ambulances, and snowploughs to help the area handle wildfires and snowstorms, the outlet reported. Jamie Carragher was not impressed with Liverpools display in west London (Getty Images) Jamie Carragher believes Jude Bellingham will not solve Liverpools midfield problems, as the pundit ripped into their performance in a dismal 3-1 defeat at Brentford. In recent months Liverpool have been strongly linked with Bellingham, the Borussia Dortmund captain who at just 19 years old starred for England during the World Cup. However, Carragher says Jurgen Klopps midfield has lacked the right investment for several years and the team needs players with the energy and intelligence to shut down the counterattacks which are hurting them this season. Everyone keeps talking about Jude Bellingham, Carragher said on Sky Sports, speaking after the game at the Gtech Community Stadium in which Brentford were deserving winners. Liverpool havent got a problem going forward. Its actually a midfielder player to stop the opposition coming right through them [that is needed]. Players like Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho, theyre great technical players but they dont look like Jurgen Klopp players, and then Fabinho is getting older, Jordan Henderson hasnt got the energy anymore, James Milner Liverpools transfer committee and Jurgen Klopp have been lauded [for their success] this is on them, to allow a team who almost won four trophies last season to be fighting for the top four because the midfield has only one player [Thiago Alcantara] signed in four-and-a-half years, and theyre absolutely running on fumes. Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo this week from PSV and the forward will help add competition in attacking positions, as well as immediate cover for the injured Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. But Carragher warned that unless they sign the right midfield player this month, Klopps side will not qualify for next seasons Champions League. Hows this been allowed to happen? If Liverpool think they can get top four without signing a midfielder this window theyve got absolutely no chance. Its like theyre trying to play the Jurgen Klopp way without Jurgen Klopp players. Klopp admitted Brentford showed more desire than his players in their defeat in the Premier League but also claimed his side had seen major decisions go against them. It was a wild game, its a game Brentford really wants, Klopp told Sky Sports. Im not sure you can control it, each corner is a massive threat, we concede the first goal when we should already be 2-0 up. We have to be much more clear when we are in control of the game and we couldnt do that tonight. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez watches Donald Trump's state of the union address in 2019 with other female Democratic lawmakers. Alex Wong/Getty Images When the 118th Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2023, the number of women among its 535 members will inch up by just two increasing from 147 in 2022 to 149 in 2023. Even though more women than men voted in the the 2022 midterm elections, womens representation in Congress, with a total of 535 members, will then stand at just 27.9%. At this rate, it will take 118 more years until 2140 for there to be an equal number of male and female lawmakers in Congress. The slow progress of women in elective office is frustrating for some political observers and experts including myself who believe that achieving gender equality in Congress is an important goal. I am a political science scholar who has spent 20 years researching the reasons for womens underrepresentation in elected office in the United States. This issue is important because how many women there are in the room when legislative decisions are made has significant consequences for the policies that governments enact. Female legislators are more likely than men to introduce, speak about and work to pass policies that disproportionately affect women and girls, such as paid family leave, pay equity and gender-based violence. Having more women in Congress also strengthens female voters sense of connection with the government. It also bolsters womens sense that government cares about their concerns and inspires young women to become more politically engaged. Sixty-five Democratic female congressional lawmakers stand on the Capitol steps in January 2015. Win McNamee/Getty Images Whats behind this sluggish pace While women are underrepresented in governments around the globe, it is a particularly significant problem in the United States. Currently, the U.S. ranks 73rd in the world when it comes to female representation in government. But the reason women are so dramatically underrepresented in U.S. government is not because they face resistance from voters or struggle to raise money. On the contrary, decades of research shows that when women run, they raise as much money and win as often as similarly qualified men. Story continues In my 2021 book, The Partisan Gap, I show that the slow progress of women in politics is a tale of two political parties. In the next Congress, there will be 107 female Democratic lawmakers and 42 female Republican lawmakers in the Senate and House combined. In other words, Democrats will compose 72% of the women in Congress. Despite Democrats losing nine congressional seats during the November 2022 midterms, the number of Democratic lawmakers in Congress who are women will remain steady. The gap between elected Republican and Democratic female lawmakers in Congress has widened over the past four decades. A divergence In the 1970s and 1980s, there were few women in Congress, but those trailblazers were equally likely to be Republicans or Democrats. For example, in 1981 there were 25 women in Congress 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats. This shifted, though, as the two political parties moved further apart ideologically, with Democrats becoming more liberal overall and on womens issues in particular. Pushed by feminist organizations, the Democratic Party took more steps to increase womens representation throughout the 1980s. The emergence of EMILYs List, which seeks to elect pro-choice women, has also proved to be a powerful asset in recruiting and supporting Democratic women candidates. As more female Democrats gained leadership posts in Congress, starting in earnest in the 1980s and culminating in the election of Nancy Pelosi as the partys leader in the House in 2004, they were well positioned to translate this rhetoric into reality. Women have more women in their personal and professional networks than men do, and therefore are better positioned to recruit other women to run. Women from the Democratic party have made steady gains in office since the 1990s and are on a clear trajectory to reach 50% of their party caucus in just a few more election cycles. When Pelosi announced in November 2022 that she would not run again for the House speaker position, she noted, When I came to the Congress in 1987, there were 12 Democratic women. Now there are over 90. And we want more. Progress for conservative women in politics, however, largely stalled in the 1990s. Six of the 12 female U.S. House of Representatives members in 1973 are seen in a meeting. Bettmann/Contributor Getting more Republican women in office When I interviewed Republican women in Congress for my book, they agreed that more women representing their party were needed because they bring a different perspective on issues than their male colleagues. But the Republican Partys increasing conservatism has made it harder for women running as Republicans to win elections, as it has not made encouraging more women to run for office a priority. This creates additional challenges for potential Republican female candidates, since women typically need to be encouraged by others to consider running for office. So, what will it take to get more Republican women to run? The Republican Party would need to commit more fully to recruiting and supporting female candidates. In the 2018 elections, the number of Republican women in the House dropped to a mere 13, the lowest level in two decades. In response, Republican House member Elise Stefanik started the political action group Elevate-PAC to identify, cultivate and support Republican female candidates. Although Stefanik faced criticism from her party for this move, her efforts paid off with 31 Republican women elected in 2020. In order for women to gain half of the seats in Congress, more women need to run, especially on Republican tickets. I believe that this will require the Republican Party as a whole to prioritize recruiting women and not just for one election cycle, but in a sustained way. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Laurel Elder, Hartwick College. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. Read more: Laurel Elder does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The 2022 election just wound down, but already states are scrambling to change election laws ahead of 2024. In Georgia, a push is underway to change or entirely scrap the states runoffs, while Ohio Republicans are driving toward stricter voter ID laws. Michigan Democrats are eager to implement new constitutional provisions that allow early voting, while party lawyers across the country are preparing for another cycle of litigation related to it all. In all, according to the Voting Rights Lab, a nonprofit that supports expansive voter access, at least 100 election-related bills have already been prefiled across eight states ahead of the 2023 legislative session. Changes to election laws after a midterm or presidential contest arent uncommon. But the process has become more contentious and litigious in recent years, portending some tense battles.In particular, several states where one party holds the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature are seriously considering changes. Despite the single-party control, those states include presidential battlegrounds where the rule changes could impact tight contests. Red states some closer than others move toward change In Georgia, the drive to change the states runoff system comes after two consecutive cycles of close Senate runoffs that ended with notable Republican losses. Under state law, an election goes to a runoff four weeks later when no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote. Better Ballot Georgia, a nonpartisan group advocating for replacing the system with instant runoff voting, is lobbying the legislature to take up the reform. Instant runoffs would allow voters to rank their preferred candidates at the onset rather than coming back to the polls. The group also ran a digital ad campaign to press for the change. We are suffering from election fatigue at a level that I don't know has ever been experienced, said Scot Turner, a former Republican state lawmaker whos involved with the effort. If we could get our elections over in November at a lesser cost with greater turnout, I think theres a real message there. Story continues The call for changing the current system has some notable boosters. Earlier this month, Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called on the General Assembly to end runoffs for general elections. No one wants to be dealing with politics in the middle of their family holiday, he said in a statement. Raffensperger has floated some ideas: an instant runoff, or lowering the threshold needed to avoid a runoff from 50 to 45 percent. Either move would need the support of legislators and the governor. The latest push comes after the implementation of SB 202, a state election law that Republicans passed last year that made a myriad of changes, including shortening the runoff period from nine weeks to four. But even with one of the states top Republicans calling for a change to the runoff system Republican Gov. Brian Kemp hasnt voiced a preference there might not be enough support. Turner said he doesnt know if the legislature is ready to take on the concept statewide, and it might be better suited for down ballot races for the time being.Earlier this year, a bill for municipalities to opt in to instant runoff voting stalled. And Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark proposed a bill for the upcoming session that, in part, calls for a six week runoff. She said in an interview she sees it as an interim solution while the legislature decides what to do about reforming the current system. Georgia is not the only Republican-led state contemplating election reforms. Ohio is the closest to changing the law with a bill that would require voters to show photo ID at the polls. Voters can now show alternative forms of identification, such as utility bills or bank statements. The measure would also limit the number of days to request and return an absentee ballot, as well as eliminate early in-person voting the Monday before an election. The Republican-controlled legislature passed the bill, but it is still awaiting action from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who has not indicated whether he will sign or veto the measure. But it has already drawn rebukes from Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris, who said the bill would undercut the fundamental right to vote. Marc Elias, a prominent attorney in the Democratic Party, said he would sue Ohio if the bill is signed. Blue state trifectas Democrats are pursuing their own changes to election laws in states where they now control all levers of government. That includes Minnesota and Michigan two swing states where Democrats won full control in November, along with reelecting their Democratic secretaries of state. That provides the top election officials in both states a chance to push for reforms that they have long wanted, Minnesotas Steve Simon and Michigans Jocelyn Benson said in separate interviews. I think the voters really gave us a mandate to continue to be a leader in the democracy business, in Minnesota, Simon said. This isn't a case where voters didn't understand what the candidates were about. But it may not result in sweeping procedural changes in either state. Minnesota and Michigan already have fairly expansive voter-access laws that Democrats elsewhere would otherwise look to pass. In particular, Michigan voters have approved recent state constitutional changes that codified early voting in 2022 and mail voting in 2018. Benson said in an interview that her biggest priority for the upcoming year is figuring out ways to protect the people in elections, and ensuring that they have all the support and resources they need to continue doing their work in this threatening and challenging environment. Her office is also focused on implementing the states Proposal 2, which voters passed in November. That initiative changed the state constitution to guarantee nine early voting days, prepaid ballot postage for mail ballots and mandated access to dropboxes in the state. That, Benson said, would require working with the legislature to ensure funding for the new voter-approved mandates, educating local clerks on the new requirements, and shepherding through any administrative changes that need to happen. In Minnesota, the changes Simon is advocating for will likely not approach a wholesale overhaul of the states election procedures, but focus on how people can register to vote. Simon listed a series of proposals around registration that would effectively expand the voter pool. They included the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies in the state something that has seen cross-ideological support in other parts of the country. He is also planning on advocating for automatic voter registration. These are proposals Ive been talking about for years, even when Republicans controlled one or both of our legislative chambers, Simon said. Theyre not partisan in origin, nor in effect. States that dont have one-party control are also likely to consider election law changes, though theyre much less likely to pass. Pennsylvania state Sen. David Argall, a Republican who chaired the state government committee this year, noted that there was bipartisan support in his state for increasing pre-processing time for mail ballots. Pennsylvania was heavily criticized for the lengthy pace it took to count votes in 2020 and such a measure would allow election officials to handle mail ballots before Election Day and speed up the release of unofficial results. Republican legislators included it in a broader package that they passed that would have changed much of the voting process in the state, but outgoing Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed it in 2021. I have supported it in the past, I will support it in the future, but I don't think you can do just that one thing, Argall said of pre-processing. I think there's going to be too many other people saying plus this, plus this, and that's where it gets complicated. George Santos campaigns in Glen Cove, N.Y., on Nov. 5. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) To the editor: I share your letter writers' understandable concern about Rep.-elect George Santos' (R-N.Y.) fabrication of his backstory. But extrapolating responsibility for the lies of one man to the GOP as a whole is the wrong response. Most political lies are nowhere near as large as those Santos told, but American history is nevertheless replete with other dishonest behavior from members of both political parties. President Biden, for example, famously plagiarized a speech and exaggerated his academic record back in the 1980s. Let's not pretend dishonesty is anything but an individual trait or blind ourselves into believing that our political opposition is the only guilty party. Charlie Henry, El Segundo .. To the editor: Resume embellishment: "In honor of my lifelong dedication to children's literacy, I was consistently and unanimously awarded bonus points by the Scholastic Book Club of America. Resume fabrication: "I received my doctorate in education from ITT Tech." Liam McLoughlin, Lakewood This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A Navy mom erupted in elated screams when her young daughter traveled across the country to surprise her. Little Ariella flew from the East coast to San Diego, California, where her mom is based. Serena Gonzalez, a Machinist's Mate in the Navy, is away for a lot of moments in her daughter's young life. Watch the moment Ariella gives her mom the best wake-up call! It's not easy being so far away from her child, but Gonzalez says she's trying to save up for a house and a stable future for her daughter. With that decision comes a great sacrifice, which makes this surprise visit and the emotional reaction that comes along with it all the more sweet. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Navy mom wakes up to best surprise A man fills out paperwork after paying cash bail in the bond office to secure his brothers release, Dec. 21, 2022 at Division 5 of Cook County Jail. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) One day after the Illinois Supreme Court paused plans to end cash bail and other major changes to pretrial proceedings, Cook Countys judicial system chugged along Sunday in the same way it has for years, even as prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges prepared for the massive shift. The late-hour ruling by the high court just one day before some of the biggest provisions of the SAFE-T Act were supposed to go into effect had the presiding judge overseeing court on New Years Day worried about disorder. But felony defendants moved smoothly through pretrial proceedings Sunday, the first day the accused were supposed to stand for appearances under the new provisions. Advertisement Today was supposed to be the implementation of a new law, Cook County Judge Mary C. Marubio told defendants and their supporters before presiding over felony bond court proceedings Sunday. This sounds strange, but youre going to see a couple hiccups today because we were prepared for implementation of this new act. We are scrambling to make sure everything is all set. The SAFE-T Act eliminates cash bail and reforms pretrial processes across the state, but in recent months the law has become a lightning rod for critics, including a majority of states attorneys across Illinois who said implementing the changes would endanger citizens. Advertisement Prosecutors in more than 60 counties, mostly from downstate, sued to stop the no-cash bail policy and other provisions of the act. Kankakee County Judge Thomas Cunnington ruled in their case on Dec. 28, siding with those prosecutors and saying the state legislature violated the separation of powers clause in the Illinois Constitution when it eliminated cash bail and interfered with the judiciarys ability to set bail. [ Illinois Supreme Court halts plans to eliminate cash bail and other pretrial court changes ] Following an appeal by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the high courts order late Saturday night halted the abolition of cash bail and other changes to maintain consistent pretrial procedures throughout Illinois since Cunningtons opinion would have left some parts of Illinois handling pretrial hearings differently from other parts of the state. The court will coordinate an expedited process for the attorney generals appeal, the order said. Despite Marubios warning, bond proceedings Sunday went forward without any major incidents at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, as defendants appeared via live video for bond hearings that sometimes lasted only minutes. Prosecutors and defense attorneys quickly made a case for or against detention, monetary bail or other conditions of release. Division 5 of Cook County Jail, where bond payments are made, on Dec. 21, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The pretrial provisions wereapproved as part of the 764-page SAFE-T Act, a sweeping criminal justice reform law that supporters said was meant to promote police accountability and create more equitable courts. Much of the SAFE-T Act, which passed the General Assembly in January 2021 and was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker a month later, has already taken effect. But lawmakers allowed for a roughly two-year ramp-up for counties to prepare to completely revamp their processes for deciding who should remain in jail while awaiting trial. The new system was slated to put judges, attorneys and other stakeholders in uncharted territory as they navigated one of the biggest overhauls Cook Countys criminal justice system had seen in years. [ What Illinois did is really truly on another level: Despite legal limbo, elimination of cash bail set to take effect Jan. 1 ] Under the act, defendants are entitled to an initial hearing, also called a conditions hearing, followed by a more substantive detention hearing within 48 hours for those who prosecutors seek to keep in jail. Prosecutors seeking to detain defendants likely would be tasked with providing more evidence than they do for current bond hearings. Instead, on Sunday, Cook County public defenders and prosecutors stuck to the same way bond court has proceeded for years. Marubio did order monetary bond for a handful of defendants based on their risk of not showing up and their potential danger to the community. Advertisement She assigned a $10,000 D-bond for an Indiana man prosecutors alleged was stopped outside a clothing store possessing an untraceable ghost gun and without a state-mandated firearm owners identification card. He was already on probation for a gun offense earlier this year. Another man, already wanted for fleeing an arrest, was assigned a $5,000 D-bond after prosecutors said police stopped him with a loaded ghost gun, as well as cocaine and other drugs. Both are obligated to pay 10% of that bond amount. Advocates for bail reform have long criticized the old system for setting up circumstances in which people could be incarcerated simply because they are too poor to post bail. The no-cash bail policy, though, was used by Republicans and other opponents in this past election to paint Pritzker and his Democratic allies as weak on crime. Sarah Staudt, director of policy for Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and an advocate for ending money bail, told the Tribune the delay is frustrating for those of us who have been working on this bill and this issue for six years, particularly because the issues that are being raised here are issues that have been raised in challenges to the constitutionality of ending or reducing the use of money bail across the country. They have been unsuccessful everywhere because theyre wrong. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Staudt said shed observed test runs in which county stakeholders had troubleshot new hearing procedures in recent months and did not expect the transition to be a difficult one. I dont think confusion is going to reign in Cook. She said she hopes to hear more about the schedule for Supreme Court proceedings soon. Every single day that we maintain the money bail system, we are maintaining an injustice. Thats something the legislature recognized two years ago, which is why money bond was ended, Staudt said. In a statement Saturday, the Cook County public defenders office said it was disappointed the law would not take effect as planned, but expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will swiftly reverse the lower court finding and confirm the constitutionality of the (pretrial provisions). In the meantime, we are grateful that the (Supreme Court) is providing uniform guidance to (other) courts across the state. Advertisement DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin, a Republican, said in a statement he was pleased with their high courts decision because those accused of a crime in Illinois will receive equal and fair treatment throughout the State. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office did not return requests for comment over the weekend. aquig@chicagotribune.com mbuckley@chicagotribune.com Police in Moscow, Idaho, say theyre confident they have their man and that no one else is suspected in the horrifying slayings of four University of Idaho students. The police department believes that the person we have in custody, Bryan Kohberger, is the person responsible for these crimes, Capt. Anthony Dahlinger said. We are still continuing to investigate, and certainly were looking into all aspects, but he has been named as our suspect, and we believe he is the one that is responsible. Cops said the next step is better understanding the 28-year-old criminology grad student suspected of knifing the four Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee GonCalves, 21 to death as they slept in the early-morning hours of Nov. 13. Now that we have a suspect, were going to be investigating every aspect of him that we can absolutely find out, Dahlinger said, adding that a plea for the publics help had yielded 400 phone calls within the first hour. Were trying to build this picture of him who he is, his history, how we got to this event, why this event occurred. He reiterated that Moscow is a very safe place to live and always has been since Ive lived here, and added, The unfortunate aspect of an event like this is just it continues to show that these horrible horrible things can happen anywhere. With News Wire Services (iStock) Luxury fitness club Equinox controversially banned all new membership applications on 1 January, leaving potential customers divided. Explaining that we dont speak January, the high-end gym aims to make a statement about the temporary nature of new years resolutions. Equinox has 300 locations in major cities in the United States, as well as in London, Toronto and Vancouver. On 1 January, Equinoxs memberships page read: We arent accepting new memberships today. Its not you, its January. The gym, where membership costs approximately 200 per month, continued: January is a fantasy, delivered to your door in a pastel-coloured box. It talks about change. It needs a new outfit before it can begin. Short-cutting, giving up just a few weeks later. You are not a New Years resolution. Your life doesnt start at the beginning of the year. And its not what being part of Equinox is about, read its website. We go beyond whats possible. We defy expectations. We are not in moderation. We want it all, every day. And you deserve it all. At Equinox, we dont speak January and neither do you. The website went on to state that it looks forward to welcoming new members from 2 January. "We don't speak January." Equinox isn't accepting new memberships today. Super bold, super smart, strategically aligned with their brand pic.twitter.com/abLjFNDjop Jess Smith (@WarJessEagle) January 1, 2023 The campaign has been met with divided opinion, with some branding the PR move as super bold and super smart while others have called the campaign cringe and pointless. One person criticised the campaign, writing: Equinox charges too much money to be this exclusionary. As part of the campaign, the brand posted a TikTok video that has since been criticised for mocking newcomers to the gym. Story continues Membership at Equinox starts at 200 per month (Getty Images) In a video captioned, Take your resolutions somewhere else, the clip shows a gymgoer pretending to work out. Equinox later deleted the video from TikTok. One person wrote on Twitter: This is elitist af. And very much gym bro energy. This is a pretty sh***y stance to take. Shaming people who go into the new year with a want to get healthier. Equinox isnt one of a kind anymore, wrote another person. Someone else added: I dont like this for several reasons: Habit forming is hard for some. 1/1 is the push many need to get healthy. Theyre being told thats not enough, before adding that they have an Equinox membership but would go elsewhere as a prospective customer. I dont like this for several reasons: 1. Habit forming is hard for some. 1/1 is the push many need to get healthy. Theyre being told thats not enough. 2. Theres no lead generation. I am an Equinox member, but if I saw this, Id go elsewhere. https://t.co/D0KHr0cucG Alicia Jessop (@RulingSports) January 1, 2023 Other people, however, have praised the fitness company, with one Twitter user celebrating the messaging as a phenomenal brand moment. Some are confused by the desired effect of the campaign, referring to how Equinox banned new members for only 24 hours on 1 January, and quickly reopened membership applications on Monday (2 January). The fact that you can sign up the following day... This is a joke, one person wrote. But Im sure there are people this will appeal to. NEW YORK (AP) A man accused of attacking police with a machete near New Yorks Times Square on New Years Eve was arrested on charges of attempting to murder police officers, authorities said Monday as they continued to investigate whether he was motivated by Islamic extremism. Trevor Bickford, 19, also faces attempted assault charges from the attack that injured two officers at the edge of the high-security zone where throngs of new year's revelers were gathered, the New York Police Department said in a news release. Bickford, who lives in Wells, Maine, remained hospitalized Monday with a gunshot wound to the shoulder from police fire during the confrontation. He was awaiting arraignment, and it wasnt immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak to the allegations. The Associated Press left messages for his relatives. A law enforcement official familiar with the matter told the AP on Sunday that investigators believe Bickford traveled to New York City earlier in the week. They are examining whether he made the trip specifically to attack police at the Times Square festivities, the official said. New York City police and federal officials are still trying to ascertain a motive, and investigators are reviewing Bickfords online postings, which included some mentions of Islamic extremist views, the official said. The official could not publicly discuss details about the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York field office, said Sunday that investigators believe the attacker acted alone. FBI spokespeople in New York and Boston declined to discuss the ongoing inquiry Monday. Boston field office spokesperson Kristen Setera called it a very active investigation. FBI agents were seen Sunday night entering Bickfords family home in Wells, a popular beach destination close to the New Hampshire border. Bickford competed in sports in high school, was part of Maine's state champion wrestling team in 2020 and made the honor roll for his studies at least one year. Story continues The principal at Wells High School declined to comment on Monday. Messages seeking comment were sent to the wrestling coach. Bickfords father died unexpectedly in 2018, according to an online obituary. The machete attack happened about two hours before midnight on Saturday, just outside the area where people are screened for weapons before gaining entry to one of the worlds biggest and most famous New Years celebrations. Two of the officers were struck with the machete before an officer shot the suspect, authorities said. One officer suffered a fractured skull and the other has a bad cut. Both were expected to recover, as was the suspect. The attack briefly sent some people running, but the festivities in Times Square continued. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington; Michael Balsamo in Kansas City, Missouri; Michael R. Sisak in New York; David Sharp in Portland, Maine, and Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - A man was arrested Sunday in the stabbing death of his 8-year-old grandson, police said. The Richland Hills police and fire departments were dispatched to a residence in the 3500 block of Labadie Drive in Richland Hills on a reported stabbing of a juvenile. When officers arrived, they found a dead 8-year-old boy. Phillip Hughes, 62, the juveniles grandfather, was found near the residence and taken into custody without incident, police said. Hughes is being held at the Joint Detention Center at the North Richland Hills Police Department, charged with capital murder and waiting arraignment, police said. The Richland Hills Police Department would like to express its condolences to those affected by this senseless tragedy and ask for continued prayers for everyone involved, RHP said in a release. The investigation is ongoing, but detectives believe no other suspects are involved. A man was pronounced dead by authorities Sunday night after being found with a gunshot wound in a Carmichael apartment complex. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said in a news release that deputies were called to the 2800 block of Westwood Lane, a private drive for the Westwood Apartments, around 10:35 p.m. for reports of a shooting. The apartment complex is located along Marconi Avenue, between Root and Walnut avenues. On the property, deputies located an unresponsive male subject lying on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies did not say where the incident happened inside the gated complex. Fire personnel would later pronounce the man dead. Deputies were told that the shooter had fled the scene, but the Sheriffs Office did not give a description of the suspect. The Sheriffs Office asked witnesses with information regarding the shooting to call 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. The identity of the victim will be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office once relatives are notified. A man last seen weeks ago was found dead in a remote area near an Oregon mountain, police said. Steven Mainwaring, 22, of Corvallis, was found by a Ford Bronco near Marys Peak, according to a Sunday, Jan. 1, Facebook post from the Corvallis Police Department. Nothing can be put into words the grief that we feel as family, his father wrote on Facebook while also thanking those who helped search for his son. Mainwaring was last seen on Dec. 18, and his last location was thought to be somewhere in Alsea, which is about 25 miles southwest of Corvallis, according to a Dec. 23 Facebook post from the Benton County Sheriffs Office. Volunteers searching for Mainwaring found a car that matched the description of the one he was thought to be driving, police said. The Benton County Sheriffs Office found no evidence of criminal activity or indications of foul play, according to police. Corvallis is about 35 miles south of Salem. Missing woman found dead in submerged car, NC cops say. She was full of so much joy 20-year-old FaceTimed with his mom five days ago. Then he vanished, NC family says Missing 31-year-old NC firefighter found dead on Christmas Day. A true public servant More people moved out of Massachusetts than into the state in 2022, according to a new study. United Van Lines annual National Movers Study based its destination ranking off the percentage of inbound and outbound state movers who utilized their services in the last year. The Bay State checked in at seventh on the list of most moved from states with 57 percent of moves in Massachusetts last year involving people leaving the state, researchers said. Data indicated that people 55 to 64 and 65 or older left Massachusetts at the highest rates, while people between 18 and 34 moved into the state at the highest clip. Some the primary reasons people considered before leaving the state include family situations, job opportunities, and retirement. The top 10 outbound states of 2022 were: 1. New Jersey 2. Illinois 3. New York 4. Michigan 5. Wyoming 6. Pennsylvania 7. Massachusetts 8. Nebraska 9. Louisiana 10. California To view the full list, click here. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW People release a sky lantern to make a wish for good fortune at a park in Qianxi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 1, 2023. (Photo by Fan Hui/Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The New Year speech of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday showed China's remarkable achievements in the past year, and conveyed hope and confidence to the world, observers from around the world have said. Looking forward to China's continued development and progress in the future, they believe that China's wisdom and solutions will continue to make new and important contributions to the cause of peace and development of mankind. ADDING CONFIDENCE TO GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT "In 2022, we successfully convened the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, sounding a clarion call of the times for us forging ahead on a new journey," Xi said in the address. "The Chinese economy has remained the second largest in the world and enjoyed sound development. GDP for the whole year is expected to exceed 120 trillion yuan," he added. Over the past year, the Chinese people have united as one, made great achievements and injected confidence into global development. The Chinese path to modernization has provided a reference and inspiration for more countries to achieve development. Noting Xi's New Year speech as warm, powerful, hopeful and inspiring, Ang Teck Sin, a political commentator in Singapore, said that it touched on China's remarkable achievements and once again demonstrated the firm determination to pursue a Chinese path to modernization through its own efforts, adding China has injected positive energy into promoting the healthy development of globalization. China's key words in 2022 were "overcoming difficulties" and "making achievements," said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper. After listening to Xi's New Year speech, he noted that the achievements of the Chinese people in 2022 were remarkable. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, China has optimized and adjusted its prevention and control measures in light of the time and situation, put its people first, protected their lives and health to the greatest extent, and ensured economic and social development, he said. In the process, the Chinese people have demonstrated their fine quality of uniting in their purposes and efforts and working together with solidarity to address challenges, said Korzhumbayev. Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, said the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China painted a grand blueprint for building a modern socialist country in a comprehensive way, and is of great significance to unite and inspire the Chinese people to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. He said that the achievements of the Chinese path to modernization have brought confidence and dividends to the world, and China's development experience will continue to provide important enlightenment for others. China's development model is based on innovation and focuses on improving people's living standards, which is very important for the world, said Christine Bierre, editor-in-chief of French newspaper New Solidarity. China's achievements over the past year have caught the world's attention, said Yevgeny Zaitsev, head of the Center for Russian-Chinese Studies at Russia's Lomonosov Moscow State University. China is steadily promoting development in various fields, and has become a key factor of stability in today's world, bringing confidence and hope to the international community to solve existing problems and achieve sustainable development, the expert said. Noting that the world today is not peaceful, he pointed out that China, as a responsible major country, actively promotes the building of a human community with a shared future and injects strength into world peace and development. Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, said Xi's New Year address sends new hope and expectations to the Chinese people and the world. Over the past few years, China has shown great confidence in all aspects, and will successfully meet challenges and continue to contribute its share to global development, the expert said. OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL RECOVERY Xi stressed in his New Year address that the Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality, and the fundamentals sustaining its long-term growth have remained strong. As long as we stay confident and strive for progress while maintaining stability, we will realize the goals we have set, Xi added. Today's China is a country where dreams become reality, a country brimming with vigor and vitality, a country that maintains its national character, and a country closely linked with the world, he said. Over the past year, transformation and turbulence have been evolving continuously, and the tendencies toward unity and division have both been surging and contending with each other. The world economy has fallen into a slump and is in urgent need of recovery. Thus, the world expects China to continue to promote high-quality development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and keep providing new opportunities for the world through China's new development. Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN Studies at the Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, was impressed by the statements that today's China is a country "brimming with vigor and vitality" and "a country closely linked with the world." In the past year, whether at the Group of 20 Summit or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi's important propositions have shown the world that China has always been an advocate and promoter of an open world economy, he said. As the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, Tang said he believed that China will continue to bring opportunities for the development of countries worldwide. From Xi's New Year address, Korzhumbayev saw new hope for the world economic recovery brought by the steady progress of China's economy while it maintains a stable performance. China is an advocate of building a mutually beneficial and win-win open world economy, and it is believed that in the new year, China will continue to expand its opening-up with practical actions, and the steady development of China's economy will provide opportunities and momentum for the recovery and development of the world economy, said Korzhumbayev. Looking back on the past, China's expansion of a high-level opening-up has been a continuous success, established a network of free trade zones oriented to the world characterized by high standards of efficiency and growth, and the Belt and Road Initiative has become an international public good and a platform for international cooperation, and won the support of many countries, Karim Adel, head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, told Xinhua. Meanwhile, China's other initiatives, especially the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, have won the support of many countries, Adel added, saying he expects that China will contribute more to achieving prosperity for the international community. There is no other country like China in the world that made such an important picture of our time ahead, of our future, Volker Tschapke, honorary president of Germany's Prussian Society, told Xinhua. He said he particularly likes Xi's statement that today's China is a country where dreams become reality, adding "that's always been like this, it is indeed like this. It will be always like this in the future!" From Xi's New Year address, Carla Oliva, coordinator of the China and Argentina study group at the National University of Rosario in Argentina, saw hope and opportunity for the further improvement of trade between Latin America and China. China has become an important trading partner and source of investment to Latin America, and economic and trade activities between the two countries have become an important driving force for the economic development of Latin America, Oliva said. The expert said she firmly believes that a more modern China will contribute more to the world's prosperity and development. CONTRIBUTING WISDOM TO PEACE, DEVELOPMENT "We cherish peace and development and value friends and partners as we have always done. We stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress. We work hard to contribute China's wisdom and solutions to the cause of peace and development for all humanity," Xi said in his address. The international community believes that China will play an important role in pooling strong synergy to promote common prosperity and progress. Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club, said he was impressed by Xi's words that China will "work hard to contribute China's wisdom and solutions to the cause of peace and development for all humanity." In this regard, China practices what it preaches, said Bennett, adding that China calls for promoting a world economic recovery through a comprehensive and inclusive globalization that leaves no people or country behind, and rejects protectionism, embargoes, and unilateral sanctions. China can put forward proposals, mechanisms and solutions that are in the interest of all humanity, and can therefore be accepted and appreciated by all humanity, Bennett said. Reviewing China's efforts to maintain global peace in the past year, Katarina Zakic, head of the center for the Belt and Road Initiative at the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Serbia, said changes and turbulent times in 2022 did not stop China from promoting and working on establishing better international relations that are more peaceful and full of opportunities for everyone. She said those kinds of efforts, but not just from China, are even more needed these days than in some past times; if we had a more similar understanding of world peace and its importance, the world would be much safer. Ismael Buchanan, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda, said China remains a sincere partner for the global community to achieve economic transformation, peaceful coexistence and high-quality development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. "I applaud China's efforts to ensure a peaceful world with immense opportunities for everyone," said Buchanan, adding that roads designed and built by China have promoted Rwanda's trade and the China-built Masaka Hospital has provided high-quality medical services for Rwandans. Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Brazil, follows Xi's new year address every year, saying Xi's latest message once again instilled confidence into the international community. China's wisdom and solutions are a beacon for the building of a new type of international relations. The vision of building a human community with a shared future put forward by China will help build a more peaceful and better world, he said. Thanks to the sacrifices and hard work of the Chinese people, the development and economic growth of China remain at significant and appreciable levels in all areas, said Lyazid Benhami, vice president of the Paris Association of French-Chinese Friendship. He said that Xi, in his address, confirmed China's willingness to cooperate and open up more on the international scene as China's destiny is linked to that of the rest of the world, adding that the world also needs solutions and China's vision in various fields related to development, innovation, and peace. John Pang, a former senior fellow at New York-based Bard College, said China has been pushing the improvement of global governance by putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. They are made from a generational commitment, patient and persevering, to work for a human community with a shared future, said Pang, hoping that China could continuously contribute to world peace and development with Chinese wisdom and solutions. Balloons are released to honor Seandell Holliday, a fellow 16-year-old student, at Gary Comer College Prep on May 19, 2022. Seandell was shot and killed at Millennium Park over the weekend on May 14. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago has begun to see a decline in homicides, as the Chicago Police Department works to correct crime trends to levels before the coronavirus and turmoil over the killing of George Floyd took hold. Our plans in 2020 were disrupted by civil unrest and the gun violence crisis as well as the global pandemic, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown told the Tribune. So we obviously had to address what was happening. Advertisement Chicago had more than 800 homicides in 2021, one of the deadliest years in the last quarter century. It was a year when the city joined national trends after Floyds killing by police in Minneapolis. In 2022, the city had 689 homicides through Dec. 28, according to city data and figures from the Police Department. Advertisement Despite the 14% reduction, the total was still higher than it had been in 2019, the last year before COVID-19 took hold, when the city saw 496 killings through Dec. 28. The number of shooting victims also was down, to 3,442 in 2022 from 4,339 in 2021, police said. Brown credited police attention to detail at the block level for the improvement. I will say that the data-driven intelligence led community-policing strategy along with collaborating with other departments is our overarching strategy, Brown said. But more specifically, around the beat-policing model, really more precise, in policing to even smaller geography than beats down to the block. Chicago still struggled with high-profile crime downtown, most notably with the killing of Seandell Holliday, 16, who was fatally shot near the The Bean sculpture in May. Marion Richardson, 17, was charged in the shooting, which prompted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to ban unaccompanied minors from visiting Millennium Park after 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Latisha Morris, the godmother of Seandell Holliday, a 16-year-old student at Gary Comer College Prep who was fatally shot in Millennium Park, walks past a cutout photograph of him after she spoke before a balloon release to honor him on May 19, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Since that order was out, weve not seen similar behavior. I think that the public dialogue that we had really resonated with parents, Brown said. (It) resonated with other stakeholders who have programs for young people. And all of that working together really has diminished that type of behavior for our young people. Among other key issues last year was street racing, generating viral videos and embarrassing moments for the department. Brown said a task force created to stop street racing did have some effect as the city battled the issue across many districts. Brown credited the City Council for helping officers handle the trend. Advertisement Council members created a new ordinance, giving us a little bit more tools in our toolbox to hold these people accountable, Brown said. Since then, really the last several months, the ordinance along with our task force had been very effective. We hadnt seen as much even before the weather turned and we were able to tow more cars. We were able to identify more vehicles on video that we could hold accountable. Chicago also struggled with crime on public transportation, leading to police promising to boost efforts to make the CTA safer. Brown said that despite the headlines, CTA crime has been lower than it was before the pandemic, and has been on the decline. Chicago police process a crime scene after a shooting at the CTA Red Line station at 79th Street in Chicago on Aug. 8, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > We have to sustain that, which may mean adding even more resources from both CTA and CPD as we continue to recruit more officers, Brown said. Fingers crossed, were starting to see a decline every month. Most recently, the department has struggled with mental health issues within its ranks. Three officers within a week died by suicide late last month, according to officials. Brown said the department is up to 17 clinicians compared with three in 2020. All police districts should have a dedicated professional within months, he said. Theres a shortage of clinicians in this country. So its been much, much more difficult to hire clinicians than we thought, Brown said. Some of the facilities are available off-site to make officers and their families more comfortable, the superintendent said. Advertisement Officers are aware of the services that are available, which are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day through peer support and our employee assistance program, and finally, I would say were trying to build infrastructure around officer wellness, he said. Meaning we have created quiet rooms those are spaces within the district, where officers can go and decompress during the shift, after the shift, anytime when theyre at work. pfry@chicagotribune.com Twitter @paigexfry UPDATE: Mrs. Spearman has been found safe. Atlanta police are looking for a 78-year-old woman diagnosed with dementia who was last seen on New Years Eve. Police say 78-year-old Mary Spearman was last seen at an address on Kelso Drive in southwest Atlanta on Saturday. Spearman is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. TRENDING STORIES: Anyone who knows of her whereabouts is are asked to call 911 or Investigators at 404-354-7532. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The MBTA has announced upcoming service changes this month on the Orange, Green, and Red lines. The changes are due to the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage in downtown Boston by private developer HYM Construction, MBTA officials said. Also, the Medford Branch of the Green Line will be replaced with shuttle bus service from start to end of service on Sunday, Jan. 8, to accommodate water line work. The Red Line will also experience service changes during the weekend of Jan. 7-8 in order for the MBTA to perform work at JFK/UMass station. The MBTA says it has been working closely with the City of Boston and the developer in order to accommodate the private Government Center Garage work affecting both the Orange and Green Lines: o Riders should note that Haymarket-area buses will not be diverted during these weekends and will continue to stop at the temporary Haymarket bus stops. A list of Haymarket bus routes and these temporary stops is available at mbta.com. o Orange and Green Line trains will bypass Haymarket station during the weekends of January 7-8 and January 21-22. Orange Line riders should exit at North Station or State and walk to the Haymarket area. Green Line riders should exit at North Station or Government Center station. These stations are less than a half-mile from Haymarket, or a four- to eight-minute walk. o Closures will also take place on the Orange Line between Back Bay and North Station and on the Green Line between North Station and Government Center Station during the weekend of January 14-15. Orange Line riders are asked to use Green Line service between Copley and Government Center stations. Green Line service between North Station and Government Center Station will be replaced with shuttle bus service. The purpose of these weekend diversions is to accommodate the private Garage demolition work. The MBTA will also perform maintenance on track, signal, and power systems, including the replacement of rail between Chinatown and Tufts Medical Center stations. Story continues o Extra MBTA personnel and Transit Ambassadors will be on-hand to assist customers. Accessibility vans will also be available for on-demand transportation riders should ask MBTA personnel for information and assistance. More information on alternate paths of travel will be available at mbta.com/alerts. o Riders are also advised that, due to the complexity of the continued demolition of the Government Center Garage by HYM Construction, additional weekend diversions will be necessary in the coming months to accommodate the ongoing work. The MBTA apologizes for this inconvenience and will announce additional service changes in advance as they are confirmed and scheduled. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on Twitter for up-to-date service information. Green Line Medford Branch trolleys will also be replaced with accessible shuttle bus service between Medford/Tufts and East Somerville stations in both directions from start to end of service on Sunday, January 8. The purpose of this one-day diversion is to perform emergency repair work on the water lines that service Medford/Tufts station, which require additional insulation. Riders may also utilize Bus Routes 80 and 87 for service throughout the area on January 8. Red Line Ashmont and Braintree Branch trains will be replaced with accessible shuttle buses between Broadway and Ashmont stations and between Broadway and North Quincy stations during the weekend of January 7-8. The purpose of this weekend diversion is to perform work on the pedestrian bridge between Columbia Road and the lobby at JFK/UMass station. After necessary repairs are completed, the MBTA will reopen the pedestrian ramp at Columbia Road. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Newly elected member of Congress pose for the 118th Congress member-elect class photo on the House steps on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The 118th Congress begins on Tuesday. There will be 82 new lawmakers 75 in the House and seven in the Senate. Here's a look at the incoming freshman class. A bunch of new faces will arrive at the Capitol on Tuesday to take their oaths of office as the 118th Congress begins. The incoming freshman class includes 82 members 75 in the House and seven in the Senate. They're broken down into 45 Republicans and 37 Democrats. Here is a look at the new group: A record number of women Senator-elect Katie Britt in the Capitol on November 15, 2022. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The 118th Congress is shaping up to be the most diverse ever. A record 149 women will serve, making up almost 28% of the legislative body and expanding the current count by two, according to data compiled by Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics. Among them are 22 new House members and one new senator, Republican Katie Britt of Alabama. Britt is one of eight newly-elected GOP women. The other 15 women are Democrats. More diversity From left, Reps-elect Nikki Budzinski, Becca Balint, and Summer Lee, chastise late arriving newly elected members of Congress on November 15, 2022. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Thirteen House freshmen are women of color seven Latina, five Black and one Asian American strengthening diversity in the lower chamber. Oregon elected its first two Latinas to Congress: Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Democrat Andrea Salinas. Democrats Yadira Caraveo and Delia Ramirez will also be the first Latinas of Colorado and Illinois, respectively. Democrat Summer Lee will be the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania. Democrat Becca Balint will be the first woman and first openly LGBTQ person to serve from Vermont. The northeastern state was the last of all 50 to send a woman to Washington. Other firsts Michigan Democrat Shri Thanedar. AP Images The men of the freshman class are also bringing historic firsts to Congress. George Santos of New York, who's recently faced widespread scrutiny over lying about parts of his resume, is the first openly gay non-incumbent Republican elected to Congress. Juan Ciscomani will be the first Latino Republican from Arizona. Democrat Robert Garcia of California will be the first openly LGBTQ immigrant in Congress. Democrat Shri Thanedar will be the first Indian-American from Michigan. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican, will be the first Native American to serve in the Senate in almost two decades. Story continues Young newcomers Rep.-elect Maxwell Frost (C) poses for a photo with other new members outside of the Capitol on November 15, 2022. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images And the new lawmakers skew younger than their soon-to-be colleagues. According to Insider's "Red, White, and Gray" series released last fall, which explored how American leaders are the oldest they've ever been, only 5% of members of Congress are under the age of 40. Nearly 21% of the newcomers are younger than 40. JD Vance, an Ohio Republican, will join incumbent Sen. Mark Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, as the only senators in their 30s. The new Congress will also welcome its first Gen Z member, Democrat Maxwell Frost of Florida, who is 25 years old. First-timers Senator-elect JD Vance arrives to the Capitol on November 16, 2022. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images For many newcomers, Tuesday's swearing-in marks the start of their political careers. Vance, the incoming Ohio senator, was a venture capitalist widely known for his memoir about growing up in Appalachia, "Hillbilly Elegy." Democrat Eric Sorensen, a longtime meteorologist, retired from TV shortly before announcing a run for Congress in Illinois. Republican Mark Alford, who'll be representing Missouri, is another former TV newscaster turned politician. Anna Paulina Luna, the first Mexican-American woman from Florida elected to Congress, is an Air Force veteran. Some government experience Newly elected members from left, Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Eli Crane, R-Ariz., pose on the House steps on November 15, 2022. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Yet a slew of new lawmakers already have some government experience and are embarking on their next journey in Washington. Britt, the incoming Alabama senator, is replacing her former boss, retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. She previously served as his chief of staff, on his campaign, and as his press secretary. Another former staffer joining Congress is Ciscomani of Arizona, who was a senior advisor for Gov. Doug Ducey. A familiar face returning to the nation's capital is Ryan Zinke, who represented Montana in the House from 2015 to 2017 before becoming former President Donald Trump's interior secretary. Zinke resigned from that job in 2019 after he was embroiled in several ethics scandals. Now, he'll be a Montana representative again. Incoming New York congressman Dan Goldman is an attorney who served as Democrats' lead counsel in Trump's first impeachment inquiry. House to Senate From left Senators-elect Markwayne Mullin, Ted Budd, Katie Britt, JD Vance, Eric Schmitt, meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, on November 15, 2022. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images For some freshmen, Congress has been their workplace, and they're just moving offices. Three newbies are House members turned senators: Mullin of Oklahoma, Ted Budd of North Carolina, and Peter Welch of Vermont. Read the original article on Business Insider In an effort to provide a safer environment for healing and medical care, officials at Meritus Medical Center have added increased security measures, including weapon detectors at all public entrances. Just as it is our responsibility to provide high quality healthcare, it is our responsibility to ensure our patients, visitors and our dedicated team members are all in a safe environment, Meritus Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Dr. Carrie Adams said in a news release. Meritus Medical Center, like hospitals across Maryland and the United States has noticed increased episodes of violence against healthcare workers. Adams said teams at Meritus Medical Center have endured increased episodes verbal abuse, including profanity and discriminatory remarks as well as physical violence over the past two years. In some instances, workers were physically injured by their patients or visitors, according to the release. Dangerous items collected by Meritus Health security over the years are seen in this submitted photo. The health system near Hagerstown recently installed weapon detector systems at all entrances in hopes of limiting an increase in physical violence seen over the past two years. In fall 2022, the American Hospital Association reported that health care workers suffer more workplace injuries because of violence than any other profession, and that 44% of nurses have reported an increase in physical violence since the onset of the COVID pandemic. The Maryland Hospital Association reports that many Maryland hospitals have protocols and resources to identify and de-escalate potentially violent situations, according to the release. Additionally, MHA reports 88% of all hospital assaults were a visitor, family or patient against a healthcare worker. Dangerous items collected by Meritus Health security over the years are seen in this submitted photo. The health system near Hagerstown recently installed weapon detector systems at all entrances in hopes of limiting an increase in physical violence seen over the past two years. Safety is our priority, Adams said in the release. When we realized this wasnt one or two isolated incidents, but a growing trend here and across the nation, we knew it was time to be more proactive in how we protect our patients, visitors and team members. In addition to the weapon detectors, Adams said Meritus Medical Center has reduced the number of public entry points, trained staff in de-escalation techniques, and established a Workplace Violence Committee to review events and consider opportunities to enhance safety, according to the release. Story continues Dangerous items collected by Meritus Health security over the years are seen in this submitted photo. The health system near Hagerstown recently installed weapon detector systems at all entrances in hopes of limiting an increase in physical violence seen over the past two years. Meritus Health implemented a zero-tolerance policy to protect team and care providers. If violence is directed at team members, those involved will be asked to leave and a law enforcement report filed, according to the release. Additionally, Adams said Meritus Medical Centers security officers are working directly with an on-site deputy from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, in addition to enhancing their presence and protocols. Women: Don't stop screening for cervical cancer Being on the frontlines trying to keep our neighbors and their families safe and healthy, should not mean our team members also have to worry about physical or verbal violence, she said in the release. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Increase in verbal, physical abuse at Meritus leads to more security A Manhattan pharma millionaire convicted of killing her 8-year-old autistic son was found dead in a Brooklyn apartment just hours after a U.S. Supreme Court justice issued an order that would have sent her back to prison. Gigi Jordan, 62, was found dead Friday morning in an apartment on MacDonough St. in Stuyvesant Heights, law enforcement sources and Jordans lawyer, Norman Siegel, told the Daily News. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order on Thursday that would have required Jordan to return to prison while the justices considered her case. The cause of Jordans death was unclear, though a law enforcement source said a note was found at the scene. Siegel said the Medical Examiners office plans an autopsy. Its unbelievably sad. Gigi Jordan had a lot to offer society, Siegel said. In the end, she did not have her opportunity to contribute to society. Siegel said he noticed Jordan had called him around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, so he called back. She said, Did you call me? I said Oh it mustve been a butt call. So we kind of laughed. She sounded in good spirits. I said, Ill talk to you soon. On Friday morning, Siegel said he got a call from someone in Jordans house saying they called 911 and the cops were there. So it was jarring and sad. Jordans appeal was based on an incident at her trial during which the courtroom was closed for about 15 minutes to hear arguments about email and a web posting that accused the court of undermining the fairness of the trial, Manhattan DA Alvin Braggs office argued in papers before the Supreme Court. The transcript of that hearing was ultimately released, and the jury was instructed not to read or listen or observe any media coverage of the trial, Braggs motion noted. Except for that jury instruction, Bragg said, the closed proceeding did not otherwise affect any substantive matter before the jury. Lower courts ruled that the closed proceeding did not violate Jordans Sixth Amendment right to a public trial, Bragg noted. But a Manhattan federal judge in 2020 granted bail in Jordans case, allowing her to be free while she pursued appeals. Story continues Sotomayor in an order on Dec. 20 continued Jordans bail while the Supreme Court weighed the case. But after Braggs papers were filed, Sotomayor on Thursday reversed herself, and issued the order that was expected to send Jordan back to prison. Jordan was convicted in 2014 of manslaughter for killing her son, Jude Mirra, in a room at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. Prosecutors said Jordan fed her son a deadly cocktail of painkillers, tranquilizers and sleeping pills mixed with alcohol and orange juice. While Jude lay dying that night in 2010 in the $2,300-a-night suite, prosecutors said, Jordan was on her laptop computer pulling $125,000 from his trust fund. Part of her defense was that it was supposed to be a murder suicide. Jordan was sentenced to 18 years in prison. She had all the money in the world to help Jude but she wound up taking his life, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Charles Solomon said when he imposed the sentence. One of the people injured in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv on 31 December died. Source: Vitalii Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, on Telegram Quote: "One of the people injured in a Russian missile attack on the capital on 31 December died this morning. A 46-year-old man was in the intensive care unit in a critical condition." Background: Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine on 31 December. As of Saturday, it was reported that one person had been killed and 22 others had been injured in Kyiv. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Chicago police respond to a shooting on Dec. 6, 2022, in the 5100 block of West Harrison Street in Chicagos South Austin neighborhood. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Chicagoans are a diverse and feisty bunch, but these days, we are all concerned about crime and public safety. Violent crime is the grave, existential quandary facing cities across the nation. And no one seems to know how to stop it in 2023. Advertisement Americans are more likely now than at any time over the past five decades to say there is more crime in their local area than there was a year ago, a Gallup survey taken ahead of the Nov. 8 midterms found. According to the Gallup poll: The 56% of U.S. adults who report an increase in crime where they live marks a five-percentage-point uptick since last year and is the highest by two points in Gallups trend dating back to 1972. Advertisement In a poll of 700 likely Chicago voters conducted in mid-November, more than 70% of voters named crime and public safety as their No. 1 or No. 2 most important issue, with no other issue coming close, WTTW-Ch. 11 News reported. The survey was commissioned by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. That union is backing U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia in the Feb. 28 mayoral election. Crime was a scorching controversy in the 2022 Illinois governors race, as Republicans raged that Democrats were soft on crime. The GOP lobbed brutal attacks at the SAFE-T Act, warning that the legislation would jeopardize safety. Republican GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey repeatedly labeled Chicago a hellhole. He told reporters that we are suffering from a crime wave reminiscent of the movie The Purge. Chicago is living the purge, when criminals ravage at will and cops stand down, he declared. Other fearmongers argue that lax immigration policies, criminal justice reform and anti-police sentiment are jeopardizing our safety. Meanwhile, gun advocates embrace their weapons as a precious right, despite the growing epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings. All the candidates vying to replace Mayor Lori Lightfoot are talking big about fighting crime. Lightfoot and Chicago police Superintendent David Brown argue that homicides and shootings have declined in recent months. Their critics respond that street violence remains at unacceptable levels. Lightfoots opponents vow, if elected, to fire Brown. The superintendents performance has been a disappointment, and many wonder why Lightfoot did not replace him when she had the chance. But dump Brown? Then what? Even a big-city police superintendent cannot solve all the complex factors fueling the mayhem on our streets. Advertisement Pick your poison: civil unrest following the police murder of George Floyd, the historic disruption caused by the pandemic, decades of economic disinvestment in communities of color, plummeting morale in law enforcement, deep mistrust between the police and community, and the wide availability and abuse of guns. Some of these ills have plagued us for years, some decades. Yet we are further away than ever from solutions. There is one sliver of hope for 2023. Concern about crime is no longer limited to the economically challenged, underresourced communities on the citys South and West sides. When people were dying in Black and brown neighborhoods, it was someone elses problem. Now shootings, armed robberies and carjackings have descended on neighborhoods once considered safe. Crime is invading the South Loop, Gold Coast, North Michigan Avenue, River North, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Bucktown. Now its our problem. An endless succession of Chicago mayors, police chiefs and other city leaders have bemoaned for decades the flow of illegal guns into Illinois. They have pointed to the hundreds of gun victims who die every year because of the accessibility of guns. Advertisement Then, at a July Fourth parade, a young man allegedly used an assault-style weapon to fatally shoot seven people and wound dozens more in north suburban Highland Park. Now its our problem. Propelled by the outrage over Highland Park, legislators will soon consider Illinois House Bill 5855, which would ban assault-style weapons, raise the minimum age to obtain a firearm owners identification card to 21 from 18, increase resources to enforce red flag laws and stop the influx of illegal weapons into Illinois. The danger has come to every neighborhood, city and village. How do we vanquish enemy No. 1? James E. Gierach, a retired Chicago-area attorney, former Cook County prosecutor and drug policy reformer, has a thought. He wrote me recently with a fresh take on the crime problem. Advertisement Has the removal of marijuana from drug dealer shelves (about $1.5 billion in recreational marijuana sales a year in Illinois) substantially contributed to the rise in carjackings, catalytic converter theft, expressway shootings, smash and grab crime, and armed robberies in neighborhoods unfamiliar with such crime? he asked. In other words, has marijuana legalization significantly contributed to the rise of other financially motivated crime? That is one question worth investigating in 2023. Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The recently arrested suspect in the Moscow quadruple homicide has been sitting in a jail more than 2,500 miles from where the University of Idaho students were killed on Nov. 13. But that could change as early as Tuesday night, according to his lawyer in Pennsylvania. Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police at about 1:45 a.m. Friday at a home in Chestnuthill Township. A prosecutor told The New York Times it was the home of Kohbergers parents. Police placed him in the Monroe County Correctional Facility, and an extradition hearing is planned for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain time. Jason LaBar, the chief public defender in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and the attorney representing Kohberger there, told the Idaho Statesman on Saturday that Kohberger is eager to be exonerated and plans to waive his extradition rights during the hearing. Under Pennsylvania law, defendants have a right to a separate hearing to determine whether there are legal grounds for extradition. It was an easy decision to waive the hearing since it would be easy for the state to argue that it had the right to extradite Kohberger, LaBar told CNN. Its a procedural issue, and really all the commonwealth here has to prove is that he resembles or is the person who the arrest warrant is out for and that he was in the area at the time of the crime, LaBar told CNN. Kohberger faces four first-degree murder charges in Idaho, according to Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, in the fatal stabbings of Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. Kohberger also faces a felony burglary charge for entering their King Road home just off the Moscow campus on Nov. 13 with the intent to commit murder, Thompson said at a news conference last Friday. Story continues LaBar told NBC News that he anticipates Kohberger to be taken to Idaho either Tuesday night or Wednesday after the extradition waiver is submitted. The Moscow Police Department gave a less definite answer as to when Kohberger would be in the state. Law enforcement agencies are legally allowed up to 10 days to complete an extradition. We do not have a timeline at this point, Moscow Police Capt. Anthony Dahlinger told the Idaho Statesman in an email on Monday. When we receive official documentation of his waiver of extradition, the process of transporting him to Idaho can begin. Police in Idaho have not been able to reveal much about what led them to Kohberger. The probable cause affidavit, which will contain details and lay out the case against him, is sealed under Idaho law and wont become public until he is extradited and appears before an Idaho judge. This is not the end of this investigation. In fact, this is a new beginning, Thompson said Friday. Asked about the police decision to keep information about the investigation guarded as it proceeded, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Friday that he 100% stands behind that move. He acknowledged that doing so had frustrated the public, but said it was necessary. We want to have a situation that when this goes to trial, theres no doubt that weve done everything right, he said. LaBar told ABC that Kohberger and his father drove together to Pennsylvania after his father flew to Washington state for a planned holiday road trip. They took his white Hyundai Elantra, LaBar said. Police had been searching for a vehicle matching that description after they said it was seen in security footage the night of the crime. Driving cross country took them about two and a half days. Mr. Kohberger indicated that Bryan was acting normal and not out of character during that drive from Washington, LaBar told ABC. LaBar on Sunday shared a Kohberger family statement with the Idaho Statesman. First and foremost we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children, the statement read. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel, and we pray each day for them. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother. The family Kohbergers parents and two sisters, LaBar said asked for privacy and said they have fully cooperated with law enforcement investigations. US Capitol siege in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. Samuel Corum/Getty Images Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters have been arrested and charged in the two years since a mob stormed the Capitol. Many were easy to identify thanks to their brazen behavior inside and outside of the building that day. Here are some of the least shocking ways Jan. 6 rioters got caught. A mob of Trump supporters laid siege to the US Capitol almost exactly two years ago. In the months since the US government has arrested and charged nearly 1,000 people in connection with the attack and handed out hundreds of jail sentences and fines to those who pleaded and were found guilty. The insurrection launched an unprecedented federal investigation that has seen prosecutors scour hotel and phone records, countless hours of surveillance footage, and scores of social media posts to track down the thousands of people inside and outside the Capitol that day. In some respects, identifying the rioters, while a massive endeavor in scope, hasn't been a particularly difficult task: A majority of rioters seemingly had little to hide about their behavior on January 6, 2021. Several gave interviews to the media in the immediate aftermath, outwardly identifying themselves on camera; others were photographed in bizarre mid-riot activities who could forget lectern guy or the man who posed with his feet atop Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk? that made them easily trackable targets. But there are some accused rioters who were so brazen in their riot and post-riot conduct, that Insider believed they deserved their own special list. Without further adieu: The least surprising ways Capitol rioters got caught. 2 accused rioters made big Bumble blunders These accused rioters' reach for romance landed them in trouble with the law. In an apparent attempt to impress a Bumble match, Andrew Quentin Taake boasted about his apparent role in the siege, telling an anonymous woman on the dating app that he was among the insurrectionists from "the very beginning," prosecutors said. Story continues After the pair's online conversation fizzled, the unnamed woman contacted the FBI on January 9, 2021, sharing screenshots of Taake's own admissions via messages between the two, according to a July 2021 criminal complaint. In one exchange, the Texas man told his potential paramour about being pepper-sprayed outside the Capitol: "I was the very first person to be sprayed that day, all while just standing there," he claimed. But federal prosecutors ultimately accused him of doing much more than "just standing there," arresting him in July 2021 on several charges related to the attack, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. Taake pleaded not guilty to all charges in late 2021 and is awaiting trial, according to court records. In a strikingly similar story, Robert Chapman, of New York, found himself charged with four counts related to the Capitol riot after a Bumble user tipped off the FBI, sharing a screenshot of an incriminating exchange between the two non-love-birds. The anonymous woman contacted the FBI on January 13, 2021, with photos of her conversation with Chapman in which he blatantly admitted: "I did storm the Capitol" and "I made it all the way to Statuary Hall," referencing a room inside the Capitol. Chapman went on to tell his match that he had already spoken with reporters at both The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. "We are not a match," the woman responded. "I suppose not," Chapman said. A judge sentenced Chapman to three months of home detention earlier this year after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor picketing charge. A composite image of Robert Chapman and messages he sent on Bumble. Both images are from a federal criminal complaint against Chapman. FBI Familial fumings have led to weighty consequences Several accused rioters at the Capitol on January 6 were brought down by members of their own families. There was Guy Reffitt, the notorious militia man who was sentenced to seven years in prison on five felony charges earlier this year after his teenage son turned him in to the FBI, in defiance of his dad's own direct threats to keep his mouth shut. Or take the case of Zachary Alam, a Pennsylvania man who prosecutors say was filmed shattering a window in the Speaker's Lobby and subsequently arrested after an unnamed relative sent a tip to the FBI. Officials charged Alam with several counts last year and he pleaded guilty to all charges in December 2021, according to the Justice Department. But there is perhaps no case more baffling than that of Thomas Fee, a retired New York City firefighter who texted his girlfriend's brother who also happened to be a federal agent with the US Diplomatic Security Service a selfie showing him inside the Capitol rotunda during the riot. According to charging documents, Fee also sent his girlfriend's brother a video of himself inside the building where other rioters could be heard screaming "Pelosi" and "tyranny." The unnamed special agent initially deleted the messages but was later able to retrieve them, after which he sent them to DSS. The agency then sent the evidence to the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Fee turned himself in soon after and was sentenced to 24 months of probation earlier this year. This rioter's ex-girlfriend got payback for his put-down Richard Michetti learned the hard way the inevitable consequences of scorning an ex-lover. A judge sentenced the Pennsylvania man to nine months in prison earlier this year after his ex-girlfriend turned him in to the FBI, according to court documents. The unnamed woman blew Michetti's cover after he called her a "moron" for not supporting former President Donald Trump, prosecutors said. "If you can't see the election was stolen, you're a moron," Michetti texted his ex-girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint. "This is our country do you think we live like kings because no one sacrificed anything?" After Michetti's insults, his ex-girlfriend provided the FBI with text messages and videos a day after the siege. She even identified him in other images that appeared to show him inside the building, prosecutors said. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 6: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. Brent Stirton/Getty Images This accused rioter faced religious repercussions thanks to a fellow worshipper The FBI arrested Glenn Allen Brooks in August 2021 on two January 6-related charges after a member of his church prayer group turned him in, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Brooks "boasted of his active participation" in the attack and "sent photos of his attendance" to a text chat group full of other prayer group members. Brooks sent the digital evidence to his fellow worshippers on the day of the riot, according to prosecutors, but the unnamed prayer group member who tipped off investigators did so weeks after the insurrection. The California man pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in August 2021, according to court records. An unbelievable Uber ride was this accused rioter's downfall Alleged defendant Jerry Daniel Braun was turned in by his get-away car driver, according to court documents. Authorities arrested the California man in April 2022 after the Uber driver who took Braun away from the January 6 attack tipped off the FBI, according to court documents. Braun faces three charges related to his alleged role in the insurrection after a Washington, DC-area Uber driver contacted the FBI in January 2021 to share information about an apparent rioter. The driver told investigators that one of his passengers acknowledged tearing down a barricade at the US Capitol immediately following the siege. Braun has yet to enter a plea in the case, according to court records. A portion of Braun's ride was captured on video by a dash cam in the Uber, according to court documents, during which the driver engaged Braun in conversation about the siege. "So, has it been violent all day?" the driver asked, according to prosecutors. "Well, it started around right when I got there," Braun responded, per prosecutors. "I tore down the barricades." "You did?" the driver asked. "Why?" "Well, because, so we could get to the Capitol," Braun replied. "Well, how'd that work out for ya?" the driver responded. "Well, it looks like, uh, Biden's gonna be our president," Braun said. An Uber dash cam video captured Jerry Daniel Braun immediately after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The Department of Justice. Self-promoters helped investigators by identifying themselves Some industrious rioters couldn't help but use an unprecedented American insurrection as an opportunity to drum up business. Texas real estate agent Jenna Ryan, who has continually made headlines for her post-riot behavior and commentary, seemed to be in hustle mode on January 6, posting a since-deleted video from the Capitol in which she promoted herself. "We're gonnago in there, life of death! It doesn't matter!" she said in the video, according to The Washington Post. "Y'all know who to hire for your realtor: Jenna Ryan." In another video from inside the building, Ryan continued to sell herself: "You guys, can you believe this? I'm not messing around. When I come to sell your house, this is what I'll do." Ryan completed a 60-day prison sentence earlier this year after pleading guilty to a single federal misdemeanor charge of parading. Among the entrepreneurial insurrectionists that day was also Troy Faulkner, who was sentenced to five months in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty. According to an FBI affidavit, Faulkner stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, while wearing a jacket advertising his Ohio painting company. The promotional outerwear helped FBI agents identify him, according to investigators. On the back of his jacket, Faulkner advertised his namesake painting business and the telephone number for the company. Memorable fashion choices made some rioters instantly recognizable Adorned with a headdress, horns, and red, white, and blue face paint, Jacob Chansley alternatively known as the QAnon Shaman dressed his way into becoming the unofficial mascot for the January 6 insurrection. Chansley is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable faces of the Capitol riot. Thanks to his larger-than-life get-up, he was photographed several times throughout the day walking with his bullhorn and flagpole. Authorities arrested him just three days later in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, where he was charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors. "He made himself the image of the riot, didn't he?" Judge Royce Lamberth said in November 2021 before sentencing Chansley to 41 months in prison following his guilty plea to obstruction. A protester screams "Freedom" inside the Senate chamber after the U.S. Capitol was breached by a mob during a joint session of Congress on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Several other bizarrely-dressed rioters have since been arrested and sentenced, including Aaron Mostofsky, who donned fur pelts while inside the Capitol; Kevin Seefried, who carried a giant Confederate Flag throughout the Capitol's hall; and Robert Keith Packer, who was photographed wearing a "Camp Auschwitz" sweatshirt. Read the original article on Business Insider Police are investigating the death of a man and woman at a Senior Living Community apartment in Mount Dora. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of potentially suspicious activity in the Senior Living Community, Waterman Village, located at 150 Waterman Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a deceased man and woman. Police have not released the cause of death. Read: Pedestrian killed in deadly Central Florida hit-and-run crash, troopers search for vehicle In a press conference on Sunday, police said the couples deaths are suspicious and they will investigate the case as a homicide. Mount Dora police said a security guard had called 911 to report the suspicious activity. Channel 9 asked police multiple times if they were looking for a suspect and if the community was safe. Read: Foggy and wet start to the New Year Interim Police Chief Mike Gibson said there is no threat to the public, but he was hesitant to say anything else. About a dozen residents showed up at the press conference to try to get some answers. Channel 9 spoke to a couple who said they have experienced multiple days of strange situations leading up to this homicide. Read: Two people dead, one injured in Orange County shooting, deputies say Frank and Pat Blair said the day before the murders, a woman tried to get them to let her in their home. She said, I lost my car key and I need to call my husband, but my phone needs charging, could I come in and charge my phone? Frank Blair said. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of man and woman at senior living community Pat Blair said two police agents wanted them to look at a picture that they had of three people to possibly identify her. The Blairs said police would not tell them if the people in the photos were suspects in the murders, or if the woman who tried to come into their home had anything to do with the homicide. Story continues This is an ongoing investigation. Police said they should be able to give more information Monday and they have been in contact with the victims son, but would not release any names until he arrives in town. Neighbors said they are very concerned for their safety, but police will be keeping a watchful eye on the community for the time being. If you have any information, call the Mount Dora Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at (352) 735-7130. 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. Newton Public Schools on Monday announced that officials are recommending students and staff wear masks to prevent the spread of infectious illnesses when they return from winter break on Tuesday. We are, as always, prioritizing the health and safety of our school community. Prior to the break, we experienced a rise in absences for both students and staff due to cases of flu, COVID, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses. We expect we may continue to see increases in illnesses following the break as well, NPS said in a statement. The school district is strongly recommending that all staff and students wear face coverings for the first two weeks of school following the break, the statement said. The recommendation is made in an effort to keep our students in school learning and to keep our classrooms and buildings operating with safe and appropriate staffing. Newtons public school district joins Boston Public Schools, which made a similar announcement on Friday asking that students and staff to wear masks when they return from winter break. The district is also urging the school community to: Practice good hand hygiene. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or if a tissue is not available, cover them with an elbow, not a hand. Clean high-touch surfaces. NPS will continue its practice of cleaning high-touch surfaces in our classrooms and buildings. Disinfecting high-touch surfaces like doorknobs is crucial to prevent illness. Wear a face covering. Wearing a mask protects against respiratory droplets and is effective in preventing COVID-19. Avoid exposure to people who are sick. In addition, please keep your student home if sick. Boston Public Schools temporary masking policy will be in effect from Wednesday, Jan 4, through Friday, Jan. 13, and no one will be disciplined or sent home if they refuse to wear a mask, BPS noted. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has sacked Pak Jong Chon, the second most powerful military official after leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported. Pak, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party and a secretary of the party's Central Committee, was replaced by Ri Yong Gil at the committee's annual meeting last week, the official KCNA news agency said on Sunday. No reason for the change was given. Pyongyang regularly revamps its leadership and the year-end party gathering has often been used to announce personnel reshuffles and major policy decisions. State television showed Pak sitting in the front row of the podium with his head down during the meeting while other members raised their hands to vote on personnel issues. His seat was later shown unoccupied. He was also absent in photos released on Monday by the official KCNA news agency of Kim's New Year's Day visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun which houses the bodies of his grandfather and father, unlike in October when Pak accompanied Kim on a trip to the palace to mark a party anniversary. The party's Central Military Commission, which is headed by Kim, is considered the country' most powerful military decision-making body, above the defence ministry. Pak's replacement came as Kim called for developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles and a larger nuclear arsenal to counter the United States and South Korea as key to the isolated country's 2023 defence strategy. Pak had rapidly moved up the military ladder from a one-star artillery commander in 2015 to a four-star general in 2020, taking credit for contributing to progress in the country's short-range missile technology. In late 2020, Pak was promoted to the politburo and earned the title of marshal, the highest military rank under Kim, and became a leading voice last November against joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises. Story continues Like most other top military aides who went through ups and downs repeatedly under Kim, Pak was briefly demoted in mid-2021 after Kim chided some officials for their handling of North Korea's anti-coronavirus policy, before being promoted again months later. Pak's dismissal comes despite Kim mostly lauding the military's advances in weapons development during the meeting, unlike other areas where he pointed out some faults and called for improvement. Oh Gyeong-sup, a fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said a recent flare-up in inter-Korea tension over North Korean drones' intrusion into the South could have played a role. Officials in Seoul said South Korea sent three drones across the border in response to the intrusion, but there was no response from the North, which Oh said could mean that it failed to detect the aircraft. "Pak might have taken responsibility for the failure of security operations," Oh said. Ri, Pak's successor, is also a senior military commander who held key positions including chief of the army's general staff and defence minister. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) NEW YORK (AP) A possible strike by thousands of New York City nurses loomed Monday even as nurses at one hospital reached a tentative agreement hours before their contract was set to expire. The pact affecting 4,000 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital awaits ratification. Contract talks between nurses and seven other hospitals will resume this week to avert a strike by 12,000 other nurses as early as next Monday, Jan. 9. Their contracts expired Tuesday. Striking is always a last resort, but nurses say they are prepared to strike if hospital administration gives them no other option to protect their patients and their practice, the New York State Nurses Association said in a statement over the weekend. The union issued a 10-day notice that it intends to strike if an agreement isn't reached. The advance notice is required by law to give hospitals to arrange for alternative staffing. The nurses have been calling for what they described as safe staffing levels, fair wages, no cuts to their health coverage, and health and safety protections in light of the tripledemic of COVID-19, RSV and flu. They also want community benefits such as funding programs to recruit and train nurses from within the communities they serve. The seven hospitals where the nurses could strike include Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside and West, Maimonides, BronxCare, Richmond University Medical Center, and Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Representatives of several hospitals said Friday they remained hopeful contract agreements will be reached before a strike but said they are prepared to bring in outside workers as a precaution as they face high patient volume because of the triple health threats. The union congratulated its members at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on reaching a tentative agreement on what it called a fair contract hours before their contract expired. The hospital said it was pleased to have reached a tentative agreement. With this agreement, which is still subject to ratification by the nurses, we are making a significant investment in our outstanding nursing team and ensuring that we can continue to deliver the highest level of care to our patients, the hospital said in a statement. OKB, the utility token of Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange OKX, jumped by up to 15% during Asia trading hours on Monday. The exchange has been taking part in a trend among centralized exchanges to promote transparency following the collapse of FTX. OKT, the native token of the exchanges own blockchain OKX Chain, was up 13%. See related article: Kraken to shut Japan operations The price of OKB, an Ethereum-based ERC-20 token, grew by more than 30% in the last seven days to US$29.97, an 86% increase from Oct. 1, 2022, according to CoinMarketCap data. OKT, the ecosystem token for the exchanges blockchain, also surged 13.3% in the past day to US$28.85. OKX Chain launched its Liquid Staking protocol on Dec. 20, 2022, which rewards users with an annual percentage rate of up to 40%. The price of OKT has increased by about 40% since the launch of the service. Bitcoin fell 14%, and Ether was down 10% in the last quarter along with most major cryptocurrencies as the FTX debacle, centered around the alleged misuse of customer funds by the bankrupt firm, damaged the reputation of centralized exchanges. OKXs latest proof-of-reserves report updated on Dec. 20 claimed that the exchanges Bitcoin and Tether reserve ratio was at 101% while its Ether reserve had 103%. California Storms (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The storm that killed one person and left roadways across northern California flooded has moved further east, but that does not mean Californians are safe from the "incredibly dangerous" and life-threatening conditions left in its wake. On Monday, residents in Sacramento County are still under evacuation orders after the historic flooding breached the citys levees. Sacramento County officials warned residents that the situation was still "incredibly dangerous" with the potential for overfilled rivers to spill out onto nearby roadways. The evacuation orders were issued late Sunday for individuals living in Point Pleasant, a low-lying community where dangerous flooding could occur. Residents of other nearby towns, including Glanville Tract and Franklin Pond were also told to prepare to flee before the roads were cut-off by rising waters. "It is expected that the flooding from the Cosumnes River and the Mokelumne River is moving southwest toward I-5 and could reach these areas in the middle of the night," the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services tweeted on Sunday afternoon. "Livestock in the affected areas should be moved to higher ground." CBS News reports that dozens of people required rescue over the weekend when floodwaters caught them in their cars. At least one person was found dead in the town of Wilton after they attempted to drive through the high waters. Mudslides are still blocking motorways in some parts of the region and trees brought down by 60mph winds have disrupted power lines, leaving tens of thousands without power. Residents in the San Francisco Bay Area are also feeling the after effects of the storm. Fishermans Wharf logged its wettest day in 30 years, and a sinkhole opened up at the Oakland Zoo, shuttering it for what zoo officials believe will be at least two weeks. A meteorologist in San Francisco, John Shrable, shared a video of an individual rafting through standing water in the city. The video included the caption "this is what 5.46 inches of rainfall in a day looks like in San Francisco." Story continues This is what 5.46 inches of rainfall in a day looks like in San Francisco. Just barely missing the all time record for wettest day, 5.54 set back in November of 1994. Have a safe New Years Eve everyone as theres still plenty of standing water! #AtmosphericRiver pic.twitter.com/nkr8Jr5BYP John Shrable (@JohnShrable) January 1, 2023 He also warned readers that there was "still plenty of standing water" and to take precautions. According to Newsweek, dozens of drivers in San Francisco were affected by the flooding and required fire department assistance. The SFFD confirmed to Newsweek that there were no casualties in the city stemming from the storm. The "atmospheric river" that brought the storm upon the region also caused extreme weather further west in the state. Mountain roads weaving through the Sierra Nevada range were obstructed by heavy snow and driving conditions made difficult by showers and thunderstorms. More than four feet of snow fell in the mountains over the weekend. Heavy snow also hit Lake Tahoe in eastern California, according to meteorologists. Regional forecasts predict snow to fall throughout the week. Starting the new year with legislation that prohibits anyone younger than 18 from having a social media account would benefit our youths. In Texas, that could become a reality. A state representative there has proposed legislation that would ban minors from having social media profiles. While it certainly will be met with some criticism, there is enough data to support this legislation. Consider the rising number of youths suffering from depression and anxiety. From 2005 to 2015, depression increased from 8.7% to 12.7% for those 12 to 17 years old, data from the National Survey on Drug Abuse reveals. Depression is a mental illness that is often overlooked or not treated. Advertisement We often say, They are just being teenagers, when we seen teens exhibit symptoms such as a change in appetite and appearance or demonstrate defiant behavior. A steady increase in adolescents experiencing anxiety also was reported about the same time: From 2007 to 2012, there was a 20% rise in cases of anxiety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2016 to 2019 nearly 6 million children were diagnosed with anxiety. The pandemic certainly exacerbated these numbers after 2019. Advertisement When you examine the sizable increases in depression and anxiety and compare it with the growth of social media accounts from the early 2000s to the present, its difficult to overlook the connection. The social media site MySpace started the trend in 2003, arguably the most influential platform during that time. In 2004, Facebook grew substantially and went public in 2012. By 2013, the number of Facebook users worldwide totaled more than 1 billion. Twitter and Instagram came along in 2006 and 2010, respectively. Then the ever so popular Snapchat was released in 2011, Its users average age ranges from 15 to 25 years old. [ Bob Brody: Why I still like Facebook, even though everyone else sort of hates it ] Easily more than half of 11-year-olds own cellphones in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, social media platforms are a fixture on the phones of many preteens and teens. Overindulgence in these sites comes with a price. Being bombarded with likes and dislikes, our youths daily confront the problem of having their self-worth and self-esteem dictated by others. The story doesnt stop there. Arguments and simple disagreements on social media can escalate into violent altercations that spill over into schools and communities. Shootings in and around schools have been connected to disagreements that originated on social media. Local leaders in Atlanta, for example, stated in November that they believe social media and youth violence are related. Philadelphia police also have reportedconnecting acts of violence with social media disputes. And reports have circulated for years about social media fueling Chicago violence in combination with gangs and drugs. These are just a few examples. A problem clearly exists. State Rep. Jared Patterson of Texas, the author of the proposed legislation, outlined the problem in a profound fashion. He said that algorithms are designed to hook our kids on social media platforms and recommends that only with proof of age from a drivers license should someone be able to create a social media account. Many across the country would welcome this type of legislation. Perhaps it would go a long way in stemming the violence in schools and communities. Bouts of depression and anxiety may be alleviated to levels that are more manageable for our youth. Others may scoff at this approach and say that it is too drastic. After all, how can social media be taken away from our youths now? It is interwoven into their daily lives, and the status quo should not be changed. Advertisement And there lies the problem: We have allowed our youths to determine what is good or bad for them. We adults should realize that our youths need us to make sound and informed decisions for them. Social media content is having far-reaching consequences hindering the quality of life for far too many youths. Is it possible for other elected officials to follow this lead across the country? Is federal legislation possible? It will be interesting to see how House Bill 896 fairs in Texas. Hopefully, 2023 will be a year in which violence will no longer be the leading cause of death for Black males up to 19 years of age, and the second leading cause of death for Hispanics. Perhaps suicide will no longer be the second leading cause of death for youths 10 to 14. And, hopefully, the increase in youths experiencing depression and anxiety will decrease. Unfortunately, hoping the data will get better is not enough. What steps will legislators, along with the rest of us, take to help our youths in 2023? Jerald McNair is a school administrator at South Holland School District 151. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Orlando will honor Martin Luther King, Jr.s legacy with a series of local events next year. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the Mayors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission announced the events for the first quarter of 2023. The volunteer organization will honor the late civil rights leader and promote a community based on peace, justice, freedom and respect. Here is a schedule of the events: Sunday, Jan. 8 6 p.m. - MLK Candlelight Vigil and March at the Rotunda, at City Hall on 400 South Orange Avenue The commission will host a candlelight vigil, a brief presentation and a march to the Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando for the Interfaith Multicultural Celebration. 6:30 p.m. - Interfaith Multicultural Celebration at the Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando, 604 West Jackson Street Guest speaker Bishop Derrick L. McRae, Senior Pastor of The Experience Christian Center The celebration theme is The Daybreak of Freedom Monday, Jan. 9, 2 p.m. Orlando City Council Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presentation at City Council Chambers on the second floor, located in City Hall, 400 South Orange Avenue Mayor Dyer and the city commissioners will proclaim Jan. 8-16, 2023, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Week in the City of Orlando. Read: Report exposes gender pay gap in U.S. workforce, disparity greatest for women of color Thursday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Forum at FAMU College of Law, 201 FAMU Law Lane The Orlando Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will host a forum where participants will discuss this years theme of Seize The Moment. Take The Opportunity. Dare To Affect Change. For more information on event registration, click here. Friday, Jan. 13, 11:30 a.m. 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Luncheon at the First Baptist Orlando, 3000 South John Young Parkway Keynote speaker Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the new interim General Secretary/President of the National Council of Churches The luncheon will recognize the Drum Major Award and other community achievements. Story continues For more information on event registration, click here. Saturday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Downtown Orlando Parade on Orange Avenue The parade theme is It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Break the Cycle of Injustice. Read: American Cancer Society: Black people dying of cancer at a higher rate than all other racial groups Monday, Jan. 16 7:45 a.m. - Arthur Pappy Kennedy 32nd Annual Prayer Breakfast at First Baptist Orlando, 3000 South John Young Parkway Guest Speaker Barbara Jenkins Held on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for more than 30 years Commemorates civil rights pioneers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Arthur Pappy Kennedy, Orlandos first African American City Council Member For more information on event registration, click here. 9 a.m. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commissions Great Day of Service at Lake Lorna Doone Park, 1519 West Church Street 9 a.m. - Seedlings for Civil Rights at Gilbert McQueen Park, 650 West Lake Mann Drive Help beautify homes in the community by planting trees, mulching and removing litter from surrounding areas. The commission will provide snacks, water and supplies but closed-toe shoes are required. Read: SBA launches womens business centers at HBCUs nationwide Friday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. MLK Night at the Orlando Magic at Amway Center, 400 West Church Street The event will recognize MLK Youth Humanitarian Award winners at the Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans game. Saturday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. MLK Gospel Concert at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Steinmetz Hall, 445 South Magnolia Avenue The eighth annual concert will be produced and directed by Jeffrey Redding. Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to donate non-perishable foods to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. 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. Outgoing Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP, File Outgoing GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said that he fears for the US if Trump is not prosecuted. The former member of the January 6 probe said he believes the DOJ will charge Trump. "If this is not a crime, I don't know what is," Kinzinger said of the evidence he had reviewed. Outgoing GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger has called on the Justice Department to prosecute former President Donald Trump, saying that if his role in the January 6 Capitol riot is not considered criminal, then "I don't know what is." Kinzinger, who announced in late 2021 that he would not seek re-election in his Illinois district in the 2022 midterms, citing extremism and tribalism in the US political system, is one of two Republicans who sat on the House Select Committee to investigate the Capitol riot. The committee wrapped up its findings in December, with a bombshell recommendation to prosecute the former president. In a farewell interview with CNN, broadcast on Sunday, Kinzinger said he believed that the Department of Justice would follow through on the committee's recommendations to charge Trump on four separate counts: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to make false statements, obstruction of an official proceeding, and inciting an insurrection. Kinzinger has long backed criminal charges for Trump, saying in July last year that the committee had "proven" Trump had made unacceptable efforts to remain in power. Kinzinger told CNN's Dana Bash that when he first sat down with the committee he didn't have the legal expertise to say whether Trump had committed a crime. But after seeing the wealth of evidence the committee pulled together, he said: "I'm like, 'yeah, if this is not a crime, I don't know what is.' "If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, then really there's no limit to what a president can do or can't do," he continued. Kinzinger said he believed that the DOJ will prosecute Trump, and if it didn't there could be long-term repercussions. Story continues "If he is not guilty of a crime, then I frankly fear for the future of this country," he said. "Because now, every future president can say 'hey, here's the bar,' and the bar is: do everything you can to stay in power," he added. Kinzinger also warned that the US cannot be complacent in its political system: "There have to be uncomfortable alliances to defend democracy," he said, a likely reference to his own stance in joining the January 6 committee, despite his political allegiance. Asked by CNN if he was sad to be leaving Congress, Kinzinger said: "I'm not going to miss the job." But, he added: "It's been a heck of a ride." Read the original article on Business Insider Hongkong Land Holdings Limited (SGX:H78) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 10% in the last month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been less than pleasing. After all, the share price is down 36% in that time, significantly under-performing the market. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. See our latest analysis for Hongkong Land Holdings While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, Hongkong Land Holdings moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. We note that the dividend has remained healthy, so that wouldn't really explain the share price drop. It's not immediately clear to us why the stock price is down but further research might provide some answers. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). Hongkong Land Holdings is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. You can see what analysts are predicting for Hongkong Land Holdings in this interactive graph of future profit estimates. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Hongkong Land Holdings' TSR for the last 5 years was -21%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in Hongkong Land Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 7.4% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 4.0%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 4% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Hongkong Land Holdings that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian in Marion County. The crash happened Saturday night around 11:25 p.m. near the intersection of State Road 35 and Southeast 28th Street. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Troopers said an unknown vehicle was traveling northbound in the left turn lane on SR-35, south of SE 28th Street. According to a news release, a pedestrian was standing in the left turn when the vehicle hit the pedestrian and left the scene. Read: Foggy and wet start to the New Year The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said the make and color of the vehicle are unknown at this time. Read: Pods clear, 62 people evacuate from The Wheel at ICON Park after loss of power This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information on this deadly hit-and-run crash, call FHP. Read: New Years Day superstitions: Dont wash clothes; do look for a tall, dark, stranger; eat greens 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. Petoskey students presented to the board of education about the benefits of solar power and renewable energy at a November board meeting. PETOSKEY While working to come up with solutions to help with the climate crisis, the Petoskey High School Sustainability Club came up with something to help right at home: Solar panels. Originally started by students from the Class of 2020, the sustainability club hopes to address climate impacts in the area. The students put together a proposal for solar power options for the high school and presented to the board of education in November. The presentation was created in collaboration between the school club and The Groundwork Center. More:Petoskey Solar Tour to feature locations of local solar installations More:East Jordan students unveil new solar array on Earth Day In a press release from the Groundwork Center, students described their efforts and their presentation. The students reached out to different solar contractors for quotes and estimated that a 10 percent array of solar panels would cost $900,000, with an $80,000 margin for error. The students conducted research beyond reaching out to contractors they went on solar tours, talked to schools with successful solar mounts, and used social media and polls to gauge interest in bringing solar energy to the district. The students found that schools in Onsted, Flushing and East Jordan all developed successful solar arrays with different financing plans. According to the release, East Jordan is on track for an 18-year buy back period for the panels and arrays. East Jordan Middle/High School had 71 solar panels installed in spring 2021. The payback period the students originally estimated for the district was 24 years, one year less than the typical 25-year panel warranty. Beyond the environmental benefits of solar panels, the students said the panels would serve as an opportunity to teach about renewable energy in the schools and give students the opportunity to learn more about the industry if that is a career area they hope to pursue. In 2019, the City of Petoskey made a resolution that by 2035 the city would be using entirely renewable energy. The students argued that the Public Schools of Petoskey using solar would allow the district to set a positive example for neighboring districts as well as households, showcasing that solar is a viable option for the community. Story continues Subscribe:Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you In the release, Groundworks Climate and Clean Energy Specialist Liv Rollinger said she is proud of the students' dedication and planning for the project. These students are building a better world for their immediate community here in Petoskey, setting an example for other schools and students across the state, and contributing to the clean energy transition we need across the globe to bring about a brighter and healthier future, she wrote in the release. Members of the sustainability club said they support solar energy because they think its a good way to utilize resources, offset carbon emissions, and because they think it is a viable opportunity for the community to get farther away from using harmful energy sources. While the board has not yet discussed implementing the students' plans, members of the club will continue advocating to bring solar energy to the campus. For more information on the Groundwork Centers climate-focused initiatives, visit www.groundworkcenter.org/climate-and-environment. Contact education reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey Sustainability Club presents solar options to school board A pharma millionaire who was convicted of manslaughter of her eight-year-old autistic son in 2014 was found dead in her home, hours after the Supreme Court revoked her bail. Gigi Jordan, 62, was discovered dead around 12.30am on Friday at her apartment in Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. The police are investigating the death as suspected suicide. Jordan was convicted of manslaughtering her son Jude Mirra in February 2010 in a room of Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. She gave her autistic son a deadly cocktail of painkillers, speeling pills, and tranquilisers mixed with juice and alcohol before she attempted to take her own life. Her prosecutors argued that she killed him because he was emotionally disturbed and Jordan testified that he had been traumatised after being sexually abused by his biological father, Emil Tzekov, her second husband. She was sentenced to 18 years in jail in 2015. However, her conviction for manslaughter charges was overturned in 2020 due to a procedural misstep. On Friday, one of Jordans attorneys Norman Siegel confirmed her death, describing it as unbelievably sad. Gigi Jordan had a lot to offer society, Mr Siegel said. In the end, she did not have her opportunity to contribute to society. He said he last talked to Jordan on Thursday when she called him and said she sounded in good spirits. The cause of Jordans death remains unclear, however, a note was reportedly found at the scene, according to law enforcement sources. On Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order that would have required Jordan to return to prison. The justice overturned a previous order from 20 December that allowed her to remain free on bail as the high court was considering her appeal. During the trail she testified that she made a failed attempt to take her own life and took her sons life due to fear. I didnt see any way out of this situation, she has said during the trial. I made a decision that I was going to end my life and Judes life. Story continues If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Phoenix police Phoenix police are asking the public for any information in regards to a shooting that left one man dead early Saturday morning. Sgt. Brian Bower, a department spokesperson, said officers responded to the area of 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road around 12:18 a.m. where they found Raymond Hernandez Jr. with a gunshot wound. Phoenix fire personnel took Hernandez to a hospital where he later died. No other details about the shooting were released. Bower urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police seek answers in shooting that killed 1 A business struggles with floodwaters in San Carlos, California, on December 31, 2022. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images An atmospheric river dumped record rainfall across Nothern California on New Year's Eve. Photos show flooding, landslides, boat, and helicopter rescues, breached levees, and a sinkhole. Another atmospheric river is approaching, possibly bringing worse flooding Wednesday and Thursday. Northern California was inundated with floodwaters when an atmospheric river dumped record rain across the area on New Year's Eve. Californians have just a few days of respite before another atmospheric river a channel of water vapor that can carry as much water as a river is expected to inundate the area on Wednesday and Thursday. It will be "similar in strength or stronger than the New Years Eve storm," according to the National Weather Service. Since soil is already saturated from the recent storm, it may not be able to absorb as much water when the new atmospheric river rains down. That could mean even worse flooding. A car is partially submerged on a flooded road after heavy rains in San Francisco, California, December 31, 2022, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Dav Yaginuma/Reuters The recent storm left people stranded, vehicles submerged and abandoned, highways closed, and triggered mudslides and landslides. At least two people have died in the floods. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the floodwaters are still surging in some areas. A landslide blocks Highway 92 West in San Mateo County, California, on December 31, 2022. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Oakland saw its wettest day on record on Saturday, and San Francisco was just shy of its record. Footage from John Shrable, a meteorologist with local news station KRON4, shows significant flooding in the city: The Oakland Zoo closed on Sunday, after a culvert overwhelmed with rainfall collapsed underground and opened a sinkhole. Floodwaters continued to cause trouble after the rain stopped, stranding people and incapacitating businesses. Atmospheric rivers can dump more and more rain as global temperatures rise because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture. That increases the risk of severe flooding events like this (or worse) in the future, scientists have warned. Story continues Levee breaches, boat, and helicopter rescues, and two deaths in Sacramento County An aerial view of the damage after rainstorms caused a levee to break, flooding Sacramento County roads near Wilton, California, January 1, 2023. Fred Greaves/Reuters Floodwaters breached levees in the Sacramento Valley on Sunday, leading to evacuation orders followed by shelter-in-place orders and flooding Highway 99, the main thoroughfare cutting through the Central Valley. Rescue efforts throughout the region are ongoing. One person was found dead in a submerged vehicle on Sunday morning, FOX40 News reported. Another person died after being pulled from the waters, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. In Elk Grove, the fire department used a boat to rescue people from a temporary island created by the flooding, sharing the photo below on Saturday. Elsewhere, a person was rescued by helicopter after floodwaters trapped them against a tree. Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) January 1, 2023 San Francisco is flooded and Tahoe is snowed in The Instagram page for Rintaro, a San Francisco restaurant, shared video of its facilities overwhelmed with standing water. One San Francisco resident shared footage of a forceful mudslide on Twitter, saying it was running through the Bernal Heights neighborhood on Saturday. Further footage shows muddy floodwaters rushing downhill on a residential street. In Tahoe, the atmospheric river dumped snow onto roadways that left some drivers stranded and prompted authorities to close major roadways. Nearby, huge boulders rolled onto Highway 50 during the storm. The California Department of Transportation said it would need to explode them. Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) January 1, 2023 Read the original article on Business Insider The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will hold a mass on Thursday commemorating the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The former pope died Saturday at age 95. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dead at 95 Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh highlighted the former popes historic decision to resign when he could no longer fulfill his duties to the best of his ability. The way that he has lived quietly, in a brotherly friendship with his successor, Pope Francis, is a model for all Catholics to follow as we continue to journey together in service to Jesus and His church, he said in a statement. A mass will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, the same day that Pope Benedict is being laid to rest at Saint Peters Basilica in Rome. The mass will be cablecast to Comcast subscribers within the City of Pittsburgh on Channel 95, and on www.ChristianAssociatesTV.org. The Diocese of Pittsburgh will also video stream the mass live on the diocesan YouTube channel. A mass with Bishop Larry J. Kulick was held Monday at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. I join with the faithful in the Diocese of Greensburg and Catholics throughout the world as we mourn the loss of our Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Kulick said in a release. He dedicated his life to serving the Church in a variety of capacities. He was a consummate theologian and one of the great intellectual lights of the post-Conciliar church. He faced many modern-day challenges in his papacy and proved himself to be a gentle shepherd. TRENDING NOW: Armstrong County man breaks state record for the largest elk taken during archery season Steelers still alive after last-minute 16-13 win over Ravens Car crashed, caught fire in Pittsburghs South Side neighborhood overnight; driver hospitalized VIDEO: Lawsuit alleges Allegheny County childcare center ignored former employees abuse of children DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts UPDATE 1/3/23 8:02 a.m.: Pittsburgh police said Ekaterina Linder has been located and is safe. __________________ ORIGINAL STORY: Pittsburgh police are asking for the publics help to find a missing and endangered woman. Ekaterina Linder, 28, was last seen in Pittsburghs South Side neighborhood just before midnight on New Years Eve. Linder is five feet three inches tall and has blonde hair and hazel eyes. Police said Linder was last seen wearing a multi-colored dress with a black jacket and black boots. Anyone with information on Linders whereabouts are asked to call 911. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Public auction of closed Pittsburgh Walmart items to be held this week UPMC announces their first baby born in Pittsburgh in 2023 Actor Jeremy Renner injured while plowing snow VIDEO:29th First Night New Years Eve celebration held in Downtown Pittsburgh DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts There was no shortage of significant stories around the Chicago suburbs in 2022, including the mass shooting at the Independence Day Parade in Highland Park on July 4 that left seven people dead. Heres a look at the top Tribune stories from the Chicago suburbs in 2022. Highland Park officials fight for gun control in wake of mass shooting they say did not define us A Lake Forest police officer walks along the sidewalk where people abandoned chairs, strollers and bicycles near the scene of a mass shooting along the Fourth of July parade route Monday, July 4, 2022 on Central Avenue in Highland Park. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Residents of Highland Park have felt deep pain and grief over the six months since a gunman opened fire, killing seven people and wounding dozens at the citys annual Fourth of July parade. As the year winds to a close, the city continues to come to grips with what occurred, how to grieve those lost and what, if anything, should be done to prevent future gun violence, in what is tragically one of the Lake County News-Suns top stories of 2022. >>Read more on this top story of 2022 from the Lake County News-Sun Advertisement Lake County officials scrambling for solutions in face of rising homicide numbers A memorial filled with dozens of bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals sits outside of the Kisliak home along Acacia Terrace on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Buffalo Grove. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) With three mass killings committed within its borders over the past year, Lake County experienced a dramatic increase in homicides in 2022. As the year came to a close, the coroners office had recorded 44 homicides, with 10 pending cases likely to be classified as homicides as well. If that is the case, that would put the county on track for 54 homicides in 2022. Since 2018, the annual number of homicides has been in the 30s, with a previous high of 38 in 2020. The unsettling homicide numbers made violence one of the Lake County News-Suns top stories of 2022. >>Read more on this top story of 2022 from the Lake County News-Sun Advertisement Mayors run for governor, casinos planned move near I-88, police body cameras among top Aurora stories in 2022 The Hollywood Casino sits near the Fox River Monday Oct. 10, 2022, in Aurora. Hollywood Casino Aurora has announced plans to move near the Interstate 88 interchange. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) It was a busy year in Aurora in 2022, with Mayor Richard Irvin making a run for governor, a number of big development projects in the city, Hollywood Casino announcing a move from downtown to near Interstate 88 and many more stories making headlines. >>Read the top stories of 2022 in the Aurora area Advertisement Assault rifle sales ban, Westlakes Everest climb, downtown construction work among Napervilles top stories in 2022 Lucy Westlake, 18, of Naperville captures a selfie at at the top of Mount Everest in Nepal on Thursday, May 12, 2022, which earned her the title as youngest American woman to reach Everest. (Lucy Westlake / HANDOUT) Getting back to normal in Naperville meant 2022 was a time to celebrate major accomplishments, such as the Islamic Center of Napervilles mosque groundbreaking or Lucy Westlake climbing Mount Everest. It also was the year to bid farewell to a piece of Naperville history in the razing of the Kroehler YMCA. >>Read the top stories of 2022 in the Naperville area Advertisement Humanitarian aid for Ukraine, reaction to abortion ruling, elections among Southlands top stories in 2022 Inside Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park, donations are readied for shipping to support the people of Ukraine. (Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church) Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Courts abortion ruling, humanitarian aid efforts for Ukraine following Russias invasion and politics on the local and national level made headlines in the south and southwest suburbs in 2022. Parishioners of Catholic churches receiving word of church consolidation and closings, and allegations of police misconduct in suburbs and settlements of significant lawsuits, were also among the major news events. >>Read the top stories of 2022 in the Southland area Advertisement Elected officials step up efforts to keep Lake Countys air and water clean The two unlined ash ponds are seen in the foreground of the coal-fired NRG Waukegan Generating Station in Waukegan on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Efforts to monitor and reduce the amount of ethylene oxide (EtO) spewed into the air in Lake County took a step forward this year, while local officials fought to reduce the danger from coal ash seeping into Lake Michigan contaminating drinking water along the shoreline. A grant arranged this year by U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, will enable testing for EtO a known carcinogen to begin in 2023. >>Read more on this top story of 2022 from the Lake County News-Sun Advertisement Predicted Republican red wave creates barely a ripple in Lake County Candidate signs adorned the driveway on Deerfield Road at the Deerspring Pool early voting location in Deerfield. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun) While predictions of a red wave shifting political power from Democrats to Republicans failed to materialize nationally, the blue wave which washed over Lake County in 2018 continued in Novembers general election. Between redistricting at the national, state and county levels as well as what Lake County Democrats Chair Lauren Beth Gash called quality candidates Democrats extended their majorities throughout the county making the election one of the Lake County News-Suns top stories of 2022. >>Read more on this top story of 2022 from the Lake County News-Sun Advertisement Most Lake County residents returned to pre-pandemic habits despite fact, COVID-19 ... is not going away Two signs on the front door of Nortons Restaurant in Highland Park let diners know they must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. (Steve Sadin / Lake County News-Sun) COVID-19 mitigation efforts like mask wearing, social distancing, frequent hand washing and even receiving a vaccine booster faded away in Lake County over the past year as most people returned to their pre-pandemic habits despite the fact that the virus is still very much around. Lake County went from a low to moderate risk of COVID-19 community spread in November, and remained there since, as the number of cases rose again making the coronavirus pandemic one of the Lake County News-Suns top stories of 2022, as it was the past two years. >>Read more on this top story of 2022 from the Lake County News-Sun Pointerra Limited (ASX:3DP) is possibly approaching a major achievement in its business, so we would like to shine some light on the company. Pointerra Limited provides a cloud-based solution for storing, processing, managing, analyzing, extracting, visualizing, and sharing 3D data. The AU$125m market-cap company announced a latest loss of AU$2.7m on 30 June 2022 for its most recent financial year result. Many investors are wondering about the rate at which Pointerra will turn a profit, with the big question being when will the company breakeven? In this article, we will touch on the expectations for the company's growth and when analysts expect it to become profitable. View our latest analysis for Pointerra Expectations from some of the Australian Software analysts is that Pointerra is on the verge of breakeven. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2022, before turning a profit of AU$5.4m in 2023. Therefore, the company is expected to breakeven roughly 12 months from now or less. We calculated the rate at which the company must grow to meet the consensus forecasts predicting breakeven within 12 months. It turns out an average annual growth rate of 77% is expected, which is rather optimistic! If this rate turns out to be too aggressive, the company may become profitable much later than analysts predict. We're not going to go through company-specific developments for Pointerra given that this is a high-level summary, however, take into account that by and large a high forecast growth rate is not unusual for a company that is currently undergoing an investment period. One thing wed like to point out is that Pointerra has no debt on its balance sheet, which is quite unusual for a cash-burning growth company, which usually has a high level of debt relative to its equity. This means that the company has been operating purely on its equity investment and has no debt burden. This aspect reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. Story continues Next Steps: This article is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis on Pointerra, so if you are interested in understanding the company at a deeper level, take a look at Pointerra's company page on Simply Wall St. We've also compiled a list of essential aspects you should further examine: Valuation: What is Pointerra worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether Pointerra is currently mispriced by the market. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business take a look at who sits on Pointerras board and the CEOs background. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Two police officers shot and killed a man at a Morris County motel Saturday while trying to serve an arrest warrant in an Elmwood Park attempted murder case from earlier in the week, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. Authorities did not identify the man killed at the Route 46 motel in the Pine Brook section of Montville, but a statement by the Attorney General's Office said the Morris County Sheriffs Emergency Response Team was assisting Bergen County law enforcement in the Elmwood Park case at the time of the shooting. James Allandale, 61, was accused of a shooting on Lincoln Avenue in Elmwood Park Tuesday and has been on the run since then. Detectives learned "the suspect" was in one of the motel rooms and tried to get inside at about 7:15 p.m. Saturday, the Attorney General's Office stated. A gunfight then broke out between the unidentified suspect and two Morris County SERT officers, officials said. The officers tried to treat the man on the scene but he was pronounced dead at 7:27 p.m., according to the Attorney General's Office. Morris County NJOne fisherman dead, one missing after falling through ice at Splitrock Reservoir Elmwood Park police during a Dec. 27 investigation. A gun was found near the man's body, the Attorney General's Office stated. The two officers were also treated for non life-threatening injuries. Few details were released about the Elmwood Park shooting but it led to a massive search for Allandale. "We want to let residents know that we have flooded the area with police patrols, some uniformed some undercover," Elmwood Park police Chief Michael Foligno said on Wednesday. The alert issued by police warned people to consider Allandale armed and dangerous. The Attorney General's Office investigates anytime there's a death during a police encounter, per state guidelines. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Elmwood Park shooting: Police shoot, kill man in Montville NJ WARSAW (Reuters) -Polish regulator UOKiK has accused the Polish unit of T-Mobile of misleading advertising relating to a free mobile data offer, with the company potentially facing a fine of 10% of annual revenue. UOKiK said on Monday that T-Mobile Polska's slogan "1200 GB free for a year" was misleading as 100 GB Internet packages are granted each month, for a maximum of 12 months, as long as the consumer renews the offer periodically at a cost of at least 35 zlotys ($7.99). "After reading the advertisement, the consumer should have a general, but realistic, idea of the presented offer," the head of UOKiK Tomasz Chrostny said in a statement. "The T-Mobile promotional slogan may suggest receiving a one-time data package of 1200 GB, and not a dozen or so smaller packages, provided that the fee is paid periodically." T-Mobile Polska said the promotion was well received by clients and its construction was typical for pay-as-you-go offers. "Nevertheless, if in the opinion of UOKiK, the communication in the offer was not clear enough, we are ready to improve it to ensure the satisfaction of as many customers as possible," the company said in a statement. "In the coming days, we will provide UOKiK with materials related to the promotion of the offer and we will cooperate with the office to improve the communication of the offer to one that leaves no doubt as to its terms." ($1 = 4.3822 zlotys) (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Marek Strzelecki and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Louise Heavens) President Joe Biden will visit Covington, Kentucky to discuss infrastructure on Wednesday, according to our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati. >>RELATED: Brent Spence Corridor Project moving forward after securing over $1.6B in federal funding The President will be joined at the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Sherrod Brown. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will also be in attendance, the White House announced Sunday. Biden and McConnell will make a rare joint appearance to highlight nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure spending lawmakers approved in 2021, WCPO reports. The trip comes after a recent announcement by Governors DeWine and Beshear that over $1.6 billion in federal funding grants were awarded for the Brent Spence Corridor Project to help build a new Ohio River bridge near Cincinnati. The bridge was constructed in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day. Today, the bridge carries 160,000 vehicles a day on Interstates 71 and 75. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio, Kentucky governors make second funding request for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Plans for the project include constructing a companion bridge to the west of the existing bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. Once complete, drivers will have a more enjoyable and efficient drive and well have the infrastructure in place to support the booming economy in this part of the state, Beshear said. DeWine said that the two states have been discussing the project for nearly two decades. The two governors announced revised plans for the project based on community engagement and technical analysis in July. A month later, the two states jointly submitted a second federal funding application for the project. This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesnt stall on this nationally significant corridor, DeWine said Thursday. Now the the project has secured funding, groundbreaking is anticipated to happen for late 2023 and larger construction activities are anticipated in 2024. Substantial completion of the project is expected by 2029. Prince Harry has more to say about his frustrations with the royal family since he married the former Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex recently sat down for two interviews ahead of the release of his new memoir, "Spare," on Jan. 10. The interviews were with British outlet ITV and CBS News, and each publication released preview clips Jan. 2. Both of the full interviews will air Jan. 8. The sneak peak of his ITV interview with Tom Bradby is a montage of short but powerful sentences Prince Harry said throughout the conversation, alluding to his decision to leave the royal family and move to California, why he's speaking out now about tension with family members and what he describes as Buckingham Palace actively trying to silence him and his wife. Prince Harry Marries Ms. Meghan Markle - Windsor Castle (Steve Parsons / WPA Pool via Getty Images) It never needed to be this way, Harry said in an edited preview of the ITV interview posted on Instagram. Part of the problem is they feel as though it is better to keep us, somehow, as the villains, Harry said in the edited clip, and theyve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile I want a family, not an institution, he said in another moment. But even with all the hurt, Harry said he still wants a relationship with his family members. I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back, he said. Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family has been steadily eroding since 2018. They've identified concerns regarding Meghan's mental health, security issues and even "conversations" about their children's skin color as reasons they felt prompted to resign their titles and formally leave the institution. The couple has criticized Buckingham Palace for controlling the narrative in the press and speaking on their behalf without protecting them from backlash. The royal family and some media outlets have accused the couple of demanding privacy while also selling their story for a Netflix series, "Harry & Meghan," and Harry's forthcoming memoir. In response, Harry said in a preview clip of his interview with Anderson Cooper for "60 Minutes" that he and his wife tried to reconcile issues privately to no avail. Story continues Every single time I tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife, Harry said. "The family motto is never complain, never explain.' Its just a motto and it doesnt really hold. Harry specified that planted stories could sometimes be "feeding" stories to a correspondent directly "and that correspondent will literally be spoon-fed information and write the story." "At the bottom of it, they will say they reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment, but the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting," he continued. "So when were being told for the last six years we cant put a statement out to protect you, but you do it for other members of the family, there becomes a point when silence is betrayal. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Every investor in Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (SGX:O39) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 55% stake, individual investors possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Meanwhile, private companies make up 23% of the companys shareholders. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Oversea-Chinese Banking. View our latest analysis for Oversea-Chinese Banking What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Oversea-Chinese Banking? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Oversea-Chinese Banking already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Oversea-Chinese Banking's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Oversea-Chinese Banking. Our data shows that Selat (Pte) Limited is the largest shareholder with 14% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 4.5% and 3.5% of the stock. On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Oversea-Chinese Banking While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited in their own names. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own S$217m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public -- including retail investors -- own 55% of Oversea-Chinese Banking. With this amount of ownership, retail investors can collectively play a role in decisions that affect shareholder returns, such as dividend policies and the appointment of directors. They can also exercise the power to vote on acquisitions or mergers that may not improve profitability. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 23%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Oversea-Chinese Banking that you should be aware of. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on the phone in his office in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in December 2018. Aleksey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Some of Russia's longtime allies have snubbed the country and Putin since the Ukraine invasion. Once-subservient allies are growing bolder, seeing Russia struggle to subdue a small neighbor. Large powers like China and India are charting an ambivalent path. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been a popular figure around the world since he invaded Ukraine in February. While he has been outright rejected by Western leaders since it started in February, more interesting is how Russia's longtime allies have responded. Though more subtly, many have shown they are not happy with the war. It has left Russia with only a handful of still-close allies that include the world's pariah states. Here are the ways Putin has been snubbed since the war began: Tajikistan's president appeared to berate Putin and demanded respect for his country. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in December 2021. Sputnik/Evgeny Biyatov/Kremlin via REUTERS The president of Tajikistan, a close ally of Russia, seemed to berate Putin during a meeting of central Asian leaders in October. Emomali Rahmon said he wanted more respect from Putin despite his country's size. His remarks followed a theme seen with other post-Soviet nations which felt confident enough to assert themselves in the face of Russia's failures to quickly subdue Ukraine. "Yes, we are small nations, we are not 100-200 million, but we have history, culture, we love, we want to be respected," Rahmon said, according to Mail Online. He also complained that smaller nations were "never being treated like strategic partners!" "No offense," he said, "but we want to be respected!" Rahmon also told Putin not to treat central Asian countries as if they were still part of the former Soviet Union, the New Voice of Ukraine reported. However, this stopped short of actually condemning the invasion of Ukraine. Tajikistan, which is economically dependent on Russia, has largely stayed quiet about the war but has taken in Russians fleeing the call to fight in Ukraine. Read Full Story Kazakhstan distanced itself from Russia, sent help to Ukraine, and sought to increase ties with the West. Story continues Putin, right, and Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on November 28, 2022. Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Kazakhstan isn't looking to completely enrage its huge neighbor, traditional ally, and big economic partner, but it has still repeatedly taken a stance against the war. The country's official position is to call for a ceasefire and a diplomatic end to the fighting, its UK ambassador told Insider's Alia Shoaib. And zero officials in the country have expressed support for Putin's war, Foreign Policy noted. Kazakhstan denied Russia's request to send troops to fight at the start of the war, and it has sent planeloads of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It has not recognized the Russia-backed, self-proclaimed republicans in Ukraine, with the country's president even refusing to do so in front of Putin. It also says it took in around 200,000 Russians who were fleeing Putin's draft. The EU and Kazakhstan pledged to forge "ever closer" relations at a meeting in Luxembourg in June. Armenia's prime minister repeatedly snubbed Putin at a meeting of Putin's friends. Armenia's prime minister and Russia's president among other Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) leaders in Yerevan, Armenia, on November 23, 2022. KAREN MINASYAN / AFP via Getty Images; Insider Vladimir Putin met with other leaders at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-dominated alliance of post-Soviet nations, in November. It did not go as he planned. Although the nations are supposed to be close allies, with Russia unquestionably the dominant power, Armenia's prime minister used the meeting to repeatedly slight Putin. Nikol Pashinyan first criticized the effectiveness of the alliance in his speech at the start of the summit. He later refused to sign a draft declaration from the summit, and he was seen physically distancing himself from Putin in a photo of all the alliance's leaders together. Pashinyan's complaints were not about Ukraine, and instead center on the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which he accused Putin of doing too little to help. But the brazenness with which he called out Putin showed that smaller countries do not feel cowed by Russia, which is struggling to maintain its reputation as a military superpower. Read Full Story Uzbekistan says it supports Ukraine's right to its territory. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and European Council President Charles Michel pose for a photo prior to their talks in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on October 28, 2022. Uzbekistan Presidential Press Service via AP Uzbekistan, a former Soviet country with close ties to Russia, has rejected Russia's claims over Ukrainian land. Its foreign minister said in March that the country "recognizes Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity" and did not recognize the regions that Russia-backed separatists declared as Republics and Russia then recognized. He said Uzbekistan wants peace, and that the country sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Uzbekistan told its citizens that they could not join either side of the war. It also said it would not deport Russians fleeing the draft who arrived in the country. Given the important economic role that Russia plays in Uzbekistan, however, the war is overall mentioned little in the country, Politico noted in October. Citizens who work in Russia and send money home play a large role in Uzbekistan's economy, it noted. Uzbekistan also abstained from UN votes condemning Russia's invasion, in which Russia has found very few countries willing to openly support it. India has put its name to a criticism of Russia's war, and is calling for peace while maintaining a delicate balancing act. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives on the opening day of the winter session of the Parliament, in New Delhi, India, on December 7, 2022. AP Photo/Manish Swarup India joined a G20 summit statement that condemned the war in Ukraine, saying it was "causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy." The statement noted that "most members" of the group condemned the war, leaving wriggle room for countries like India who are unwilling to fully condemn Russia. (Russia itself is also a G20 member, making the prospect of the whole body condemning the war impossible.) This kind of ambiguity shows the fine balancing act facing nations like India. It has sent Ukraine humanitarian aid, and its prime minister Narendra Modi told Putin at a September summit that "I know that today's era is not the era for war." But India is still buying large amounts of Russian oil, declining to join efforts to boycott Russian energy, and enjoying lower prices as a result. The country is typically both an ally to Russia and the West, and it appears to now be trying to exist in that middle ground and position itself a potential peacemaking force. India helped in efforts to get Russia-blocked grain out of Ukraine, and told Ukraine in October that it was ready to help with peace efforts. China forced Putin to acknowledge its concerns about the war, and frowned on Putin's nuclear threats. But it is quietly strengthening economic ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a photograph during their meeting in Beijing on February 4, 2022. Photo by ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Putin conceded in September that China had concerns about the Ukraine war, telling Chinese President Xi Jinping "We understand your questions and concerns in this regard." He did not go into any detail, leaving observers to wonder what exactly China had said about the war. Xi also criticized Russia's nuclear rhetoric in November and said that the humanitarian situation should be improved. But China hasn't gone away as a key economic backer of Russia either, and hasn't condemned the invasion in general. Like India, China has kept buying cut-price Russian oil. Going further, Xi ordered Chinese officials to create closer economic ties with Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported, countering Western efforts to isolate the Russia financially. Read the original article on Business Insider Queen Margrethe II reflects on decision to strip four grandchildren of royal titles (Getty Images) The Queen of Denmark has opened up about the difficulties and hurt in the Danish royal family following her decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their titles. Queen Margrethe II announced in September that the four children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim, 53, can no longer use the title of prince or princess, as of 1 January 2023. They will be known as the counts and countesses of Monpezat, instead. This means that the Queens grandchildren Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, now go by their titles of Count and Countess of Monpezat. They will no longer be referred to as His/ Her Highness. The decision is part of the 82-year-olds plan to modernise and streamline the royal family. She also said that the children should be allowed to live normal lives. Addressing the Danish public in a new year address on Saturday (31 December), the queen admitted to the challenges the royal family has faced. That the relationship with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie has run into difficulties hurts me, she said in the address. Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including mine. The whole country has witnessed this. She expressed hope for the family to move forward in the new year. Queen Margrethe reflects on decision to strip four grandchildren of royal titles (Getty Images) We have now had a quieter period and time for reflection, and I am sure that our family can embark on the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courage, she said. Announcing the decision in September, the Danish royal palace said: Prince Joachims descendants will have to be addressed as excellencies in the future. The Queens decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years. The queens eldest son Joachim, her former daughter-in-law, and one of her grandsons expressed hurt over the decision at the time of the announcement. Joachim said he was very bewildered by the decision. Danna Pacheco stands with with her three children at their Oak Lawn home. She took English as a Second Language classes at Ridgeland School District 122 taught by Governor State University adjunct faculty. The university's partnership with Southland schools helps parents learn English at the schools their children attend. (Pacheco family) Learning English at her childrens schools gave Danna Pacheco the confidence to start using her new language in conversations, a skill she hadnt mastered through classes growing up in Puerto Rico, or when she first arrived in the United States. That newfound fluency also helped her land a job in Ridgeland School District 122 as an instructional assistant, first at Harnew Elementary School in Oak Lawn and now at Lieb Elementary School in Bridgeview. Advertisement The classes have been taught in District 122 since 2018 thanks to a boost from Governors State University in University Park, which supplies English as a Second Language teachers. I didnt practice the English language and I was always afraid about taking a class because I didnt feel like I was bilingual, said Pacheco, who lives in Oak Lawn with her husband and three children, Estevan, 5, Veronica, 7 and Victoria, 10. But when I took the classes in the English program, that gave me the confidence to believe in myself and look for a job. Advertisement Whats more, Pacheco wants to polish her English because I can help more people, more students if I am a good communicator. That kind of result is what staff in District 122 and GSU were hoping for. The classes are also taught at Midlothian-based Bremen High School District 228, Tinley Parks Community Consolidated School District 146, and North Palos School District 11. And GSU is hoping to expand to other south suburban schools. Akiko Ota, who directs the English Language Learning Center at GSU, said when parents find the help accessible, it lowers the fear of interacting at their kids schools, leading to more engagement for both them and their children. Their kids go to their school district and receive ESL services, so the kids learn English, but the parents do not, Ota said. Parents are asked to find their own meanwhile they do need to contact school districts for their kids. So if we offer ESL programs through school districts, they not only receive language and cultural training but also communicate with school staff. The teachers from GSU can accommodate students who speak any language, though the majority are Spanish, Arabic and Polish speakers. This year there were 130 parents enrolled throughout the program. Ota said the program uses an integrated skills approach, focusing on grammar, reading and conversing. She teaches ESL to parents in District 228, noting she loves working with adults because they tend to be appreciative and hungry for knowledge, and their enthusiasm is contagious. Its giving me a sense of purpose, she said. Advertisement Ota learned English at age 13 in her native country, Japan, so she understood words and written language in the classroom but not always in everyday situations. I got on the wrong airplane my very first day (coming to the United States), thats how bad my speaking (English) was, said Ota. That experience helps her encourage students. If I could do it, everyone can, she said. Its not us helping we are sharing ways, and the parents are the ones who are making it happen. Lorenzo Nevarez, who directs English Language Programs for District 122, said many parents asked for ESL classes before the partnership with GSU began. It allows parents to come in to see the building and be around their kids, so it is a nice setup, said Nevarez. I had one year when parents advocated for a summer course and we were able to build it into our schedule. Advertisement Nevarez said the district appreciated having teachers from GSU. Federal Title III funding covers the cost. Ive seen where districts have their own teachers teach classes, theres nothing wrong with that, but a lot of the teachers are burned out by the end of the day, said Nevarez. I was looking for someone who would come from outside the district. The program had been a hit, he said. To me its a great pipeline, if we can have these parents learn a little English, get to know teachers, come in and volunteer and if we can hire them, even better for us, Nevarez said. Eva Lazowski, a teacher from GSU who teaches ESL to parents in three area school districts, has seen the success of the program firsthand. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > There are students who really need those classes for basic everyday communication, said Lazowski, who knew English when she emigrated from Poland but had to polish her skills. They often talk about struggling with communicating and expressing themselves when they interact with teachers. Advertisement Also, there is a group of students who do come with pretty strong speaking skills but their vocabulary is limited they can talk about the weather or shopping, but cant really go beyond that. Thats why Lazowski is sure to include functional English, including how to communicate at restaurants, shopping, talking to teachers and doctors and speaking on the phone. They often tell me they just hang up, she said. One perk of the job for Lazowski is watching students progress. Many times, students are silent the first few lessons but as we progress and learn more, they speak more and ask more questions and are more curious about the language, she said. Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Gangsta Boo performs with Run The Jewels at Music Midtown at Piedmont Park on September 19, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images for Live Nation) Gangsta Boo performs with Run The Jewels at Music Midtown at Piedmont Park on September 19, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images for Live Nation) Lola Mitchell, a pioneering rapper and former member of the group Three 6 Mafia, died Sunday. She was 43. Mitchell, also known as Gangsta Boo, recorded her first song with Three 6 Mafia, Cheefa Da Reefa, when she was 14 and officially joined the group a year later in 1994. She went on to become an influential member of the Memphis rap scene, recording with up-and-coming artists and stars alike after she left Three 6 Mafia in the early 2000s. She worked with iconic rappers including Lil Jon, T.I., Killer Mike and Gucci Mane and featured on a recent track by Latto that premiered just weeks ago. I would honestly say that I have to admit, respectfully and humbly, that I am the blueprint, she told Billboard in December. I hear my cadence in a lot of men and female rappers. I used to run away from it. I used to didnt want to even give myself flowers because Ive been so low-key and humble. Its time to claim whats mine. DJ Paul, a founding member of Three 6 Mafia, posted a tribute to Mitchell on Instagram. Her cause of death is unknown. Related... Russia deployed a series of exploding drones around Kyiv, its most recent attack in a bombardment of strikes taken against Ukraine around the start of the new year. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post on Monday that 40 drones were heading for the city overnight, but air defenses destroyed all of them. The defenses destroyed 22 drones over the city, three in the region and 15 in other provinces. The most recent strikes come as part of a string of attacks Russia has conducted throughout parts of Ukraine, often focusing on civilian infrastructure. Russia has tried to use these types of attacks to wear down Ukrainian morale and resistance. Klitschko said the strikes injured a 19-year-old man who was taken to a hospital. He said the capitals energy infrastructure facilities were damaged and that there were emergency power outages. The governor of the Kyiv region said residential buildings were also hit. Air defenses intercepted most drones fired in an attack on New Years Eve, but they did cause some casualties, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Klitschko said in another Telegram message that a 46-year-old man who was in serious condition following the attacks on Saturday died on Tuesday morning. At least four civilians were killed in the attacks. Zelensky said in an address after the Saturday attacks that no one will forgive Russia for spreading terror, noting that it attacked Ukraine on New Years Eve and other holidays such as Easter and Christmas. Russian President Vladimir Putin had hoped for Russian forces to take Ukraine quickly, but the war has lingered for more than 10 months, and Russian troops have struggled to make gains against Ukraine in recent months. He said in a New Years address to his country that 2022 was a year of difficult, necessary decisions. Russia is observing public holidays until Jan. 8 for the new year. Shelling in the area of the Kherson region that Ukraine controls also injured five people on Monday. Three people were also wounded in the city of Beryslav and are in serious condition after Russian forces fired at a local market. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that since the beginning of 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have shot down over 80 Russian drones. According to him, there is information suggesting that Russia is planning a prolonged attack with Shahed drones. Source: Zelensky's video address Quote: "Only two days have passed since the beginning of the year, and the number of downed Iranian drones over Ukraine is now over 80. This number may increase in the near future. Because the nights can be quite restless these weeks. We have information that Russia is planning a prolonged attack with Shahed drones. Their bet may be on our exhaustion. The exhaustion of our people, our air defence, our electricity." Details: Zelenskyy also noted the successful defence of the skies by the Air Commands Tsentr (Centre), Pivden (South), and Shid (East). He expressed his gratitude to the soldiers of the 96th Kyiv, 208th Kherson and 138th Dnipro anti-aircraft missile brigades, the 301st Nikopol anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Force, as well as the soldiers of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ground Forces. Quote: "The Russian regime needs sentiments that would lead to higher support of mobilisation. Something that they can demonstrate to their country in order to lie further, as if everything is going according to plan." Our task is to give Ukraine daily successes, gains, however small, but victories over terrorists and terror. Every downed drone, every downed missile, every day with electricity for our people and minimal blackout schedules are just such victories we need. And every step forward by our military at the front, every preserved position, these are successes that are now of strategic importance. We have to raise the price of new mobilisation and war in general for the terrorist state as much as possible." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Alexander Marrow MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's buffetted IT sector risks losing more workers in the new year because of planned legislation on remote working, as authorities try to lure back some of the tens of thousands who have gone abroad without prompting them to cut ties completely. Having relatively portable jobs, IT workers featured prominently among the many Russians who fled after Moscow sent its army into Ukraine on Feb. 24 and the hundreds of thousands who followed when a military call-up began in September. The government estimates that 100,000 IT specialists currently work for Russian companies overseas. Now, legislation is being mooted for early this year that could ban remote working for some professions. Hawkish lawmakers, fearful that more Russian IT professionals could end up working in NATO countries and inadvertently sharing sensitive security information, have proposed banning some IT specialists from leaving Russia. But the Digital Ministry said in December that a total ban could make Russian IT firms less effective, and so less competitive: "In the end, whoever can attract the most talented staff, including those from abroad, will win." 'NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS' While many disillusioned young Russians have gone to countries such as Latvia, Georgia or Armenia where the Russian language is widely spoken, several have made a bigger leap - to Argentina. IT specialist Roman Tulnov, 36, said he did not plan on returning to Russia under any circumstances. "I had wanted to leave for some time. On Feb. 24, everything became clear. I understood that there was no more life in Russia," he said, crediting mobilisation in particular for the opportunity to work six times zones away and still keep his job. "Before mobilisation, no one thought about giving the go-ahead for people to move to who-knows-where." Vyacheslav Volodin, the powerful chairman of Russia's lower house of parliament or State Duma, has said he wants to see higher taxation for workers who have moved abroad. Story continues Product designer Yulia, 26, estimated that a quarter of her team would rather quit than return to Russia under duress. "Such a non-alternative choice is a bit like negotiating with terrorists: 'Come back or we'll make your job impossible, and for your company and employees'," she said. Some expatriate Russians might also be put off paying tax altogether. Personal income tax of 13% is deducted automatically from employees who are resident, but those who work for Russian-based companies from abroad are left to their own devices. Professional online poker player Sasha, 37, also living in Argentina, said he had now stopped paying Russian taxes. "When you pay taxes you support the state and its military expansion," he said. "I'm not paying and don't plan to." (This story has been corrected to say "this year" in paragraph four) (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones) The Russian Federation has claimed that a drone launched from Ukraine was shot down near the city of Voronezh on 2 January. Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlet TASS and Russian governors Details: As the press service of the authorities of Voronezh Oblast has reported, the air defence forces shot down a UAV launched from Ukraine near Voronezh. Nevertheless, there were no casualties or damage, and the authorities have control over the situation. Earlier, Alexander Bogomaz, Governor of Bryansk Oblast of the Russian Federation, stated that a Ukrainian drone damaged an energy supply facility in the Klimovsky district of the oblast on the morning of 2 January. Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Belgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation, said that "the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked" the village of Murom near Shebekino. There were no casualties, but windows shattered and roofs were damaged in two households. In addition, one car was damaged as well. Neither of the Russian officials commented on the night drone attacks on Ukraine that Russia carried out on New Years Eve and on the night of 1-2 January 2023. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Samsung is pushing further into the realm of humongous monitors with the next-gen, 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9. Some may find this model a bit more palatable than the 55-inch Odyssey Ark Samsung released last year, as it's an ultrawide with a ratio of 32:9 (the Ark is a 16:9 display). Sure, you might need to turn your head to fully take in Zeta Halo while playing Halo Infinite or see all the apps you have open, but it might feel more immersive and be more comfortable to use as an up-close monitor than the Odyssey Ark. Just don't expect to use the Neo G9 in a vertical orientation. The latest Neo G9, which Samsung started teasing in November, has an 8K display with a resolution of 7,860 x 2,160 pixels. Samsung claims it's the first dual UHD mini-LED monitor. It has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and HDR 1000 support, along with a matte display to absorb light and minimize glare. The Neo G9 may be a viable option for high-performance gaming, given its 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. In addition, Samsung says it's the first gaming monitor with DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity as well. The company will reveal more details later, including the all-important price. Samsung has other displays to talk about at CES this year, including its first curved OLED gaming monitors. It announced the Odyssey G8 OLED at IFA last year. The 34-inch, 21:9 display has a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 and a 175Hz refresh rate. Samsung has already started selling it in some markets and says it will be available in the US very soon. Samsung Odyssey G95SC The company has now revealed a 49-inch curved OLED gaming monitor, with many of the same features as the Odyssey G8. Both have a 1ms response time, a 3.6mm thick design, and a screen curvature of 1800R, along with adaptive sync and AMD FreeSync Premium to minimize screen tearing. They each have a Neo Quantum Processor that Samsung claims can deliver "brighter whites, deeper blacks, and near-infinite color contrast," as well as HDR True Black 400. In terms of ports, you'll find Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-C, with the latter offering up to 65W charging. Both monitors include the Samsung Gaming Hub with access to cloud gaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now. The Samsung Odyssey G95SC, however, is said to be the planet's first OLED gaming monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio. It has a 240Hz refresh rate and a Dual Quad-HD display with a resolution of 5,120 x 1,440. Samsung Smart Monitor M8 Elsewhere, there's a new version of the Smart Monitor with support for video streaming and cloud gaming services, as well as Microsoft 365 apps and a SmartThings hub. The Smart Monitor M80C is a 32-inch 4K, 16:9 display with a detachable SlimFit Camera. What's new in the latest model is a personalization feature named My Contents. This will show the weather, photos, schedules and more on the ambient display. The personalized content will only be shown when a connected device is within Bluetooth range. Samsung also announced its first 5K monitor, which is geared toward creatives. The 27-inch ViewFinity S9 has a resolution of 5,120 x 2,880, a wide color gamut of 99 percent DCI-P3 and HDR 600 support. The idea is to provide users with detailed, clear and clean images. In addition, there's a matte display, detachable 4K camera and HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C ports. You'll be able to calibrate the ViewFinity S9 with the help of the SmartThingsApp and a smartphone camera. (Bloomberg) -- In three decades at Samsung Electronics Co., Yang Hyang-ja helped shape the 84-year-old conglomerates present dominance in global memory chipmaking. Now, shes taking on a far broader challenge: ensuring Korea remains relevant as the US and China fight over semiconductors. Most Read from Bloomberg Yang, who rose from a researchers assistant at the storied company before heading the key memory chip development division, is the lead architect of a nationwide effort to fund and galvanize its domestic chip industry. Her mission is surging in importance as the US, China and Japan pour billions into building up their own chip supply chains, clouding Koreas future role in semiconductors, she told Bloomberg Television. Its a matter of national security, she said, echoing the views of those in Washington and Beijing whore funneling talent, money and policy support into the development of the slivers of silicon powering future technologies from artificial intelligence and the metaverse to next-generation computing and notably military capability. Were in a chip war, Yang said in a December interview. Technology supremacy is a way that our country can take the lead in any security-related agenda, such as diplomatic and defense issues, without being swayed by other nations. Yang, who leads a 13-member special committee President Yoon Suk Yeols ruling party formed this year to brainstorm a solution, has argued that only through strong and direct intervention can Seoul expand its position in the $550 billion global semiconductor industry. Shes one of a growing number of global policy makers who have embraced tech protectionism after pandemic-driven logistics snarls highlighted countries dependence on one another for key electronic components. Shes won an ally in Yoon, who has joined Yangs calls for more policies to help the countrys homegrown chip sector, which includes SK Hynix Inc. as well as Samsung. Story continues Her efforts may be starting to bear fruit. Last month, parliament passed Koreas version of the US Chips Act. Spearheaded by Yang, the move expedites the approval process to build factories in the metropolitan area, while increasing the number of tech-specialized schools. Separately, parliament passed an initial bill offering a tax credit of 8% to big firms investing in semiconductor manufacturing, far smaller than Yangs proposal of 20% to 25%. Those gestures are a far cry from the billions of dollars in subsidies that other countries are committing to chip production, said Yang, adding that short-term political interests are blinding fellow lawmakers at the National Assembly. Some of her peers have argued, in turn, that overly generous incentives threaten government finances and would only benefit big companies. On Tuesday, the finance ministry announced a plan to increase the tax break on big companies capex to as much as 25%. Its unusual for an administration to propose substantive changes so soon after lawmakers pass a bill. Unless the government steps up its incentives, more Korean companies could move their major production facilities to the US, and take their best engineers with them, Yang said. Samsung plans to build a $17 billion semiconductor plant in Texas, and has floated the possibility of spending almost $200 billion on a series of plants in Austin and Taylor. Korea has a unique opportunity to counter this trend, Yang said. Taiwan where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is based produces the majority of leading-edge chips controlling the newest iPhones, servers and supercomputers. Thats triggered calls worldwide to diversify production away from an island that China claims and has threatened to invade. Samsung is the only company in the world that can fill in for TSMC, said Yang. Yang, who first joined politics in 2016 at the encouragement of former President Moon Jae-in, is an independent lawmaker who left the Democratic Party in 2021 amid criticism about her response to a sexual assault case against one of her aides, who was also a relative. Yang later apologized. A police investigation yielded no charges against the lawmaker. Chip policy takes up her time now. Escalating sanctions on advanced technology are putting increased pressure on the country to choose between the US, its security ally, and China, its biggest trade partner. Both have asked South Korea to expand chip production partnerships. But Seoul has sidestepped explicit comments regarding its commitment to the Biden administrations sanctions on exports of US-affiliated knowhow to China. That delicate situation highlights the need for Korea to build its own domestic technological capabilities or risk growing ever more beholden to foreign powers, Yang said. This is the time to offer Korean companies more incentives to build production capacity at home, rather than abroad, Yang said. The country needs to do more to keep young talent, she said. How else would our country survive? she said. Itd become a new technological colony. --With assistance from Emily Yamamoto. (Updates with details on Koreas revised chip bill) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The very beginning of 2023 marks the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as well as the launch of a free trade area with the largest population, the most diverse membership and the greatest development potential. One year on, the RCEP agreement has shown great vitality, effectively boosting trade among member countries and prospering the regional economy. The membership of the RCEP comprises 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia and New Zealand. The agreement further advances the development of the international multilateral trading system. Over the past year, in the face of surging anti-globalization sentiments and the sluggish world economy, the RCEP agreement, covering a wide range of rules to facilitate trade and investment liberalization, has injected strong impetus into regional industrial integration and economic recovery. The RCEP agreement serves as a strong hedge against protectionism and unilateralism and a practical booster for free trade and multilateral cooperation. Over the past year, the agreement has lowered the cost of trade, facilitated the integration of industrial chains, and benefited consumers in the region. Its enforcement has helped the recovery of the Asia-Pacific economy, offsetting the headwinds from sluggish global demand and other factors. The agreement also promotes coordinated regional economic development and helps build an open world economy. Over the past year, the growth of direct investment among member states indicates the surging industrial integration process and the stronger resilience and stability of industrial chains, supply chains and value chains in the region. The open and stable market of the free trade area has attracted more and more foreign investment from around the world, helping the area withstand external economic turbulence. China, via close cooperation with other member countries, has been committed to pushing for high-quality RCEP implementation through its opening-up and development to promote regional economic integration. Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that China's trade with the other RCEP signatories expanded 7.9 percent year on year to 11.8 trillion yuan (about 1.69 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of 2022, accounting for 30.7 percent of China's total foreign-trade value. In the new year, China will further unleash the development potential brought by RCEP agreements and share the dividends of its own economic growth with other countries in the region and beyond, providing stability and certainty for the regional and global economic recovery. The simplest way to benefit from a rising market is to buy an index fund. Active investors aim to buy stocks that vastly outperform the market - but in the process, they risk under-performance. That downside risk was realized by Australian Vintage Ltd (ASX:AVG) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 26%. That's disappointing when you consider the market declined 3.3%. On the other hand, the stock is actually up 2.7% over three years. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. See our latest analysis for Australian Vintage While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Unfortunately Australian Vintage reported an EPS drop of 12% for the last year. This reduction in EPS is not as bad as the 26% share price fall. This suggests the EPS fall has made some shareholders are more nervous about the business. The P/E ratio of 8.84 also points to the negative market sentiment. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Australian Vintage's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Australian Vintage the TSR over the last 1 year was -22%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that Australian Vintage shareholders are down 22% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.3%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 10% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Australian Vintage that you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Southwest Airlines canceled hundreds of flights departing from LAX and Southern California over the holidays. One reporter took the opportunity to practice gratitude. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) I felt lucky when our flight landed in Dallas. It was Dec. 21, and meteorologists were forecasting a winter storm that we'd later learn would leave more than 50 people dead. My parents picked my wife and me up after our Southwest flight from Burbank landed perfectly on time at Dallas Love Field. Our four bags checked free! full of Christmas gifts arrived unscathed. The hardest part of the day was figuring out how to get out of the airport parking garage. The next day when the wind chill was 14 below zero, we were cozy and safe inside my parents' home in rural Oklahoma. We spent the following week visiting family we hadn't seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a holly jolly time, losing to my cousins at dominoes and participating in our family's annual (cutthroat) Dirty Santa game. So many families weren't so lucky. Southwest canceled thousands of flights, probably affecting far more than 1 million passengers, according to the Associated Press. Reports of stranded travelers being told their flight might not be rescheduled for days, children sleeping on airport floors, and sobbing passengers unsure when they'd leave the terminal were an ironic Christmas gift from the airline that proclaims to love its passengers, has a heart-shaped logo and is traded as LUV on the New York Stock Exchange. All was well for us until Tuesday, when I got four text messages about 3 a.m. from Southwest notifying me that our flight the next day from Dallas to Burbank had been canceled. There was a link to reschedule, which I realized after my first cup of coffee. My wife and I rushed to the Southwest website, where Southwest informed us that, if we didn't want to be charged, we had to fly out of the same airport (Dallas) but could fly into multiple Southern California airports. First, we checked Burbank, where no flights were available for days. We noticed a few options available Saturday at LAX but wanted to check the rest of the airports, just to see if anything was available earlier. In those few minutes when we briefly considered whether any of our friends would pick us up from Santa Barbara, only to find no flights available there the flights to LAX were gobbled up. A few random error messages later (who knows why), we had a flight into Long Beach on Saturday. Story continues When I told my friends this, one said, "Oh, my God, the Long Beach airport is like a vacation unto itself," noting its "luxurious outdoor spaces." A more cynical person might snarl at such an observation, but I appreciated the silver lining. After my brother died in 2018 from brain cancer, I reevaluated my life priorities and started more thoughtfully practicing gratitude. Often when I'm angry about something but realize I'm, perhaps, being unreasonable, I make myself note three things I'm grateful for. It almost always provides a mood boost. And thus was my approach from Tuesday to Saturday when our trip to my childhood home was involuntarily extended. Located in a rural area, it's a 20-minute drive because of distance, not traffic to anything beyond cattle pastures, churches, natural gas drill sites and one convenience store. The best news was that our 6-year-old niece would be with us for the days we hadn't planned to be there, which was an unexpected blessing. The sun came out, and we spent our days running around the yard pretending to be wizards, visiting our family's lake, and playing with my parents' pets, including the two kittens essentially dumped on their doorstep earlier in the year. One night, we played a board game that involves throwing fake burritos at each other. The niece liked that one, and was fairly good at tagging my mom. Those are the memories we got to make because of Southwest's failures. But for those stranded across the country, how many missed their grandparents' last Christmas? How many missed a baby's first holiday? These are precious family memories, often documented in multi-generational photos. How many families will have missing pictures in the family album from this holiday season? It is possible to practice gratitude and be angry with Southwest two things can be true at the same time. While in the Dallas area, we found a truly epic playground in Plano, where our niece organized an obstacle course I was informed I'd be participating in (I lost, because I fell off a log into the lava). We visited our favorite vegan diner, where our niece stole most of the ice cream sundae we ordered. Yes, we made even more memories with our favorite child on the planet, but my wife also missed three days of work in her hourly job. Because of how early the flight Saturday was, our family had to book an Airbnb more money we hadn't planned to spend. And we were honestly stressed out about whether we could trust Southwest when it promised it was back to normal operations Friday. When we arrived at Dallas Love Field about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, we were met with substantial crowds. We joined the growing line at the outdoor check-in after looking inside and seeing at least dozens of people already in line to check their (still free) bags. I squeezed my wife's hand as I noticed her face grow more anxious. "We'll get home," I assured her, hoping I was telling her the truth. We made it through security about 6:15 a.m., and landed in Las Vegas about 8:05 a.m. We stayed on the plane while everyone else departed and were among about a dozen passengers staying on for the next flight. At one point, the plane's lights blinked, and I thought, "Not today, Satan." I tried to nap for that 45-minute flight home, but my mind was too busy. I felt lucky when our flight landed in Long Beach. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The community of Stoughton is mourning the sudden death of a veteran police officer who passed away over the weekend. Christopher A. Davis, 42, died while off-duty after being found unresponsive in his Brockton home on Saturday around 9:45 p.m., according to Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamarra. Davis, a 17-year veteran of the force, was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. In a statement, McNamarra said, Officer Davis kindness, bravery, dedication and devotion to his family, friends, the men and women of the Stoughton Police Department and the Stoughton community will be greatly missed. Please keep his family, friends and the members of the Stoughton Police Department in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time. Photo via Stoughton Police Department The department displayed Davis motorcycle outside of police headquarters and draped black and blue bunting over it. During his time with the department, Davis served as a member of the Stoughton Police Special Operations Unit, a defensive tactics instructor, and a certified arson investigator. He had been awarded numerous commendations from the department, including a Distinguished Service Award in 2012. Davis leaves behind his daughter, fiance, mother, brother, niece and grandchildren Arrangements have not yet been announced. The city of Brockton is also mourning the sudden passing of a veteran officer. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Tens of thousands of people have visited St. Peters Basilica to pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI. His body was laying in state without any papal garments or effects ahead of his funeral this week. Benedict, a hero to conservative Catholics who yearned for a return to a more traditional Church, died on Saturday at the age of 95 in the secluded Vatican monastery where he had lived since 2013, when he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the position. Faithful queue to enter St. Peters Basilica to pay homage to former Pope Benedict at the Vatican (Reuters) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella were among those attending to pay their respects (Reuters) Security was tight, with visitors going through several check points before entering the basilica. Many stopped to pray after viewing the body or stayed to attend Mass in side chapels. Vatican police said that in the first five hours, 40,000 people had filed past to view his body. Filippo Tuccio, 35, said he came from Venice on an overnight train to view Benedict's body. "I wanted to pay homage to Benedict because he had a key role in my life and my education," Mr Tuccio said. Veronica Siegal, 16, a Catholic high school student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told Reuters after viewing the body I feel like he was a grandfather to us. Siegal, who was visting Rome for a programme of religious study, said she had read one of Benedicts books on Jesus for one of her courses. I know that he is in a better place because he was a holy man and he led so well, said her classmate, Molly Foley, also 16, from Atlanta, Georgia. A third girl in the group wore an American flag on her back. Public viewing was set for 10 hours on Monday, and 12 hours each on Tuesday and Wednesday. Benedicts body, dressed in red and gold liturgical vestments and placed on a simple dais, was moved in a procession just before dawn through the Vatican Gardens from the monastery to a spot in front of the main altar of Christendoms largest Church. People wait in a line to enter Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican (AP) The body of the late emeritus Pope Benedict XVI lies inside St. Peters Basilica, where thousands of people came to say goodbye to the former pontiff (AP/Vatican News Service) Two Swiss Guards stood at attention on either side of the body, which bore no papal insignia or regalia, such as a crosier, the silver staff with a crucifix, or a pallium, a band of cloth worn around the neck worn by archdiocesan bishops. Story continues Both were on Pope John Pauls body when it lay in state in 2005. It was not clear if the pastoral cross or any other items he used will be buried with him but the decision not to have them during the public viewing appeared to have been decided to underscore that he no longer was pope when he died. Before the Church was opened to the public, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Georgia Meloni were the first outsiders to pay their respects. Benedicts closest aide, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, sat in the first pew to the side of the body along with Benedicts household and medics who looked after him in his final days. After a few hours, they rose to pray before the body. Ganswein stayed behind to receive condolences from visitors. People look at the body of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI laid out in state inside St. Peters Basilica (AP) Visitors crowd St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on New Years Day (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) I had to come, Sri, a woman visiting from Jakarta, Indonesia, told Reuters. He was the pope and I am a Catholic, she said, declining to give her surname. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Benedict will be buried according to his wishes in the same spot in the crypts under St. Peters Basilica where Pope John Paul II was originally interred in 2005, before his body was moved up to a chapel in the basilica in 2011. His funeral will be held on Thursday in St Peters Square and be presided over by Pope Francis. The procedures taking place for the death of Benedict could become the template for future papal funerals ((L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP, File)) The Vatican has said it will be a simple, solemn and sober ceremony in keeping with Benedicts wishes. The Vatican has painstakingly elaborate rituals for what happens after a reigning pope dies but none for a former pope, so what happens in the next few days could become the template for future ex-popes. Mr Bruni said the details of the funeral Mass were not yet completed. While the number of visitors was large, there were no signs of the huge crowds who came to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II, when millions waited for hours to enter the basilica. Reuters Welcome, reader, to 2023! While some of us are still musing on New Years resolutions (we have the tech to help you right here ), will 2023 be the year you finally break up with Twitter? Theres never been a better time . All this Elon Musk-induced chaos has breathed new life into the numerous Twitter alternatives. Of all of them, Mastodon has probably benefited the most. The open-source service gained notoriety back in 2017 when some Twitter users were upset with changes the company had made to the functionality of @-replies. (Back then, that was a big deal.) Mastodon isnt the only app to get a boost from the turmoil at Twitter, though. Other apps like CounterSocial, which has a Tweetdeck-like interface, and Tribel have also seen increased user numbers. There are some new upstarts, too. Post News, a new service from former Waze CEO Noam Bardin, has also tried to capitalize on Twitters current state. Meanwhile, Twitter hasnt been paying its office rent in San Francisco. According to Bloomberg, Twitter was told on December 16th that it would default on its lease for the 30th floor of the Hartford Building. So far, its failed to pay $136,250 in rent . Mat Smith The Morning After isnt just a newsletter its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here. The biggest stories you might have missed The agency can now take apart the capsule. TMA After completing its 1.4 million mile trip to the Moon and back at the start of last month, NASAs Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft has returned to the Kennedy Space Center. The homecoming occurred on December 30th. Artemis 1s record-breaking journey began on November 16th, launching atop NASAs next-generation Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket. NASA will now conduct an extensive analysis of the component and determine precisely how it fared during atmospheric reentry. The agency will also remove Moonikin Campos, the test dummy NASA sent aboard Orion to collect data on how travel to the Moon might affect humans. Story continues Continue reading. The app previously added age restrictions to some "mature" content. TikTok is launching a new version of its borderline suggestive model, which the company uses to automatically identify sexually explicit, suggestive, or borderline content. According to a TikTok spokesperson, the new model can better detect so-called borderline content, videos that dont explicitly break the apps rules but may not be suitable for younger users. Elsewhere, the app is also allowing creators to restrict their videos to adult viewers. Continue reading. The Attorney Generals office accused the company of using deceptive techniques. Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racine has announced that his office has reached an agreement with Grubhub "for charging customers hidden fees and using deceptive marketing techniques." The company was sued earlier this year, accused of charging hidden fees and misrepresenting Grubhub+ subscription's offer of "unlimited free delivery" since customers still have to pay a service fee. The DC Attorney General's office also accused the company of listing 1,000 restaurants in the area without their permission by using numbers that route to Grubhub workers or creating websites without the eateries' consent. Under the settlement terms, Grubhub will pay affected customers in the DC area a total of $2.7 million. Continue reading. A different look to Galaxy phones? TMA Samsungs mobile division has a new design chief. The company announced Hubert H. Lee would head up its mobile design team, the unit responsible for designing some of Samsungs most important products, including its flagship Galaxy S series of phones. Lee joins the electronics giant after a stint as the chief design officer of Mercedes-Benz China. Continue reading. Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) received a lot of attention from a substantial price increase on the NYSE over the last few months. With many analysts covering the large-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. However, could the stock still be trading at a relatively cheap price? Lets examine Las Vegas Sandss valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity. View our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands What Is Las Vegas Sands Worth? Great news for investors Las Vegas Sands is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $79.51, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. However, given that Las Vegas Sandss share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. What does the future of Las Vegas Sands look like? Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With revenue expected to more than double in the next few years, the future appears to be extremely bright for Las Vegas Sands. If expenses can also be maintained, it looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? Since LVS is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Story continues Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on LVS for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy LVS. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. If you want to dive deeper into Las Vegas Sands, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Las Vegas Sands. If you are no longer interested in Las Vegas Sands, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here [Source] Janet Wu, a trailblazing Asian American journalist in Boston, has retired on New Years Day after 50 years of service. Wu is the first woman and first Asian American to serve as a Massachusetts State House television reporter, according to WCVB, where she spent most of her career covering politics. She last appeared at the ABC-affiliate stations On The Record show Sunday night. While Im really an outdoor cat, this has been so much fun, Wu said at the show, which she had co-hosted since 2009. Wu is an inductee to the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism, as well as the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting, according to the Boston Herald. She also won an Emmy from the Boston/New England division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and was inducted into its Silver Circle in 2020. More from NextShark: SF Woman Gets Stranded in China After AT&T Mistakes Her Phone as Stolen The veteran journalist thanked viewers in her parting words on Sunday. For you the viewers, folks who have called and texted and complained and yelled at me and given me tipsto help me break stories over the five decades: thank you. You know who you are. Im really grateful I could end the last quarter of my career here at WCVB, she said. Related stories: More from NextShark: French chef adopted from Korea moves back to Seoul after falling in love with its flavors More from NextShark: Man wanted for fatal stabbing in gambling den in Manhattans Chinatown Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Malaysian Woman With No Hands Sews PPE for Front Line Workers Donald Trump has reportedly enjoyed watching New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik defend him, but allegedly does not trust the third-ranking House Republican who replaced US Rep Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Conference in 2021. A profile on the rising Republican in The New York Times reports that Ms Stefanik has earned a reputation for her diligence in advancing the partys message and her unabashedly transactional relationships to gain support as she advances in the lower chamber of Congress. But sources close to the former president told The Times that any stories casting her as a potential running mate [to Trump] are regarded as clumsy plants by her own team, and inspire bemusement and mockery. Trump liked her, they said, and liked watching her defend him. But even he didnt trust her, according to the report. The Times chronicles the rapid evolution of Ms Stefanik, a staunch supporter of the former president, from a relative moderate to a prominent figure on the GOPs far-right flank with a self-described ultra-MAGA agenda, adopting Mr Trumps baseless narrative of election fraud and embracing conspiracy theories that appeal to a reactionary base. Before he made his 2024 bid official, she was among few senior Republicans to endorse Mr Trump. Republican voters determine who is the leader of the Republican Party, and its very clear President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, she said in November. Notably, Ms Stefanik also allegedly once called Mr Trump a whack job. On New Years Eve, as Republicans prepare for their slim majority in the House of Representatives after their midterm election victories, she also has pledged political retribution against President Joe Bidens administration. For the past two years, the American people have suffered from crisis after crisis because of failed one-party Democrat rule in Washington, she wrote on Twitter. When members of Congress are sworn in this week, that ENDS, she said. Story continues What is it with people randomly blaming the mere existence of others for their own descent into embracing neo-nazism? Like girl you did that all on your own. Unless her suggestion here is she started endorsing great replacement theory because she couldnt treat me like the help https://t.co/5dC2JsKoNY Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 31, 2022 Fellow New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also has criticised Ms Stefanik after the profiles publication. She pointed to its characterisation of the Republicans alleged annoyance that the Democratic representative had not shown her the respect she felt was her due, fuelling in part Ms Stefaniks descent on the right. What is it with people randomly blaming the mere existence of others for their own descent into embracing neo-nazism? Like girl you did that all on your own, Ms Ocasio-Cortez wrote on 31 December. Unless her suggestion here is she started endorsing great replacement theory because she couldnt treat me like the help. Ms Stefanik and other Republican officials came under renewed scrutiny in the wake of the racist massacre in Buffalo, New York, in May 2022 for echoing similar great replacement theory claims that fueled the attack. Her campaign published a series of ads on Facebook in September 2021 alleging that Democratic officials are allowing immigrants into the US in an attempt to outnumber and eventually outvote Republicans, a tenet of the white supremacist theory. Radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a PERMANENT ELECTION INSURRECTION, one of the ads said. Their plan to grant amnesty to 11 MILLION illegal immigrants will overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington. Donald Trump waves to guests during an election night party at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, November 8, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty Images Donald Trump blamed poor handling of abortion issues for the GOP's lackluster 2022 midterms. Trump said that anti-abortion campaigners disappeared after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The former president also claimed to be "233-20" about candidates he backed in 2022. In one of his first social-media posts of 2023, former President Donald Trump deflected criticism for Republican Party losses in the 2022 midterm elections pinning the blame on its handling of abortion rights. "It wasn't my fault that the Republicans didn't live up to expectations in the MidTerms," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "It was the "abortion issue," poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters." Trump also criticized those on the right who campaigned for decades to have abortions banned, claiming they failed to show up during the elections after the Supreme Court handed them a historic victory last year. "The people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the US Supreme Court, & just plain disappeared, not to be seen again," he said. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, gutting a nearly 50-year-old landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The ruling galvanized pro-choice supporters and was seen as an important factor in the Democratic Party's stronger-than-expected showing in November's midterm when they added a seat in the Senate, strengthening its control of the upper house, and only narrowly lost the House of Representatives. Trump also hit out against Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel, claiming to be "233-20" in relation to the candidates he backed in 2022. This followed criticism that Trump-backed candidates were instrumental in losing the GOP its shot at retaking the Senate during the 2022 midterms. Those losses included high-profile Trump-backed Senate candidates Herschel Walker in Georgia and celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania. Story continues Trump has repeatedly pushed back against accusations he was to blame. The former president announced in November that he was running again in 2024. Read the original article on Business Insider A new expressway between Beijing and Xiong'an New Area, in north China's Hebei Province, opened to traffic at noon on Saturday, according to Hebei traffic authorities. The Beijing-Xiong'an expressway will help reduce travel time between the two locations to about 50 minutes. The newly built expressway is a major component of Xiong'an New Area's traffic network, with its main section running from Beijing's sixth ring road and covering a total of 81 km. Xiong'an New Area spans the counties of Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin in Hebei, and is home to Baiyangdian, a major wetland in northern China. Located about 100 km southwest of Beijing, the new area will help advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has been designed as a major recipient of functions previously located in Beijing but that are not essential to its role as China's capital. The new area has also been designed to explore a new development model for densely populated areas. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) found a disassembled semi-automatic handgun inside two containers of peanut butter, concealed in a checked bag. The Rhode Island man responsible for smuggling the weapon was arrested. >> TRENDING: 3 dead, multiple hospitalized after head-on crash in Jefferson Twp. The TSA at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York found the disassembled gun after a checked bag triggered an alarm with an X-ray scanner, a TSA spokesperson stated. A TSA officer inspected the luggage and found .22 caliber gun parts wrapped in plastic and jammed into the peanut butter, the spokesperson said. The guns magazine was loaded with bullets, the spokesperson confirmed. >> TRENDING: 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Springfield; 2 taken into custody TSA officials notified Port Authority Police of the weapon, who then confiscated the item, located the owner, and arrested him, the spokesperson informed. The man faces a civil penalty for attempting to bring an undeclared weapon on board an aircraft. The penalty has a fine of a maximum $15,000. >> TRENDING: Man dead after kayak flipped over in Piqua Flyers are able to transport firearms in a plane; however, they must have a proper permit. Guns must also be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided case to be deemed safe for transport. Securely packed guns must be declared and transported as a checked luggage. KAFR-DAN, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants during clashes near the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Monday that were set off when the army came to demolish the homes of two slain gunmen, Palestinian sources said. The fatalities in Kafr-Dan village were the first for Palestinians since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retook office last week at the head of a hard-right coalition. The Israeli army confirmed carrying out the raid to raze the homes of two Palestinians who killed one of its commanders in the West Bank last year before they were shot dead. Troops shot at Palestinians in Kafr-Dan who attacked them with gunfire, rocks and firebombs, the army said in a statement. There were no Israeli casualties in the incident. Hamas, an Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, and a rival organization in the West Bank each claimed one of the two dead Palestinians as a member. In a statement, Hamas, which rejects coexistence with Israel, vowed to "pursue resistance and confront the terrorism and fascism of the new Occupation government". In Kafr-Dan, Hani Abed, the father of one of the gunmen killed in the Sept. 14 clash, described the Israeli demolitions as "collective punishment". "This will not break our determination," he told Reuters as he stood by the rubble of his house. Last year saw the worst levels of violence in the West Bank in more than a decade, much of it concentrated around Nablus and the nearby city of Jenin, with at least 150 Palestinians and more than 20 Israelis killed. In Ramallah, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, held Israel responsible for any escalation that could result from "acts of killings and daily incursions". (Reporting by Emily Rose and Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Bradley Perrett, Robert Birsel, Alexandra Hudson) (Reuters) -A problem with a critical air traffic control system that caused flight delays at major airports in Florida on Monday has been fixed, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. "The computer issue has been resolved. The FAA is working toward safely returning to a normal traffic rate in the Florida airspace," the U.S. agency said in a statement. A problem with the functioning of a system known as the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) used to control air traffic prompted the FAA on Monday afternoon to issue a so-called ground stop order, slowing traffic into Florida airports. The issue was the latest problem to hamper U.S. travel after a massive winter storm during the Christmas holiday season crippled operations at low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, forcing it to cancel thousands of flights. The problem with the ERAM system at a major regional air traffic control center in Miami was behind dozens of flight delays at the Miami International Airport and also flights into other airports in the southern U.S. state. (reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by David Gregorio and Grant McCool) Key developments on Jan. 1: Russia attacked Ukraine on New Year's Eve with missiles, followed by a drone attack after midnight. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, all 32 Russian aerial targets fired against Kyiv on Jan. 1 were destroyed by the country's air defense. Kyiv Oblast Governor Oleksii Kuleba reported that an undisclosed "infrastructure facility" was damaged, but there were no casualties. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the missile debris fell in several districts in the capital. A car was damaged in the central Shevchenkivskyi district, and debris also fell into Kyiv's Dniprovskyi district, located on the left bank, authorities said. "New Year's Eve was restless," Klitschko said in a Telegram post. Across the country, the Air Force said it shot down 45 drones overnight. Russia's overnight missile attack came hours after it launched a coordinated strike that killed at least two civilians and wounded over 30 nationwide. Kyiv was the main target of Russia's afternoon strike, with one person killed, and over 20 wounded. Later in the night, as Ukrainians gathered to celebrate the New Year, Russia ramped up its attacks in the south, center, and east of Ukraine. Russian troops shelled a children's hospital in the southern city of Kherson, killing one, and wounding one, according to Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko. In the central Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 48-year-old woman was wounded in the heavily-shelled city of Nikopol located across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Governor Valentyn Reznichenko said. The northeastern Kharkiv Oblast also came under Russian artillery attack overnight, with a "large-scale" fire erupting at farmers' buildings, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. No casualties were reported. Story continues On Jan. 1, Russia's shelling killed one person and wounded three in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Starukh said. "'New Year's greetings' from Russians arrived in Orihiv (town) at noon," Starukh said in a Telegram post. New Year's Eve attack Russia attacked Ukraine on Dec. 31 and thirty minutes after midnight on Jan. 1, targeting civilian infrastructure. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it launched the New Year's Eve attack to thwart "Kyiv's plans to carry out attacks against Russia." The ministry didn't provide any proof to back its claim. Despite Moscow's claim about targeting military facilities, the missiles slammed into civilian areas in Kyiv and other regions across Ukraine on Dec. 31. Two hotels were hit in Kyiv, and scores of residential buildings were damaged. In the western city of Khmelnytskyi, a 22-year-old girl died on Jan. 1 in the hospital after being severely wounded during the New Year's Eve attack. The death toll climbed up to two. The attack on Khmelnytskyi wounded eight people, the head of the emergency care department told public broadcaster Suspilne on Jan. 1. Four people remain in the hospital following the attack, he added. Khmelnytskyi Oblast Governor Serhiy Hamalii reported on Dec. 31 that a military facility was among the sites hit in the city. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Dec. 31 that "significant damage" was prevented by air defense and precautionary measures taken ahead of the strike. It was still a difficult day for energy workers, the state grid operator Ukrenergo said. "Energy workers are doing everything possible to make the New Year's holiday with electricity, without restrictions," Ukrenergo said in a Telegram post. Russia's need for 'operational pause' Fierce battles raged in Ukraine's east and south on New Year. Eastern Military Command spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty said on Jan. 1 that Russia apparently needs an "operational pause" due to its heavy losses near Bakhmut and Soledar in Donetsk Oblast, but it will likely continue assaults due to "political reasons." Speaking on television, Cherevaty added that Russia uses mobilized civilians and prisoners in and near Bakhmut. Russia has massed its troops and equipment in a desperate bid to capture Bakhmut for six months. Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the battle of attrition and brutal trench warfare around Bakhmut. Russian troops continued their routine shelling of settlements near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Lyman, and Novopavlivka in Donetsk Oblast on the New Year, Ukraine's General Staff said in its evening briefing. In an evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian troops are "scared" because "they are losing," adding that "drones, missiles, everything else will not help them." Key developments on Jan. 2: In a targeted attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure, Russian forces launched a mass strike using Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones overnight on Jan. 2. Ukraines air defense successfully shot down all 39 of the attacking drones. In addition, two Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones and an X-59 guided missile were also downed. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 40 drones were headed for Ukraines capital overnight 22 were neutralized over Kyiv, while three were shot down in the surrounding region and 15 in neighboring provinces. Still, the attack caused disruptions to the supply of electricity in Kyiv and central Ukraine. According to the state grid operator Ukrenergo, emergency power outages have been introduced as restoration efforts continue. This drone attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure was just the latest in a series of relentless strikes by Russian forces. On New Years Eve, Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles and then launched drones after midnight. The barrage resulted in two civilian deaths in Kyiv, as a 46-year-old man injured during Dec. 31 attack on Kyiv died in the hospital on Jan. 2, Klitschko said. Last week, Russia launched a nationwide attack on Ukraine on Dec. 29, targeting multiple regions across the country. The coordinated strike included missile attacks on civilian areas in the center, south, east, and west of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuries to more than 30. Russian troops have repeatedly attacked energy infrastructure across Ukraine since early October, killing dozens of people and causing electricity, water, and heating cut-offs. Story continues Moscow has admitted that Ukraines energy system is one of its primary targets. According to the Geneva Conventions, attacking vital public infrastructure constitutes a war crime. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated that Russia will continue launching mass attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Ukraines attack on Russian troops in occupied Makiivka According to the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces, the Ukrainian military was able to damage or destroy up to 10 units of Russian military equipment of various types in the occupied Makiivka in the eastern Donetsk Oblast. The number of Russian military personnel killed in the attack is still being clarified, the military reported. The Strategic Communications Department of Ukraines military said earlier on Jan. 2 that 400 Russian soldiers were killed and at least 300 more were injured in the attack on New Years Eve. Russian soldiers were stationed in a local school building at the time of the attack, according to the report. The Russian Defense Ministry has disputed these figures, with state-controlled news outlet RIA Novosti reporting 63 killed Russian service members. However, former top militant in Donetsk Oblast and war criminal Igor Girkin has stated that the number of dead and wounded Russian conscripts amounts to hundreds and that the building in Makiivka and nearby equipment were almost completely destroyed. Attacks and casualties Over the past day, Russian attacks against Kyiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts killed one person and wounded seven, according to local authorities. In the eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian troops injured one civilian in Bakhmut, which has been the site of the fiercest fighting, the oblast governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported. Russia hit over 11 communities in the region, damaging houses, according to Kyrylenko. Russia attacked more than 11 communities close to the Russia-Ukraine border and the contact line in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring a 77-year-old woman and damaging five private houses and infrastructure facilities in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. One person was killed and four were injured in the southern Kherson Oblast, the oblast governor Yaroslav Yanushevych said. In the past 24 hours, Russian troops struck Kherson Oblast 71 times with artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), mortars, and tanks. Ukraine claimed to have killed as many as 400 Russians in a strike on a military base in an occupied part of Donetsk. Kyivs forces fired at the city of Makiivka and other parts of the Moscow-controlled eastern region on New Years Eve. The Moscow-installed administration of Donetsk said yesterday that at least 25 rockets were fired at the region in the attack. Ukraines defence ministry said as many as 400 Russians were killed though Russian sources have countered with claims of far less significant losses. A source close to the Russian-backed leadership in Donetsk tolf Reuters fewer than 100 had been killed, while reports from state media said only 15 people had been injured. Waves of Russian drone strikes on Ukraine followed into the new year, with missiles overnight targeting infrastructure in Ukraines capital and causing some power outages, officials said. Key Points Drone strikes hit Ukrainian infrastructure, many shot down, say officials Russia and Ukraine grapple for key highway MoD Ukraine claims 400 Russians killed in Donetsk attack Russian source counters 400 dead claim 13:00 , Liam James A Russian source has counter claims that up to 400 Russians were killed in a Ukrainian attack on Donetsk. In comments to Reuters, a source close to the Russian-appointed leadership said the New Years Eve attack on a military base in the mining town of Makiivka killed dozens of recruits. Ukraines defence ministry said as many as 400 Russians had been killed. The Donetsk source, who declined to be named, told Reuters: According to my information, there are fewer than 100 killed so far. What is being reported is greatly exaggerated. Fifty-eight wounded were brought in overnight, which is a lot for a normal day and not much if you believe the information about hundreds of dead. It was a site for mobilised Russian recruits. Ukrainian soldier sings lullaby about Russia and drones to newborn child 12:30 , Liam James Ukraines defence ministry shared this clip of a soldier singing a lullaby for his newborn child, who rests atop his guitar. Story continues The team at Independent TV has translated the song in the video below. Russian strikes on power caused damage but situation under control, says grid operator 12:00 , Liam James A wave of Russian airstrikes further damaged Ukraines battered power grid but the system is under control, Ukraines energy operator said. Ukrainian officials said as many as 40 missiles were fired on Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight but most were shot down. Ukrenergo, the grid operator, said the strikes caused some power outages in Kyiv and central Ukraine but the effects were not as severe as in recent weeks as people were using less power due to the warmer weather. A man takes pictures by phone as he rides an electric unicycle past a dark Christmas tree in downtown Kyiv last night (EPA) Russia looks to draw back IT specialists working abroad 11:30 , Liam James Russias buffetted IT sector risks losing more workers in the new year because of planned legislation on remote working, as authorities try to lure back some of the tens of thousands who have gone abroad without prompting them to cut ties completely. Having relatively portable jobs, IT workers featured prominently among the many Russians who fled after Moscow sent its army into Ukraine and the hundreds of thousands who followed when a military call-up began in September. The government estimates that 100,000 IT specialists currently work for Russian companies overseas. Now, legislation is being mooted for early next year that could ban remote working for some professions. Hawkish lawmakers, fearful that more Russian IT professionals could end up working in Nato countries and inadvertently sharing sensitive security information, have proposed banning some IT specialists from leaving Russia. But the Digital Ministry said in December that a total ban could make Russian IT firms less effective, and so less competitive: In the end, whoever can attract the most talented staff, including those from abroad, will win. Nato chief calls for more support for Ukraine as Russia launches more missile strikes 11:00 , Liam James Western countries need to ramp up their military support to Ukraine and be prepared to provide long-term assistance Natos secretary general has said, as Russia began the new year with fresh missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities (Matt Mathers writes). Russia has shown no sign of giving up its overall goal of taking control over Ukraine, Jens Stoltenberg said. The Ukrainian forces have had the momentum for several months but we also know that Russia has mobilised many more forces. Many of them are now training. All that indicates that they are prepared to continue the war and also potentially try to launch a new offensive, Mr Stoltenberg told BBC Radio 4. It is a core responsibility for Nato to ensure that we have the stocks, the supplies, the weapons in place to ensure our own deterrence and defence, but also to be able to continue to provide support to Ukraine for the long haul. We need to provide support to Ukraine now, including military support, because thats the only way to convince Russia that they have to sit down and negotiate in good faith and respect Ukraine as a sovereign independent nation in Europe, Mr Stoltenberg added. Nato chief calls for more support for Ukraine as Russia launches more missile strikes Ukraine claims 400 Russians killed in Donetsk attack 10:30 , Liam James Ukraine has claimed to have killed as many as 400 Russians in occupied Donetsk. The Moscow-installed administration of the Donetsk region in Ukraine said on Sunday that at least 25 rockets were fired at the region overnight on New Years Eve, with damage hitting the city of Makiivka. Russias Tass state news agency said at least 15 people were injured. Ukraines defence ministry said as many as 400 Russians were killed there as a result of careless handling of heating devices. Igor Girkin, a former commander of pro-Russian troops in east Ukraine who has emerged as one of the highest profile Russian nationalist military bloggers, also said the death toll was in the hundreds. Ammunition had been stored in the building, which detonated when the barracks was hit. What happened in Makiivka is horrible, wrote Archangel Spetznaz Z, another Russian military blogger with more than 700,000 followers on Telegram. Who came up with the idea to place personnel in large numbers in one building, where even a fool understands that even if they hit with artillery, there will be many wounded or dead? A source close to the Russian-installed Donetsk leadership told Reuters the casualty reports were exaggerated and the death toll appeared to be less than 100. Five wounded in Russian strike on Kherson, say officials 10:00 , Liam James A Russian attack on a town in southern Ukraine left five people wounded, three seriously, according to local officials. Governor of Kherson Yaroslav Yanushevych said shells hit the town of Beryslav on the Dnipro river, some 30 miles east of the regional capital abandoned by Russian forces in November. He said the shots were presumed to have come from a tank in Kakhovka across the river, where Russian forces remain. At this moment, it is known about 5 wounded. Three people are in serious condition. They will be evacuated to Kherson, where doctors will provide the victims with the necessary medical assistance, he said. Residents take cover next to a fence after hearing the sound of a military jet in the city of Kherson on 1 January (AFP/Getty) Damage to a room of the regional Childrens Hospital after a Russian missile strike in Kherson on New Years Eve (AFP/Getty) In 2023, Ukraine may suffer the same fate as Gaza and Syria 09:30 , Liam James Bel Trews latest take on the conflict in Ukraine: So devastating has the conflict been, sparking Europes worst refugee and humanitarian crisis, that it has unfortunately eclipsed other world catastrophes and other wars. The global spotlight has been on the extraordinary scenes captured in now iconic images and words. But as a bitter artillery war sets in, as the lines become entrenched, as bloody battles drag on with perhaps increasingly little gains, my fear is that after that anniversary of Russias invasion next month, fatigue will ultimately set in. This is what Putin is banking on. And it will be the job of journalists and aid workers alike to keep the story alive and relevant. To a certain extent, fatigue has already set in. As with so many conflicts Ive covered, capturing world attention feels like an hourglass. Syria, a conflict that has dragged on for a gruelling 12 years, is so little talked about on global news platforms that I am regularly asked if the war is over. Few would have a clue what the status is of the government of Libya, a country wracked by a similarly long war. In 2023, Ukraine may suffer the same fate as Gaza and Syria | Bel Trew Russia and Ukraine grapple for key highway MoD 09:00 , Liam James Tension over a key road route for Russian supplies seems to have boiled over in recent days, Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. Fighting over the P66 near Kremina follows reports from Ukrainian officials that Russia was moving large quantities of troops and equipment into the northwestern area of Luhansk. On Monday, in an update on the Ukraine war the MoD said: Over the last five days, Russian and Ukrainian forces have probably been fighting for control of the P66 highway, north of the Russian-held Luhansk Oblast town of Kremina. The P66 is a key supply route for the northern section of Russias Donbas front from the Belgorod region of Russia. Its use has been disrupted by Ukrainian artillery since October, but if Ukraine were able to secure the route, if would highly likely further undermine Russias defence of Kremina. Shot-down Russian drone causes damage in Kyiv 08:40 , Liam James Debris from a destroyed drone over Kyiv early on Monday hit the capital's northeastern district, wounding one, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. A 19-year-old man was taken to a hospital in Kyivs Desniansky district, Mr Klitschko said on Telegram, after drone debris hit a road there and damaged a building. Air raid sirens were announced just before midnight for Kyiv and most of eastern Ukraine, and were still wailing two hours later. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Ukrainian presidential aide, said drone debris hit a road in the Desniansky district, in Kyiv;s northeast, damaging a building next to it. Damage to a school in Kyiv from strikes on 31 December (AFP/Getty) Ukraine strike hit Russian energy infrastructure, says official 08:20 , Liam James A Ukrainian drone attack damaged a power supply facility in Russias Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to the regional governor. A Ukrainian drone attack was carried out this morning on the Klimovsky district, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties. All emergency services are on site. As a result of the strike, the power supply facility was damaged, and there is no electricity. Earlier Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory have targeted military infrastructure. Kremlin officials blamed Ukraine for attacks last month on Russian airfields but Kyiv did not claim responsibility. Drone strikes hit Ukrainian infrastructure, many shot down, say officials 08:01 , Liam James Russia has deployed multiple drones overnight to attack parts of Ukraine and dozens were shot down, Ukrainian officials said. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Monday morning that 40 exploding drones headed for Kyiv overnight, according to air defence forces, and all were destroyed. He said 22 drones were destroyed over Kyiv, three in the outlying region and 15 over neighbouring provinces. An infrastructure facility in the capital was damaged and an explosion occurred in one city district, the mayor said. It was not immediately clear whether that was caused by drones or other munitions. In the larger Kyiv region, a critical infrastructure object and residential buildings were hit, governor Oleksy Kuleba said. Seven drones were shot down over the southern Mykolaiv region, according to governor Vitali Kim, and three more were shot down in the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, governor Valentyn Reznichenko said. On 2 January, Ukrainian border guards took part in two fierce battles in the city of Bakhmut and near the village of Pidhorodne [Donetsk Oblast ed.], repelling an attack by the Russian invaders and killing more than a dozen soldiers. Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the State Border Service of Ukraine Details: According to Ukrainska Pravda's sources, border guards in Bakhmut, together with a Special Operations Forces unit, destroyed two Russian observation posts towards the evening. That afternoon they had foiled an attempt by the occupiers to storm the village of Pidhorodne. Early reports indicate that the defenders killed five invaders in Bakhmut and seven near Pidhorodne. Over 10 invaders were wounded. Ukrainska Pravda sources noted that there were no casualties among the Ukrainian forces. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The strike, which hit the building of Vocational School No. 19 in Makiyivka, a town in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, was carried out late on New Year's Eve, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Jan. 1. Read also: Ukraine repels Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, enemy suffers losses in friendly fire incidents Pictures and video from the scene of the Ukrainian strike started to circulate on social media shortly after the attack, showing that the building of the school had been almost completely destroyed. The Ukrainian source did not say what weapon had been used to carry out the strike. Russian military bloggers also reported the strike, saying that there had been mass casualties, and expressing outrage that so many troops had been located in one building. They blamed the strike on Ukraines HIMARS high-precision rockets. Some commentators, on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, suggested that the explosion had been so massive because the Russians had been storing ammunition in the basement of the building, though this is not confirmed. The strike in Makiyivka occurred after Russia earlier in the day on Dec. 31 launched another mass missile attack on Ukraine, in particular targeting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. One person died in that attack, and another injured person died in hospital afterwards, Ukrainian media reported. Around 20 people were injured, including a Japanese photo-journalist. Russia then attacked Ukraine with a wave of Iranian-made Shahed flying bombs at about 12.35 a.m. on Jan. 1. Ukraine said all of the drones were shot down. Read also: Air force tells how drones were shot down by NASAMS air defenses during night attack Then late on Jan. 1 and into the early hours of Jan. 2 Russia launched another wave of Shahed flying bombs at the Ukrainian capital. The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 39 of the incoming flying bombs. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said one person had been wounded in the Russian attack, and that civilian infrastructure had been damaged in the attack. Story continues Russia launched a campaign at the beginning of October to destroy Ukraines energy infrastructure so as to deny the Ukrainian population power, heating, and water supplies during winter. Since then, there have been several mass Russian missile attacks across Ukraine, which the Ukrainian authorities say have caused various amounts of damage to the countrys energy grid. Read also: Russia has potential for another 2-3 mass missile attacks, Ukrainian intel says The attacks have resulted in widespread blackouts across the country, with power, water and heating supplies cut off for millions of people, sometimes for days at a time. The Kremlin hopes this will make the Ukrainian public pressure their government to agree to a ceasefire, which Russia desperately needs to rebuild its military, which has been smashed by 10 months of fighting in Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine First, we know all the storage sites, he said. Secondly, we know the number and location of tactical-level nuclear weapons carriers. We constantly monitor all movements of all carriers. We monitor the active measures that the 12th Chief Directorate of Russias Ministry of Defense may or is conducting. It is this agency that is responsible for the preparation and delivery of nuclear warheads to weapons. Read also: Lukashenko says Putin never intended to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine Skibitsky noted that Ukraine has experience in monitoring and intelligence of strategic and other military drills of nuclear forces, which have been held since 2014 and earlier. We know all the procedural issues, the official said. Therefore, Ukraines HUR constantly keeps the nuclear component of the Russian armed forces under observation. He said that the Kremlin continues to take information measures aimed at intimidation and demonstration of the possibility that it might use nuclear weapons. Read also: US has warned Putin against using nuclear weapons, Blinken says Skibitsky also assured that Ukraine has a relevant warning system. He added the Ukrainian military was trying to find out all the signs of preparation for the possible use of any kind of nuclear weapons or their deployment closer to Ukraine. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 7 that the threat of nuclear was is growing. In September, Ukrainian intelligence officials said that they consider the risk of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine at some point was very high, even if it remains unlikely in near term. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine When President Xi Jinping's New Year address was televised on Saturday to ring in 2023, the photos placed on the bookshelf behind him once again caught the eye of the public, as in previous years. Along with the pictures of Xi at important events in 2022 and personal ones with his family were three photos showing him talking with villagers in north China, standing with a cheerful crowd in Xinjiang, and checking apples with farmers in a northwestern orchard. The president standing among ordinary people is a familiar theme of the photos on the bookshelf and the phrase -- "the people" -- has appeared in Xi's 10 New Year addresses on a total of nearly 90 occasions. Over the past 10 years in his addresses, Xi mentioned deliverymen, taxi drivers and medical workers, expressed concerns about the lives of millions of poor rural people, and applauded the devotion of unsung heroes and the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people. On New Year's Eve, he expressed concern for what the people experienced in the face of surging COVID-19 infections, stressing that it has not been an easy journey for anyone. He said that everyone is holding on with great fortitude, and encouraged them to make an extra effort to pull through, with "the light of hope right in front of us." Shi Basan, a resident of the ethnic Miao village of Shibadong tucked away in the mountains of central China's Hunan Province, was a main figure in a picture that appeared on the bookshelf when Xi delivered the New Year address to ring in 2018. The picture of Xi holding the hand of Shi was taken in 2013 during Xi's inspection tour in Hunan. When Xi walked into Shi's home, she welcomed him with the question -- "What should I call you?" "I am a servant of the people," Xi had replied, greeting Shi as an elder sister. Since that year, Shi has watched the televised New Year address every year. "So many years have passed, but my heart is always warmed up when I think about the moment when the president called me an elder sister," Shi said. Also in that year, Shibadong -- where 57 percent of its residents had lived below the poverty line -- began to change due to the country's targeted poverty elimination programs. Used to living in a dilapidated house, Shi now greets tourists from across the country in her renovated new home, while the television on which she watched the New Year address on Saturday evening, is the third TV she has bought during the past decade. In his first New Year address as the Chinese president on Dec. 31, 2013, Xi admitted that "a huge amount of work" needed to be done to ensure a better life for the people. On the New Year's Eve of 2015, Xi pledged to continue with efforts to act upon people's expectations and to turn their aspirations into reality. In his New Year address to welcome 2021, Xi said proudly that China has secured a great historic achievement for fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a decisive victory in poverty eradication. In 2020, all of China's nearly 100 million impoverished rural residents, living below the poverty line, had shaken off poverty in the eight years of a national anti-poverty campaign led by Xi, and all 832 poor counties had been lifted out of poverty. On Saturday evening when reviewing the year 2022, Xi said the Chinese economy had remained the second largest in the world and had enjoyed sound development. He added that the gains in poverty elimination had been consolidated, while rural revitalization was advanced across the board and active efforts were made to solve the most pressing difficulties of high concern to the people. China today is a country where dreams become reality, a country brimming with vigor and vitality, a country that keeps to its national character and is closely linked with the world, he announced. He also expressed a vision of China's future: a country that performs miracles through hard work, draws its strength from unity, and has great expectations of its younger generation. "President Xi's New Year address is inspiring and powerful," said Zhang Jin, president of Siasun Robot and Automation Co. Ltd. based in northeast China's Liaoning Province. "As a hi-tech firm, we will be brave in pursuit of innovation, in order to remove more technological bottlenecks." Back in Shibadong, 26-year-old Shi Kang, one of the village youngsters returning home to start a business, felt the weight of Xi's address, as the president called on the young people to step forward and take on their responsibilities to develop China. "As a young man in the new era, I must be strict with myself, embrace the fighting spirit of the older generation, and devote the best of me to rural revitalization," he said. As President Xi believes and declared in his address -- when 1.4 billion Chinese work with one heart and one mind and stand in unity with a strong will, no task will be impossible and no difficulty insurmountable. On December 10 from the stage of the city hall the Norwegian capital Oslo, the Ukrainian language proudly and loudly rang out. Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, addressed esteemed representatives of the world community with a powerful speech. For the past 15 years, the CCL has been advocating for human rights and is well known to the Ukrainian public for its initiatives, which have involved thousands of people. The most famous of them are Euromaidan SOS legal assistance program and the global Save Oleh Sentsov campaign, which led to the release of the Ukrainian director and 34 other political prisoners from Russian captivity. Now, the human rights activists have become the first Ukrainians to receive this highest honor at the award ceremony in Oslo, although they shared the stage and the award with Russian and Belarusian colleagues, the Memorial organization and human rights activist Ales Byalyatsky, respectively. Oleksandra Matviichuk gave an interview to NV immediately after the Nobel ceremony. NV: What did you feel during the award ceremony, and what was your first thought when you received the award? Read also: Nobel Peace Prize laureates awarded in Oslo Matviichuk: At the beginning of my speech, I mentioned that it was the first time the Ukrainian language was heard at the official Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, and that this was important for me, because Russia says that the Ukrainian language does not exist. After that, the audience burst into applause, and at the end of the speech, when I called for solidarity and support for Ukraine, the hall rose to its feet. I feel proud that I am part of the Ukrainian people, because this award, which I now hold in my hands, is a symbol of the efforts of the entire Ukrainian people, who have the courage to fight for their values. NV: You received this award alongside Russian and Belarusian human rights activists. How do you feel about this? Because today, the decision to go on the same stage with representatives of the aggressor countries is being perceived rather unevenly. Matviichuk: It should be understood that this award is not given to countries. And this is by no means the old Soviet narrative about fraternal peoples, which causes people fairly justified irritation when we are in a bloody war, defending our freedom and democratic choice. Story continues This award is given to people and human rights activists with whom we have worked for many years and jointly documented war crimes during the war. They helped us protect the rights of Ukrainian political prisoners, both in the Russian Federation and in the territories occupied by Russia. This is a very human story and this is a repetition of the well-known slogan of dissidents, which I heard from my teacher Yevgeny Sverstiuk: "For your freedom and ours." This is how I perceive [the award]. Here in Norway, the first question I got when I got off the plane was why we refused to give a joint interview. I explained that Ukraine is fighting for its right to be its own country, we all have something to say, and it would be very correct to speak out loud in individual interviews. NV: This year, the monetary part of the award is 10 million Swedish kronor ($960,000). Have you thought about how the CCL will spend this money? Matviichuk: It is clear that in no circumstances are we going to keep the money for ourselves, and now the organization is discussing how best to use it for the benefit of Ukraine and the people here. There are many areas that need financial assistance, but we have identified three: recovery, support for those in need, and the fight for justice. If we are talking about a specific project, then we will not manage these funds, as there are many organizations working in these areas. So far, there has been no communication regarding the transfer of the sum to us, and these funds will not appear in our accounts in the near future, so there is time to make decisions. NV: What opportunities for your future human rights activities can the status of a Nobel laureate bring? Matviichuk: This award is considered one of the most prestigious for a reason, and it presents a unique opportunity for Ukraine to say out loud those things that few people paid attention to before. For eight years now, we, as human rights activists, have been talking about the problem of people illegally imprisoned by Russia, but for the last two years, no exchanges have taken place at all either in Crimea, or in Luhansk, or in Donetsk Oblasts. But now the Nobel Peace Prize has brought us attention: before the ceremony had even taken place, we had already seen great attention both to the problem we have been working on and our proposals for its solution. This attention is not only from the media, which opens up to us audiences and countries whose audiences were previously inaccessible to us. It is attention from decision makers. For the past 15 years, the CSG has been protecting human rights and is well known to the general public for its initiatives, which have involved thousands of people SERGEI GAPON / AFP / East News And we are using every opportunity that the Nobel Peace Prize gives us both to return home all the people illegally imprisoned by Russia, and to bring Putin and other criminals to justice. NV: What is the condition of Ukrainian prisoners in Crimea and Donbas today? What is happening to them and is there any hope for their release? Matviichuk: The circumstances have really changed a lot, including in terms of the volume of our work. If earlier we were talking about more than a hundred people imprisoned for political reasons in Crimea and several hundred in the occupied part of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, now there are about 700 civilians alone in the CGS database. These include people from Kyiv Oblast who were illegally taken to the Russian Federation and are being held there in a pre-trial detention center without charges. They include people from Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts, from all the places where there have been Russian troops. And those who have been sitting in prison for several years have been in a very tense situation, because with the start of a full-scale invasion, they have lost all hope of a quick exchange. Many of them have gone through hunger strikes. In every possible venue, we are speaking about the importance of the immediate release of all illegally held civilians and the speedy return home of all prisoners of war. For example, I raised this issue in a private conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. The pressure of the international community on the Russian Federation is needed so that it begins to respect at least some basic principles of international law. NV: You have been giving speeches in many different countries lately. Is there an understanding of Ukrainian realities in Europe and the world? Matviichuk: After the full-scale invasion, I began traveling only in May. Before that, I was working in Kyiv. I started doing advocacy visits to different countries because we needed international support, and for this we needed to personally meet and talk with senior officials, journalists, diplomats, and decision makers. I have seen politicians slowly change their awareness that the old world they used to know is gone. And we need to make bold decisions in this new world we need to support Ukraine in all dimensions: military, economic, diplomatic, and informational. Read also: Ukraines Zelenskyy gives historic and inspiring speech at U.S. Capitol There is a big problem in that the civilized world is used to making concessions and forced compromises with dictators, but Ukrainians readiness to boldly defend their freedom and democratic choice often evokes admiration, but also sometimes surprise. We have to explain that we are not just fighting for territory, but for the people living in these territories. And that for Ukraine, there is no question of any compromises at the expense of people who are left face to face with the occupiers. All this is further complicated by the demand for peace in some very simplified version that exists in a number of countries. Using the examples of war crimes that we document, I explain that there can be no sustainable peace in our region without justice. It very much depends on the country, but Russian propaganda is operating everywhere, and its messages are tailored to each country. For example, we have worked with the Global South, where even at the level of human rights organizations, we had had little previous contact with Kenya, the Republic of South Africa, or other such countries. There, this narrative that Russia is actually at war with NATO was very clearly visible. And people were genuinely surprised when we explained that this war was anti-colonial in nature, because we are fighting for freedom in every sense. When talking about developed democracies, then Russias nuclear war blackmail really worries people there. I once got into a conversation with a taxi driver in Paris, and he absolutely seriously said that the Ukrainians should stop fighting, because the Russian Federation would use a nuclear bomb and that would be very bad for everyone. I asked if he had seen pictures from Bucha, and what could be worse than that? That is, nuclear bombs have not been frightening to Ukrainians for a long time. This is the fear that is still being manipulated in the West. This is the logic of authoritarian leaders: as soon as they see fear, they know that it is possible to move forward. NV: Tell us about the case that you consider a personal victory and that your Center is most proud of? Matviichuk: I remember September 7, 2019, when the plane which so many people were waiting for arrived. Oleh Sentsov and 34 other political prisoners disembarked. In 2017, when Oleg began his hunger strike, I was a student at Stanford, and in order to reinforce his call for the release of Ukrainian political prisoners, I launched the Save Oleh Sentsov global campaign. Synchronized demonstrations were held in more than 35 countries. And these were appeals not to the abstract Putin, but to national governments with what they should do to secure the release of Oleg Sentsov and all the other people imprisoned in the Russian Federation. During the first month, we managed to get resolutions adopted in the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. But, of course, the question was not in these documents, but in the fact that this pressure, which became possible only because thousands of people joined the fight, led to the fact that that plane did arrive, and these people were able to embrace their relatives. I had two emotions. The first was extraordinary joy, although I watched it, like millions, on social networks and on broadcasts. The second emotion that I feel every time there is a prisoner release is the desire to be with those people whose relatives have not yet returned and who very much wanted their loved ones to have been on that plane. NV: Tell us about a project which emboldened you and served as a turning point for you personally? Matviichuk: I would probably say the success story of the Euromaidan SOS initiative. Hundreds of people were killed, arrested, tortured, brought up on trumped-up criminal and administrative charges, all passing through our hands. Only later did I understand the meaning of our work: at that moment we were up against a whole state machine, when the titushki coordinated their activities with prosecutors, and the prosecutors coordinated everything with the courts. The president, the government, the majority of the parliament were against the peaceful protest and wanted to destroy it, even with physical force. At such a moment, it is very easy to give up and say: what is the point of legal assistance and of human rights when all the bodies that should protect democracy are instead systematically violating it? Due to the fact that our volunteers and our lawyers fought very honestly and very devotedly for each person, suddenly we began to work not on a legal, but even on some symbolic level. And every person on the Maidan knew that anything could happen to them, but there were people who would fight for them. And this understanding that they were not alone gave people strength. I came to this understanding later, and the main lesson that I learned from it is that even when it seems that your efforts are meaningless, because you are fighting with great strength, you must continue to fight. And the result will come perhaps somewhere unexpected, but it is sure to come. NV: Is there a particular person who inspired you to fight? Matviichuk: I had a significant encounter in my life: a meeting with the philosopher, writer, and dissident Yevhen Sverstiuk. We met when I was still in school. He took me under his wing, introduced me to his dissident circle, and I had the good fortune to grow up among people who said what they thought and lived as they spoke. They were people of crystal-clear honesty and very strong value principles, which they affirmed during their lives. They spent time in the camps of the Soviet Gulag system, lost many privileges, jobs, and for some, their lives. These people could not but have had a huge impact on my whole life, because they showed that even when you do not have any other tools of struggle - and in the Soviet Union we ourselves know what those possibilities were and how they ended - then whatever else happened, you would always have your word and your own position. And at the end of the day, thats not so little. I was also born in the Soviet Union, but I grew up in independent Ukraine, and these, of course, are completely different times. I belong to that transitional generation, which has already had the good fortune of going through our formative years without such fear. Yes, it was an absolutely unstable democracy. Eight years ago, we fought against an authoritarian regime. But this is a completely different situation when you have your own nation state and force the authorities of this state to respect a persons dignity and to protect their rights. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In November 2020, Brandon Scrimsher was sentenced to three months in the Douglas County jail. The prospect of more time in jail was disheartening. Scrimsher, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said his mindset and mental health sank. I really kind of got the attitude of, you know, this really sucks and why try, Scrimsher said. Nothings ever gonna get better. Despite his skepticism, Scrimsher found hope at the Douglas County jail. Case managers stationed inside the jail insisted he prepare for life outside connecting him to mental health workers, classes and even housing when he was released. For Scrimsher, the jails approach made a difference. Today, hes enrolled in community college and working for a nonprofit to support people experiencing homelessness. Instead of just kicking me back out into the cold, like has always happened before, they actually sat down and worked with me, Scrimsher said. (They) made sure I had somewhere to go that was safe and had a roof over my head and was able to restart my life the correct way. Many jails in Kansas contend with high numbers of mentally ill inmates, according to a 2020 state report. Sedgwick County estimates 30% of its jail population has some sort of mental illness. Though the sheriffs office and county have taken a multitude of steps to manage this like implementing a mental health pod and an offender assessment program to divert people with mental illness from jail it continues to struggle. But in Douglas County, numbers have dropped. From 2014 to 2022, people with a serious mental illness booked into the Douglas County jail decreased from 18% to 10%. In 2018, the jail hit a low of 5.5%. The easy answer is that there was this real shift in culture within the criminal justice system through education, through identifying who we are trying to serve, said Mike Brouwer, who served as Douglas Countys criminal justice coordinator from 2019 to 2021. That really is what made the difference and lowered the number. Story continues The harder answer is that Douglas County implemented a kaleidoscope of programs and policies to reduce its bookings of people with serious mental illness. Its difficult to know which of the tweaks made the difference or whether it was the collective impact of them all. I wish I could say that we did this one thing, and this was what made it happen, said Brouwer, whose job was to coordinate communication and collaboration between the court system, law enforcement, social service agencies and more. But it really wasnt one thing. It was a series of things. While stopping at the Douglas County Jail, Sheriff Jay Armbrister pets his dog Lucy, who is his constant companion. Photo by Dave Kaup Political pressure prevented jail expansion In 2014, the Douglas County sheriff alerted the community that the jail was overcrowded and needed an expansion. But it was not a popular investment among voters. As discussions around expansion heated up in 2015 and 2016, a campaign led by interfaith activist group Justice Matters opposed it. And in 2018, a countywide ballot referendum to invest in a jail expansion failed. As the conversation about jail expansion played out, the Douglas County sheriff still had an overcrowding problem. Meanwhile, people with mental illness started to make up a bigger portion of the jail population, said Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister. We were getting this influx of folks with SMI [serious mental illness] that were new to us, Armbrister said. It just really kind of created this dynamic of where not only were we over-full, we were buried under folks who just needed a lot of help that a jail cannot, frankly, give. With these two pressures in mind, Armbrister said the jail started piecing together a puzzle of new programs and policies. Jail progress started with data In 2015, Douglas County signed onto the Stepping Up initiative, a national partnership to reduce the incarceration of people with mental illness. The national organization helps counties keep better data on mental illness in county jails. Beginning in 2016, every person booked into the jail was given a brief mental health screening. But it didnt stop there. If someone indicated they had mental health issues during booking, jail staff would make note of it. In 24 to 48 hours, a jail-based mental health professional would follow up with the inmate to do a full mental-health assessment. Now youre able to start gathering data on how many (people with serious mental illness) are coming in, Brouwer said. How long are they staying? Are they coming back? Just having that information now gives you justification for beginning to add some resources. The countys commitment to data collection is one of the reasons it was named an innovator county by Stepping Up, said Audra Goldsmith, who works with counties at the Kansas Stepping Up Technical Assistance Center. In addition to data collection, the countys Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has a full-time data analyst. If you look at, How are we going to invest in said service? they have the data to be able to support and show a picture of where would be the best place to invest in, Goldsmith said. Paul Leffingwell is the director of Bert Nash, the Douglas County mental health center, which plays an integral part in facilitating counseling or medication help for mentally ill people in jail. Photo by Dave Kaup Integration of mental health professionals Another major resource the jail invested in was mental health professionals who are contracted through Bert Nash, the county mental health center. In 2016, the county doubled the number based at the jail from two to four, said Paul Leffingwell, the Forensic Services program manager at Bert Nash. The clinicians create individualized treatment plans such as counseling or medication referrals for people in jail who have mental illness. Because the clinicians work for the county mental health center, they can easily access mental health records for anyone who has worked with Bert Nash in the past. That helped staff coordinate mental health care, Leffingwell said. When they get booked into jail we can just look up their treatment history and get a sense of, What were they doing before they came to jail? he added. How actively engaged were they in treatment? What kind of treatment were they receiving? Do they have a therapist, a case manager? The mental health workers are also supposed to attend first court appearances which take place over video with any clients in the jail. Brouwer said clinicians can tell the judge what sort of treatment plan is being put into place and how the client will follow it. That made the judge feel a lot more comfortable about releasing them, Brouwer said. And then that also gave us the opportunity to get this person connected with services. Reentry program Another key? The sheriffs reentry program, which helps connect people like Scrimsher with things such as housing, jobs and identification cards as they leave jail. After the county joined the Stepping Up initiative in 2015, the sheriff added mental health and medical resources to the reentry program. So when somebody leaves jail and theyre taking a drug that works to keep their SMI [serious mental illness] in check, we send them out the door with X-number of days worth of (medication), Armbrister said. Or we make sure that they make it to their doctors appointments or their meetings or whatever. For six months after release, the sheriffs office reentry program will drive people to court or to mental health appointments. Thats important because the number one reason people are in the Douglas County jail is failure to appear in court. If us giving them a ride to court keeps them out of jail and taking up a jail bed, its entirely worth it for us to do that, Leffingwell said. The jail even recently implemented a system called My Resource Connection that connects reentry workers in the sheriffs office with mental health workers outside the jail. The system automatically emails mental health workers outside the jail if their client is booked to facilitate that case management. For Scrimsher, the reentry program connected him with a housing program that helped him with transportation and health care. They also bought him a laptop when he enrolled in community college. Even to this day, two years later, they still keep in contact with me, Scrimsher said. Keeping recidivism down is still a challenge Much of this work is done on the back end of the criminal justice system after someone with mental illness enters the jail. County officials then do what they can to make sure they dont come back. That effort has had some success in Douglas County. In 2018, 56% of the people booked with serious mental illness had multiple bookings in the calendar year. By 2021, that dropped to 50%. But Armbrister, who is still seeing overpopulation in the county jail, would love to see numbers fall even further. Were just barely treading water, Armbrister said. Brouwer, Armbrister and Leffingwell said that tactics that divert people from jail and redirect them to mental health treatment like crisis intervention training for police officers have also been helpful in dropping the bookings of people with serious mental illness. But they said some should be expanded, like a mobile crisis team that dispatches mental health professionals in response to calls from a mental health crisis line. And Leffingwell said it can still be difficult to provide mental health assistance for people once they get out of jail, especially those without a house. What do you do with folks who dont have a place to go who have mental health needs or physical health needs? Leffingwell said. Going forward, Armbrister said the jail, community mental health center and other agencies will continue to work closely together. To keep numbers at the jail down, they dont have another choice. We know that one person in jail for a year can cost over $200,000 in taxpayer dollars, Armbrister said. So even if you keep one person out, were still money ahead, in my opinion. But if were getting 5% and 6% of people not coming back to the jail, thats totally worth it for us. This story was originally published by KMUW as part of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of 10 media organizations, including The Wichita Eagle. Contact Celia Hack at celiahack@kmuw.org . Chelsea, Chelsea, Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham, Wolves, Tottenham. Look at Manchester Citys fixture list for the next five weeks and the big beasts outnumber the supposedly smaller fry. Thats good, said Pep Guardiola. It is the sort of spell that could be framed as make or break in a season, and their managers response scarcely sounded like the forced positivity of a man fearing the worst. There is a logic to that. Citys kryptonite may not be the best, but the rest. They are seven points behind Arsenal. Five of those points have been lost in the last two outings at the Etihad Stadium, the loss to Brentford and the draw with Everton. The gap could be bigger still: Their previous home league game brought a 2-1 win against Fulham, but only after a 95th-minute penalty by Erling Haaland. These seemed some of the sorts of matches he was signed for. One theory was that City scarcely needed Haaland at all, given that they won successive Premier League titles with an interchangeable array of false No 9s. The other was that he would make a difference in very different encounters: in the defining Champions League knockout ties, where chances can be at a premium and where misses have cost City, and on those days when they needed a professional predator to pierce a packed defence. Which, arguably, he has done. Haaland was only a substitute, but he struck against Fulham. He scored against Everton, too, and from one of just two shots he had. He drew a blank against Brentford but in those three encounters with obdurate, defensive opponents, when City always had at least 70 percent of possession, he scored two goals as many as his teammates mustered between them. Welcome to the paradox of the prolific Haaland. In one respect, he has added another dimension to City, giving them a proper No 9: a giant who can run in behind defences, a Golden Boot winner for a side who used to share the goals around. In another, nothing has changed. Story continues Even as they have assembled remarkable, sometimes record-breaking winning runs and posted points tallies in the nineties, once reaching 100, Guardiolas side have the occasional aberration of a home defeat to a bottom-14 finisher: Crystal Palace last season, Leeds the year before, Wolves in 2019/20, Palace again the previous campaign. They have not crafted a home record as immaculate as Liverpools in the four seasons under Jurgen Klopp when they completed a Premier League campaign unbeaten at Anfield or Arsenals now, with Mikel Artetas team yet to drop a point at the Emirates Stadium. There was a title-winning City side who got 55 points from a possible 57 at home, but they were managed by Roberto Mancini. Before and with Haaland, there can be common denominators to City setbacks; Frank Lampard admitted Everton studied Brentfords blueprint. There are recurring themes: defensiveness and directness, quick counter-attacks and scoring with their only shot on target which Everton did, though Brentford, who peppered Edersons goal, did not. It can require wonder goals to get a result at the Etihad, from Andros Townsend for Palace to Demarai Gray for Everton. Quick elusive wingers can relish the space they get on the break against City. Adama Traore did for Wolves. Erling Haaland scored Manchester Citys only goal in their draw with Everton (Getty Images) Guardiola often praises opponents who open up against his sides. He watched Everton and argued: I would say they had eight at the back. Which, some would say, are required to stop Haaland. It left Guardiola pondering whether to partner Julian Alvarez with the Norwegian in such situations. Of course they can play together, especially against five at the back, he said. But to create these chances we have to make the process and sometimes for that you need other types of players to create these chances. While Alvarez made a late cameo against Everton, Phil Foden was the substitute who looked likeliest to fashion a winner. Foden came on in the 86th minute and had more touches than Haaland mustered in the entire match, which reflected how crowded the penalty box was. Introducing Alvarez earlier would have required removing a creator, and it goes against Guardiolas natural instincts to sacrifice his beloved midfielders, though reintroducing an out-and-out centre-forward has already come at the expense of one. It was a nod to pragmatism that, it seemed, would help City win the most winnable games. Instead, Haaland has scored 27 times in 21 outings without arguably altering the traits of a team. With or without a specialist striker, City can run riot. There were early-season days at home when they scored six each against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, five against FC Copenhagen and four each at the expense of Bournemouth, Palace and Southampton, including three Haaland hat-tricks. There will no doubt be further routs. There will be defining games later in the Champions League where he will be charged with delivering bigger goals. But in the Premier League, where City have tended to compile points totals that insulate them against the occasional mishap, they may now need to beat their peers, and particularly Arsenal, to compensate for Brentford and Everton. Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. By way of example, Baron Oil (LON:BOIL) has seen its share price rise 123% over the last year, delighting many shareholders. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? Given its strong share price performance, we think it's worthwhile for Baron Oil shareholders to consider whether its cash burn is concerning. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. Check out our latest analysis for Baron Oil How Long Is Baron Oil's Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2022, Baron Oil had cash of UK2.4m and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was UK2.0m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of around 14 months as of June 2022. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. Importantly, if we extrapolate recent cash burn trends, the cash runway would be noticeably longer. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Baron Oil's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Baron Oil didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. With cash burn dropping by 3.0% it seems management feel the company is spending enough to advance its business plans at an appropriate pace. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. How Hard Would It Be For Baron Oil To Raise More Cash For Growth? While Baron Oil is showing a solid reduction in its cash burn, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Baron Oil's cash burn of UK2.0m is about 7.1% of its UK27m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. Is Baron Oil's Cash Burn A Worry? Baron Oil appears to be in pretty good health when it comes to its cash burn situation. Not only was its cash runway quite good, but its cash burn relative to its market cap was a real positive. While we're the kind of investors who are always a bit concerned about the risks involved with cash burning companies, the metrics we have discussed in this article leave us relatively comfortable about Baron Oil's situation. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 6 warning signs for Baron Oil you should be aware of, and 4 of them are significant. If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here A look at the shareholders of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AIRPORT) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that sovereign wealth funds own the lion's share in the company with 40% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Institutions, on the other hand, account for 39% of the company's stockholders. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. Khazanah Nasional Berhad is currently the company's largest shareholder with 33% of shares outstanding. With 16% and 6.9% of the shares outstanding respectively, Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia and Permodalan Nasional Berhad are the second and third largest shareholders. After doing some more digging, we found that the top 3 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions. Story continues Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. It is unusual not to have at least some personal holdings by board members, so our data might be flawed. A good next step would be to check how much the CEO is paid. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 18% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Wickr Me, an Amazon-owned encrypted chat platform, stopped accepting new users after Saturday and will shut down completely on Dec. 31 of this year, the company announced. The decision, first announced in November, follows several controversies surrounding the ultra-secure chat app, which allowed users to sign up without a phone number or other potentially identifying information, making it a favorite for security-minded groups including hackers, drug dealers and journalists. In June, an NBC News investigation revealed that Wickr Me had become a go-to product for many people trading child sexual abuse material. The investigation identified 72 court cases from the past five years in which the defendant allegedly used Wickr (as its commonly known) to trade child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement officials and a representative for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children told NBC News at the time that Wickr wasn't doing enough to detect or report the trading of such material on its platform. In a statement provided to NBC News in June, an Amazon Web Services spokesperson said: Amazon is committed to preventing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in every segment of our business, including Wickr, which maintains strict Terms of Use that clearly prohibit illegal activity. We act quickly on reports of illegal behavior, respond immediately to requests from law enforcement, and take the appropriate actions. Anyone found to be in violation of our terms is subject to account termination. Wickr absolutely responds appropriately to, and cooperates with, law enforcement on these critical matters, the spokesperson said. In its statement in November, the company explained that it was shutting down Wickr Me to devote more resources and focus toward its business-to-business products, AWS Wickr and Wickr Enterprise. The post did not mention the business it has with government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Story continues When NBC News tried to create a new test account on the app on Sunday, it displayed a pop-up saying: "Wickr Me will not support new users starting 31-Dec-2022. Wickr Me will be unavailable after 31-Dec-2023." Wickr was founded in 2012, applying high-level encryption to a consumer-messaging product. By 2015, the company had raised $39 million in funding. That same year, numerous outlets reported that the Islamic State terrorist organization was using the app to recruit new members. In 2016, one of the first successful prosecutions against someone trading child pornography on the app was reported by the Deseret Morning News. In June 2021, Wickr was acquired by Amazon Web Services. Since the acquisition, the company had faced questions about its government contracts with agencies like Customs and Border Protection and attracted attention with its role in records-related scandals in which the app was used to automatically destroy government communications. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A woman has gone viral online for documenting her missing luggages wild adventure, from an apartment complex to a McDonalds, after United Airlines lost her suitcase. Valerie Szybala took to Twitter on Sunday (1 January) to share how United Airlines lost her luggage. She used AirTags to track down her suitcases bizarre location outside a residential complex, and discovered that her luggage wasnt the only one tossed outside by the dumpster and emptied. Despite telling Uniteds customer support that her luggage was missing, she was told to calm down and that her bag was safe at the delivery services distribution center. Unsurprisingly, that was not the case. Id just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it, she began the viral Twitter thread, which now has 112k likes and 13.4m views. My Apple AirTag shows that it has been sitting in a residential apartment complex for over a day. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags, she wrote. Along with the tweet, Szybala included a picture of other suitcases strewn about the concrete complex. Id just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it. My apple AirTag shows that it has been sitting in a residential apartment complex for over a day. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags. pic.twitter.com/fcoq4nj3zb valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 1, 2023 She continued by sharing screenshots of her conversation from a United customer service support chat. In the messages, Szybala wrote: The Apple AirTag tracker that I have in my luggage indicates that it has been sitting in this residential apartment complex for several days. Story continues Szybala informed the customer service representative that there were empty United customer bags out by the dumpsters and asked why her luggage was taken to this location. Anyone wondering why I felt compelled to take this to social media, check out my most recent chat with one of their support reps through the @united app: pic.twitter.com/hxUu3jQaxj valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 After not receiving a response, Szybala asked if the representative was still there, to which they replied: Calm down you [sic] bag is at the delivery service. We will deliver the bag to you, dont worry. Perhaps it was the response from the United customer service representative that enraged Twitter users the most, as many people pointed out the audacity in telling Szybala to calm down. The calm down would have had me seeing red, replied one Twitter user. This is wild, said someone else, before mentioning how they saw rows and rows and rows of luggage at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. A total mess. Another person said: That condescending calm down would have had me acting an absolute fool in the DMs. The calm down would have had me seeing red. https://t.co/F8fjwNBtgf Mark Boulevardez (@MarkoftheGODS) January 2, 2023 This is wild. Did I mention I saw rows and rows and rows of bags at terminal C baggage claim in Newark? A total mess https://t.co/qxEK34k3W8 Jashvina ShaaAAAH (@icehockeystick) January 2, 2023 That condescending calm down would have had me acting an absolute fool in the DMs. https://t.co/RqfQz3fxUg Whoremione Granger (@BuzzFeedObi) January 2, 2023 One hour later, Valerie Szybala informed her followers that her AirTag appeared to be on the move and stopped at a McDonalds restaurant. MAJOR UPDATE: for the first time since Friday my AirTag (and hopefully luggage) appears to be on the moveits at a McDonalds? The plot thickens, she said, before adding in a separate tweet, ANOTHER MAJOR UPDATE: My luggage AirTag has left McDonalds and returned to the apartment complex where it is being held hostage! WHEW this has been a wild ride yall. Im happy to report that I got my bag back!!! Ill give more details & lessons learned later. For now wanna say thank you for all of the support, and shout out to the building resident and local news crews who came out to help =) pic.twitter.com/hCDXMreiDC valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 On Monday morning, her AirTag appeared to be moving once again only to return to the apartment with the dumpster. By Monday afternoon, Szybalas luggage was finally returned. Taking to the popular Twitter thread, Szybala explained how she tracked down her luggage by creeping around the buildings garage and hoping to get a signal from her AirTag. She then received a sketchy text message from DCA Couriers United, which said: Im delivering the luggage missing from your flight with AA/UA. I want to apologise for the inconvenience that youve had with your bag. Imma deliver it to you today. The courier explained that the bag was given to me under a different passenger and I delivered your [sic] in a different address and had to go back to that place and pick it up. After creeping around the buildings garage with a little posse trying to get a signal, I stepped outside for service. Thats when I received this text message. Its sketchy, and it doesnt really match with what my AirTag tracking said, but I immediately called the number. pic.twitter.com/5IAs4cQq2u valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Because the message didnt match what Szybalas AirTag tracking had shown, she decided to call the number. When the man who sent the message picked up the phone, he told Szybala that he was just around the corner and drove back to meet her near the apartment complex. Despite her luggage now being home safe and sound, Szybala was left with many confused questions and not a lot of answers. I dont know that this guy was telling the truth, I suspect he was not. Nothing Ive been told by this guy or @United explains why my bag spent three days in an apartment complex garage, with occasional shopping excursions. Id still like some answers, she tweeted. The two empty bags Szybala had seen by the dumpster were also gone by later on Monday. However, a building resident told Szybala that the suitcases werent picked up by trash collection, but rather brought back inside by someone in the building, which adds to the sketchy factor for sure, she said. The past three days were a wild journey for Szybalas once-missing luggage, so she concluded her viral Twitter thread by sharing some of the lessons she learned ever since United Airlines lost her bag. Among the three lessons learned was that using a tracking device in your luggage can be a lifesaver, travellers should take photos or inventory of their belongings in case they need to file a reimbursement claim, and to never choose delivery over the pickup option if their bag arrives on a later flight. Thanks again for all of the interest and support. If I get any further interesting details Ill report back, but for now Ill end with some lessons learned: pic.twitter.com/R7OimNfwvV valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 United Airlines has yet to publicly comment on the case of the missing luggage, beyond Szybalas initial interaction with Uniteds customer support chat. In the wake of a winter storm that cancelled thousands of flights during the busy holiday season, the number of delayed or lost bags skyrocketed in 2022 alone. Last July, more than six bags out of every 1,000 checked in by passengers were at least temporarily lost, according to data from the US Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, 1,842 complaints about lost luggage were logged that month, more than eight times the complaints received in July 2021. The Independent has contacted United Airlines and Valerie Szybala for comment. SPOILER ALERT! The following story contains plot points from the midseason finale of Yellowstone. Well, its war. Again. More from Deadline Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) followed through with his threat by calling for the impeachment of his dad John (Kevin Costner), who blocked the construction of an airport that would have brought jobs and tourist dollars to Montana. John learns about his sons betrayal while speaking against the planned installation of a pipeline through the local reservation Johns latest attempt to keep progress from reaching his beloved home state. Someone seems to be fighting a losing battle. In fact, thats the very message that Jamie gives to Beth (Kelly Reilly), who broke into her brothers home in an attempt to get him to reverse course on the impeachment. After futilely threatening to make public that Jamie killed and disposed of his real dad in season 4, Jamie enlightens his sis about how hes not the only Dutton to discard a body at the so-called Train Station. Beth finally learns another deep family secret: John Dutton has been chucking corpses on the Montana border for years; in fact, the episode began with a young Rip (Kyle Red Silverstein), who at the urging of a young John Dutton (Josh Lucas), discards the body of a cowboy who got a little too lippy about his beloved Beth. There are centuries worth of our familys secrets at the bottom of that canyon, Jamie explains to Beth. Ask your husband where the train station is and how many times hes been there. She cant right now: Rip just left with his fellow cowhands to transport the herd down to greener pastures. So she confronts her father, who confirms her worst fear. Its a trash can for everyone whos attacked us, Dutton explains. So Beth has an idea: Shed like to add one more body to this jurisdictional dead zone in a county with population of exactly zero. She wants to kill her brother Jamie before he kills her dads governorship. Story continues What do you think, Daddy? Beth asks. Turns out Jamie is one step ahead of her. Hes already predicting that Beth will want his head on a platter so he asks his galpal Sarah (Dawn Olivieri) to cut his sister off at the path. He asks Sarah to reach out to some professionals who can make it look like Beth suffered a heart attack or was in a car accident. Oh boy. The episode did feature a few sweeter moments. John asks Monica (Kelsey Asbille) to keep an eye on the ranch while hes off governing. Teeter (Jen Landon) tells Colby (Denim Richards) she loves him before she heads off with Rip and the other cowboys. And we got to see Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White) as a changed and happy man: hes got a himself a purty brunette at home while he works the herd for the 6666 Ranch. Will he ever return to Montana? Answers arent coming anytime soon. Paramount announced Sunday night that the show wont return until the summer. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Provinces such as Hainan, Zhejiang and Sichuan recently released COVID-19 infection data via surveys, CCTV.com reported on Sunday. The infection rate of COVID-19 in Hainan province recently is estimated at 50 percent as the daily number of new COVID-19 infections was recorded at a high level, according to the news conference on COVID-19 prevention and control in Hainan province on Friday. Hainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday evening that as of 12:00am on Dec 27, they had received 33,682 online questionnaires for the second round survey of the COVID-19 infection situation. According to the center, among those surveyed, 35.5 percent were infected between Dec 19 and 25, up 5.3 times from 5.6 percent in the previous round of survey (Dec 12- 18). Haikou, the capital of Hainan and Sanya, a city at southern part of the province, as a whole have passed the infection peak. Cities in Zhejiang province also released their COVID infection rates. The current overall infection rate of Quzhou city accounts for about 30-35 percent of the total population, and the infection may peak at the end of Dec 2022, according to the news conference on the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection in Quzhou from the afternoon of Dec 28. Zhoushan city estimated that the proportion of infected people in the city reached 30-40 percent, and the total number of infected people has been close to 400,000. It is estimated that the epidemic may enter a plateau stage at the end of December, and the peak will last for about a week. On Dec 26, Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the second round of surveys, showing that the infection rate of 158,506 respondents in the province was 63.52 percent. In addition, 28 percent of the surveyed people had a fever, cough and other symptoms similar to novel coronavirus infection though no nucleic acid or antigen was detected. Therefore, the actual infection rate of the surveyed population should be higher than 63.52 percent. The peak of positive detection in the whole province was concentrated from December 12 to 23, and the new daily infections are presently in a declining stage. Wu Zunyou, chief expert on epidemiology at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Dec 29, "The epidemic has developed relatively early in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Chengdu-Chongqing region and some provinces in Central China, and their potential peak of the epidemic has passed. But Chongqing, Anhui, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan and other provinces and cities are at a high epidemic stage. The epidemic is also developing rapidly in Henan, Jilin and Fujian provinces." Chen Saijuan's team and Fan Xiaohong's team from the Shanghai Clinical Center of Public Health jointly published a research paper in Frontiers of Medicine recently. According to the preliminary judgment of the researchers, the number of people infected in this round of Omicron epidemic will come to an end around New Year's Day in 2023 in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing and other cities. Researchers deemed the peak of the epidemic will be delayed in the suburbs, and the infection will be significantly increased during the Spring Festival travel rush due to the accelerated spread of the epidemic. For Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, it is estimated that the peak of infection in rural and small and medium-sized urban areas will occur in mid to late January 2023. Victoria and Angus Hall-Hulme (Cancer Research UK/PA). The husband of a young bride who died from bowel cancer just weeks after her wedding day has urged people to support lifesaving research. Angus and Victoria Hall-Hulme first met after they recognised each other from a brief swipe right moment on a dating site. Until then, both had been unlucky in love and had almost given up on finding the one. Mr Hall-Hulme had even begun developing a new type of dating app. But one day in late 2020, while walking through Hyde Park in London, their eyes met. The couple did not speak to each other but, later, Mrs Hall-Hulme contacted Mr Hall-Hulme and they went on a date. They fell in love and enjoyed a blissful wedding in Chelsea on August 4 this year. Just four weeks later, Mrs Hall-Hulme died. She was 33. Mrs Hall-Hulme, who had a first-class degree from Cambridge and a career in venture capital, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer just a year earlier. She had had no inkling anything was wrong until she suffered two weeks of abdominal cramps, a little weight loss and fatigue. In between the couples meeting in Hyde Park and their wedding were months of pain and heartbreak, but also the joy of falling in love. Speaking earlier this year, exclusively to the PA news agency, Mrs Hall-Hulme said the diagnosis was so terrifying that her initial reaction was to push her new boyfriend away. Why would anyone want to go out with someone with cancer? she said. But Angus kept coming back, and every time I pushed him away, we would find ourselves being drawn back. He was my new best friend and so supportive. Surgeons removed Mrs Hall-Hulmes tumour and she began six months of chemotherapy. However, in March this year, scans revealed the cancer had spread to her peritoneum (tissue lining the abdominal wall). I didnt even know what the peritoneum was, she said. The only words I heard were Its not good news. Im sorry Victoria, your cancer has spread. Its not curable. I couldnt understand how could that be? It totally turned my life upside down. All my plans for having children, starting an awesome new job, all the things we strive for when we assume a long life, were scuppered, just like that. Story continues But out of the trauma, the couples love shone. During the summer, when Mrs Hall-Hulme was feeling at rock bottom and was stuck in hospital, she and her partner had a late-night heart-to-heart talk. Victoria and Angus Hall-Hulme (Cancer Research UK/PA). It was a scary time, she said. One night we had quite an emotional talk and I told him he had a life to lead and we knew where mine was going. He said he would rather spend months with me in his life than years without me in it. I said If I ever get out of here, will you marry me? and he said Of course. We cried it felt emotional and romantic. I felt that when I leave this world, I could go knowing I had been fulfilled and that my legacy would be a partnership we created, even though I want him to move on and meet someone. It was good to know I was worth hanging around for. Knowing her time was limited, Mrs Hall-Hulme organised a wedding in six weeks from her hospital bed. One friend made her dress while others helped arrange the service at St Thomas Mores Catholic Church. Mrs Hall-Hulme said the wedding was magical and an absolute miracle it happened at all. Her health continued to deteriorate and she was moved to her familys home at West Wittering, West Sussex, and then to St Wilfreds Hospice, Chichester, where she died surrounded by her family on September 2. Her family are supporting the Stand Up To Cancer campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, to build on the huge fundraising efforts Mrs Hall-Hulme made before her death. Mr Hall-Hulme, 49, said: Victoria was a beautiful, fit young woman with a boundless enthusiasm for life. Cancer can affect anyones life, at any time, so we really have no choice other than to unite against it and help support scientists to keep making new discoveries. Lynn Daly, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for London, said: Were asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer and raise money that could help get new tests and treatments to those who need them most. If we all stand together, we can save lives. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported in his evening address on Jan. 2 that Russia is planning a long-term attack using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. He said that Moscow's tactics is to exhaust the Ukrainian population, the country's air defense, and the energy system. "Only two days have passed since the beginning of the year, and the number of downed Iranian drones over Ukraine has already exceeded 80. And soon, this number may increase. Nights can be quite restless during these weeks," he said. "(Russia) may bet on exhausting us. But we must and will do everything to ensure that this goal of the terrorists fails, like all the others." Russian forces launched a massive strike against Ukraine using Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones overnight on Jan. 2. Ukraine's air defense said it had destroyed all of the 39 drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said that energy infrastructure facilities in the city were damaged in the attack. Russian troops have repeatedly attacked energy infrastructure across Ukraine since early October, killing dozens of people and causing electricity, water, and heating cut-offs. Moscow has admitted that Ukraine's energy system is one of its primary targets. According to the Geneva Convention, attacking vital public infrastructure constitutes a war crime. When Victoria Hauck was born, doctors didnt know the extent of her vision impairment. Hauck said her parents were very doom and gloom at the possible outcomes of her vision. They were very concerned that I wasnt going to have a normal life in any way, said Hauck, currently a first-year student studying art therapy at the University of Lynchburg. Hauck is legally blind and has a detached retina in her right eye. Her left eye has gotten worse over time, although her vision loss plateaued while in her 20s. She described her vision impairment as basically having tunnel vision, because she doesnt have peripheral vision and has a very small bubble that she can see. But that reality hasnt stopped her from pursuing art, going to college and acquiring new hobbies. English Professor Chidsey Dickson taught Hauck in a first-year composition workshop course this past semester at the university. The professor said her maturity and readiness to receive information distinguished her in the class. She actually helped create an environment where everyone is learning, Dickson said. Terry Bodine program and advising coordinator for second-year, adult and second degree students helped Hauck register and plan her fall semester. Bodine said she came in really knowing what she wanted to get out of her academic experience. Shes really doing a good job of synthesizing what shes already doing out in the world with her passion for art and her understanding of how the arts can be therapeutic for people with special needs, Bodine said. Hauck got her start in art when she lived in Massachusetts as a child. She had an early interest in painting and drawing, so her parents sent her to their next-door neighbor, who was an artist, to learn and practice. Her neighbor became her art teacher and a close friend whom she still visits today. Hauck visited the Boston Art Museum with her neighbor, where she saw abstract art for the first time. She was the first person that ever took me to an art gallery, Hauck said. I was like, Oh, this is so cool, colors are exciting. Hauck went on to finish high school while being home-schooled. She wanted to go to college originally after finishing high school, but ended up working on a farm at 18 and started a business which ultimately became a family business. She loved it, but the isolation of working on the farm was getting to her. She joined a ministry for a couple years but returned to the farm after a few years while in her early 20s and eventually moved to Lynchburg. Painting picked back up for Hauck when she moved with a close friend to Lynchburg in 2015. She was gifted watercolor paints. She loved animation such as Pokemon, so she experimented with colors, eventually venturing away from that style to more surreal paintings, which she continues today. Her current art forms are pottery, painting and watercolor painting, but she is also interested in trying other art forms such as sculpting. Hauck explained she cannot see realism everything is like colorful blobs to her. Detail is not my jam, Hauck said. Thats why I dont paint realism, you know ... Thats why my favorite things to do involve colorful blobs. She also plays piano and works with plants. Currently, Hauck juggles school and art with her job as a licensed massage therapist. I love the aspects of massage therapy that are healing. Making people whole and being a part of that journey and having the privilege to be with them there in a vulnerable place is something that is a huge honor, Hauck said. Hauck said she wants to go further in the realm of therapy and do talk therapy, which she said is an integral part of therapy that has helped her along her journey. She mentioned the challenges in getting mental health help. I dont know if its just in this country or if its just everywhere, we dont have support systems yet for mental health, Hauck said. Hauck thinks her purpose is to help people heal and she plans to continue her studies to that end. I feel like this is an area that really is being neglected right now, Hauck said. Im not saying I can change the psychology industry or anything like that, but Im definitely one of those people that believes you just need one stone to move the avalanche down the hill. I feel I just have an ethical responsibility to at least try. Say this about Gov. Glenn Youngkin: Hes persistent. Only the General Assembly, which voted in 2020 for Virginia to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, can remove the commonwealth from that multistate compact. But that hasnt stopped the governor from jiggling every door knob and testing every window to find an exit. Expect the governor to keep trying, but unless he can establish the legality of those efforts something he has yet to do all his exertions will likely be in vain. The RGGI is a market-based, carbon cap-and-trade agreement among 12 states that requires energy producers to reduce emissions or purchase allowances through auctions to exceed them. The General Assembly passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act in 2020, which pledged Virginia to join RGGI and created a fund to pay for resilience projects across the commonwealth. The goal of the RGGI is to incentivize emissions reductions. Energy producers that dont need to purchase allowances neednt buy them at auction. In the meantime, revenue from those quarterly auctions is divided among the member states to address climate-related initiatives. Since Virginia formally entered the compact in 2021 and began receiving RGGI revenue, the commonwealth has collected $523 million (including the figures from this months auction). That money is split between the Community Flood Preparedness Fund and the Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency fund, which pays to improve energy efficiency in new and existing residences of low-income residents. Yet, despite that windfall helping to protect at-risk communities from flooding and improving the lives of low-income Virginians, the Youngkin administration has spent most of the year trying to put an end to the commonwealths involvement. The governor signed an executive order on the day he took office directing his administration to withdraw Virginia from the RGGI. He appointed former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, fresh off a disastrous stint leading the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Donald Trump, to serve as secretary of natural resources, and directed that agency to find a way out. Trouble is, Youngkin doesnt have the authority to simply cancel a law passed by the General Assembly. He cannot nullify it through executive order or terminate it through regulatory repeal. Thats not just speculation, but the opinion of the attorney general. Former Attorney General Mark Herring issued an advisory opinion in January before leaving office that concluded a governor cannot singlehandedly withdraw from RGGI because membership was established by the legislature. Hope Cupit, a member of the State Air Pollution Control Board, says she received a similar opinion in an April email from the office of Attorney General Jason Miyares. Tellingly, the attorney generals office fought release of that email, essentially arguing that the public has no right to see a document so pivotal to the legality of the governors withdrawal effort. That board voted last month, 4-1, to begin a regulatory repeal of the RGGI framework again, without any evidence of legal authority to do so. Cupit was one of two members who abstained from that vote because of doubts that the board had the authority to act. Any hope that Youngkin would relent was effectively dispelled both by that vote and in his budget amendment that would deposit $200 million in the flood fund to offset the loss of RGGI funds. Never mind that Virginia received nearly $300 million in 2022 alone from emission actions. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission advises local governments to plan for 3 feet of sea-level rise locally by 2080 and 4.5 feet by 2100. Resilience projects arent a luxury here; they are necessary to the future viability of this region. The legislature understands that. Its why lawmakers voted to enter the RGGI in order to address that existential threat head on. The governor, by contrast, doesnt seem to care what happens if Virginia exits RGGI, as evidenced by a budget that would mean less money for vital flood projects. Youngkin may be persistent, but Virginia should hope it doesnt pay off. , Jan 01 ( Japan Today ) - Beatles musician John Lennon and his peace activist wife Yoko Ono asked Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1969 to permit overseas release of an unedited film on the aftermath of the U.S. atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to prevent a similar "atrocity," the Japanese Foreign Ministry's archives show. "Effects of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki," taken as a scientific documentary a month after the bombings in 1945, was requisitioned by the United States a year later. It was returned to Japan in November 1967, but only its edited version had been shown to the Japanese public. The United States dropped the bombs on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and on Nagasaki three days later, at the close of World War II. Filming, involving scientists and film production companies, began a month later. The movie is divided by themes such as on locating the bombs' hypocenters, medical activities and radioactive effects on humans and plants. Writing at the height of the Cold War and during the Vietnam War, the two antiwar activists said, "In view of the uncertain world situation we feel it very important to show the uncut version of the above film to the rest of the world" in their letter seen by Kyodo News on Saturday. "We feel the time is urgent, and it is the responsibility of the Japanese people to show the rest of the world the actual atrocity that took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the hope that it would never be repeated again," they added. "Please give us permission to show the film outside Japan," they ended the letter dated Dec. 17, 1969, with their cartoons drawn. ...continue reading DES MOINES Any moves by lawmakers to further restrict abortion in the state likely will wait on an Iowa Supreme Court decision on whether to reinstate a blocked law that would ban the procedure except in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Leaders in Republican-led Legislature say theyre waiting to see how the court case plays out before taking any more steps to restrict abortion in the state, including pushing ahead with an amendment to the Iowa Constitution. Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion rights advocates hope the court will use the case to set a more permissive legal standard for considering abortion restrictions after the U.S. and Iowa supreme courts struck down abortion rights protections last summer. The Iowa Supreme Court in June reversed it 2018 decision, now saying the Iowa Constitution does not provide a fundamental right to an abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court soon after reversed the decades-old Roe v. Wade decision, removing the federal right to an abortion and sending the issue back to states. But (Iowa Supreme Court justices) havent said what standard they would use to view any new potential laws, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said in an interview previewing the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 9. And so at this point, I think its prudent for us to wait and see how that case shakes out in the (Iowa) Supreme Court before we continue to act, Whitver said. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, agreed. We want to be very thoughtful in our approach to this, Grassley said of House and Senate Republicans and the governors office. We dont want to pass a bill just to pass a bill, he said. Our caucus has demonstrated for as long as Ive been a part of it that we are pro-life and we want to protect the unborn. But I would like to see us get some more clarity before we move forward. Theres no reason to rush this during a two-year General Assembly. Reynolds pushes to reinstate ban An Iowa District Court judge last month declined Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds request to reinstate a law that would effectively ban most abortions once cardiac activity is detected, around the sixth week of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. The governor has appealed the case to the Iowa Supreme Court and attorneys have filed a motion to expedite. A decision, though, could take months. As the Iowa and U.S. Supreme Courts have made clear, there is no fundamental right to an abortion, Reynolds said in a statement. The decision of the peoples representatives to protect life should be honored, and I believe the court will ultimately do so. The Iowa Supreme Court is entirely comprised of Republican appointees, and five of the seven justices were appointed by Reynolds. The measure, which supporters refer to as a fetal heartbeat law, has been blocked by Iowa courts since 2019. Supporters of the law say the presence of a heartbeat indicates life. However, medical experts say a heartbeat cannot be detected until closer to 10 weeks of pregnancy. What an ultrasound detects at six weeks is not a heartbeat but electrical pulses, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and that the embryo is not yet a fetus and has only begun forming a rudimentary heart. Opponents, including Planned Parenthood, say the law restricts a womans ability to make decisions about her body with her doctor, and would block more than 98% of abortions performed in the state. Even the supposed exceptions it had for rape, incest and the life of the woman were poorly written, and extremely narrow, such that they would fail to protect people in those extremely difficult circumstances, said Rita Bettis Austen, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa. The outcome of this case could not matter more to the health and basic rights of Iowans. Abortion remains legal in Iowa until 20 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions after that only to save the life of the mother. The state Supreme Court this June also allowed a 24-hour waiting period previously blocked by the courts to take effect, requiring two separate appointments in order to get an abortion. There were 3,761 abortions in Iowa in 2021, according to preliminary data from the state department of public health, a decrease of about 7% compared with 2020, when 4,058 abortions were performed in the state. The overall rate of abortions has declined in Iowa and across the nation over the past 30 years, according to state and national data. GOP dropping push for amendment Republican leaders also said they do not plan to push forward a bill this year that would enshrine language in the Iowa Constitution stating it does not protect the fundamental right to an abortion. Lawmakers approved the language for the amendment during the 2021 legislative session, and would need to be passed again in 2023 or 2024 for it to appear on ballots before voters in 2024. Similar proposed amendments elsewhere failed last year at the ballot box, including in the Republican-led states of Kansas and Kentucky. Whitver and Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, who led passage of the constitutional amendment bill during the 2021 session, said the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling overturning the constitutional right to an abortion renders the need to pass an amendment moot. We dont, at this point, believe the life amendment is necessary, Holt said, adding he agrees with Whitver and Grassley to wait on a court decision on the heartbeat law before pursuing other abortion measures, such as legislation that would define life starting at conception. Maggie DeWitte, executive director at Pulse Life Advocates (formerly Iowans for Life), said the nonprofit advocacy group nonetheless plans to push such a bill this session that would effectively outlaw all abortions in the state. With the reversal of Roe v. Wade and the fundamental right to an abortion under the Iowa Constitution, we can then go forward in pushing common sense regulations and restrictions for the welfare of our Iowa citizens, DeWitte said. When you look at what happened in the (2022) election, the people of Iowa spoke very loudly and very clearly in terms of Republicans having a super majority, and retaining their trifecta of controlling the House, Senate and governors office, DeWitte said. And, by and large, the No. 1 platform of the Republican Party is life, she said. And so I think the people of Iowa spoke very clearly this last election that abortion is very important to them, and they do want to see restrictions and elimination of abortion here in our state. Democrats focus on protecting abortion rights Statehouse Democrats, whose ranks shrunk following the last election, said they will fight any efforts to further restrict abortion and will work to protect and defend reproductive freedom in the state. That includes codifying a fundamental right to abortion in the Iowa Constitution, which would require Democrats to win back majorities in both the Iowa House and Senate, and hold those majorities through a second election so they could pass a proposal, which would then go to Iowa voters. Im not at all confident that it will succeed, but that doesnt mean we throw up our hands and say were not going to fight for it anymore, said Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights. So we introduce legislation that shows what we care about. Konfrst said she fully expects Republicans, emboldened by their larger majorities and recent court decisions, will move ahead with further abortion restriction this session regardless. I just dont see them being able to stay silent on this issue when they have these majorities and they have the governors support here, she said. House Democrats, Konfrst said, will fight to ensure any abortion measure put forward does not also restrict access to birth control, in vitro fertilization and fertility treatments, and includes exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. More than 60% of Iowans support legal abortion in most or all cases, according to an October Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, mirroring national polling. I am not confident that Republicans will take that point to heart and legislate on this issue based on where Iowans are, Konfrst said. I think theyll legislate based on where their extreme base is. Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville echoed Konfrst. Democrats are going to defend personal freedom for every Iowan whose right to make their own health care choices is under attack from extreme Republicans attacking reproductive freedom and choice, Wahls said. We know that the Republican agenda is to ban abortion either after six weeks or altogether if they can get away with it. They are playing a dangerous game with peoples lives and I dont think that Iowans are going to stand for that. Namibian authorities have ordered Russias state atomic energy agency to stop uranium exploration over concerns about potential contamination of underground water. Namibias Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform refused to grant Russias Rosatom subsidiary, One Uranium, a water use permit required for mining, saying the company failed to prove its uranium extraction method would not cause pollution. Namibia the worlds second and Africas no. 1 producer of the nuclear fuel granted Russias state atomic energy agency exploration rights in 2019. The Namibian official Calle Schlettwein said Namibia could not grant One Uranium a permit for uranium mining. The Russian entity still needs a water use permit to begin mining. Schlettwein said no further permit would be granted because the mining method the company proposed, known as the in-situ leaching, was raising environmental concerns. In situ mining involves recovering minerals by dissolving them in an acid pumped into the ground and then pumping the solution back to the surface. Schlettwein said farmers in Namibias eastern Omaheke region had petitioned against the technique. Although One Uraniums spokesperson, Riaan Van Rooyen, dismissed the concerns, Namibian activists maintain the mining project is not worth the risk. Rosatoms subsidiary is expected to appeal Namibias decision against the water permit for uranium mining. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) abolished a February 2022 circular requiring the use of letters of credit for imports, and allowed the use of collection documents instead, Arab Finance reports. The CBE in a late December circular scrapped the letter of credit which provides an irrevocable guarantee to the exporter that the importers bank has to remit the dues to the exporter. The requirement is deemed too demanding because it incurs a higher cost and longer time, with payments taking place in advance. In a documentary collection transaction, the importers bank holds no such responsibility, as it allows direct transactions between importers and exporters with the bank only acting as an intermediary. Under the CBEs regulations, Arab Finance notes, importers collection documents were not accepted by banks starting March 1st, 2022, and only letters of credit were approved for imported shipments. Importers however are given waivers on the imports of wheat medicines, vaccines, and their raw ingredients. The waiver also covered imports of tea, meat, poultry, fish, oil, powder milk, baby formula, fava beans, lentils, butter, and corn. A senior official on the Chinese mainland has called for joint efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work toward the goals of national rejuvenation and national reunification. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year's message carried in the first issue of the "Relations Across Taiwan Strait" magazine in 2023. Song said that the Chinese mainland maintained the initiative and ability to steer cross-Strait relations and united compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to advance cross-Strait ties in 2022. Continued efforts were made in the year to make the historical merits of the Taiwan question and mainland's major principles and policies on work related to Taiwan clear to compatriots in Taiwan and to the international community, said Song. The mainland took concrete measures to support Taiwan compatriots and businesses and help them resolve difficulties, noted Song. China continued the fight against separatist activities and external intervention in affairs regarding Taiwan, effectively deterring external forces who attempted to use Taiwan to contain China, said Song. "In 2023, we will uphold the policy of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems' and carry out extensive and in-depth discussions on cross-Strait ties and national reunification with people of foresight from various sectors of Taiwan society on the basis of one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus," Song said. "We will resolutely defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and take firm action against separatist activities and external intervention," Song added. President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar announced his country is seeking an investment from Morocco in the fertilizer sector as part of its efforts to achieve farming self-sufficiency, Reuters reports. We are seeking Moroccan fertilizers as well as investments in the fertilizers sector, Rajoelina, who visited Morocco in October, told Reuters in an email. We need the expertise of all, notably the Moroccan agri-food industry, he said. OCP, state-owned company producer of phosphate and fertilizer, is building blenders across the continent to customize fertilizers, as well as soil nutrient and ammonia production plants in Nigeria and Ethiopia. Rajoelina added that setting up a fertilizer production plant is a priority of the countrys Emergency Plan. Some 80% of Malagasy people depend on 31% of Madagascars 8 million-hectare arable lands, he said. OCP is very enshrined in the kingdoms South-South cooperation. The company in October said it would earmark 4 million tons of fertilizers for the African market in 2023, double its sales on the continent in 2021. In July, OCP also announced it was offering 180,000 tons of soil nutrients in aid and 370,000 tons at a discounted price to help African states cope with surging prices. King Mohammed VI of Morocco was represented at the inauguration ceremony of the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch. After he attended the solemn investiture ceremony of the new Brazilian head of state and his vice-president, Geraldo Jose Rodrigues de Alckmin Filho, held on Sunday, Akhannouch was received at the Palacio Planalto, seat of the executive power, by Lula Da Silva and his vice president. Lula Da Silva thwarted far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaros reelection bid and won the presidential election on October 30, winning 50.9 per cent of the vote in the second round. King Mohammed VI had then sent a congratulation message to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, expressing his consideration for the relations of solid friendship and fruitful cooperation in all fields uniting the Kingdom of Morocco and the Federal Republic of Brazil. The king affirmed his willingness to work together with Lula da Silva to enshrine the multidimensional strategic partnership existing between the two countries. Lula da Silva expressed in his first address after he was sworn-in optimism about plans to rebuild while pledging that members of outgoing Jair Bolsonaros administration will be held to account. Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction, Lula said in a speech in Congress Lower House after signing the document that formally instates him as president. We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who sought to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we are going to ensure the rule of law, Lula said. According to analysts, Lulas return to power marks the culmination of a political comeback that is thrilling supporters and enraging opponents in a fiercely polarized nation. Somalias breakaway region of Somaliland has seen at least 20 people killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces over several days, according to local sources. For more than a week police and the military have been battling the protesters in Laascaanood, a town in Somalilands east which is disputed between Somaliland and neighboring Puntland, one of Somalias semi-autonomous regions. Mohamed Farah, a doctor at the local hospital, told the press that at least 20 people had been killed and dozens injured. He said he had seen the bodies of victims brought into the facility. Protesters are demanding that Somaliland cede control of the town to Puntland and also accuse security forces of failing to end insecurity in the town. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence. The region has been mostly peaceful while Somalia has grappled with three decades of civil war. Puntlands Vice President, Ahmed Elmi Osman Karash, accused the security forces of violence. What is being done by the Somaliland army is a massacre of civilians, the politician told the media. Somalilands Minister of Information, Saleebaan Cali Koore, appealed to the protesters in a statement Saturday to stop their demonstrations and begin negotiations with the government. The European Union has urged Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 rebel group, which has captured swaths of territory in the North Kivu province of neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rwanda must stop supporting the M23 and use all means to press the M23 to comply with the decisions taken by the EAC (East African Community) and at a November summit in Angola, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. His comments came after United Nations experts report found direct intervention by Rwandan forces inside the DRC. The DRC, along with the United States and several European countries, has repeatedly accused its smaller central African neighbor of backing the M23, although Kigali denies the charge. The Tutsi rebel group has in recent months advanced to within a few dozen kilometers of provincial capital Goma. The EU also firmly urges all states of the region to prevent the provision of any support to armed groups active in the DRC, Borrell added. He called on Kinshasa to take all measures necessary to protect the civilian population in its territory. Under heavy international pressure to disarm, M23 joined a ceremony last week to deliver the strategic town of Kibumba to an East African military force as a goodwill gesture for peace. The EAC also said the group had to withdraw to the border between the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda. However, the Congolese army promptly dubbed the Kibumba handover a sham. The United Kingdom and Mauritius have begun talks on the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos archipelago, the Mauritian prime minister announced Sunday, January1. The latest developments on the Chagos issue are very encouraging. Negotiations between Mauritius and Britain have begun, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said in a New Year address. Mauritius claims the remote archipelago in the Indian Ocean in full but it is administered by Britain, which has a joint military base there with the United States. In 1965, the UK decided to separate the islands from Mauritius, forcing thousands to relocate in Mauritus in order to set up a military base there. Mauritius, which became an independent Commonwealth country in 1968, has long fought to return the archipelago to its territory. A 2019 International Court of Justice ruling backed the claim by Mauritius and said Britain should give up control of the islands. Later that year, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution recognizing that the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius and recommending Britain withdraw within six months. Britain, some 9,500 kilometers to the west from Chagos, has insisted the islands belong to London and refused to leave. In November 2022, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a written ministerial statement that the countries had agreed to hold constructive negotiations and hope to reach an agreement early next year. The countries agreed that a joint UK and US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the isles, will continue to operate whatever the results of the talks, the minister said. 2017 - Abacus: Small Enough to Jail only 2018 - Can You Ever Forgive Me? 2019 - Corpus Christis 2020 - The Man Who Sold His Skin 2021 - Attica Even when categories at the Oscars are stacked with great films, it's often the case that only a few winners emerge which end up dominating pop culture discourse and space on our to-watch lists. But that doesn't mean the films that lost are any less worthy of attention. So before we endure all the campaigning, think pieces, and prediction posts about the upcoming Oscars, let's first take a look back at what you might have missed in the previous award seasons.Below are 5 films that lost in their respective categories at the Oscars, but are still 100% worth your time:Abacus: Small Enough to JailUnited StatesSteve JamesBest Documentary Feature"Too big to fail" became the defining term of the 2008 financial crisis after large banks received government bailouts despite the fact that their predatory tactics targeting low-income homebuyers and reckless risk-taking was a key driver of the financial crisis in the first place. People were, and still are, rightly angry that there was little done to hold those responsible accountable. But what a lot of people may not realize is that the United States did bring charges against a bank in relation to the 2008 financial crisis - a small New York City bank startedthe Chinese communitythe Chinese community that was created with the goal of helping Chinese immigrants obtain loans to help build their lives in America as other financial institutions were reluctant to lend them money. Abacus Federal Savings Bank was theU.S. bank indicted for mortgage fraud in relation to the 2008 financial crisis. The film features legal professionals, journalists, jurors, and employees who were all a part of the trial.The documentary is an eye opening look at a story that most people aren't aware of - that amidst all the financial dysfunction stemming from 2008, prosecutors decided to aggressively go after one small bank in a downright unscrupulous manner. It serves as an important look at the way certain communities are still targeted and how systems continue to oppress. It's also a really powerful story of an immigrant family and the value of community.Educational, important, and infuriating.Can You Ever Forgive Me?United StatesMarielle HellerBest Actress (Melissa McCarthy) | Best Supporting Actor (Richard E. Grant) | Best Adapted Screenplay (Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty; based on the memoir by Lee Israel)Olivia Coleman () | Mahershala Ali () | Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Spike Lee; based on the book Black Klansman by Ron Stallworthdouble-dagger (The trailer above doesn't really do this movie any justice! The film was adapted from the confessional autobiography of Lee Israel, an author that committed literary forgery in the early 1990's by creating and selling fake letters attributed to famous actors and writers after her own writing career had stalled due to a poorly received Estee Lauder biography. Her scheme eventually caught the eye of the FBI and made her persona non grata in literary circles and the world of collectibles.The film is genuinely really funny - it's both witty and outrageous. It's the story of a once insider now on the outside and McCarthy's performance straddles a captivating line between brash and pitiful, deranged and likeable. Richard E. Grant (who plays Lee's accomplice, Jack) and McCarthy play off each other so well and make for a truly insane dynamic duo. But at the same time, it's also a beautiful story about their friendship as two members of the LGBTQ community that came to accept and cherish each other despite their own issues and shortcomings all while dealing with the whirlwind lunacy of the situation they got themselves into. Bonus? Its runtime is about an hour and 40 minutes - no 3 hour long nonsense here. If you're a regular in book drama posts - this one's for you!A chaotic, crazy, funny wild-ride of a film. It's a good movie to watch on the couch with a glass of wine and some popcorn with your family, your bestie, or your partner.Corpus ChristiPolandJan KomasaBest International Feature FilmThe film follows a religious young man serving a sentence in a juvenile delinquent facility who is released on parole and assigned to work at a sawmill in rural Poland. Upon his arrival, he notices a church in the distance in a nearby town and decides to visit. He meets a local and lies to her, saying that he's a priest from Warsaw. The lie quickly spirals out of control and the young delinquent becomes the spiritual leader at the epicentre of a town reeling from a tragedy that has left unhealed wounds and bitter resentment among the parishioners.The story is original and engrossing and raises some fascinating questions about the role and purpose of religion in modern society. The acting is incredible from every single actor in the film - particularly the lead, Bartosz Bielenia. The pacing is fantastic and the tension is palpable. And before you say the story's too farfetched - the film is, believe it or not, also very loosely based on a real-life story of a young Polish man that pretended he was a priest for several months. You can read about it in the LA Times, who spoke to the director about the film and the inspiration behind it: LA Times Story Dark, moody, thoughtful, engaging. A good film to watch alone at night and to sit with and think about once it's over.The Man Who Sold His SkinTunisiaKaouther Ben HaniaBest International Feature FilmA Syrian man named Sam escapes from prison after a wrongful arrest amidst the Syrian civil war and must flee to Lebanon, leaving his girlfriend and family behind in the process. The story picks up a year later in Lebanon, with his girlfriend now in Belgium married to a diplomat. While in Beirut, Sam has a chance encounter with an internationally famous artist who has a unique proposition for him - to let him turn Sam's back into his newest art piece in exchange for passage to Belgium.I'm going to be honest with you, this film isn't perfect - the dialogue is regularly clunky, the acting from some of the supporting cast isn't great, the plot feels both too convoluted and too simplistic at the same time, and the themes feel heavy handed and not necessarily handled with the nuance and complexity they deserve. However, I still think it's worth watching. The love story between Sam and Abeer (and the chemistry between the actors) really drives this movie forward, and the film itself is a compelling work of art. Of the 5 films on the list, this is the one delivering the most unique look. There are so many standout scenes and interesting uses of colour, shapes, and framing - it's truly a visual feast and is worth the watch for that alone. The film also has historical significance - it's the first Tunisian film nominated for an Oscar.Strange, surreal, unsettling, mesmerizing. If you've exhaustedepisodes and are still waiting for the new season of, this film should be on your list.AtticaUnited StatesTraci Curry and Stanley NelsonBest Documentary FeatureThe documentary delves into the Attica prison uprising in 1971 through video footage, audio recordings, and first hand stories of the prisoners, journalists, and others who were there.It's a comprehensive and incredibly well-constructed documentary that transports viewers back to the moment and helps people understand the full scope and complexity of what happened at Attica. The politics, race relations, and prison system itself are all explored with detail and give context to the simmering tensions and background of the uprising. It is as engaging as it is horrifying and an absolute masterclass in historical storytelling.Emotional, tense, educational, depressing, and powerful. It's one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.SOURCES: 2017 In 2021, global renewable energy jobs reached 12.7 million in a trend thats set to continue. Despite fears of a severe decrease in fossil fuel jobs worldwide, as we transition to renewable energy, the good news is that opportunities in green energy increasing rapidly. The number of jobs in renewable energy grew by around 700,000 globally between 2020 and 2021, according to the Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2022 by IRENA and the ILO. Solar power currently provides the highest number of renewable energy jobs, at 4.3 million, around a third of the total jobs. The majority of green energy jobs come from China, around 42 percent, while the EU and Brazil both hold 10 percent of the worlds renewable energy jobs, and the USA and India each hold 7 percent. IRENAs Director-General, Francesco La Camera, stated In the face of numerous challenges, renewable energy jobs remain resilient, and have been proven to be a reliable job creation engine. My advice to governments around the world is to pursue industrial policies that encourage the expansion of decent renewables jobs at home. Spurring a domestic value chain will not only create business opportunities and new jobs for people and local communities. It also bolsters supply chain reliability and contributes to more energy security overall. The biggest proportion of renewable energy jobs, following solar, is hydropower with 2.4 million jobs, biofuels with 2.4 million, and wind power with 1.3 million. The number of jobs in renewables is expected to soar to 38.2 million by 2030, based on the current rate of growth and project pipeline. The number of jobs has already risen substantially from 7.3 million in 2012. Related: Gazprom Eyes Fast-Growing Chinese Market As Its Exports Plunge By 50% A significant proportion of renewable energy jobs were in construction, installation, and operations and maintenance (O&M). With more and more large-scale solar and wind farms emerging, as well as other green energy operations, the need for the building and maintenance of key infrastructure is clear. There were 257 GW of renewable electricity installed in 2021, meaning growth in cumulative capacity of 9 percent. And solar and wind power made up 88 percent of this expansion. The ILOs Director-General, Guy Ryder, highlighted a change in the types of opportunities becoming available in the energy sector, in the transition away from fossil fuel operations to green energy projects. He explained, beyond the numbers, there is a growing focus on the quality of jobs and the conditions of work in renewable energies, to ensure decent and productive employment. Further, The increasing share of female employment suggests that dedicated policies and training can significantly enhance the participation of women in renewable energy occupations, inclusion and ultimately, achieve a just transition for all, he stated. The growth in renewable energy jobs is helping to make up for the huge loss of oil and gas jobs worldwide. The number of job losses in the energy industry rose significantly during the Covid pandemic, as operations were forced to shut down due to lockdowns and other restrictions on work and movement. Further, several energy companies were forced into bankruptcy, meaning permanent job cuts. However, many oil and gas workers have extensive skills and experience in energy operations, which they are lending to renewable energy projects. Many countries are now offering re-training options for energy workers. For example, as part of the U.K.s transition plan, it is developing a people and skills plan for workers looking to transition to the renewable energy sector. Some companies, such as BP and Equinor, are footing the costs of retraining staff who want to make the switch. The U.K. is seeing its renewable energy jobs grow four times faster than the rest of its employment market. Recent reports suggest that 2.2 percent of all new U.K. jobs are classified as green. And according to PWC, the number of green jobs advertised increased threefold in 2021, at 336,000 roles. Although, these positions continue to be found primarily in the London job market, centred mainly around professional and scientific opportunities. And in the U.S., the United States Energy & Employment Report 2022 revealed that the number of green jobsincreased in every energy sector. Around 3 million of the 7.8 million energy jobs in the U.S. fell under areas aligned with the countrys climate goals. Renewable energy jobs in 2021 made up about 40% of total energy jobs. There were 23,577 new jobs in the hybrid electric vehicle sector, as well as 17,740 jobs added in the energy efficiency sector, which covers green technologies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Despite pessimism over the loss of fossil fuel jobs worldwide, the sharp rise in renewable energy jobs offers hope to workers in the sector looking to retrain, as well as for young graduates seeking innovative opportunities in the energy sector. As the market continues to grow, the number of global green energy jobs is set to rise substantially over the next few years and continue to increase for decades to come. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: It is widely understood that Germany, due to its dense population, is not suitable for fracking. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner is calling for a lifting of the ban on fracking. Amid Russias war on Ukraine and a European energy crisis, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner is calling for a lifting of the ban on fracking, citing the high prices the country is paying for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Fracking was banned in Germany in 2017. Speaking to Germanys Bild am Sonntag, Lindner said Germany should lift the fracking ban and then private investors can decide whether extraction is economical. Compared to gas from other regions of the world, I expect competitive advantages. Lindner said. In his call to allow fracking, Lindner is breaking ranks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats and Minister of Economy Robert Habeck of the Greensboth of whom are coalition partners. Germany has rejected fracking not only over environmental concerns. Last month, Scholz noted that fracking would be a costly and wasteful undertaking that would take too long to begin production. By the time production could be feasible, Scholz noted, demand for natural gas will have declined. The German Chancellor noted there was zero support for exploiting natural gas reserves through fracking in the country. If you get close to it, it vanishes into thin air, German media quoted him as saying in December. It is widely understood that Germany, due to its dense population, is not suitable for fracking, while the technological complexities would render it irrelevant to the current energy crisis. Instead, Germany has been building out LNG infrastructure at breakneck speed to increase its capacity to take in fracked American natural gas. By the end of 2022, Germany had succeeded in cutting its reliance on Russian gas to 20% from 55% the previous year, based on Bloomberg data. The countrys first new floating LNG import terminal opened in mid-December on its North Sea coast, with other terminals planned. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The UK arm of Extinction Rebellion will temporarily halt its tactics of disrupting public life and transportation with roadblocks and other high-profile protests, the environmental group said on New Years Day. In a statement titled We Quit, Extinction Rebellion said that its New Years Resolution is to halt our tactics of public disruption. Instead, we call on everyone to help us disrupt our corrupt government. Extinction Rebellion and another environmental group, Just Stop Oil, have staged very public protests in recent years, including blockading key ringroads in London and heavily disrupting traffic, much to the resentment of many people who were late to work. In 2021, Extinction Rebellions Money Rebellion group daubed the building of the Bank of England with fake oil, saying the stunt was designed to expose the role of banks in the climate and ecological crisis. In 2022, the campaign group also threw fake oil over the Barclays building in Northampton to protest against the banks continued funding of fossil fuels and targeted the HSBC headquarters, too. In November 2022, Extinction Rebellion and other aligned groups took nonviolent action at thirteen sites across central London, targeting the offices of companies and organizations which have links to the fossil fuel industry. The groups sent a universal message that its time to cut the ties with fossil fuels, Extinction Rebellion said at the time. Now the new campaign tactics of the UK unit of Extinction Rebellion will aim to garner more public support for their efforts to draw attention to the consequences of climate change, the group said. As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic, Extinction Rebellion said in a statement. This year, we prioritise attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks, as we stand together and become impossible to ignore. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Germany halted imports of Russian oil via pipeline on January 1, following through on a previous pledge to stop buying Russian pipeline crude despite the fact that the EU embargo exempts pipeline flows from Russia to Europe. The EU embargo on imports of Russian crude oil by sea came into effect on December 5, but pipeline oil flows to landlocked EU member states are exempt from the ban. Nevertheless, Germany and Poland have said they will halt imports of Russian crude via the Druzhba pipeline as of January 1. The halting of pipeline imports will affect the refineries in Schwedt, in the state of Brandenburg, and in Leuna, and Saxony-Anhalt, which supply eastern Germany with fuel, according to the German press agency DPA. Germanys government has said that alternative supply to those refineries has been procured, DPA reports. The German government put the local business of Russias oil giant Rosneft under trusteeship in September, handing control over the Schwedt refinery to the countrys energy market regulator. Schwedt is the fourth-largest refinery in Germany, it was 54 percent owned by the Russian state oil giant, and it received its crude from the Druzhba pipeline. The refinery supplies 90% of the fuel in Berlin. Last month, Germany and Poland reached an agreement that would see Poland supply enough crude to the Schwedt refinery to run at a capacity of 70% from January, meaning it will no longer need Russian crude. Russia, for its part, claims that it had received orders for crude oil purchases from both Germany and Poland, despite the pledge of the two countries not to buy Russian crude via the Druzhba pipeline. Russias pipeline operator Transneft has received orders for crude oil purchases from Germany and Poland, Transnefts CEO Nikolay Tokarev told Russian media last month. ADVERTISEMENT Europe will find it difficult to replace Russian crude oil and product supply once the full effect of the EU embargoes on Russian petroleum products is felt, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the United States for committing an "organized terrorist act" in the assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. In a statement issued on the eve of the third anniversary of the assassination, the ministry said the U.S. government planned and carried out the "terrorist attack on one of our highest-ranking officials on the soil of a third country while he was on official assignment Iraq." On January 3, 2020, the U.S. military, on the order of then-President Donald Trump, killed Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, citing that he had been "actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region." In Monday's statement, Tehran said the U.S. conducted the killing of the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps with "false claims and pretexts, including under the guise of counter-terrorism" and in "naked violation of the tenets and principles of international law." The U.S. government bears "definite international responsibility" for this crime, said Iran, adding that the country has taken measures to bring those accountable to justice. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that nearly 60 U.S. officials have been blacklisted by Tehran for their involvement in the assassination, adding that Iran is investigating the case. In a televised interview, Amir-Abdollahian said although Tehran has taken necessary measures, the Americans and Westerners are throwing a wrench in Iran's efforts to pursue the case legally. The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday also said Tehran will continue to work for regional peace and stability. As multiple regions in China are hit with surging COVID-19 infections, local hospitals are going all out to offer timely treatment, particularly for severe cases. Many hospitals are actively allocating resources and adding beds while medical workers are working around the clock to treat severe cases and save lives. In Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University has added intensive care beds and ventilators to cope with a surge in COVID-19 patients, even while struggling with staff shortages over infections. "Many doctors continued working and caring for patients while they themselves were ill, and we are going all out to rescue every severe patient," said Yu Kaijiang, president of the hospital. The hospital has set up a medical experts team to prevent severe cases from worsening into critically ill. It has already received over 140 critically ill COVID-19 patients over recent days. In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, the ICU section of Shanxi Bethune Hospital has been running at full capacity. The hospital has increased the number of ICU beds from 30 to 54. "We are not fighting alone. With the support of the whole hospital, we would surely get through the difficult times," said Wu Wenjing, head nurse of the hospital's ICU department. As the number of severe COVID-19 patients rose, hospitals in Beijing have also done their best to increase beds, better allocate medical resources, and have even carried out training on rescuing severe patients to ensure that every severe patient could receive timely treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients at risk of developing severe conditions are important, said Du Bin, vice president of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The intensive care resources should be used on those who badly need them so as to better protect the health and lives of the people, Du said. After China actively adapted to changes and fine-tuned its COVID-19 response, the focus of the country's response shifted from infection prevention to medical treatment. "The current focus of the response has shifted from infection prevention to medical treatment," said Liang Wannian, head of the COVID-19 response expert panel under the National Health Commission, adding that the utmost efforts will be made to prevent severe cases and fatalities. Jiao Yahui, an official with the National Health Commission, said many provinces experiencing surges in severe patients are further expanding designated hospitals and adding intensive care resources at second-grade and third-grade hospitals to try to meet the demand for more severe patients. In Beijing, local health authorities have also opened fever clinics at makeshift hospitals, stadiums, and exhibition centers to offer medications for COVID-19 patients amid efforts to alleviate pressure on medical institutions. In Yanshou County in Harbin, local authorities have beefed up health monitoring over high-risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. The risk of severe illness can be detected timely, and severe patients can be then rushed to third-grade hospitals for better treatment, said Sun Wanxin, deputy president of the Yanshou County People's Hospital. On Monday, the UK government opened a Nuclear Fuel Fund designed to encourage the use of UK-produced nuclear fuel as the country moves to fulfill its G7 commitment to diversify uranium and nuclear fuel production capacity away from Russia. The UK will allocate $90 million (75 million) in government funding in a bid to support the development of alternatives to Russian fuel supply and strengthen UK energy security, the UKs Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart said on Monday. The recent British Energy Security Strategy (BESS) has the ambition to deploy up to 24GWe of nuclear power by 2050, around 25% of the UKs projected electricity demand then. UK operators and the supply chain will be encouraged to develop new conversion capacity in the UK for both freshly mined and reprocessed uranium, as part of the Nuclear Fuel Fund grants. These will help power existing as well as future advanced nuclear reactors - and support international diversification from Russian fuel supply, the UK government said. Record high global gas prices, caused by Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, have highlighted the need for more home-grown renewable energy, but also UK generated nuclear power building more plants, and developing domestic fuel capability, Minister Stuart said. This investment package will strengthen the UKs energy security, by ensuring access to a safe and secure supply of UK produced fuel to power the UK nuclear fleet of today and tomorrow - squeezing out Russian influence, while creating more UK jobs and export opportunities. Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, Tom Greatrex, said, Having the sovereign capability to manufacture next generation nuclear fuels for advanced reactors of the future is vital for energy security and net zero. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many Western governments and customers have been looking to procure alternative nuclear fuel supply, where possible, so as not to rely on Russia and a Russian state corporation, Rosatom, for part of their energy needs. In the United States, Bill Gates TerraPower, which is developing advanced smaller nuclear reactors, is said to have delayed a project in Wyoming by at least two years due to reliance on Russian fuel. Earlier this year, TerraPower and other industry players recognized the urgent need to eliminate reliance on the Russian state corporation for nuclear fuel for Americas next-generation nuclear reactors. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The United Kingdom has officially announced that it has stopped importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the British Foreign Office calling the move a direct result of gas revenues financing Russias ongoing war on Ukraine. Today the UK has ended all imports of Russian Liquefied Natural Gas. Were cutting Putin off from funding his illegal war and supporting countries around the world to reduce their own dependency, the Foreign Office said in a tweet. The U.S. has become the leading supplier of LNG to the UK and other European nations. Europe has been working hard to wean itself off Russian energy commodities ever since the latter invaded Ukraine. The European Union has banned Russian coal and plans to block most Russian oil imports by the end of 2022 in a bid to deprive Moscow of an important source of revenue to wage its war in Ukraine. But ditching Russian gas has proven to be more onerous than Europe would have hoped for. Whereas supplies of Russian pipeline gas--the bulk of Europes gas imports before the Ukraine war--are down to a trickle, Europe has been hungrily scooping up Russian LNG. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the blocs imports of Russian liquefied natural gas jumped by 41% Y/Y in the year through August. Russian LNG has been the dark horse of the sanctions regime, Maria Shagina, research fellow at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, has told WSJ. Importers of Russian LNG to Europe have argued that the shipments are not covered by current EU sanctions and that buying LNG from Russia and other suppliers has helped keep European energy prices in check. Natural gas prices in Europe have plunged over the past few months with CNBC reporting that a Wave of LNG tankers is overwhelming Europe in an energy crisis and hitting natural gas prices. According to MarineTraffic via CNBC, 60 LNG tankers, or ~10% of the LNG vessels in the world, are currently sailing or anchored around Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Iberian Peninsula. Such vessels are considered floating LNG storage since they cannot unload, something that is impacting the price of natural gas and freight rates. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nebraska, within a few years, will be home to a new overnight camp for those with disabilities, one that organizers anticipate will draw from across the region. Easterseals Nebraska, which operates the states only such camp and has been doing so on leased facilities, has purchased 65 acres on the former Dana College campus in Blair. Fundraising is underway, and the organization hopes to open Camp Easterseals Nebraska within a few years, said Carole Patrick, chief philanthropy officer of Easterseals Nebraska and the Visiting Nurse Association. Patrick said Easterseals has been providing overnight camps for about 50 years and, for about the last 20, has been leasing facilities at other camps. This will give the organization a chance to build from the ground up, she said. We wanted something that could truly be barrier-free, she said. It will be a wonderful place to get away. The camp, which has historically had a waiting list and primarily served Nebraskans, will be able to accommodate more campers and will be a regional draw, she said. Examples of how this camp will be designed for those with disabilities include: Sidewalks will be 8 feet wide, which will allow two people in wheelchairs to go side by side and visit with each other. Cabins will be built with extra space to accommodate wheelchairs and other medical equipment needed for the safety of campers. The land was purchased from Angel Shares Inc., the nonprofit that owns the campus and is developing part of the property into a facility that helps adults become successful after aging out of foster care. The camp will include cabins, a swimming pool, a ropes course, a lake with boats, and archery and horse riding facilities. Preliminary plans have been approved by the City of Blair. As has been the case in the past, it is open to people of all ages and any manner of disability, Patrick said. Past campers have ranged in age from 5 to 82. Ed Shada, founder of Angel Shares Inc., said the Easterseals project will complement the work of Angel Shares. With the camp as a neighbor, participants in Angel Shares will have yet another opportunity for employment and volunteerism, he said. The area that has been sold is the western portion of the campus, adjacent to Black Elk-Neihardt Park. It includes Rasmussen Hall and Holling Hall. The 151-acre campus was donated to Angel Shares by Omaha developer Frank Krejci. Angel Shares sold these 65 acres to Easterseals for $431,154, according to the Washington County register of deeds. Shada said the sale price was set below market value to facilitate construction of the camp. Additionally, the proceeds will help Angel Shares renovate the cafeteria and gymnasium. The Angel Shares project, known as Transformation Hill, also is redeveloping two former dormitories, Mickelsen and Blair Halls, into 61 affordable apartments. Angel Shares previously sold 24 acres to the city and developers for workforce housing. Shada said Angel Shares intends to retain ownership of the remaining core of the campus. It only takes a glance at the latest USDA report to see that the large majority of farms in the U.S. are still family farms, said Noah Miller, a USDA ag economist during the release of new USDA data last month. Americas Farm and Ranchers at a Glance 2022 Edition showed family farms still made up 98% of the 2 million farms in the U.S in 2021. While small family farms account for the majority of farms and acres operated, they are not the leaders in production, according to The USDAs Economic Research Service (ERS) 2022 report. In all, 89% of family farms are considered small farms which the report defines as less than $350,000 gross annual income. Small family farms account for 18% of total production. The smallest percentage of family- owned farms are large scale earning more than $5 million gross sales annually. They were responsible for almost half (46%) of ag production in 2021, Miller said. He co-authored the report with fellow USDA farm economists, Christine Whitt and Ryan Olver in USDAs in the Resource and Rural Economics Division. The charts he provided show that only 6% of family farms in 2021 were are mid-sized farms (between $150,000 and $349,000 in gross annual income) and they accounted for 18% of the production as do the more numerous small farms. While non-family farms only make up 2% of farms, they made up the remainder at 17 % of ag production in 2021. Although the percentage of non-family farms remained the same from 2020 to 2021, the farms value of production increased from 13%in 2020 to 17% of production in 2021, he said. Small family farms showed high production values in poultry and eggs and hay, producing the majority (53%) of hay in 2021. Large scale farms showed the highest production in cotton, dairy and cash grains/ soybeans, 73%, 69% and 51% respectively. Keith Good, policy news editor of the University of Illinois farmdoc.DAILY, took a closer look at the profitability information in the USDA report. In the Dec. 15 edition of the report, Good pointed out that large family farms were most likely to have OPMs (Operating Profit Margin) in the low-risk zone and the least likely to be in the high-risk zone in 2021. These farms are more likely to have positive on-farm income, the USDA report said. While smaller family farms dont have as positive of a current assets to debt ratio as larger farms, Miller said, off-farm income was not reflected in this calculation and many small family farms have off-farm incomes which may help with costs. In the last couple of years, pandemic payments have been significant in farm income. According to the report, almost 20 % of all U.S. farms received some sort of pandemic assistance. Overall, 34% of all farms reported receiving some type of government payment in 2021, which is a decline from 40% in 2020, Good quoted in his analysis of the report. Most of the pandemic assistance to agriculture was from the Small Business Administration. Fewer farmers used pandemic assistance in 2021 than in 2020, Miller said. However, Miller noted that the Conservation Reserve Program goes to different farms that other government payments. Two-thirds of conservation payments went primarily to large farms, he said. In a new question, Miller noted that 88% of all farm households are covered by health insurance and 96% percent of large farms. Some small farms have off-farm coverage from other employers, he said. Abortion After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling in June, abortion access became a state issue. Laws in place in 13 states, most of them controlled by Republicans, ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with varying exceptions. Meanwhile, more liberal states have been extending abortion protections. Laws taking effect in January are not wholesale policy changes but are intended to make abortion more accessible in California and New York. Abortion already is legal in those states through viability, which is about 24 weeks gestational age. California will allow trained nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants to provide abortions without supervision from a physician. In New York, a law dealing with multiple facets of health care requires private insurers that cover births to also cover abortion services, without requiring co-payments or co-insurance. A new Tennessee law, adopted in May, will bar dispensing abortion pills by mail or at pharmacies, instead requiring them to be given with a physician present. But advocates on both sides of the issue believe the effect will be minimal because a ban on abortions throughout pregnancy went into effect after the Supreme Court's ruling. Update: Austin T. Daugherty pleaded guilty to one count of burglary in March 2023. The remaining charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to eight years in the Department of Corrections and one year of mandatory supervised release with credit for 60 days served. BLOOMINGTON A man has been arrested for burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle after a rental car agency called police. Austin T. Daugherty, 29, no address given, was arrested by Bloomington police at 4 p.m. Saturday outside a residence on Wood Street, according to arrest records. He was charged with one count of burglary, a Class 2 felony; one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony; and possession of methamphetamine less than 5 grams, a Class 3 felony. Daugherty admitted to officers that he had gone to a rental car company near Central Illinois Regional Airport the night before and had stolen three key fobs and one car, which were found in his possession. He also admitted to possession of methamphetamine, which was found inside the stolen vehicle. Daugherty's next court date is Jan. 27. He is being held in lieu of posting $1,535. Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson BLOOMINGTON A lizard species in Peru now carries the name of a Bloomington-Normal university mascot. The paper describing Proctoporus titans was published in the journal Taxonomy on Dec. 31. The lead author was Edgar Lehr, IWUs Robert Harrington Endowed Professor of Biology. He and Peruvian biologists Juan C. Cusi, Maura Fernandez and Ricardo Vera visited Otishi National Park in May 2022, where they found what they believed was a new species. Alessandro Catenazzi also contributed to the article. The team is glad to have it published, Lehr said. It was a nice gift to end the year, he said. The trip started a seven-month process of describing and publishing. Lehr had hinted the lizard would be named after IWU in some way but, as per common practice, did not publicly release the name until the paper was published. The species epithet titans is used in reference to the Titan community of Illinois Wesleyan University, including former, current, and future students, faculty, and staff. We dedicate this species in recognition of the Titans mission, 'To go out and do well, but more importantly, to do good,' the biologists wrote on the etymology of the name. There were three days of stress after he was contacted by another biologist working on describing a lizard species from the park. Luckily, they turned out to be separate. When you work in science, there can always be competition, Lehr said. The species is among roughly 20 described so far in the genus. The genus is a tricky one, Lehr said. He had some familiarity with it from when he was doing his doctoral research. Many researchers leave the specimen descriptions for it at the genus level, due to the difficulty of differentiating species. Its fun to do when something is challenging, as a systematist, he said. The teams research also suggested that some specimens from the Natural History Museum of the Natioan University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru, could also be from the species, though it would take further testing to be sure, Lehr said. Describing new species is not new for Lehr, who has described more than 100 of them. This is the first time, however, that he has named one after IWU, where he has worked since 2009. The paper also gives names to a waterfall, mountain ridge and swamp. Naming geographic features was another first for Lehr, and the process for doing so is less regulated than for species, he said. The waterfall was named Kitamarapo Waterfall, meaning white hand in Ashaninka, and ridge they named Shirampari Matsiri, which is Ashaninka meaning sleeping man because it resembles a face. We were staring at it, because it was so beautiful, every day, Lehr said of the ridge. The swamp was near where they waited for their flight out, after cutting their trip short due to confrontations with alleged drug cartel members, so they named it Plantano la Esperanza, or Hope swamp in Spanish. Another new species is also expected to be forthcoming from the expedition, a snake which is a potential predator of the lizard, the paper said. The team is now working on a paper describing it, Lehr said. Photos: Christmas tree recycling NORMAL Approximately the last 200 soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard's 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, based in Normal, arrived home in time to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with friends and family, following a successful deployment to Djibouti in Africa. The 404th MEB deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa in early 2022. During the deployment, they trained and operated with their Djiboutian partners as well as several other allies with forces in the Horn of Africa region. Djibouti is a strategically important environment, a news release explained. It is close to the one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, which has made it a place of interest for nations that rely on goods being shipped via water. There are few places in the world where different military installations from many different countries are clustered in close proximity. The Illinois National Guard soldiers worked with military forces from the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, Kenya, and South Korea as well as Djibouti. The unit monitored and oversaw day-to-day operations and provided situational updates throughout East Africa. It supported operations in Kenya by preparing and conducting training for security forces, including explosive ordnance disposal training. The unit's liaison officers strengthened the relationships with host nations and foreign partners. Illinois National Guard soldiers worked directly with multiple Djiboutian military organizations to stand up 10 language computer labs, implement six English discussion groups at Djiboutian military bases, and coordinate dozens of key leader engagements with senior Djiboutian officials. The 404th MEB also planned, coordinated and executed the East Africa Security Forum, which showcased CJTF-HOA capabilities to ambassadors and defense attaches from 13 East African countries. The unit coordinated multiple aviation training exercises with French forces, including air-to-air refueling and joint missions over coastal waters. They coordinated U.S. to French training engagements in explosive ordnance disposal, aviation, pararescue, medical, logistics, military working dog teams and more. Liaison soldiers in Kenya and Ethiopia worked at the U.S. Embassies there and became an important link between the Department of State and CJTF-HOA, arranging for important meetings and providing logistical support. They also had a liaison officer in Germany, expediting the flow between CJTF-HOA and its higher headquarters, AFRICOM. The unit provided force protection to multiple locations across East Africa for more than 5,000 service members and Department of Defense personnel as well as over a billion dollars in mission critical assets. The soldiers conducted threat vulnerability assessments to identify risk to U.S. and Allied force and provided mitigation strategies and equipment. The soldiers coordinated with other Army personnel as well as the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy to ensure force protection equipment was moved, installed and maintained, and that proper training on the equipment was conducted. A team of soldiers conducted multiple demonstrations of counter unmanned aerial aircraft capabilities to foreign partners and dignitaries. These demonstrations consisted of drone detections and engagements. The team routinely met with foreign partners to discuss airspace and developments in unmanned aircraft systems around the world. A team of Illinois National Guard communications experts successfully integrated multiple expeditionary tactical communication terminals to support operations for the CJTF-HOA and the East African Response Force. This ensured reliable voice and data communications. The team also reestablished an important digital connection for strategic operations in Africa. The communications team conducted more than 60 missions across four countries on the African continent, ensuring reliable military communications for U.S. forces. They assisted in personnel recovery communications and with establishing persistent communication channels with U.S. personnel in Somalia. The team provided communication channels for security at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti and forward operating locations in East Africa. The 404th MEB soldiers worked with the Djiboutian government and the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti to enhance an American Corner, a community building that allows Djiboutian citizens to learn about American culture, resume writing, the English language and how to operate computers and 3D printers. The unit also completed the first-ever all digital personnel accountability exercise in East Africa. It processed more than 2,000 individual awards, managed evaluations for more than 300 task force service members, updated more than 30 policies and instruction documents, maintained accountability for more than 1,700 service members and worked with other services and the higher adjacent headquarters to ensure the Task Force has the right positions and people to accomplish its missions. The soldiers participated in multiple military exercises while deployed, including African Lion 23, an all-domain, multi-national exercise on preparing forces for large-scale combat operations. The 404th MEB also has medical experts, including a behavioral health team. The team strengthened and cared for the mental health and resilience of 5,000 service members and Department of Defense personnel while deployed. The Illinois National Guard behavioral health team and a Japanese military behavioral health team shared best practices and techniques. The team also facilitated strategic partnerships with the French Medical Command. The medical team also assisted a U.S. Air Force civil affairs team and the Djiboutian Ministry of Agriculture with administering vitamins, deworming medications and anti-pesticide treatments to over 2,000 goats, hundreds of sheep, and dozens of camels. This helped support relations with the Djiboutian population and increased health of the animals that are a main source of food and income. The Illinois National Guard soldiers also enhanced the Warfighter Recovery Network, improving the joint trauma care network, integrating trauma assets, facilitating options for evacuation with en route resuscitative care and validating health service support plans through site assessments. The soldiers also operated the CJTF-HOA protocol team, which planned and executed more than 180 distinguished visitor engagements, ranging from hour-long office calls to multi-day extended stays on Camp Lemmonier. The team was tasked with coordinating the involvement of CJTF-HOA leadership and ensuring each visit and ceremony was conducted properly according to U.S. military and government protocols as well as foreign protocols. Best cities for military retirees Best cities for military retirees Highlights from the top 10 cities for military retirees Data and methodology The emergence of immigration policy as a constant source of seeming contradiction under President Joe Biden was a development few expected. Improbably, this was underscored this week by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch a conservative appointed by Donald Trump. At Chief Justice John Roberts' behest, the high court on short notice took up a request to block a lower court's ruling terminating a March 2020 order by the Trump-run Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The directive said an obscure public health law known as Title 42 allowed U.S. border agents to immediately turn away migrants who have crossed the southern border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in November that since public health circumstances were now much different, continued use of the rule was "arbitrary and capricious." Biden once would have seemed likely to agree. As a candidate, he ripped Title 42 as another Trump tactic to demonize immigrants. But since becoming president, Biden has warmed to Title 42 as a blunt tool to limit the huge surge of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. since he took office and dropped other Trump-era rules. Gorsuch acknowledged the concerns of Republican governors over this surge, but noted that "the current border crisis is not a COVID crisis. And courts should not be in the business of perpetuating administrative edicts designed for one emergency only because elected officials have failed to address a different emergency. We are a court of law, not policymakers of last resort." The five other high court conservatives did not agree, meaning that until fuller court proceedings next year, Biden gets to keep using Title 42 but to control immigration, not on public health grounds. Biden will always be preferable to Trump on this issue because he appreciates how hugely important immigrants are to America. But he should be handling Title 42 much better than Trump ever did. The San Diego Union-Tribune Workers have been urged to use the myriad of economic challenges that engulfed the country in the year that has gone by as a stepping stone to economic viability. We cannot discount or gloss over the economic challenges; nonetheless, we should not let that discourage us, but rather we should use it as a stepping stone to make a strong come back to face and overcome those challenges and make this year economically viable in our individual, corporate, social, and national lives, the workers were told. General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Morgan Ayawine, gave the advice when he addressed members of the union in his New Years message. He said it is only through hard work that, we can be seen as having fought the good fight as gallant workers and succeeded in rebuilding our national economy for the benefit of all. Mr. Ayawine said hard work breaks no bone hence workers should continue to work harder for the achievement of organizational and national goals for the full recovery of the national economy. My colleagues in labour and cherished members of the great and famous Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Ghana, I welcome you all to 2023 and wish you all the best for this year, he said. He said the year 2023 has the prospect of being successful adding that as workers and nation builders, they must play their roles with zeal and dedication to make it succeed. Having rested a bit from the hard work that characterized our labour last year, let us resume work, this year, with renewed vigour that would enable us to help our employers achieve their organizational goals in line with ICUs longstanding maxim, The Employers Vision, Our Unions Concern. He stressed the need for stronger co-existence between workers and employers to achieve their common vision and more importantly, all aspects of nation-building. In the same vein, we call on the government, the single largest employer, and other employers to ensure equitable distribution of the cake for a reciprocal gesture of workers and an increase in productivity. He asked the government to sustain the measures put in place to ensure the stabilization of the Cedi against its major trading currencies to aid doing business in the country and to reduce prices of goods and services to ameliorate the economic hardship imposed on Ghanaians. Similarly, steps should be taken to ensure a sustainable fuel price reduction to reflect in the cost of transport fares in the country, he added. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for Ghana to make a systematic and conscious effort towards self-sufficiency. According to him, developing Ghanas self-sufficiency and its food security was one major challenge. However, he bemoaned the fact that a lot of money was spent on importing, especially foodstuffs, into the country. We spend a lot of our money importing foodstuffs into Ghana, and it has been going on for too long. And I think now is the time that we are going to have to make this systematic effort to be self-sufficient and depend on ourselves for things that we eat, he said. President Akufo-Addo made the statement when he received a delegation of investors from Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, on Friday, December 30, 2022, at the Jubilee House, the seat of government. The delegation, who comprised some twenty (20) investors, were in Ghana to cement a Ghana-Thailand Rice Project being spearheaded by the JGC, and to also explore other possibilities of investing in Ghanas agriculture sector. The President expressed excitement at the partnership and collaboration between Ghana and Thailand in the rice sector. Countries like yours [Thailand] and others have done it. And if you have done it, others can also follow and emulate your example. And I am excited by the idea of getting into bed with people who are known to have succeeded, he expressed. In learning from Thailand, President Akufo-Addo was upbeat that Ghana will be moving towards a system of agricultural inputs that will reduce its dependence on agricultural chemicals imported from countries such as Russia and Ukraine. and now we are going to be dealing with organic fertilisers, which is better for our soil, better for our pockets and generally as environmentally friendly and conducive than what we have been using up till today, he noted. And if we are able to develop that here in Ghana, it will mean that we would not have to worry ourselves importing inorganic fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia so too much and be dependent on others, he said. He, therefore, tasked the Thai investors to endeavour to have some concrete understandings and arrangements with the various stakeholders in Ghanas rice sector and agriculture industry in general. He explained that this would bring forth a roadmap on how the two countries will grow and develop this relationship. But it is something that will be extremely beneficial to our country. We want to be able to work very closely with you to achieve our common goals. You have your new market to develop, and we also have our development that makes sense for our future. So lets hold hands and do something profitable for you and for us, President Akufo-Addo stressed. Earlier, the delegation paid courtesy visits to the Ministers of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, and; Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen. All the four ministers assured the investors from Thailand of governments support to ensure that the Ghana-Thailand rice project becomes successful. Early in 2022, the JGC commenced its integrated rice farming project. And in showing the seriousness JGC attached to the project, a team led by Dr. Siaw Agyepong visited Thailand to understudy the Thai rice sector in order to replicate their experiences and strategy in Ghana. The object of JGC was to partner with major rice industry players in Thailand to provide technical and equipment support for the entire rice value chain in Ghana with the aim of boosting rice production in Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Democratic Congress Member for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that the many divinations revealed about the year 2023 by some pastors and prophets fail to meet the threshold of an actual prophecy. As has become a norm in Ghana, several men of God on New Years Eve and New Years Day issued several prophecies forecasting events of 2023. The prophecies including some impending deaths covered predictions of events on Ghanas socioeconomic and geopolitical space and in extension other parts of the world. But in a Facebook post addressed to members of his party, Sam George despite emphasising the importance he places on prophecies said the many that were issued pertaining to events of 2023 are issues that are already known to a discerning mind. Dear NDC, Welcome to 2023. I would go straight to the point. This year is critical to our survival as a Party and #Project2024. As a student of scripture, I place premium on prophecy as GOD's express guidance to humanity. Let's be clear though, prophecy brings fresh revelation, illuminates unknown paths and does not create confusion. None of the several prophesies from the last 2 days does any of the above. All the so called prophesies are well established and known facts to discerning political minds. Nothing revealing or illuminating on the unknown, he wrote. Some prophets have tipped former President John Dramani Mahama who is deemed the presumed flagbearer of the NDC as the winner of the 2024 elections. But according to Sam George, John Mahamas victory is one that is more hinged on the efforts of the party and not such prophecies. Our focus must be on reviving our Branches and empowering them to mobilise and protect the ballot. No prophecy would win us 2024, only hardwork, mobilisation, a crisp political message, concise communication, protecting the ballots cast at the polling station and effective and timeous result collation would win us 2024. We shall pray and seek the face of GOD for our presumptive Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama but that would only be effective if we do the things listed above. Ghanaians would not forgive us if we fail them again, the MP said. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Mostafa Waziri, top official at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, takes a look with a magnifier at an ancient wooden sarcophagus during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Mohamed Salah An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. The repatriation is part of Egyptian government efforts to stop the trafficking of its stolen antiquities. In 2021, authorities in Cairo succeeded in getting 5,300 stolen artifacts returned to Egypt from across the world. Mostafa Waziri, the top official at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the sarcophagus dates back to the Late Dynastic Period of ancient Egypt, an era that spanned the last of the Pharaonic rulers from 664 B.C. until Alexander the Great's campaign in 332 B.C. The sarcophagus, almost 3 meters (9.5 feet) tall with a brightly painted top surface, may have belonged to an ancient priest named Ankhenmaat, though some of the inscription on it has been erased, Waziri said. It was symbolically handed over at a ceremony Monday in Cairo by Daniel Rubinstein, the U.S. charge d'affaires in Egypt. The handover came more than three months after the Manhattan District Attorney's Office determined the sarcophagus was looted from Abu Sir Necropolis, north of Cairo. It was smuggled through Germany into the United States in 2008, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, center right, and Mostafa Waziri, top official at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, talk in front of an ancient wooden sarcophagus during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Mohamed Salah Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, center, standing in front of an ancient wooden sarcophagus, speaks during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa, second right, listens. Credit: AP Photo/Mohamed Salah An ancient wooden sarcophagus is displayed during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Mohamed Salah An ancient wooden sarcophagus is displayed during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. An ancient wooden sarcophagus that was featured at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago, Egyptian officials said Monday. Credit: AP Photo/Mohamed Salah "This stunning coffin was trafficked by a well-organized network that has looted countless antiquities from the region," Bragg said at the time. "We are pleased that this object will be returned to Egypt, where it rightfully belongs." Bragg said the same network had smuggled a gilded coffin out of Egypt that was featured at New York's Metropolitan Museum. Met bought the piece from a Paris art dealer in 2017 for about $4 million. It was returned to Egypt in 2019. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. WARRENSBURG On New Year's Eve, a man was arrested for crashing his car while intoxicated, police said. On Saturday at 11:25 p.m., the Warren County Sheriffs Office responded to Library Avenue in Warrensburg for a property damage motor vehicle crash. At the scene, police discovered a 2019 Jeep that left the shoulder of the roadway and struck a utility pole support cable. The driver, William J. Parker, 48, of Warrensburg, was arrested for driving while intoxicated after agreeing to a breathalyzer test, police said. Police said Parker had a 0.22 of 1% blood alcohol content. The threshold for DWI in New York state is 0.08%. He was processed for aggravated DWI (BAC over 0.18%) and released with an appearance ticket for Warrensburg Town Court. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP Two people were inside a township home Monday when a fire suspected of having started in the kitchen broke out. No injuries were reported. Sometime from 8:30 to 9 a.m., firefighters were called to the 100 block of Jefferson Avenue for a reported house fire. The first crews arrived at the home, which is a few hundred feet from where the road meets with Spruce Avenue, and saw smoke billowing from the front door, Cardiff Fire Chief Gil Zonge said. The call was the third reported to firefighters Monday, Zonge said. Firefighters entered the house through the front door, pushing the flames back while they continued their attack. The fire was extinguished within about 30 minutes, Zonge said. Two people who were inside when the flames erupted left the house and met an assistant chief outside when he arrived. The Red Cross was en route at about 9:49 a.m. to assist those displaced, Zonge said. The fires cause remains under investigation, but the two people inside when the fire started told firefighters they thought it may have started in the kitchen, Zonge said. While most of the flames were limited to the first floor, a second hose line was brought through the upstairs because firefighters thought the fire may have begun spreading to the roof, Zonge said. Firetrucks filled the snug residential street. Neighbors watched while firefighters went through the house at about 9:30 a.m., investigating the blaze and making sure every flame was out. Township police blocked off Spruce Street between West Jersey and Franklin avenues, as well as Jefferson Avenue at Beacon Hill Drive. Firefighters from Cardiff, Bargaintown, Scullville and Atlantic City International Airport and Northfield all responded, Zonge said. Catherine Furlin, about a week from her due date, wanted to take a photo with a "Happy New Year 2023" onesie Saturday night. Instead, the Bellevue mom dressed her newborn daughter Emilia Elizabeth Furlin in the new outfit for photographers and hospital staff Sunday morning. Emilia was the first baby born in 2023 in the Quad-Cities, a title Catherine Furlin said was "totally unexpected." Emilia arrived at 12:54 a.m. at Genesis BirthCenter in Davenport weighing 6.2 pounds and measuring 17.75 inches long. "I bought this little onesie that says 'Happy New Year 2023,' thinking that I would hold it up in front of my belly for a picture," Catherine Furlin said. "And now she's actually here to wear it." Emilia shares a birthday with her paternal grandmother, who herself was a "first baby" in a Minnesota locale. "She got to be in the newspaper and everything," Catherine Furlin said. "So that was kind of a neat coincidence." Furlin and her four kids prepped Saturday night for an at-home pajama party with sparkling grape juice to welcome the new year. But plans quickly changed when her water broke. Her sister, a former delivery nurse at Genesis, drove the hourlong commute to the hospital. "We figured, if it gets crazy, we have someone really qualified with us," Furlin said. "So that made me feel better on the way here." Her husband, Tony Furlin, works in the food and beverage industry. He'd been preparing food for a New Year's Eve party that evening when he got the unexpected call and rushed to the hospital. Catherine Furlin works professionally as a photographer and hired a birth photographer to document her three youngest children entering the world. This year, COVID-19 protocols limited the number of people who could be in the delivery room, so she asked her mother to do the job. "She's got my big heavy camera and I'm trying to set the settings and tell her, 'You push this button and then do this.' So, she got kind of a crash course in photography during the labor. So that was pretty funny. She did a good job," Catherine Furlin said. Emilia has four older siblings and is the second daughter. Catherine and Tony Furlin said Emilia's older sister is especially excited to have another girl in the family. "Alex has been waiting for a sister," Catherine Furlin said. "She finally has a sister. She's our little bookend." Three people have been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 42-year-old Clinton man early New Years Day. Clinton Police Chief Kevin Gyrion said in a news release that at 2:11 a.m. Sunday, Clinton police responded to a shooting at 420 Glenwood Place. Officers found a man, identified as Randy Ronald Weimerskirch, suffering from a gunshot wound. Weimerskirch was taken to MercyOne Clinton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Clinton Police and agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Kimberly Anne Hammond, also known in Clinton County District Court records as Kimberly Anne Kracht, 25, and Justice Kiara Foley, 24. Hammond and Foley are charged with one count each of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Under Iowa law, first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility for parole, while first-degree robbery carries a mandatory 25-year prison sentence, 50% to 70% of which, or 12 years to 17 years, must be served before parole or work release can be granted. Police also arrested Donivan Williams James Chambers, 28. Chambers is charged with one count of accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. Hammond and Foley were being held Monday night in the Clinton County Jail on cash-only bonds of $1 million. Chambers was released Sunday after posting 10% of a $2,000 bond through a bonding company. Foley, Hammond and Chambers all have criminal histories, according to district court electronic records. According to Clinton County District Court electronic records, Foley was released from the Clinton County Jail on Dec. 28 after being arrested on Dec. 19 for failing to abide by the terms of her probation on a July 8 conviction of operating while under the influence-second offense, and for charges of possession of a controlled substance-marijuana-first offense and possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine-first offense. She pleaded guilty to the drug charges and was sentenced to serve one year on unsupervised probation. During 2022, Foley also has been convicted of driving while her license is revoked, providing false identification to police, fifth-degree theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also, according to Clinton County District Court records, Chambers is serving a term of one year on unsupervised probation after pleading guilty Feb. 16 to operating while under the influence-first offense, and possession of a controlled substance-marijuana-second offense. Hammond pleaded guilty to a charge of fifth-degree theft in Johnson County District Court on May 16 and paid fines and court costs totaling $347.50. At 3 p.m. March 29, Hammond was caught pushing a shopping cart out of the Walmart in Coralville without paying for the items in the cart. According to court records, she implicated that her husband was her accomplice. How to Donate to Santa Fund If you wish to donate, you may mail a check payable to Lee Foundation Dispatch-Argus Santa Fund, 500 E. 3rd St., Davenport, Iowa, 52801. Or donate online at qconline.com/santafund. Last year we raised a record $58,193.00 and helped more than 2,060 adults and children. Our goal for this year is $55,000. Tyson Foods is sponsoring the program. This year we will distribute gift cards to assist the clients of 16 area organizations: Aldridge Early Learning Center, East Moline; The ARC of the Quad Cities, Rock Island; Bethany for Children and Families, Moline; Black Hawk College Foundation, Moline; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley, Moline; CASI (Illinois Senior Santa Program); EveryChild (formerly the Child Abuse Council), Moline; Childrens Therapy Center, Rock Island; Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Rock Island; Project Now, Rock Island; Rock Island County Senior Center, Rock Island; Safe Families for Children, Moline; Skip-a-Long Child Development, Milan; Skip-a-Long Child Development, Moline; Skip-a-Long Child Development, Rock Island; and YouthHope, Moline. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday exchanged congratulations with Antigua and Barbuda's Governor-General Rodney Williams on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Noting that Antigua and Barbuda is China's important cooperative partner in the Caribbean, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 40 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly with ever stronger political mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation and ever deeper friendship between the two peoples. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have come to each other's aid and navigated through the difficulties together, writing a new chapter in the friendly relations between the two countries, Xi said. Expressing that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations, Xi said he stands ready to work with Williams to take the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point to deepen cooperation in various fields, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and open up an even better future for China-Antigua and Barbuda relations. For his part, Williams said Antigua and Barbuda is very happy to join the Chinese side in celebrating the anniversary, which is an important milestone in bilateral relations. In recent years, under the leadership of Xi, the relationship between the two countries has grown closer, Williams said, adding that Antigua and Barbuda will continue to work to maintain and strengthen the existing sound relations between the two countries. Also on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang exchanged congratulations with Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Li said China is willing to make joint efforts with Antigua and Barbuda to take the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to promote the continuous and in-depth development of China-Antigua and Barbuda friendly cooperative relations to deliver more benefits to the people of the two countries. Browne said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have been maturing, noting that Antigua and Barbuda has always pursued the one-China policy. China has provided generous assistance for Antigua and Barbuda, and bilateral relations have scored many landmark achievements, Browne said, expressing his wish that China can achieve new successes in the post-COVID-19 era. The board that governs Scott County's myriad departments and hundred-million-dollar budget is getting new members this week. Two supervisors elected in November Republicans Ross Paustian and Jean Dickson will begin their roles on the board on Tuesday. They replace Democrats Ken Croken, who won a statehouse seat, and Brinson Kinzer, who lost his reelection bid. The board may be all-Republican this term, a rarity for the supervisors, which has seen bipartisan representation for decades. The GOP sweep depends on who is picked to fill a vacancy left by Tony Knobbe, who was elected county treasurer. His successor will be selected either by special election or by a three-member panel of the county treasurer, auditor and recorder, two of the three who are Republicans. The panel plans to meet at 2 p.m. Thursday to discuss filling the vacancy. Knobbe, as one of the panel members, said he would prefer to make an appointment as opposed to a special election, adding that he had a few names in mind and would like to hear from other panelists. Someone who could lend experience on technology, land rights or housing, Knobbe said, he believes could help round out the board. Knobbe said although he and Auditor Kerri Tompkins were both Republicans on the three-member panel, he wouldn't rule out appointing a Democrat. In Clinton County, supervisors fielded applications in December to fill a vacancy left by Tom Determann, who was elected to the statehouse. Supervisors interviewed eight of the applicants and plan to make an appointment Jan. 4, according to the Clinton Herald. Voters can also petition for a special election by collecting signatures from 10% of voters in the last general election. Republicans last controlled all Scott County board seats in 1994, when Republicans won big in federal and state races too. Despite the partisan makeup, Board Chairman Ken Beck said the county supervisors' work generally was nonpartisan. "Everyone looks out for what's best for the county." Beck said. "In the past, the board's decisions haven't tended to be partisan. Some members have tried to make it that way." New supervisors backed Beck's comments. Dickson served on the Pleasant Valley School Board and is an attorney representing employers in worker compensation cases. "I'm proud to be Republican. I ran as a Republican, but my prior leadership experience from school board is nonpartisan," Dickson said. "So that's what I'm used to." Paustian is a longtime Republican lawmaker and farmer from Walcott. He garnered the most votes in November's election in a six-candidate field with two incumbents. In separate interviews, Paustian and Dickson both highlighted transitioning MEDIC into a county department and the potential carbon pipeline as two important developments the county would need to address in the new year. Both topics saw consensus from Democrats and Republicans in past decisions. Wolf Carbon Solutions wants to route a carbon pipeline carrying liquid carbon dioxide waste from ADM plants in Cedar Rapids and Clinton to store it deep underground in central Illinois. The company is going through the permit-application process with the Iowa Utilities Board, arguing the pipeline will reduce carbon emissions as the country transitions away from fossil fuels. But rural residents and environmental advocates alike have expressed concerns about possible ruptures and whether the technology can effectively combat climate change. Some counties, such as Linn County, have looked at possible ordinances to require pipelines to be located a minimum distance away from homes, schools, and other dwellings. Paustian said he'd like the county board to look at something similar. "We have to look at an ordinance to try to slow it up or stop it," Paustian said. "We need to throw anything we can at them. This pipeline, in my opinion, is not about saving ethanol plants. This is all about money and federal tax credits. Private companies will take private land and make billions from it." Dickson said she'd supported the county's position so far. Beck wrote a letter to the utilities board that said the county couldn't support the pipeline until the company could make further assurances on resident safety and pledge not to use eminent domain. On MEDIC, Dickson said ambulance services are critical to the county's residents and that she supported the county's plans to bring an ambulance service under its umbrella in order to preserve consistent access to EMS. Paustian said he too supported bringing MEDIC on, but said he still had questions on county funding for it. "I have concerns about raising property taxes," Paustian said. "Can the county afford to pay for it with the revenue we have?" The two underwent a three-day training where they learned about the makeup of county government, functions of departments, and met county employees. Other newly elected county officials that will take office on Tuesday include: Knobbe, who replaces single-term treasurer Mike Fennelly. Fennelly did not seek reelection this year. County Attorney Kelly Cunningham Haan, who defeated Democrat Caleb Copley to replace retiring longtime county attorney Mike Walton. This is also the first election in which Tompkins, who was appointed in 2021 to be county auditor, was elected. QUESTION: Im planning to start a business. I have some investors who are interested in providing the capital I will need. They are willing to take either equity or debt. Even if I give the investors all equity, Ill own more than 50% of the business. My questions is, how much debt should I issue? ANSWER: People refer to debt as leverage because with a given amount of earnings, debt will increase the return on equity, or ROE. Heres why. There are only two ways to capitalize a business: debt and equity. Lets say that a business needs $1 million of capital to get going and that the capital is raised by selling a 50% equity stake in the business (to keep the math simple). The founder maintains a 50% ownership interest in the company, while investors put up $1 million in exchange for a 50% ownership interest in the company. Therefore, the equity in the company would be valued at $2 million ($1 million / 50%). If the company makes $200,000 in the first year, the investors would get a 10% ROE ($200,000 of profit / $2 million of equity). On the other hand, suppose the company had capitalized itself by selling $1 million of debt. The founders equity should still be worth the same $1 million that it was worth in the example above. The company still has the same $2 million of capital (equity valued at $1 million plus $1 million of debt). However, if in the first year, the company earns the same $200,000 of profit, the ROE is now 20% ($200,000 of profit / $1 million of equity). Therefore, debt leverages the ROE. If the total capitalization stays the same (in this case $2 million), for a given amount of profit (in this case $200,000), the more debt the company has, the less equity it needs and the higher ROE will be. However, more debt isnt all good news. Debt requires repayment with interest. This increases the companys costs and, therefore, reduces profit. Further, increased costs mean that the company will be less likely to be able to pay all of its financial obligations. In general, if the debt isnt repaid in a timely manner, the debt holders can force the company into bankruptcy. That is, the debt holders can force the company to liquidate its assets to repay the debt (or, at least, as much of the debt as the company has assets to cover). Companies without debt dont face this risk. There are no required debt payments. No threat of bankruptcy if the payments arent made. Therefore, debt increases the companys risk. The question of whether a company should have debt is an interesting one and, as you might imagine, one that doesnt have a simple, one-size-fits-all answer. We could launch into a theoretical discussion about maximizing the risk adjusted rate of return. However, rather than doing that, lets simply say that some debt may be a good thing if: It means that equity investors have to put less money into the business (or leave less money in the business). Therefore, the equity investors have more capital they can invest in other things. The equity investors can find other ways to invest their capital that will yield a return that is greater than the cost of the debt. The increased risk to the business is manageable and doesnt more than offset the increased ROE. The above guidelines, while helpful, certainly dont allow the precise calculation of how much debt is appropriate. Although we could give you a series of formulas that would allow the calculation of an optimal amount of debt, it would involve estimates and assumptions that would render the result imprecise at best. We think it is better to say that companies should return capital to shareholders (or allow shareholders to keep their capital) by taking on debt as long as the company can cover the debt payments even in the event of a significant downturn in business. How much debt to take on is not an exact science and requires sound judgment, but that is the nature of business. No matter how much math one does, good judgment is always required. In January, the U.S. House of Representatives will be the only thing standing between Americans and the Democrats assault on freedom, the family, the economy and our national security. The next speaker must be a true fighter committed to using every tool to stop the radical agenda of the left. For the past two years of my first term in Congress, hundreds of constituents have urged me not to support Kevin McCarthy for House speaker. Yet I responded in town hall events and media interviews that I would judge him by what he did during my first two years in Congress. I would assess his efforts to truly fight the Democrat agenda, his commitment to true conservative principles, and his willingness to change how Congress operates to empower regular members. With a narrow minority, House Republicans needed a united focus to gain the majority in 2022. Beginning with my 2020 orientation, and numerous times since, Minority Leader McCarthy promised us that we would use every procedural tool at our disposal to thwart the radical Democrat agenda. However, that did not happen. Rather, we got rolled by the majority and the American people suffered under the most extreme leftist policies ever enacted. He never marshalled Republican members to defeat Democrat legislation passed as so-called suspension bills. He failed to use the leverage of the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act to stop Biden policies that are weakening our military. He did not whip votes against the phony infrastructure bill which focused more on climate change than roads and bridges. Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy did nothing to earn my support these past two years as minority leader. During his audition to become speaker, he ignored conservative pleas to vacate the chair, when Nancy Pelosi was at her weakest moments with the progressive caucus and the Squad threatening her from her most extreme left flank. Time and again, McCarthy fought efforts to use our rare minority leverage to fight for the things we promised to Republican voters. His repeated mantra when conservatives urged him to fight the Democrat agenda was we have a plan. But no plan materialized over the past two years. In fact, his plan was to invest precious resources into defeating conservatives in primaries which could have been used to win more elections in November. The upcoming speaker vote is about more than defeating McCarthy and electing a better leader in January. This is about striking a blow against the uni-party swamp cartel, and defeating a Republican system that is hostile to conservatives, resents its base voters, and resists empowering individual members in order to retain power in the hands of an elite few. We must elect a speaker who will utilize the power of the purse as leverage to restore fiscal sanity and defund the government tyranny we campaign against. We must elect a speaker who will exercise effective oversight against the weaponization of the federal government against conservatives. We must elect a speaker who will pursue a true conservative policy agenda. We must change how Congress works in order to save our republic. This includes reforming our rules to only bring legislation to the floor that is supported by a majority of Republicans; have single-issue legislation and a minimum time to review bills before voting on them; allow representatives to offer amendments on the House floor; end the vote-buying practice of earmarks; require recorded votes; allow committee members to elect committee chairmen; and restore accountability for the speaker by reinstating the motion to vacate the chair. Nothing helps the Democrats more than maintaining the status quo and electing a speaker who will not stand up to their agenda. A true conservative leader will have the courage to be the wall between the American people and the flood of terrible policies that will continue under the Biden administration. It is clear that McCarthy cannot get the needed 218 votes to become speaker, as there are more than enough members resolved not to support him. We posted the job opening when he received only 188 votes on Nov. 15, and when he steps aside we can begin openly interviewing other candidates for the position. We can elect a strong leader who represents the conservative center of the Republican conference and the voters who elected us, and who can reach the 218-vote threshold and lead us in the fight to stop the Biden-Schumer agenda. On behalf of the voters who sent us to Washington, we must elect the right leader for our party and for the country. We must not accept the false choice that it is either McCarthy or someone worse. We know what we will get with McCarthy, and that is more of the same that is failing the country. We are seeing the best he has to offer today, when he is still desperately trying to interview for the job. With polls indicating more than 70% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track, and less than 20% approve of Congress, it is clear that what we are doing right now is not working. We cant continue the status quo and expect a different result. Americans need a courageous conservative leader in the House who can lead and unite us in the fight against the Biden agenda. For the good of the Republican conference, for the good of Congress and for the good of the country, lets hope Republican leaders will listen to the will of their constituents and vote for transformational change on Jan. 3. Criminal group known to rob vehicles and kidnap drivers jailed in State of Mexico Huehuetoca, State of Mexico A group of 14 males known for robbing vehicles and kidnapping the drivers have been arrested. On Sunday, the Attorney Generals Office of the State of Mexico (FGJEM) reported on the official charges brought against the group who were arrested during a recent operation. According to the FGJEM, all 14 belonged to a criminal gang dedicated to the robbery of express cargo vehicles and the kidnapping of their drivers. The agency said the group operated along the Mexico-Queretaro highway. The group was captured after a coordinated operation between Investigative Police (PDI) and elements of the State Security Secretariat (SS) participated in the rescue of a cargo truck driver. According to the Fiscalia General de Justicia del Estado de Mexico (FGJEM), the driver of the semi was kidnapped after members from the group intercepted and hijacked his Kenworth, which was transporting a load of food. The stolen merchandise was unloaded from the semi and loaded into a Nissan vehicle to be transferred to a building in the area, at which time police moved in and made the arrests. The FGJEM reported that all 14 have been admitted into the Penitentiary and Social Reintegration Center where they will remain during their trials. Men armed with rifles and crossbow arrested from public PDC street Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Three men armed with a variety of weapons and narcotics have been jailed in Playa del Carmen. Solidaridad Public Security (SSP) officers jailed the trio Saturday morning after arresting them for extortion. According to the SSP of Solidaridad, the three armed men demanded payment from a business owner in the Ejido area of PDC with threats of death. The victim was able to provide physical descriptions to police which lead them to their location, walking on a public street a few blocks from the store they had threatened. The men were returned to the shop and positively identified by the victim as those who attempted to extort money from him. During a physical arrest review, police found two rifles, a crossbow and bags of narcotics, for which they were also arrested. The SSP of Solidaridad reported on the arrests of 22-year-old Juan N from Tabasco, 35-year-old Saul N from Veracruz and 21-year-old Jesus N from Tijuana. Mexico extradites citizen to California to face drug and money laundering charges Mexico City, Mexico A Mexican national wanted by US authorities has been extradited to the state of California. On Saturday, Alberto R was handed over to American agents who transferred him to the Southern District of California. Alberto R was wanted by the state of California on drug and money laundering charges. According to the State Attorney General of the Republic, Alberto R was a member of an organization dedicated to drug trafficking from 2005 to 2014. He was responsible for smuggling methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States. In addition, he coordinated the transportation of the profits obtained from the sale of drugs in the US to be sent to Mexico. He was handed over at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to American agents for his transfer to the US. With less than an hour to go in 2022, Roanoke police investigated two shootings late Saturday, adding to a tally of more than 65 for the year. Then, early Sunday, police were notified of the citys first shooting victim of 2023. Police officers found two juveniles with gunshot wounds in the 2800 block of Melrose Avenue Northwest when called to the scene at approximately 11:10 p.m. Saturday. The youths were taken to a hospital with wounds that did not appear to be life threatening, according to a police news release. Police found no suspects at the scene and have made no arrests, but continue to investigate the shootings. Just before 5 a.m. Sunday, police were told of a wounded adult male in the 3600 block of Williamson Road Northeast. The injury was serious but did not appear to be life threatening, according to a police news release. The wounded man was taken to a hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call 540-344-8500 or text 274637 and begin text with RoanokePD. Calls and texts can remain anonymous. As of Dec. 18, city police had investigated 65 shootings, 17 of which were homicides, in the calendar year. Beginning in 2023, New River Community College will offer a new program, an Emergency Medical Technician career studies certificate. The 16-credit program consists of five courses that can all be completed in one semester. The new EMT program is designed to lead to entry-level employment opportunities in the emergency medical services field. The program prepares students to assess and care for patients at the basic life support level. Students who successfully complete the required courses can sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT certification exam. Program courses include HLT 105 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), EMS 111 Emergency Medical Technician, EMS 120 Emergency TechnicianClinical, BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, and ENG 111 College Composition I. The program is based on the Virginia EMS Education Standards, which are derived from the National EMS Education Standards. The EMT program is also approved by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. Classes begin Jan. 23. A required American Red Cross basic life support course will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21. For more information, including Virginia Department of Health eligibility requirements, visit www.nr.edu/ems or contact Sheila Hart in Admissions & Records at 540-674-3600, ext. 4204 or shart@nr.edu. - Submitted by Jill Ross Park Ranger Maggie Manning looks for ducks while standing next to the gazebo near the historic Howe House at Claytor Lake State Park. A 10 a.m. guided bird hike led by Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer Judy McCordis is one of the parks First Day Hikes offerings. The gazebos holiday lights are an annual donation of the Claytor Lake State Park Ambassadors. Flash Malaysia aims to draw greater investment from Chinese companies to develop its electric vehicle (EV) sector to build up the infrastructure to enable wider adoption of EVs, a Malaysian official said. The development of the supporting infrastructure for EVs is a major hurdle for Malaysia, but the government seeks to overcome this by encouraging companies with the expertise and technology to set up their operations in the country, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook told Xinhua in an interview. He explained that EVs are a major trend that will shape both public transport and personal mobility and Malaysia must ready itself. "As I said, the trend will come. We have to put in place our readiness to welcome the trend," he said. "Our industrial policies are encouraging more EV-related industries to be relocated to Malaysia, especially on producing batteries in Malaysia. There are incentives in place to encourage more companies to relocate to Malaysia and I was made to understand that there are a lot of Chinese companies who are actually interested to invest in Malaysia in terms of putting their plants here and so on," he said. Loke said any infrastructure that is put in place must be done with sustainability in mind and with an eye on integration and interconnectivity, with the drive for EVs being part of the government's plans to improve the transport sector, which would spur greater economic activity. "We have many projects in the pipeline, but how do we connect it together and to make sure that it is a seamless connectivity on the network, and eventually, of course, whatever we do, infrastructure must bring economic development," he said. "So, we must look at the transportation sector not just as transporting from point A to point B, but more as an economic multiplier effect. It must bring value to economic development. It must bring value to that particular region and area that you have that transportation network. So whatever transportation project that we do, we must look at the economic side of it," he added. " " The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, once the world's longest bridge at just under 24 miles (39 kilometers), spans the huge lake near New Orleans, Louisiana. As long as it is, it is now the ninth-longest bridge in the world. Art Wager/Getty Images A bridge is a useful tool that can connect distant points separated by water, marshland or difficult terrain. Whether traveled on foot or by car or rail, bridges are as essential for transporting goods and services as they are for cutting down the travel time between two distant points. But bridges represent something else, too. Something far more difficult to quantify. Something perhaps best described as a feeling the type of emotion just as likely to arise when viewing a famous of work of art. This sense of awe and beauty draws people to bridges not only for their utilitarian function, but as iconic points worth admiring in their surrounding landscapes. Think of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, with its Art Deco towers rising out of the mist like cathedral spires. Or the majestic Tower Bridge that spans the river Thames in London. Advertisement Whether as part of one's daily commute or as a vital artery that keeps an economy moving, these bridges have something else in common: their incredible length. A testament to human ingenuity, here are 10 of the longest bridges in the world, connecting lives and breaking records while doing it. A graphic rendering shows what the Lily Springs Apartment complex will look like once its complete. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Deux helicopteres rentrent en collision en Australie Deux helicopteres sont entres en collision en vol lundi, faisant quatre morts et trois blesses graves dans la region touristique de la Cote Doree en Australie, ont indique les autorites. Des images de television montraient les rotors dun appareil gisant sur un banc de sable a quelques metres du rivage de Cote Doree (Gold Coast) au sud-est de la region australienne du Queensland. A proximite, lun des deux helicopteres etait renverse sur le sable pres du rivage, selon la chaine publique ABC. Lautre appareil semblait en grande partie intact sur le lieu de laccident, qui se trouve pres du parc a theme marin Sea World. Les deux appareils, en entrant en collision, se sont ecrases (...) sur le banc de sable juste a cote du parc Sea World, a declare linspecteur Gary Worrell de la police du Queensland. En consequence, quatre personnes ont perdu la vie aujourdhui et trois autres sont dans un etat critique a lhopital, a-t-il ajoute lors dun point presse sur place. Apres laccident, un helicoptere de secours jaune vif sest pose sur le sable, tandis que des dizaines de sauveteurs se repartissaient sur le terrain, selon les images de television. Plusieurs navires de police et de secours se tenaient prets a intervenir pres du banc de sable jonche de debris des deux helicopteres. Toubani Resources, Inc. Figure 1 2022/2023 Drilling Programme and Targets Highlights Drill rig mobilized quickly to site to begin dry season drill campaign The 2022/2023 exploration drilling programme is focusing on targeting highly prospective areas, specifically around strike extension TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toubani Resources, Inc. (ASX: TRE; TSX-V: TRE) (Toubani Resources or the Company) is pleased to announce that a 10,750 meter drill program has commenced at the Company's flagship Kobada Gold Project in southern Mali. The 2022/2023 drilling campaign is designed to focus on targeting highly prospective strike extension from the existing resource base. The 10,750 meters drill program will mark the first drilling campaign following the dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and will focus on the previously identified target areas, based on soil geochemical sampling, artisanal mining, geophysics trends and historical drillholes, in the larger Kobada mining permit area. The aim of the drilling campaign is the following: Testing the mineralised zone of the main shear zone ( MSZ ) to the south and north Testing the continuity of a second mineralised zone to the east of the main Kobada orebody Drilling around historical artisanal mining where there are extensive workings Testing new potential gold mineralised zones Follow up on auger drilling anomalies showing strong gold mineralisation Figure 1 shows the drilling programme, testing four target areas, along the Kobada Shear (Target 1, 2, 3 and 4), one target on the Gosso Shear (Target 5) and Kobada Est concessions (Target 6). 2022/2023 Drilling Programme and Targets Figure 1: 2022/2023 Drilling Programme and Targets A comprehensive drill program has been designed to target all known anomalies on the Kobada Gold Project. The program will be revised according to the results from the current drill program. In line with the Company policy of utilising high-quality local service providers, the contract for the upcoming drilling campaign has been awarded to a West Africa-focused drilling company that is permanently based in Mali. ETASI, with its specialised personnel, has been recognised as one of the leading providers of specialist drilling services in the region. Story continues Toubani Resources President and CEO, Mr. Danny Callow, commented: We are pleased to see the drills turning back at Kobada following a very well supported ASX listing. We believe that near term value is in the drill-bit with more than 50km of identified shear zones yet to be tested. The drill campaign will focus on the highly prospective areas around the existing resource shell, specifically looking at extending the mineralised strike length to determine upside to the resource. We will be focusing our campaign on stepping out from known mineralisation, as well as following up areas that have shown potential through our regional exploration results. These are exciting times for Toubani and we look forwards to testing the upside potential through this exploration programme. We have spent the past three years focusing on defining and upgrading the quality of the resource and are pleased to have a total resource of 3.1 million ounces already defined, of which 1.7 million ounces is in the Measured and Indicated category. Our previous success with the drill bit (growing resources by more than 40% since late 2019) gives us confidence that there are a lot more ounces to define on this property. We look forwards to updating the market with ongoing results of this campaign in due course. This announcement has been approved for release by the CEO. Agent Compensation ASX Listing Leading Australian resource brokers, Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited (Canaccord Australia) and Foster Stockbroking Pty Ltd., were appointed as Lead Manager and Co-Lead Manager respectively for the Companys ASX listing process and placement of 30,000,000 CHESS Depositary Interests over common shares in the Company (the ASX Offer). The Company announces that Canaccord Australia acted as the lead manager under the ASX Offer, and in connection with its services as the lead manager, was paid 6% of the proceeds under the ASX Offer, being A$360,000. Canaccord Australia was also issued the following options, each of which expire three years from the grant date: Exercise Price Grant Date Number A$0.26 November 21, 2025 990,795 A$0.28 November 21, 2025 990,794 A$0.30 November 21, 2025 990,794 Total: 2,972,383 About Toubani Resources Inc Toubani Resources (ASX: TRE; TSX-V: TRE) is an exploration and development company with a focus on building Africas next mid-tier gold producer. The Company has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven track record in the African mining sector operating mines from development through to production. Toubani Resources principal asset is the Kobada Project in southern Mali, which is in an advanced stage of development having completed the 2021 definitive feasibility study. As well as the initial Kobada Project, other exploration locations have been identified on the Kobada, Faraba and Kobada Est concessions, offering the potential for an increase in resource. For more information regarding Toubani Resources visit our website at www.toubaniresources.com. For more information: Danny Callow President and Chief Executive Officer +(27) 76 411 3803 Danny.Callow@toubaniresources.com Daniyal Baizak Vice President, Corporate Development +1 (647) 835 9617 Dbaizak@toubaniresources.com Jane Morgan Investor and Media Relations + 61 (0) 405 555 618 jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au Qualified Person Competent Persons Statement The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results, geology and mineral resources is extracted from the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 (Prospectus) which is available on the ASX announcements platform. The information in the Prospectus that relates to exploration results, geology and mineral resources was based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr Uwe Engelmann, a Competent Person, who is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions: Professional Scientist (Reg. No. 400058/08), a Recognised Professional Organisation included in a list that is posted on the ASX website from time to time. Mr Engelmann is employed by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd, an independent consulting company. Mr Engelmann has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The Company confirms that: it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Prospectus; all material assumptions and technical parameters included in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed; and the form and context in which the relevant Competent Persons findings are presented in this announcement have not been materially changed from the Prospectus. Cautionary statements This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the compensation of Canaccord Australia, the expansion of mineral resources and reserves, and drilling and exploration plans of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. 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 but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals from Canadian and Australian regulatory authorities; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; available infrastructure and supplies; the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks of the mining industry. 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. 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. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/687ba834-b9a8-4f18-8e58-3d126f879c80 Carbeeza Inc. CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carbeeza Inc. (TSX.V: AUTO) (the "Company" or Carbeeza) is pleased to announce the official launch date for all four Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) is December 15, 2022. The expansion into the Maritime market almost immediately following the Companys Ontario launch, shows continued action in the Companys strategic plan and its rapid growth. Carbeeza continues to add franchised dealers throughout Canada in a continued effort to provide diverse inventory options of difficult-to-source vehicles. At present, the Company has over 450 dealerships on-boarded across the nation. The Carbeeza platform provides consumers the ability to search for their next vehicle through access to local dealer inventory and personalized options for financing before deciding whether or not to pursue a deal. Carbeeza then provides these vetted, prequalified customers that are deep in the sales funnel to dealerships in their network. The Company is actively making improvements to the platform and is committed to introducing new features to further enhance its performance and efficiency for both dealers and consumers alike. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CARBEEZA INC. Sandro Torrieri, Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, anticipations, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, or other similar statements that are not statements of fact. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The Company's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations 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. Story continues For further information please contact: Investor Relations Email: investorrelations@carbeeza.com Telephone: 1-855-216-8802 Website: www.carbeeza.com GreyViews Dental Implants Market Size By Type (Endosteal, Subperiosteal, Intramucosal and Transosteal), By Material (Titanium and Zirconium), By Price (Premium and Non-premium), By End user (Dental Clinics, Hospitals, Academics and Research Institutes), Regions, Segmentation, and forecast till 2029. Pune India, Dec. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market has been studied for the below mentioned-segmentation and regional analysis for North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Middle East and Africa. These are the key regions where the Dental implants market is operating currently and is predicted to expand in the near future. The manufacturers and suppliers involved in the Dental implants market are present across various countries in the above-mentioned regions. Get Sample Copy of This Report @ https://greyviews.com/reports/dental-implants-market/196/request-sample The report provides a detailed understanding of the market segments which have been formed by combining different prospects such as the type, material, price, end user and region. Apart from this, the key driving factors, restraints, potential growth opportunities and market challenges are also discussed in the below paragraphs. The significant players operating in the global Dental implants market are BioHorizons IPH, Inc, Nobel Biocare Services AG, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc, OSSTEM IMPLANT, Institut Straumann AG,, Bicon, LLC among others. To achieve a substantial market share in the worldwide Dental implants market and strengthen their position, manufacturers are pursuing expansion methods such as current developments, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, collaborations, and partnerships, joint ventures. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that can be inserted into the jawbone through surgery. The fixture and the abutment, both of which are commonly comprised of titanium and zirconium, are the two essential components of these dental implants. In North America and Europe, these implants are frequently used in the cosmetic industry. A few of the primary factors that are projected to drive industry expansion include rising demand for prostheses and expanding applications of dental implants in several therapeutic domains. The demand for these implants is significantly influenced by oral rehabilitation, which helps patients recover their face form and mouth function. Dental implants are growing more and more well-liked among patients and dental surgeons as a result of the downsides of detachable prosthesis, such as pain, an unnatural appearance, and maintenance requirements. Dental innovations that mix engineering, art, science, and technology to advance oral health have also received recent attention in dentistry. Modern technical innovations, like CEREC crowns, make use of CAD and may be promptly implanted. Adoption of digital X-rays, non-mercury fillings, intraoral cameras, period protect, DIAGNOdent, laser dentistry, and isolates are driving the market. For those who have lost one or more teeth due to an accident, decay, or any other cause, dental implants are a possibility. Under the gum line, a metal post is inserted during the dental implant procedure. Story continues Enquiry Before Buying This Report @ https://greyviews.com/inquiry/196 Scope of Dental implants market report Report Metric Information Study Period 2021-2029 Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2029 Market Share Unit USD Billion Segments Covered Type, Material, Price, End User and Regions Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle-East and Africa Major Players BioHorizons IPH, Inc, Nobel Biocare Services AG, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc, OSSTEM IMPLANT, Institut Straumann AG, Bicon, LLC among others Segmentation Analysis The endosteal segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in 2021. The type segment includes Endosteal, Subperiosteal, Intramucosal and Transosteal. The endosteal segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. These implants are in high demand because they have a higher success rate than other varieties and because dental caries is becoming more common. The titanium segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in 2021. The application segment includes Titanium and Zirconium. The titanium segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Due to its exceptional durability and strength, titanium implants hold a substantial market share. Additionally, titanium implants are lightweight and have a high level of biocompatibility. The premium segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in 2021. The price segment includes Premium and Non-premium. The premium segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Due to consumers' rising desire for high-quality dental implants, new premium implants being introduced by important market players, consumers' rising disposable income, and consumers' expanding knowledge of premium dental implants, this market is expected to rise. The dental clinics segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in 2021. The end user segment includes Dental Clinics, Hospitals, Academics and Research Institutes. The dental clinics segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Dental clinics are regarded as the main locations for all dental procedures. This market is expanding as a result of the demand for specialised dental implant clinics and the availability of licenced dentists. Regional Analysis The regional analysis provides a detailed perception of the key regions and the countries. Some of the key countries analyzed for the dental implants include the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Peru, UAE, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. The North American region witnessed a major share. The region's ageing population, which has a high prevalence of dental disorders and a high degree of public awareness of oral preventative & restorative therapies, are the key growth drivers in the area. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, 3 million people have dental implants right now. Due to the vast availability of resources, the population's larger per capita income, and the greater emphasis on aesthetics, this number is often higher in developed nations than it is in developing ones. Country Analysis Germany Germany Dental Implants market size was valued at USD 0.21 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 0.64 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 15% from 2022 to 2029. Due to the country's growing periodontal disease incidence and advanced healthcare due to the nation's excellent healthcare system and rising frequency of periodontal disease. A universal health care system that includes insurance coverage for a variety of dental procedures, including prosthetic, restorative, and oral surgery, has also been established in the country. China Chinas Dental Implants market size was valued at USD 0.24 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 0.74 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 17% from 2022 to 2029. Cosmetic dentistry is in greater demand as a result of the population's rising ability to pay for such procedures. Due to the availability of a sufficient dental workforce to satisfy the rising demand for dental services, the industry will also have opportunities for growth. India India's Dental Implants market size was valued at USD 0.27 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 1.08 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 19% from 2022 to 2029. India is one of the largest markets for dental implants worldwide. Dental implants have become increasingly well-liked across the nation as a result of their greater functionality compared to other treatment options. The number of persons seeking dental care has also increased as a result of higher disposable incomes and longer life spans. Covid-19 Impact Covid-19 had a major impact on almost all industries, such as electronics, semiconductors, manufacturing, automobile, etc. However, several companies operating in the technology sector have seen increased revenue due to significant changes in consumer preferences toward technological services. In addition, the pandemic has led to significant growth in technology across developing and developed countries. Furthermore, the growth of this market is mainly driven by cosmetic industry. Buy Now Full Report @ https://greyviews.com/checkout/196/single_user_license Contact Us Rocky Shah GreyViews Pune India Phone: (+44) 162-237-1047 Email: sales@greyviews.com Web: https://greyviews.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Browse Related Reports: Medical Device Coating Market Size By Product (Hydrophilic Coatings, Antimicrobial Coatings, Drug-eluting Coatings, Anti-thrombogenic Coatings, and Others), By Application (Neurology, Orthopedics, General Surgery, Cardiovascular, Dentistry, Gynecology, and Others), Regions, Segmentation, and forecast till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/medical-device-coating-market/240 Aesthetic Lasers Market Size By Application (IPL Laser Treatment, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Non-invasive Tightening, Skin Tightening, Laser-Assisted Lipoplasty, and Laser hair removal), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/aesthetic-lasers-market/238 Fetal Monitoring Market Size By Method (Invasive and Non- Invasive), By Product (Instruments and Consumables, Ultrasound, Electronic Maternal/Fetal Monitor, Fetal Electrodes, Fetal Doppler, Telemetry Solutions, Accessories and Consumables, and Software), By Portability (Non-Portable and Portable), By Application (Antepartum Fetal Monitoring and Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics, and Others), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/fetal-monitoring-market/233 Veterinary Vaccines Market Size by Technology (Toxoid Vaccines, Attenuated Live Vaccines, Recombinant Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines and Others), By Type (Aquaculture Vaccines, Porcine Vaccines, Livestock Vaccines, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Hospitals, Pharmacies and Others), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/veterinary-vaccines-market/231 Healthcare Cloud Computing Market By Application (Clinical Information Systems (CIS) and Non-clinical Information Systems (NCIS)), By Deployment (Private Cloud and Public Cloud), By Service (Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)), By End-User (Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Payers), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/healthcare-cloud-computing-market/230 Cardiac Pacing Leads Market Size By Product Type (Unipolar, Bipolar, and Others), By Technology (Transcutaneous Pacing, Transvenous Pacing, and Epicardial Pacing), By End User (Catheterization Labs, Orthopedic Clinics, Hospitals, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers), Regions, Segmentation, and forecast till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/cardiac-pacing-leads-market/229 Dermal Fillers Market Size By Type (Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable), By Material (CaHA, Fats, Hyaluronic Acid, Polymethyl-Methylacrlate Microspheres, and Poly-L Lactic Acid), By Application (Face Lift, Facial Line Correction and Lip Enhancement), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/dermal-fillers-market/228 Medical Practice Management Software Market Size By Delivery Mode (On-Premises, Web-Based, and Cloud-Based), By End User (Physician, Pharmacist, Diagnostic Labs, and Others), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/medical-practice-management-software-market/227 Acupuncture Needles Market Size By Product (Non-Disposable Needles and Disposable Needles), By Material (Silver, Stainless Steel and Gold), By End Use (Clinics, Hospitals and Others), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/acupuncture-needles-market/215 Wound Care Market Size By Product (Advanced, Surgical, and Traditional), By Application (Chronic Wounds and Acute Wounds), By End-Use (Hospitals and Specialty Clinics), Regions, Segmentation, and Projection till 2029 https://greyviews.com/reports/wound-care-market/208 Rescuers look down into the site of where a 10-year-old boy is thought to be trapped in a 35-metre deep shaft (AFP via Getty Images) Rescuers are scrambling to free a 10-year-old boy from a 115ft deep building site shaft in Vietnam, after he fell down it on New Years Eve. Thai Ly Hao Nam was heard crying for help after he fell into the narrow shaft of a concrete pillar, part of a new bridge being built in the southern Dong Thap province. The boy is said to have been searching for scrap iron with friends. Teams heard no response from the boy on Monday as they lowered a camera down to try to locate his position. I cannot understand how he fell into the hollow concrete pile, which has a diameter of a (25 cm) span only, and was driven 35-metres into the ground, Le Hoang Bao, director of Dong Thap provinces Department of Transport, told the local Tuoi Tre News newspaper. Attempts to lift the pile with cranes and excavators had so far been unsuccessful, local media reported. Oxygen has been pumped into the pile and rescuers have softened the soil around it, but the structure has tilted slightly which has made efforts to extract the boy more complicated. We are trying our best, one rescuer told AFP news agency. We cannot tell the boys condition yet, Photos from the scene have captured the boys parents watching on fearfully as efforts to rescue the boy are underway. With additional reporting from AFP and Reuters Company highlights significant growth in EMEA & USA market Merry Xmas Xencelabs Xmas sales 2022 Xencelabs Xmas sales 2022 Merry Xmas! Merry Xmas PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xencelabs Technologies Ltd. , the leading developer of best-in-class digital drawing solutions for creative professionals, is ending the year on a high note, with significant market growth for its products around the world. The companys ongoing expansion has seen the EMEA market double compared to 2021 in terms of online and offline sales, retail, and channel expansion. Xencelabs worked extremely hard this year to bring their products to a wider audience in the EMEA region. It is a testament to our teams passion and dedication, as well as that of our regional partners that we have achieved such success. Our efforts will continue into the new year and beyond, and we welcome any enterprise/institution request for an onsite or online demo in the US & EMEA region. The Xencelabs Academy is also now live on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@Xencelabs . This channel, overseen by Ian Sayers, Xencelabs Global Manager for Customer Engagement and Training Manager (EMEA), is designed to build upon and strengthen the existing global Xencelabs community, increasing engagement with users by sharing product training, tips and tricks, company updates and much more. Meanwhile, to celebrate the end of 2022, Xencelabs is offering December Christmas deals with up to 30% off, including the Pen Tablet Medium, Pen Tablet Medium Bundle, Special Edition, Standard Tablets, and the Quick Keys available on e-store and Amazon . During this period, the e-store has an exclusive Christmas gift of a free pair of gloves with all purchases of a Pen Tablet (Excluded Small). Promotional dates may vary depending on the region and their respective time zones; details are available on Xencelabs social media channels. Xmas sales Finally, while the year is drawing to a close, Xencelabs can still be seen at some key events around the world. It is exhibiting for the first time at SIGGRAPH Asia 2022 (Stand F14), held in Daegu, South Korea from 6-9 December, and will also make its debut at one of Japans biggest comic related events, Comic Market (Stand 246), in Tokyo, Japan from 30-31 December. In addition, Xencelabs will return to Comic Fiesta (C033 to C038, Hall 2) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 17-18 December. Story continues For more details of the Christmas deals, visit Xencelabs social media platforms: Instagram: @Xencelabs / @Xencelabs_US / @Xencelabs.EMEA / @Xencelabs. SGMY Twitter: @JapanXencelabs /@Xencelabs Xencelabs Together We Create Xencelabs is a global company providing best-in-class digital and intuitive drawing solutions enabling creative professionals to expand their creativity and enhance productivity. It was founded in 2019 by professionals with experience that spans various disciplines in industrial design, animation, VFX, illustration, software, engineering, IT, sales, marketing, government, and education. At Xencelabs, we are dedicated to exploring, innovating, designing, and developing the new generation of pen tablets. Our goal is to build communities and collaboration with other industry leaders. For further information, please contact: Xencelabs Technologies Limited. Ian Sayers Global Manager, Customer Engagement and Training e: Ian.sayers@xencelabs.com Pretty Leung Senior Manager, Global Marketing e: pretty.leung@xencelabs.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d232e48-5097-423d-ad2d-0003c778a0d5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0fc988d-0395-40e2-b986-bd843e5f4c8f NEW YORK (AP) A man accused of attacking police with a machete near New Yorks Times Square on New Years Eve, injuring two officers, was arrested Monday on attempted murder charges, police said Monday. Trevor Bickford, 19, also faces attempted assault charges, the New York Police Department said in a release. Bickford was hospitalized after police shot him in the shoulder during the confrontation and was awaiting arraignment. It wasnt immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could speak to the allegations. A law enforcement official has told The Associated Press that investigators were looking into whether he was inspired by radical Islamic extremism. The violence happened about two hours before midnight Saturday, just outside the high-security zone where revelers are screened for weapons before gaining entry to one of the worlds biggest and most famous New Years celebrations. Two of the officers were struck with the machete before the suspect was shot, authorities said. The two officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull and the other with a bad cut, and were expected to recover. So was the suspect. Get more updates here: Flash Newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday had a phone conversation on relations between the two nations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. According to a statement released on its official website, the ministry said Qin bid farewell to Blinken and recalled his frank, in-depth and constructive meetings with Blinken during his tenure as Chinese ambassador to the U.S. Qin told Blinken that he looked forward to maintaining a close working relationship with the U.S. secretary of state and promoting the improvement of China-U.S. relations. The two sides also exchanged New Year's greetings during the call, the statement read. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, I am a 38-year-old cis female. Beginning in 2018, I started going for regular massages (every 6-8 weeks) at a nearby massage franchise location, where I am a member. For most of that time, I would try to stick with an LMT I liked, but distance and scheduling made it hard. Then about 18 months ago, I switched to a location near my work since it was easier to find available appointments during lunch breaks. A few months after joining that location, I took an available appointment with a male LMT and have been booking with him ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reasons for that: 1. He is usually free during the times when I have breaks in my work schedule. 2. He is a very good massage therapist. To be honest with you and myself, I also liked the way he approached massages in ways that arent COMPLETELY related to zoning in and relieving muscle tension. For example, hes not so overly concerned with blanket placement/modesty that he neglects areas that need attention like upper glutes and pecs. Less related and hard to describe is the overall feeling that he wasnt just focusing on one section while making sure to avoid touching anything else. It definitely felt more personal and a bit suggestive but not overtly sexual. And, I definitely find him attractive. However, I wasnt flirtatious or throwing eyes at him during the few minutes we talked before each massage. And he didnt seem to be with me either, just the normal pleasant and low-key charming demeanor. Advertisement Well apparently, Im oblivious as shit! Last session turned into an erotic massage and then some. I was definitely receptive to it, it was consensual, and a damn fun time. I have no idea how often he engages in stuff like this, but I doubt Im so desirable that I am the only one. I just know Id be down for it to continue, if we both wanted to. Advertisement Here is my question: From what I have gathered about these types of massage franchises, the owners would probably be displeased that anything like this was going on. It would open them up to legal action and bad publicity. He could be fired and/or lose his license. Yes, he is an adult and responsible for his own actions. Is that where I need to stop, in regards to thinking about the potential ramifications? Should I talk with him before our next session to see I dont know what? The higher-ups turn a blind eye if its loyal clients and hes vetted them for a year? If he is concerned about ramifications, and if so how concerned? What types of consequence could I face if this all went tits-up? Advertisement Advertisement Interdisciplinary Methods of Stress-Relief Dear Stress Relief, While it is not unheard of for those who patronize happy ending massage parlors to face criminal charges, the majority of stings/raids target those who manage and work at such establishments. Generally, thats how it works in U.S. culture: The sex worker is stigmatized for providing in-demand goods. I want to make sure you understand, though, that your risk is not zero. In 2019, police arrested 20 men as a result of an investigation of a massage parlor in Rockville, Marylandaccording to the cops, all of them had freely admitted to paying for sex when questioned. Also in 2019, hundreds of men were arrested for buying sex in a crackdown on multiple spas in Floridamany of these men were caught on video engaged in sexual contact with the massage therapists. Even with that kind of seemingly incontrovertible proof, though, many saw their charges dropped for lack of evidence of cash exchange on camera. See, its much more difficult to catch clients, who typically pass through for brief periods of time. Barring the kind of (potentially unreliable) video evidence mentioned, youd typically have to be caught with your pants literally down during a raid and even then, you might escape prosecution. (Though just being arrested is its own hassle.) The punishment will vary by statethe Rockville guys were charged with one count of prostitution-general, which carried fines of $500 and/or a year in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk here is probably along the lines of illegal drug use, which many people engage in despite the well-publicized consequences. You can keep getting booty bumped by this guy with or without a conversation, though I think a chat might bring with it a sense of tension that could lessen the likelihood of future diddling. I think your task is to decide whether this is worth the risk, or whether you should find a new masseurtheyre everywhere and a lot of them will stay away from your genitalia without even being asked. Advertisement Get the How to Do It Newsletter Sex advice from Rich and Stoya, plus exclusive letter follow-ups, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear How to Do It, Im struggling with a kinky catch-22. Ive been reading freaky porn since I was a kidnonconsensual, humiliation, etc.and its still what gets me off, but I cant seem to read it anymore. Unless Im actively horny to start with, it makes me embarrassed and anxious and ashamed. I think those feelings have been there for a while, which is why I was shifting towards more consensual non-consent or roleplay stories the last time I read much pornwhich was when I was pregnant a couple years ago. But now even that is too awkward to contemplate unless Im already worked up. Other porn is boring though. Advertisement Advertisement My sex life has always been a bit complicatedbetween anxiety, teenage touch starvation, dysphoria, and a masturbation technique thats hard to replicate in company, Ive ended up mostly getting myself off and treating sex as a fun thing to do with a partner rather than a method for orgasm. But I do need to be at least a little bit horny for it to be fun! And that doesnt seem to happen spontaneously! My partner will ask if Im just asexual or whatever but is struggling with the uncertainty of being attracted to someone whose libido is a Rubiks Cube. Ive been on hormonal birth control for over a decade (aside from the two pregnancies), but Im currently using an IUD which I understood to have the lowest dose. It seems possible that this is just my baseline and my libido was unusually high when the hormones of adolescence and pregnancy were involved. Advertisement I have no trouble coming once Im in the mood, but how do I get in the mood when the stuff I used to enjoy actively distresses me? Advertisement Self-Exasperated Dear Self-Exasperated, This is indeed a catch-22. Probably the easiest thing to do would just to refrain from any sexual activity, including masturbation, until youre horny. What it sounds like is happening is that your disgust threshold is lowering when youre in the mood, which is quite common (Jesse Bering writes about this in Perv). Something that might keep us going once turned on may seem repellent in less libidinous times. Its ok to let your body guide you into a sex schedule that is less active than what might seem normal. Dont let your partners questions convince you that theres something wrong with you. You do report being actively horny to start with sometimes, which indicates some kind of spontaneous desire. It might also be possible to cultivate desire in the act. You shouldnt push yourself to the point of discomfort, but starting to engage in sex when you arent 100 percent turned on could result in your desire growing as the sex progresses. Sometimes its worth giving things a try, especially if your accelerator is prone to moving slowly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Otherwise, attempt to cultivate varied porn taste through varied exposure. Focus on stuff that you know you wont feel bad about later. Try a range of styles and kinks. Or go off porn entirely and rely on fantasy. I dont expect any of this to be easyit will require an active process. But then, you specifically wrote in to avoid doing things the usual, easy, way. Now you have the burden of actually making it happen. Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Dear How to Do It, My husband (58) and I (52) have been married for four years now. This is my second marriage and his third. Weve been together for a total of seven years. A couple of years ago, my husbands ex commented on a Facebook post about a vehicle we were selling. This ex had stirred up trouble in the beginning of our relationship (she was supposed to be blocked on Facebook) and he knows how I feel about her, but he assured me they were through. Shortly after that incident I caught him masturbating to a porn video on his phone. I truly feel that he was watching his ex in the video; however, he denied that she was in the video. I have never known him to masturbate and as far as I knew he hadnt done it since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other night I was using his phone, and I saw on open window with porn. Of course, my mind goes directly to the ex, although I did not bring her up when we talked about it and she was not on the screen. He says he just enjoys watching porn and it has nothing to do with me or how he feels about me. The last two years have been very unkind to me and my immediate family. We have had one death which we expected due to an illness but weve had two deaths that were sudden and unexpected. I have also had a lot of health issues. Due to some depression I have slacked on a lot of things such as letting the house work go longer than I should, not being very active outside of my home, my personal care, and I have gained 35 pounds since getting married. I dont feel good about myself at all. For a while now, Ive felt that we were drifting apart, but when I try to have a conversation with him, he states everything is fine. He will not really even talk about the porn. Is this something some men do? Is he looking at porn because I dont fully satisfy him? Do we need to have sex more frequently? I know we love one another, and Im willing to do my part to save our relationship, as long as he isnt speaking to his ex again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is My Marriage in Trouble? Dear Marriage in Trouble, While its certainly possible that the person in the video was your husbands ex, youve given no reason why you think it was her (you didnt, for example, indicate that she works in porn), so I think we can chalk that one up to anxiety. Advertisement As for the masturbation stuff, I wonder if youve ever heard the old joke (its at this point a cliche, really) that 90 percent of men masturbate and the rest are liars. (Sometimes the word people replaces men, though I think the reason the statement has been often gendered is because traditionally masturbation has been expected of men and not of women, which is dumb.) In any event, a lot of people jerk off, irrespective of their sex lives. Its its own thing, not necessarily compensatory. There isnt really a zero-sum to achievepeople who enjoy sex still masturbate, and often when they masturbate they look at porn. Its true that your husband may desire more frequent orgasms than hes getting through sex with you, but even if theres something practical there, hes taking care of it. Its a good thing. You dont need to have sex with him any more than you are inclined toits in his hands. Advertisement Advertisement I think this discovery of yours that he enjoys watching porn might also be a good thing. It endowed you with knowledge. I dont mean to come off as condescending, but you seem a bit naive about this stuff. You could hardly be faulted for thatthe state of sex education in the U.S. (and a lot of the world, for that matter) is abysmal. If you want to learn more about what people enjoy, often within the confines of a monogamous relationship, I recommend Ian Kerners modern sex manual So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex: Laying Bare and Learning to Repair Our Love Lives. And for more on relationships and keeping the spark, check out another entry in the HTDI canon, Esther Perels Mating in Captivity. Advertisement Advertisement Did you write this or another letter we answered? Tell us what happened at howtodoit@slate.com. Dear How to Do It, I need advice on how to move forward regarding what looks like an emotional affair. My partner Mike and I have been together for ten years. We own our home jointly and have made plans for our life into retirement and beyond. We both have professional careers, individual hobbies, and both mutual and individual friendships. Mike has always tended to have female friends, and it hasnt bothered me until recently. The intensity of Mikes relationship with our mutual friend Tracey started to worry me earlier this year. Mikes primary method of communication with most people is via text, but he texts Tracey a LOT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jealousy got the better of me, and I did a bad thing. I read their messages. I found nothing overtly sexual, but their conversations definitely cross a boundary. He refers to her as his beautiful, funny friend. She expresses her gratitude for his support and hopes he knows how much she loves and appreciates him. In one conversation he invited her to come by and watch a movie when I will be gone for the holidays and said, But no snuggling unless you insist. Without telling him Id read their messages, I told him I was becoming uncomfortable with his involvement with Tracey and asked him to explain the nature of their relationship. Mike called it a heavy flirtation, admitted feelings for her, and said he would cut off contact. When I asked if he considered what he was doing an emotional affair, he acted confused about the definition. Mike insists he does not want to jeopardize our relationship and says he will do whatever I want in order to make things right. Im angry with both of them, but I havent spoken to Tracey about it. She is one of my oldest friends, and it hurts to think of ending our friendship. Am I making too big a deal out of their flirtation or am I being a sucker by taking Mike at his word? Should I cut Tracey out of my life, and if so, should I explain why? Advertisement Advertisement Where to Go From Here? Dear From Here, You would certainly be justified to cut Tracey out of your life, and to break up with Mike. They went behind your back and engaged in behavior that was outside of the terms of your relationship. They betrayed you and trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, platonic or not. But allow me to share my nonmonogamist perspective with you: You dont have to cut her out. Youre already hurt, why hurt yourself more by ending a friendship? Maybe you see it differently, but in my view, this transgression is pretty low stakes in the scheme of things. And anyway, forgiveness here wouldnt just be for Traceyit would favor you as well, as youd get to hold onto your friendship. People fall short of monogamous ideals all the time, and proximity is seductive. Affection is a difficult thing to regulate. You can draw up boundaries, but for a lot of us, to be friendly is to be affectionate, and affection is an unlimited resource. Im not saying that you have to adopt these ideals, but I am saying that you dont have to let this thing do more damage than it has already done. Theres a fuzziness to the wrong done hereemotional affair is a category like creative genius in that many people think they know what it means but theres really not an agreed-upon standard. Mike may have been feigning naivete when you confronted him with that term, or maybe it just never occurred to him that what he was doing could be described as such. In any case, emotions flow freely and humans are permeable. I think exercising some compassion for Mike and Traceytwo people who found a certain fondness for each other as a result of circumstancemight be the most constructive move here, but it would require a good degree of patience, a determination to be the biggest person in the party, and perhaps a deviation from your trusted morality. Maybe thats too much to foist on you, but if you want to continue to have these people in your life, some version of that will have to occur to move forward. A group talk in which you are able to calmly and clearly enumerate your grievances and draw up a map for the future could work. Decide what youre comfortable with in terms of Tracey and Mikes ongoing communication and prescribe it to the two of them. If youre able to be sensible and level-headed about this, you can avoid chaos. Again, its asking a lot of you, especially since you didnt ask for any of this, but if you want to make it through this with the least amount of collateral damage, youre going to have to take the reins. Good luck! Rich More Advice From Slate My wife and I have been happily married for 14 years, and being that we were fairly young (20s) when we got married and in a pretty religious area, we havent been very exploratory with sex. Recently, during foreplay, I changed things up and asked her to guide my fingers while they were on her, and then we switched and I guided her fingers while she touched herself. It was new and fun! Its now part of our regular business because I love watching her touch herself, and it frees my hands up so I can grab tight or wander when I know shes going to finish. Masturbating is looked down upon in our religious beliefs, and she admitted she felt guilty the first few times Slovakia is not even close to what I remember from my life here, says the Canadian-Slovak photographer. Yuri Dojc today: "A reflection of an older man in the mirror with glimpse of an attractive woman , who is my wife" (Source: Yuri Dojc) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Noted Slovak-Canadian photographer Yuri Dojc comes from the eastern-Slovak town of Humenne. In 1968, he was in his early twenties and decided to use the opportunity that the thaw in the regime presented, and see the world west of the Iron Curtain. With a friend he got a summer job in England, picking strawberries. If I hadnt gone, my whole life would have gone in a different direction, he says 50 years later. On August 21, 1968, Dojc was on his way to the airport to fly back home to Czechoslovakia, where all his family lived. I walked into a Polish store, and the lady was telling me that the Russians had come, Dojc recalls. I didnt believe her, but then I saw a demonstration in the street and I realised there was an invasion. So I decided there was no point in going to the airport. Dojc made his way to the International Student House where people like him were already gathering. They were soon to become refugees. Read also: Read also: August 1968: After a temporary thaw, the Czechoslovak borders were sealed Read more I had spent all my money on presents and I had just enough for the underground ride to the airport, Dojc says. At that moment I realised my whole life had just dramatically changed. Away from Europe What he did know was that he did not want to live in Czechoslovakia anymore after the occupation. He admits that he was scared about what was in store for him, but he was also young and stupid, as he says, ready to make spontaneous decisions and take his chances. Since he was horribly homesick, in December 1968 Dojc went to see the Czechoslovak Embassy in London to ask for a permission to return and come back to England. It allowed him to briefly visit Bratislava for two days. His father took him to the side and said: If you want to stay, it is ok, but if you want to be free, get out the next day before they close the borders. Yuri Dojc on his brief visit to Bratislava in December 1968: "The girl in the photo was my then girlfriend Bohunka, who lives in Teplice, Czech Republic." (Source: Yuri Dojc archive) I chose the latter, I left the very next morning and did not return for 20 years, Dojc says. After half a year in England, Dojc made his way further west, to Canada. I dont really understand why but I decided I didnt want to live in Europe anymore, he explains as he remembers his visits to foreign embassies in London, with the aim of becoming a legal immigrant. I started with New Zealand, to be as far from Europe as possible. I ended up at the Canadian Embassy, and Canada said yes, so I took the chance. With the status of an immigrant, he got a ticket to Canada and boarded an airplane to Toronto, still with his Czechoslovak passport in his pocket. Navigating the capitalist world New plant puts country on global investor maps, says expert. Valaliky, the locality where Volvo will build its brand new car plant. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In 2018 Robert Fico, who was then prime minister, made headlines when he dismissed the suggestion that mafia gangs could be interested in eastern Slovakia, claiming the idea was absurd because there is nothing out there. But recent investment decisions by Swedish carmaker Volvo and German engineering and technology company Bosch have shown that whatever appeal the region may hold for organised criminal gangs, some of the worlds biggest firms are certainly interested. Investment Advisory Guide Well-arranged information about the economy, labour market, investor support, legislation, and real estate as well as investment opportunities in Slovakia. For more details visit our online shop. Katarina Minova, policy manager of the Kosice branch of AmCham Slovakia, said the decisions especially Volvos, to open up a new 1.2 billion plant for the production of electric vehicles in the region put not just Slovakia, but eastern Slovakia in particular, on global investors maps. The government must take advantage of this opportunity and not hesitate in its efforts to attract investment for Slovakia that is sophisticated and linked to the promotion of research and development, she told The Slovak Spectator. Minova said the construction of the plant, as well Boschs move to expand its production in the region, projected confidence in Slovakias economic potential despite the fact that a war is raging across its eastern border. She urged the government to use foreign investment policy to transform the economy and help carry out crucial structural reforms. If we do not use the Volvo investment as a last opportunity to build added value from foreign investment, Slovakia will irreversibly become the assembly workshop of Europe. Biggest investment in the east since U.S. Steel Volvo Cars automotive group announced in early July that Slovakia had been chosen as the site of its new electric vehicle production plant. Two plants have the capacity. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled NATO is discussing the possibility of resuming the production of artillery ammunition for Soviet-era army systems in Slovakia. Such systems are still being operated in vast numbers in the war in Ukraine. In Slovakia, plants in Snina and Dubnica nad Vahom have the capacity for the required production. According to New York Times, the production should be financed by the alliance. Related article Related article Snina plant to produce ammunition for Ukraine and NATO countries Read more Analysing the capacities In addition to Slovakia, the daily also mentioned the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. The renewed production should focus mainly on the 152mm and 122mm artillery ammunition mainly used by howitzers of the Soviet era. During his December 8 visit to Kyiv, the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs also mentioned Slovakia's capacities. We are currently talking about how to get our production facilities up and running. In these, we used to produce large-calibre cartridges. The capacities are partly state-owned, partly private. But we need these plants to produce 155mm shells for howitzers as well, and that is our first priority," said Rastislav Kacer. According to the Slovak Defense Ministry, talks with NATO partners are currently in the phase of analysing the availability of the capacities of individual countries. When it comes to Slovakia, the expansion of the howitzer ammunition production was already discussed in 2022, especially in connection with the plants in Dubnica nad Vahom and Snina. Engineering company ZVS Holding based in Dubnica nad Vahom planned to significantly increase production from the current 19,000 pieces to 100,000 pieces per year. While ammunition bodies would be produced in the Snina plant, the final assembly would take place at the parent company in Dubnica nad Vahom. Related article Related article Western countries pay for more Zuzana howitzers for Ukraine Read more Ukraine spends a lot of ammunition "We are open to any discussion with allies about the potential to support the domestic defense industry, bring new job opportunities to our regions and, last but not least, help Ukrainian partners in the fight against the aggressor," the Defense Ministry said in a statement to the Euractiv.sk website. However, it is yet to be determined whether NATO will invest specifically in production at ZVS Holding. According to NATO experts, a day in Ukraine is like a month in Afghanistan in terms of the number of missiles fired and ammunition used. Estimates say Ukrainians fired up to 7,000 artillery rounds each day during summer, while the United States produce 15,000 pieces per month. In Europe, almost a third of the production of 155mm artillery ammunition is covered by the Czech company CSG. Its current production capacity is from 80,000 to 100,000 shells per year. However, the company is preparing an expansion to 150,000. Last years most frequently ordered food delivery, our tastiest reads, state awards are presented, and a scientist shares his love of teaching. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening, and happy 2023! Here is the Monday, January 2 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Slovaks know they can do better, analyst says Political analyst and former journalist Marian Lesko. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, veteran political commentator Marian Lesko says that if Slovak society does not look the way that people in Slovakia want it to, we must all share some of the responsibility. Lesko looks back on Slovakias 30 years of existence, which the country marked yesterday, January 1. Heres an excerpt from the interview: If you had to describe 30 years of Slovakia in one aphorism, what would it be? I have the feeling that the best aphorist in Slovakia is Tomas Janovic. I would use one of his aphorisms, which is particularly close to my heart. And that is: If only they stole while creating something, but they steal while stealing. I dont think I could describe it better than Janovic. Fedor Gal, former head of the People Against Violence (VPN) political movement [which played a leading role in ending communist rule in 1989], said this about the division of the federation 10 years ago: It was wrong, but whatever. Do you agree? If we really lived in a country where politicians do not try to profit from conflicts, I would agree with that. But when I think about how many people were waiting to see how they would use possible Czechoslovak disputes for political profit, I will say that it was not so wrong, because people of ill-will have always tried and will always try to profit from conflicts. Maybe it saved us from much worse things that we cannot even imagine today. Letter: British Ambassador Nigel Baker shares some advice and reassurance with the newborn Slovakia, in a letter from the future. Commentary: The Slovak Spectators editor-in-chief Michaela Terenzani writes that the present look back may be the dose of hope that people in Slovakia need. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Poll: Every third Slovak feels hopeful about 2023. Every third Slovak feels hopeful about 2023. Military: Slovakia may produce NATO-funded ammunition for Ukraine. Slovakia may produce NATO-funded ammunition for Ukraine. Awards: 28 people received state awards from President Zuzana Caputova on January 1. One of them was photographer Yuri Dojc. 28 people received state awards from President Zuzana Caputova on January 1. One of them was photographer Yuri Dojc. Automotive: Volvos investment in eastern Slovakia puts the region on global investors maps, says Katarina Minova of AmCham Slovakia. Volvos investment in eastern Slovakia puts the region on global investors maps, says Katarina Minova of AmCham Slovakia. Culture: Read some of the good stories from the last year that you may have missed. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY Every teaching activity is a potential source of positive emotion This year's ESET Science Award laureates (l-r): Miroslav Almasi, Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia Under the Age of 35; Silvia Pastorekova, Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia; and Professor Lubomir Tomaska, Outstanding Academic in Slovakia. (Source: ESET/Linda Kiskova Bohusova) In an interview with The Slovak Spectator, Lubomir Tomaska, an award-winning scientist and professor, talks about his research on how cells communicate, what it takes to be a good teacher, and if students are the same as they were years ago. IN OTHER NEWS: Pizza margherita was the food most commonly ordered by people in Slovakia in 2022 , the Wolt food delivery company announced. However, people in Bratislava preferred burgers. , the Wolt food delivery company announced. However, people in Bratislava preferred burgers. The total final price of electricity for households will change only slightly , by about 2.5 per cent, compared to 2022, the Regulatory Office for Network Industries announced. , by about 2.5 per cent, compared to 2022, the Regulatory Office for Network Industries announced. Every third company is looking for lost invoices at the end of year , a Digitoo survey has revealed. Only 3 per cent of companies in Slovakia have fully digitised accounting, despite the fact that the law has allowed this for a year now. , a Digitoo survey has revealed. Only 3 per cent of companies in Slovakia have fully digitised accounting, despite the fact that the law has allowed this for a year now. Slovakia is likely to hold early elections, President Zuzana Caputova said in her New Years address. For many, the change is associated with concerns about the ongoing developments in society, but only what we allow to occur will happen, she added. Soldiers fire a 20-gun salute on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic on the Danube embankment in Bratislava on New Year's Day, January 1, 2023. (Source: TASR - Pavol Zachar) On Monday Ukrainian Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk visited a humanitarian centre in Gabcikovo , southwestern Slovakia, where Ukrainian refugees have been staying since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. , southwestern Slovakia, where Ukrainian refugees have been staying since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Slovnaft refinerys CEO Marek Senkovic told the Index magazine that the firm has not found a reliable partner to supply the refinery with oil, explaining that it is not possible to sever Russian supplies so quickly. Slovnaft imports from Russia a fraction of what other countries import, he noted. Thank you for reading The Slovak Spectator. P.S. If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Cameron Jordan made NFL history with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, with his third sack on the afternoon raising his career total to 115.5. Thats half a sack ahead of Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson, famed leader of the Saints old Dome Patrol defense. This big game also put Jordans season total to 8.5 sacks, landing him in rare company. Hall of Fame inductees Reggie White and John Randle are the only other players to have bagged at least 7.5 sacks in as many consecutive seasons as Jordan (11). Jordan turned retrospective in celebrating his accomplishment after the game, thanking dozens of teammates and coaches by name who helped him get to this point as well as the many opposing quarterbacks he brought down over the years. There was some Josh Freemans in there, there was like a myriad of Tampa Bay quarterbacks. Lots of Matt Ryan, Jordan joked. Hes been good to me. Happy New Year, Matt Ryan, if you see it. Ryan certainly has been good to him: Jordan sacked the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback 23 times in 11 seasons, setting an NFL record for the most sacks of an opposing passer by a single defender in their career. Its quite a unique NFL record they put together. When asked how much longer he sees himself playing, Jordan quipped: I dont know, Tom Brady is like 75. So half that? Ill take 37. Jordan turns 34 this summer, and it sure doesnt seem like hes slowing down that much. He could very likely play three more years at this level. If he can remain healthy and productive, he could put the sacks record so far out of reach that it endures as long for him as it did for Jackson (28-plus years, or 10,591 days). Well see how the defensive line changes around him in the offseason, but Jordan should continue to be a fixture for New Orleans. When hes ready to hang up his cleats, hell have quite a case to maybe join Jackson, White, and Randle in the Hall of Fame himself someday Story continues List Dennis Allen, Cameron Jordan share their take on Saints' big win vs. Eagles Story originally appeared on Saints Wire Yahoo Sports The Eastern Conferences fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and fifth-seeded New York Knicks meet in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. The two franchises havent faced off in the postseason since 1996 a best-of-five series in which, as luck would have it, the fifth-seeded Knicks swept the favored Cavs, 3-0. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230101/just-in---armed-attack-on-mexican-jail-leaves-14-dead-while-24-escaped-1105982443.html Armed Attack on Mexican Jail Leaves 14 Dead While 24 Escaped Armed Attack on Mexican Jail Leaves 14 Dead While 24 Escaped An unknown number of gunmen who were aboard armored vehicles left 14 people dead including 10 prison guards. 01.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-01T22:36+0000 2023-01-01T22:36+0000 2023-01-01T23:34+0000 mexico sinaloa cartel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107722/69/1077226991_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b3ad7c0ed955b93ee0035253e5caea86.jpg On Sunday a number of gunmen attacked a prison in the northern Mexico city of Ciudad Juarez. The attack left 14 people dead including 10 prison guards and security agents, the Chihuahua state prosecutors' office said. Four people were also injured in the attack, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The attack happened at around 7 AM, at the same time that family members of inmates were waiting to see their relatives for the holiday of the New Year. Prior to the attack, armed men fired on municipal police along a nearby boulevard, prompting a car chase that resulted in the arrest of four men and the seizure of their vehicle, prosecutors said. But then later, more armed men in a Hummer fired on another group of security agents outside of the prison. The purpose of the attack was allegedly to allow certain groups of prisoners to escape, said prosecutors, but the investigation is still ongoing. They added that four people were detained though they did not specify if they were inmates or assailants. Details about how the inmates were able to escape were also not made available. The prison in Ciudad Juarez holds members of the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels, who have been fighting for years in a turf war that resulted in the deaths of more than 5,000 people. The Sinaloa cartel eventually "won" the turf war. It was reported by prosecutors that fighting within the prison around the same time of the attack also left 13 people injured. mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg mexico, sinaloa cartel https://sputnikglobe.com/20230101/over-30-terrorist-suspects-arrested-in-southern-turkey-1105982647.html Over 30 Terrorist Suspects Arrested in Southern Turkey Over 30 Terrorist Suspects Arrested in Southern Turkey ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - More than 30 terrorist suspects have been arrested in Turkeys southernmost province of Hatay during a special operation, The Daily Sabah... 01.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-01T23:37+0000 2023-01-01T23:37+0000 2023-01-01T23:37+0000 pkk kurdistan workers' party (pkk) islamic state islamic state /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104770/40/1047704026_0:0:2817:1585_1920x0_80_0_0_0b7b318d0014fa0920f9b6d5b3d795ae.jpg Police in Hatay arrested 16 suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK, designated by Ankara as a terrorist organization) on Sunday, according to the Turkish newspaper. In addition, 17 militants from the Islamic State (terrorist group, banned in Russia) were also arrested in the province on Sunday. During the searches, firearms, ammunition and drugs were seized, The Daily Sabah said. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International pkk, kurdistan workers' party (pkk), islamic state, islamic state https://sputnikglobe.com/20230101/uk-branch-of-extinction-rebellion-climate-movement-vows-to-end-public-disruption-acts-1105982301.html UK Branch of Extinction Rebellion Climate Movement Vows to End Public Disruption Acts UK Branch of Extinction Rebellion Climate Movement Vows to End Public Disruption Acts MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK branch of the Extinction Rebellion environmental movement pledged to temporarily halt acts of public disruption, according to the... 01.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-01T22:29+0000 2023-01-01T22:29+0000 2023-01-01T22:29+0000 oil public protest protester london barclays bank plc /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/01/1105982156_54:0:783:410_1920x0_80_0_0_9739c7ed8ece84807248f72f1d17f990.png "As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic. We recognise and celebrate the power of disruption to raise the alarm and believe that constantly evolving tactics is a necessary approach," the statement read. The movement called for disrupting "the abuse of power and imbalance" and transitioning to "a fair society that works together to end the fossil fuel era." The statement also took a swipe at politicians who, as Extinction Rebellion claims, are "addicted to greed and bloated on profits." The climate group also urged people to join a demonstration around the Houses of Parliament in London starting April 21, which is expected to attract 100,000 participants. In November 2022, activists staged protests at more than 100 branches of the banking giant Barclays across the United Kingdom. In October, London police detained 26 Just Stop Oil activists who blocked the A4, a major road linking central London with the port city of Avonmouth. In 2022, Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion activists advocating an end to oil and gas production glued themselves to paintings in galleries and organized various protests and demonstrations, resulting in multiple traffic disruptions in central London. london Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International oil, public protest, protester, london, barclays bank plc https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/at-least-150-injured-in-baghdad-during-new-year-celebrations-according-to-health-ministry-1105983097.html At Least 150 Injured in Baghdad During New Year Celebrations, According to Health Ministry At Least 150 Injured in Baghdad During New Year Celebrations, According to Health Ministry MOSCOW (Sputnik) - At least 150 people were injured in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad due to fireworks on New Year's Eve, the countrys health authorities... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T00:30+0000 2023-01-02T00:30+0000 2023-01-02T00:30+0000 baghdad new year new year /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/02/1105982951_64:0:1303:697_1920x0_80_0_0_19b9114020e8276612a8de946faf915b.png "...the number of initial injuries in Baghdad as a result of fireworks amounted to 150, including no less than 20 eye injuries," Saif Al-Badr, a spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Sunday. The complete statistics on the number of injuries as a result of fireworks and "random shooting" in all of Iraqs governorates was expected later in the day. The health ministry spokesperson said that "there have been no deaths so far." Iraqi security forces reportedly arrested 15 people who were responsible for celebratory gunfire (shooting one's firearm into the air) in Maysan governorate about 250 miles southeast of Baghdad. baghdad Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International baghdad, new year, new year https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/ceo-russias-gazprom-advances-to-new-level-of-gas-supplies-to-china-in-january-2023-1105991472.html CEO: Russia's Gazprom Advances to New Level of Gas Supplies to China in January 2023 CEO: Russia's Gazprom Advances to New Level of Gas Supplies to China in January 2023 Russian energy giant Gazprom exceeded its annual obligations for gas supplies to China in 2022 and reached a fundamentally new level of supplies from January 1, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said on Monday. 2023-01-02T12:43+0000 2023-01-02T12:43+0000 2023-01-02T12:43+0000 economy gazprom alexei miller gas export india china power of siberia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/19440/41/194404105_0:16:3585:2032_1920x0_80_0_0_4b0b8f2536264d7f1cc4b4a8ec3af679.jpg In addition, Gazprom began to supply the daily volumes envisaged by the contract with China for 2023, a few days before the schedule, from December 31, the executive noted.The supplies are being carried out through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline under a long term contract between Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation. Operations of the pipeline started in 2019. Supplies reached 4.1 billion cubic meters of gas in 2020 and grew 2.5 times to 10.4 billion cubic meters in 2021. They will continue to expand until the pipeline reaches its target annual capacity of 38 billion cubic meters of gas by 2025.On the global scope Gazprom produced 412.6 billion cubic meters in 2022, down by 20% year-on-year.In 2021, Gazprom produced 514.8 billion cubic meters of gas, which was the best figure in the last 13 years.Gazproms exports to countries outside the former Soviet Union amounted to 100.9 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022, down by 45.5% year-on-year. Western countries have cut Russian gas imports. However, Russian officials have many times stated that Moscow will not sell oil and gas to countries that will introduce a price cap or any other sort of embargo. Russia is building up its exports to China and India. At the end of November New Delhi emerged as top global imorter of Russian crude oil. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's turn to the east, gas exports down, gazprom, india top importer of russian crude, alexey miller, embargo on russian carbons, power of siberia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/foreign-ministers-of-austria-india-say-peace-talks-only-way-to-resolve-ukrainian-crisis-1105998043.html Foreign Ministers of Austria, India Say Peace Talks Only Way to Resolve Ukrainian Crisis Foreign Ministers of Austria, India Say Peace Talks Only Way to Resolve Ukrainian Crisis VIENNA (Sputnik) - Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, called on Moscow and Kiev on Monday to... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T20:05+0000 2023-01-02T20:05+0000 2023-01-02T20:05+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine india narendra modi austria alexander schallenberg subrahmanyam jaishankar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107883/74/1078837471_0:0:3123:1756_1920x0_80_0_0_a9534becaa118c7bc16a5611cea0e5d6.jpg Earlier in the day, Schallenberg and Jaishankar held a meeting in Vienna. "Peace can be achieved at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield, and this war will not be an exception," Schallenberg said at a press conference. Schallenberg also noted Indias role in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Peace talks on the Ukrainian conflict "cannot take place without Ukraine," Schallenberg added. The Indian foreign minister noted "specific problems" in connection with the current situation in Ukraine, mentioning, in particular, nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. According to Jaishankar, on Tuesday, he intends to discuss this topic at a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi. russia ukraine austria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, india, narendra modi, austria, alexander schallenberg, subrahmanyam jaishankar https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/greece-trying-to-present-its-issues-with-turkey-as-ankaras-problems-with-nato--1105988388.html Greece Trying to Present Its Issues With Turkey as Ankara's Problems With NATO - Defense Minister Greece Trying to Present Its Issues With Turkey as Ankara's Problems With NATO - Defense Minister Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday that Athens was trying to present its issues in bilateral relations with Ankara as Turkey's problems with NATO and the United States. 2023-01-02T09:46+0000 2023-01-02T09:46+0000 2023-01-02T11:34+0000 world turkiye greece territorial disputes hulusi akar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/19/1095032943_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0c091a3ad9f9510e1a733d5b8e2da536.jpg The minister noted that Turkey and Greece had been holding bilateral consultations on trust building measures and cooperation in NATO and accused Athens of sabotaging these meetings recently. According to Akar, Athens is trying to present its problems in relationships with Ankara "as Turkey's issues in its relations with NATO, the US and EU," while also using them so as to distract people from domestic scandals. In response to Greek politicians' calling Turkey a threat, the minister said that Ankara is a reliable ally and does not threaten anyone. On Friday, Akar warned Greece about serious consequences if it arms islands in the Aegean Sea and extends its territorial waters. According to media reports, Greece plans to extend its maritime boundaries from 6 to 12 miles to the south and west of Crete. Turkey said it would not allow Greece's waters to expand by even one mile into the Aegean Sea. Ankara has previously stated that it would consider the expansion of Greek waters as a reason for war. Ankara believes that if Greece extends its territorial waters it would practically cut off Turkish waters and deprive Turkey of access to international waters, and the country would be trapped in its territorial waters. turkiye greece Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International greece-turkey relations, greece-turkey territorial dispute, turkey, greece, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/hog-wild-sweden-suffering-boar-invasion-1105985599.html Hog Wild: Sweden Suffering Boar Invasion Hog Wild: Sweden Suffering Boar Invasion Swedens wild boar population has exploded to become a threat to humans and dogs, as well as a detriment to the Nordic countrys farming. 2023-01-02T06:01+0000 2023-01-02T06:01+0000 2023-01-02T06:01+0000 world environment scandinavia sweden wild boar boar animals wildlife /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104753/29/1047532912_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_d11bc48e049f57918f1f7bb58639d973.jpg In recent years, Swedens wild boar population has exploded to become a threat to humans and dogs, as well as a detriment to the Nordic countrys agricultural sector.In December, a boar rampaged through a McDonalds restaurant in the city of Uppsala north of Stockholm. In the summer, a hunter in southern Sweden died after being gored by a boar, which became the countrys first such fatality in modern history.Furthermore, hundreds of hunting dogs get wounded each year, many of them fatally. In fact, not counting traffic accidents, wild boars were by far the major culprits behind dog injuries over the past four years, causing more deaths, losses or injuries than all other categories combined.Boars have caused more than 5,100 traffic accidents in 2022 alone. Last and perhaps most important, they destroyed a massive 84,500 tons of crops in 2020, causing losses of 1.1 billion kronor ($100 million) and creating serious insurance problems for farmers. Stories of farmers having their crops destroyed by boars have become a common sight in Swedish media.A study presented in the countrys leading nationwide specialist magazine for farmers gave a dull picture of the Swedes' relationship with their wild boar, as six out of ten respondents said its population was too big, with their share reaching 80 percent in boar-rich regions.Yet another reason for keeping the wild boar population down is to keep African swine fever at bay; the disease is fatal for wild boar and domestic pigs alike. The disease has already established itself in Swedens vicinity in Poland, Germany and the Baltic countries. Its spread to Sweden, painted as a worst-case scenario, would pose a threat to the nations pork industry as well.Wild boar has long been a natural part of the Swedish fauna, having thrived in Nordic forests since pre-historic times. At some point during the 18th century, the wild boar was exterminated and it was not until the 1940s until it was reintroduced and only in enclosures. However, escapes and illegal releases from captivity have since occurred, which made the boar population skyrocket as it spread across the country.In the early 1980s, there were fewer than 100 free-living wild boars in the country. The current boar population is estimated at 300,000 and is growing despite the annual shooting of tens of thousands of the animals. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220728/sweden-sees-record-outbreak-of-bird-flu-as-corpses-are-gathered-in-heaps-1097877224.html scandinavia sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov wild boar invasion, detriment to agriculture, agricultural damage, african swine fever, destroyed crops https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/italian-eco-activists-douse-senate-building-in-rome-with-paint--1105995787.html Italian Eco-Activists Douse Senate Building in Rome With Paint Italian Eco-Activists Douse Senate Building in Rome With Paint A group of Italian environmentalists Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) poured orange paint on the facade of the Senate's building in Italys capital of Rome on Monday, media reported. 2023-01-02T14:08+0000 2023-01-02T14:08+0000 2023-03-05T11:00+0000 world rome italian senate environmentalists environmentalist europe italy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107052/70/1070527083_0:285:5472:3363_1920x0_80_0_0_9680a5a8a5ac24fc43c9e10886f270a5.jpg Five members of the group were reportedly detained by the police. The activists said in their statement that "the desperation caused by the increasingly alarming statistics of a climate collapse that has already begun" prompted them to commit this act of vandalism. President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa expressed outrage at the eco-activists' actions and announced that he had convened a meeting of the governing council of the upper house of the Italian parliament on Tuesday to discuss the incident. rome italy Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International vandalism, eco-activism, climate change, italian senate https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/joyful-celebrations-and-deadly-stampedes-how-crowds-across-the-world-saw-in-2023-1105989288.html Joyful Celebrations and Deadly Stampedes: How Crowds Across the World Saw In 2023 Joyful Celebrations and Deadly Stampedes: How Crowds Across the World Saw In 2023 Here's how people used the opportunity to celebrate the new year in public after two years of COVID-19, and how the crowds behaved on New Year's Eve. 2023-01-02T11:45+0000 2023-01-02T11:45+0000 2023-01-02T14:07+0000 world new year's eve crowd beijing light show champs-elysees westminster bridge us shooting /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/01/1105970827_0:159:3076:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_5539cee742624263f6a609fef0fd9ca7.jpg The coming of 2023 was marked by celebrations, with dancing and shows in the streets around the world. Unfortunately, in some places, large crowds combined with poor management to lead to crushing and injury, while in other locations there were shootings.ChinaIn China, the national flag was hoisted in celebration of 2023. Hundreds of people gathered in the central squares in Beijing. The festivities were also accompanied by a beautiful light show.FranceIn France, a crowd of more than a million Parisians and visitors to the French capital gathered on the Champs-Elysees. While some 500,000 were expected to attend, officials say all went well.In the previous two years, no public events were held due to medical restrictions related to COVID. In the last pre-pandemic year, around 250,000 people took part in Parisian festivities.United KingdomAccording to British media reports in London, free-rider crowds broke through barriers on Westminster Bridge during the mass festivities in an attempt to get closer to the launching of fireworks.Several arrests were also reported on New Year's Eve, including for drunk driving, assault, possession of cannabis and a number of other offenses. In particular, a mass brawl was reported at Piccadilly Circus.AustraliaIn Australia, New Year's Eve festivities culminated in the announcement of an investigation into the mass stampede at the Elizabeth Street underpass in Melbourne. According to reports from revelers, people were directed into the already overcrowded subway due to poor administration, causing a serious crush.At the same time there was also a cram in Sydney, but on a much smaller scale and reportedly without injuries.UgandaAt least nine people were killed in a New Year's Eve stampede at a Freedom City mall in Uganda's capital Kampala, according to local reports citing police.It is noted that several juveniles were among the dead.USAIn America, apart from the celebrations and festivities, the New Year's Eve celebrations brought eight deaths and 25 injuries in several states.New Year's Eve celebrations were overshadowed by shootings as well, as a one-man machete attack on three police officers. The perpetrator, a 19-year-old man named Trevor Bickford, reportedly wanted to join the Taliban*.*Taliban is under UN sanctions over terrorism beijing champs-elysees westminster bridge Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Egor Shapovalov crowd on westminster bridge 2023, new year's eve riots in london 2023, us new year's eve shootings 2023, terrible tragedy in melbourne 2023, melbourne subway tragedy 2023, crowds on champs elysees 2023, nine dead uganda shopping mall 2023, china light show beijing 2023 https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/merkel-and-hollandes-confessions-represent-formalization-of-betrayal-by-west-says-russian-senator-1105982754.html Merkel and Hollandes Confessions Represent Formalization of Betrayal by West Says Russian Senator Merkel and Hollandes Confessions Represent Formalization of Betrayal by West Says Russian Senator An influential member of Russias Federation Council wrote that the former EU leaders admitting they never intended to honor the Minsk agreements means they... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T00:02+0000 2023-01-02T00:02+0000 2023-01-02T00:02+0000 konstantin kosachev francois hollande francois hollande angela merkel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/10/1105526874_0:220:2850:1823_1920x0_80_0_0_49e73a2d7da78388808e5ebc77b835fe.jpg A top Russian legislator said the recent admissions by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande that they had no intention of honoring their commitments under the Minsk agreements represent a formalization of betrayal by the West of the people of the Donbass.On Wednesday, Hollande acknowledged that the international agreements for which France served as a guarantor were little more than a ploy to buy time for the Ukrainian regime to increase its military capabilities with NATO weapons and training.Since 2014, Ukraine has strengthened its military posture It is the merit of the Minsk Agreements to have given the Ukrainian Army this opportunity, the former French president told a Ukrainian outlet.His comments echoed a similar confession by Merkel, who admitted in early December that Minsk was merely an attempt to buy time for Ukraine, and that Ukraine used this time to become stronger.Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Russian Federation Council and long-time Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Duma, issued a harsh condemnation of Western duplicity on Telegram.In what appears to be the first public denunciation of both Hollande and Merkels comments by a senior Russian official, the influential legislator wrote Friday that the confessions of Merkel and Hollande are a formalization of betrayal.For the West, the territorial integrity of Ukraine is all about control over land, he continued. Its about territory, not people.Its about violence, not negotiations an attitude which he noted directly contradicts so-called European values.Ultimately, Kosachev explained, our country turned out to be the only co-author of the Minsk agreements which consistently and honestly tried to act as their guarantor. It was Russia, unlike Ukraine, Germany and France, that was in this case on the side of the people. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wyatt Reed Wyatt Reed News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wyatt Reed konstantin kosachev, francois hollande, francois hollande, angela merkel https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/polish-prime-minister-expressed-indignation-over-celebration-of-banderas-birthday-1105998306.html Polish Prime Minister Expressed Indignation Over Celebration of Bandera's Birthday Polish Prime Minister Expressed Indignation Over Celebration of Bandera's Birthday WARSAW (Sputnik) - Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed his outrage on Monday to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal over the celebration of... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T20:39+0000 2023-01-02T20:39+0000 2023-01-02T20:39+0000 world stepan bandera mateusz morawiecki genocide poland ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104931/92/1049319294_0:0:701:395_1920x0_80_0_0_7ca8fd35174456194832cc7d42b8261d.jpg On January 1, the Ukrainian authorities held a series of events on the occasion of Bandera's birthday. The issue of massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in 1943-1945 is one of the most difficult issues in relations between Poland and Ukraine. The massacres were carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), the military arm of the Bandera's faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (both organizations banned in Russia). In 2016, the lower house of the Polish parliament adopted a resolution recognizing July 11 as the national day of remembrance for the victims of the genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against the inhabitants of the Second Polish Republic. Ukrainian officials consider these events to be the consequences of the war between the Polish Home Army and the UPA, in which the civilian population of the region also took part. The Ukrainian side estimates its losses at 10,000-20,000 people. The Ukrainian parliament also adopted a statement condemning the decision of the Polish parliament to recognize the Volhynia massacre as genocide. Ukrainian lawmakers believe that this decision "endangered the political and diplomatic developments of the two countries." ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International stepan bandera, mateusz morawiecki, genocide, poland, ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/south-korean-president-says-people-fed-up-with-for-show-only-summits-between-north-and-south-1105988095.html South Korean President Says People Fed Up With 'For Show-Only' Summits Between North and South South Korean President Says People Fed Up With 'For Show-Only' Summits Between North and South South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday that people were fed up with summits between the leaders of South Korea and North Korea that were "for show only. 2023-01-02T08:53+0000 2023-01-02T08:53+0000 2023-01-02T08:53+0000 world south korea north korea kim jong-un korean peninsula /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/14/1093214779_0:52:3072:1780_1920x0_80_0_0_87fb7a23565a473e94f9c30a97d771f1.jpg Yoon noted that there was no reason to reject the idea of summits, though prior discussions had to take place so as to ensure a useful outcome of the meeting. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has become more tense as North Korean leader Kim Jong -un ordered the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system last week to conduct a quick nuclear retaliatory strike. He also said that the United States, under the pretext of strengthening cooperation with South Korea and Japan, was creating an "Asian version of NATO." In response, Seoul said that measures announced by Pyongyang were "absurd" and would only worsen the situation. At the same time, South Korean Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn noted that his country would still "unwaveringly" promote efforts to return to dialogue with the North. south korea korean peninsula Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International tensions on korean peninsula, south korea, north korea, nuclear arms https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/suspect-in-machete-attack-on-new-york-police-wanted-to-join-taliban-reports-say-1105987412.html Suspect in Machete Attack on New York Police Wanted to Join Taliban, Reports Say Suspect in Machete Attack on New York Police Wanted to Join Taliban, Reports Say A suspect in a machete attack on police officers in New York wanted to join the Taliban. 2023-01-02T09:23+0000 2023-01-02T09:23+0000 2023-01-02T09:23+0000 americas terrorist attack taliban police machete attack stabbing stabbing attack knife attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101607/83/1016078344_0:188:1600:1088_1920x0_80_0_0_aed85ad6f40322a90651627f0b3f25e5.jpg Last week, New York city police said that Trevor Bickford attacked the police with machete near Times Square on the New Year's Eve injuring three officers. The perpetrator was arrested after getting shot in the shoulder.According to the media, the 19-year old man carried a diary where he expressed his wish to join the Taliban and "die as a martyr." The suspect is in custody and remains under police guard at a hospital where he is treated for a gunshot wound.*Taliban is under UN sanctions over terrorism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/multiple-fatalities-dozens-of-injuries-for-america-a-new-year-brings-new-violence-1105983217.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International machete, taliban, terrorism, police, ncpd, machete attack on police https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/syrias-idlib-de-escalation-zone-attacked-seven-times-in-past-day---reconciliation-center-1105998699.html Syria's Idlib De-escalation Zone Attacked Seven Times in Past Day - Reconciliation Center Syria's Idlib De-escalation Zone Attacked Seven Times in Past Day - Reconciliation Center MOSCOW, January 3 (Sputnik) - The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group* shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone seven times over the past 24 hours, Maj. Gen. Oleg... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T22:39+0000 2023-01-02T22:39+0000 2023-01-08T16:47+0000 world idlib jabhat al nusra latakia syria /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0c/10/1081477911_0:0:3132:1762_1920x0_80_0_0_a17596a83c1ba7919d5131bf3dd73c15.jpg "Seven shelling attacks from the positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone over the past day," Maj. Gen. Yegorov said. The Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Control over the Movement of Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic was established in February 2016. Its tasks include the signing of agreements on illegal armed groups and individual settlements joining the regime of cessation of hostilities, as well as coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid.*Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group is banned in Russia idlib latakia syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International idlib, jabhat al nusra, latakia, syria https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/tricks-and-pitfalls-of-new-years-resolutions-1105997631.html Tricks and Pitfalls of New Year's Resolutions Tricks and Pitfalls of New Year's Resolutions One of the ways to succeed in following through with one's New Year's resolutions is to maintain one's desire to succeed in that pursuit, however banal this may sound. 2023-01-02T17:49+0000 2023-01-02T17:49+0000 2023-01-02T17:52+0000 viral new years resolution psychology /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/01/1105969959_0:160:3070:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_2074c7e1cbd1d92af817d0aeeeea651d.jpg As one year draws to a close and another begins, many tend to make the New Years resolutions, often seeking to do away with some bad habits and acquire better ones.Yet while some end up following through with their commitments, there are also those who fail to do so, and it seems that there are several factors affecting ones ability to succeed in this matter.Robert West, emeritus professor of behavioral science and health at University College London, pointed out that people essentially tend to pursue the things they desire at the present rather than at some point in the past."Throughout our waking hours, we act in pursuit of what we most desire at that precise point in time not an hour ago, a day ago or five minutes ago," he told Live Science. "That is why it is so often hard to do things we set out to do. When the time comes, we forget what it was we planned or some other desire turns out to be stronger."He advised that one should plan ahead in order to ensure that one's desire to follow the plan is stronger than anything else."Susan Michie, professor of health psychology and director of the University College Londons Centre for Behavior Change, also suggested that a phenomenon called the intention-behavior gap may play a role in this matter."Although someone may feel highly motivated to change, feeling is not enough to make things happen; they also need to have the skills to manage their behavior and the opportunity to make it happen," she said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221224/new-year-the-japanese-way-start-your-life-from-scratch-1105732738.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International new year, new year's resolutions, new year's resolution how to keep https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/turkey-launches-work-on-gas-hub-project-proposed-by-russia---energy-minister-1105998438.html Turkey Launches Work on Gas Hub Project Proposed by Russia - Energy Minister Turkey Launches Work on Gas Hub Project Proposed by Russia - Energy Minister ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey has started work on the gas hub project proposed by Russia, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Monday. 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T21:21+0000 2023-01-02T21:21+0000 2023-01-02T21:21+0000 world gazprom alexander novak turkiye russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/10/1100842069_0:229:3234:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_1e5b2deb0088603799830fca22398ad3.jpg "We intend to take advantage of this project, there are opportunities and terminals for this," Donmez said in an interview with TVnet. According to the minister, Ankara has already started concrete work. He noted that over time the interest of European countries in the project could increase. On October 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow could redirect gas transit from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines to Turkey. The next day, Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the idea during their face-to-face meeting in Astana. On October 14, Erdogan said that the two leaders instructed relevant energy authorities in both countries to study in detail the prospects of creating a gas hub in Turkey. On December 23, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Gazprom started working with its Turkish counterparts and other potential partners in the gas hub project. He said the final decision on creating a gas hub in Turkey could be made in 2023. turkiye russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gazprom, alexander novak, turkiye, russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230102/venezuela-ready-to-normalize-relations-with-us-maduro-says-1105983589.html Venezuela Ready to Normalize Relations With US, Maduro Says Venezuela Ready to Normalize Relations With US, Maduro Says CARACAS (Sputnik) - The government of Venezuela is prepared to advance in the process of normalizing political and diplomatic relations with the United States... 02.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-02T02:59+0000 2023-01-02T02:59+0000 2023-01-02T02:59+0000 venezuela us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/03/1083296526_0:308:2953:1969_1920x0_80_0_0_5baf1df941a2cd4e9fa52dc4363b97cd.jpg "Venezuela is prepared, fully prepared to take steps towards a process of normalization and regulation of diplomatic, consular, and political relations with this US government and with the government that may come," Maduro said in a Sunday interview with journalist Ignacio Ramonet. Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with the US in 2019, after the latter recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president instead of re-elected Nicolas Maduro. Washington, in turn, imposed crippling sanctions on Caracas, targeting the country's oil and financial industries. Contacts between the two countries resumed to some extent in March 2022, when US President Joe Biden sent a delegation to Caracas to negotiate with the Maduro government on the issue of oil supplies amid the energy crisis amplified by Western sanctions against Russia. Talks about a possible thaw in US-Venezuela relations started following reports that the Venezuelan opposition was ready to oust Guaido, and the US indicated it would not interfere in the process. On Friday, the Venezuelan opposition supported, in a second hearing, the elimination of the self-proclaimed "interim government" that Juan Guaido had led since 2019. venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International venezuela, us Longtime horseman Milton Fitzgerald of Brechin, Ont. passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving children on Nov. 8, 2022 after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure at the age of 84. Milton was predeceased by his beautiful wife Grace Fitzgerald, who passed away in April of this year of cancer. He is survived by his children Robert, John and Della as well as six grandchildren Justin, Skye, Weston, Heather, Jade, and Brandi and three great grandchildren Lily, Trace, and Aubree. Milton's love for harness racing was only matched by his love for fishing but his true joy came from his family. Seeing his children grow to have children of their own brought him his greatest joy. He was a kind, fun-loving man who will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Milton Fitzgerald. Media Buzz is the definite choice for outdoor advertising as it offers more options in an economical range and helps clients reach the maximum ROI for their businesses captivates the attention and interest of the audience. It stands as one of the most convenient modes that help in larger outreach of the audience and the target location is a strategic input, when played carefully can leverage the best interests of the brand. The mode of outdoor advertising also suggests that the brand is capable enough to invest in visual modes to stand apart and gain a definite status in the competitive zone. Media Buzz provides complete and strategic outdoor solutions, that are not only restricted to the owned media sources but also take space from the other media owners as well. Media Buzz offers a plethora of outdoor advertising services that help in the expansion of business and brand outreach, multiplying the business abilities of the brand.At Media Buzz, the client expectations are all that matters. For this purpose, a one-on-one meet with the client is conducted to understand the client requisites and then the options are suggested based on the coverage they are targeting and the kind of exposure plus the duration of exposure they want. Media Buzz has been grounded enough to offer multi location advertising and the rich experience it has in the sector, further complements the audacious attempt for hassle-free delivery. We strongly believe in the funda of timely delivery of quality service. Over a period of time, we have garnered an attractive list of clientele. Customer satisfaction and euphoria were, is, and certainly will always be our prime concern, says Aashit.Media Buzz has come a long way, combating the challenges that came along. The outdoor advertising industry paces with tech-accompanied solutions that one needs to be ahead, in the competitive space. One of the pain points is the quality of the deliverables and this calls for choosing a reputed partner that has a good network of vendors for supplies. Media Buzz has been recently awarded with some Corporation Tenders of Gantry & Uniopoles at Premium Areas of Ahmedabad City. The road ahead for the company is to expand its operations across various other newly developed areas of Ahmadabad City where upcoming residential & commercial localities coming up. The firm is currently invested in a radio project at Indore City at Chappan Food Court that will leverage more opportunities for brands it partners with. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Malicious mischief Cowlitz County sheriffs officers Tuesday arrested Steven Carson, 24, of Kelso, on suspicion of felony malicious mischief and resisting arrest. Stolen vehicle, identity theft Cowlitz County sheriffs officers Tuesday arrested Eric Surgent, 43, of Norland, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, forgery and identity theft; and the sheriffs officers arrested Andrea Moore, 40, of Tacoma, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of identity theft and criminal impersonation. Surgent and Moore were arrested in the same case after police received a report of a Chevy truck stolen from Milwaukie, Oregon, being tracked to the area. Forgery Longview police Tuesday arrested Stephen Hogan Barrera, 34, of Portland, on suspicion of forgery and attempted theft. Hit and run Longview police Tuesday arrested Destiny Lovejoy, 36, of Castle Rock, on suspicion of hit and run and driving with a suspended license. Fraud 1100 block of 18th Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. Burglary 11100 block of Lewis River Road, Ariel. Tuesday. Home and garage burglary, suspect identified. Stolen vehicles 1100 block of Industrial Way, Longview. Tuesday. Green 2000 Toyota Corolla. OR 277LPJ. 1000 block of Bloyd Street, Kelso. Tuesday. Blue 2004 Chevy Cavalier. WA AGN8854. 1000 block of Pacific Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. White 1998 Honda Civic. WA BKK2860. No muffler, Confederate flag sticker on back window. Thefts 100 block of Kalama River Road, Kalama. Tuesday. Catalytic converter stolen. 1200 block of Fourth Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. Bag of items stolen from porch. Vandalism/malicious mischief 100 block of Huntington Avenue, Castle Rock. Tuesday. Fence cut. 500 block of Allen Street, Kelso. Tuesday. Tables vandalized. 400 block of Oregon Way, Longview. Tuesday. Damage to gas line near buildings meter. 1600 block of Louisiana Street, Longview. Tuesday. Suspect seen drawing on crosswalk pole. Vehicle prowls 300 block of Pacific Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. 900 block of 33rd Avenue, Longview. Tuesday. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Sampriti Bhattacharyya is bringing a 30-foot electric yacht to the upcoming CES gadget show in Las Vegas. The co-founder and CEO of electric hydrofoil startup Navier said she hopes her company's debut line of luxury boats helps spark a broader shift to a cleaner maritime industry, much like Tesla did for electric cars. Headquartered along San Francisco Bay in Alameda, California, the startup's influential supporters include Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Its first boats are being built in Maine, with composite parts from Rhode Island and other U.S. boating hubs. Bhattacharyya spoke about her company with The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: How would you describe your first product? A: We just launched the Navier 30. It's a 30-foot electric hydrofoiling boat. Our goal is to be the longest-range electric boat at cruising speed. It has a 75 nautical miles range. And hopefully in the next year, we aim to push it to 100 nautical miles. This is really America's first all-electric hydrofoil boat. Q: How much does it cost? A: $375,000, starting base range. Q: How many have you sold? A: Our first year, we are only making 15. Those are all sold out. But we have a pretty massive waitlist. Q: Is there a parallel to Tesla where you're launching the luxury vehicle first and down the road looking at more accessible options? A: I love being out in the water and I don't think it should be limited to just a few. So there will be more announcements on that. The big picture is the N30 is really a technology platform, where we are perfecting our hydrofoil control and parts of our autonomy technology. Then you'll be seeing much more scalable options, even for recreational boaters. Q: How important is autonomy? A: Most recreational boaters enjoy driving a boat but what's been most requested in terms of autonomy is auto-docking. Docking can be pretty overwhelming, especially if you're a beginner. Even for experienced boaters, some slips can be really tight. It can be pretty challenging to do it singlehandedly. So if you think about a 6-passenger water taxi, you have to have a commercial captain license. That's very expensive, like a $50-an-hour job. So removing the captain has a huge cost benefit in making water taxis accessible. Q: How does this relate to your research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology? A: I was an aerospace engineer who always thought I was going to go to space. Then at MIT, I started working on underwater drones for monitoring energy systems, like nuclear reactors or boiling water reactors. But when the Malaysian airliner got lost (in 2014), my attention turned to the ocean. We are talking about going to Mars and we cannot find a massive plane that gets lost in the ocean. That's crazy. This is 70% of the worldthe future of food, energyand we are thinking of settling outside of this planet. But why wouldn't humanity expand beyond the shores of land? I saw the opportunity for building a next-generation maritime company. Q: Who do you see as Navier's customers 10 years from now? A: There is a huge untapped opportunity in boating. Today, boats are looked at something like a wealthy person's toy. With technology, making the waterways more accessible will open up a huge new mode of transportation that we have never imagined before. If you are able to make small vessels move things and people on the water, suddenly the waterways are no more an obstacle and every marina can turn into a train station stop, essentially. Q: Why aren't water taxis more popular? A: One reason is cost, including fuel cost. Another is ride quality. People get seasick. There is nobody who would want to be on a choppy water taxi twice a day. With the hydrofoil boat, you're flying above the water. So it's really the feeling of being on a jet plane. You can have a wine glass and it does not spill. And it's quiet, extremely quiet. You can have a conversation, unlike on a gas boat. Q: Who are your main competitors? A: There are other hydrofoil boats, obviously, but that's not what we see as competitors. We've got to transition to cleaner options. So the main competitors would be your gas boats that are out there that are polluting our waterways. That's what we want to replace. Electric boats are still a tiny, tiny, tiny percentage of the total number of boats. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is no longer on the market. Wallace married his long-time girlfriend Amanda Carter on New Years Eve in Charlotte, North Carolina in front of 250 guests. Wallace and his new wife gave exclusive access to their wedding to People magazine. Getting married, and starting a new life together, Im just so excited to have a good one in my corner, Wallace told People. We have so much fun together. Bubba Wallace Marries Amanda Carter! Inside Their New Year's Eve Wedding in North Carolina https://t.co/2czbC9VBSm People (@people) January 1, 2023 The couple got engaged last summer after five years of dating. We wanted the ceremony, (which was held on the hotels 4th floor) to be formal, and then as soon as you walk down the staircase to the reception, we wanted the whole mood to flip, says Carter. The flowers are changing from white to vibrant with pinks, purples, reds, with a lot of sparkle and shine in the room. We wanted the reception to feel like a New Years Eve party. Wallace has become one of the most popular and, at times, one of the most hated drivers on the NASCAR circuit. His personality has sometimes rubbed some of his fellow NASCAR colleagues the wrong way, but he signed a contract with Michael Jordans 23XI racing team and won several races over the past few years, becoming the first African-American driver to win at Talladega. {People} Google has agreed to pay a total of $29.5 million to settle two different lawsuits brought by Indiana and Washington, D.C., over its "deceptive" location tracking practices. The search and advertising giant is required to pay $9.5 million to D.C. and $20 million to Indiana after the states sued the company for charges that the company tracked users' locations without their express consent. The settlement adds to the $391.5 million Google agreed to pay to 40 states over similar allegations two months ago. The company is still facing two more location-tracking lawsuits in Texas and Washington. The lawsuits came in response to revelations in 2018 that the internet company continued to track users' whereabouts on Android and iOS through a setting called Web & App Activity despite turning Location History options off. Google was also accused of employing dark patterns, which refer to design choices intended to deceive users into carrying out actions that violate their privacy and overshare information without their knowledge or affirmation. "Google uses location data collected from Indiana consumers to build detailed user profiles and target ads, but Google has deceived and misled users about its practices since at least 2014," the Indiana state said in a press release last week. Pursuant to the settlement, the company has been ordered to notify users with Location History and Web & App Activity enabled about whether location data is being collected, alongside steps users can take to disable the settings and delete the data. Google is also expected to maintain a web page that discloses all the types and sources of location data it gathers as well as refrain from sharing users' precise location information with third-party advertisers without explicit consent. What's more, it will need to automatically delete location data derived from a "device or from IP addresses in Web & App Activity within 30 days" of obtaining the information. UPCOMING WEBINAR Learn to Secure the Identity Perimeter - Proven Strategies Improve your business security with our upcoming expert-led cybersecurity webinar: Explore Identity Perimeter strategies! Don't Miss Out Save Your Seat! The Mountain View-based company, in November 2022, noted that the lawsuits are based on "outdated product policies" and that it has rolled out a number of privacy and transparency enhancements that allow users to auto-delete location data tied to their accounts. Google further stated it will start providing more "detailed" information regarding the Web & App Activity control, in addition to launching an information hub and a new toggle to turn off both Location History and Web & App Activity settings and delete past data in "one simple flow." "Given the vast level of tracking and surveillance that technology companies can embed into their widely used products, it is only fair that consumers be informed of how important user data, including information about their every move, is gathered, tracked, and utilized by these companies," D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine said. A winter storm featuring plenty of ice and wind is supposed to culminate in Central Nebraska Monday night into Tuesday. According to Nebraska Weather Service in Hastings, the hazardous conditions are more likely to impact the Monday evening commute and the morning commute on Tuesday. This is (an) event you kind of want to keep an eye on, especially if you need to be traveling, said Amanda Wekesser, a NWS-Hastings meteorologist. As temperatures fall after about 6 p.m. Monday, wet roads will become icy. The storm seems to be pretty much on track, Wekesser said, but temperatures are registering a bit colder than what was earlier expected. Wekesser said ice is the big concern at this point. Our icing potential looks like it's increasing here, where we could see a few tenths of an inch of ice. As our temperatures drop the road conditions are not going to be great, potentially slick conditions and then we get the freezing rain on top of that. National Weather Service warns that accumulating ice, coupled with high winds, could lead to power outages. Some snow is also on the way for the Tri-Cities, Wekesser said. It does look like things are going to be switching over to more of that snow on the backside of this system as it continues to move its way through. Right now we're looking at about one to two, with maybe an isolated higher amount here and there, she said. Areas north of a line from Valley County to Lexington will have more severe weather than the Tri-Cities, Wekesser said. Counties included in a Winter Weather Advisory until noon Tuesday are: Hall, Buffalo, Valley, Greeley, Nance, Sherman, Howard, Merrick, Polk, Dawson, Hamilton, Gosper and Phelps. This includes the towns of Grand Island, Kearney and Aurora. YORK The York County Commissioners have given their nod of approval for a Class Z liquor license for a new distillery to be located in the rural area of the county. Derek Keller, the applicant, asked for the approval for his company, Blended Distilling LLC. In the liquor permit application, Keller said, As a military veteran-owned company with the head distiller having over 10 years of alcohol experience, we strive to work hard and push to bring quality to every bottle of shine produced. Being a sugar-based moonshine, we will stand out from all other distilleries in the area and bring a bold yet smooth flavor to the market. Customers will find the drive easy as we are located right off the highway while still close enough to support the local city. We will offer a quality moonshine made from beet sugar. This product will offer a new style and flavor. We are starting with the recipe rights from an agreement with another distillery in Colorado. Barrel-aged products will take 3-5 years to make and will be worked in as the business grows. The majority of bulk sales will be through a distributor, Keller said further in the application. A tasting room will be the secondary source of income, through retail sales and then actual samples purchased in the tasting room. Promotions for certain seasons and holidays as well as gift cards will be a marketing tool. Keller told the YNT he will be producing a variety of flavors like apple pie and peach cobbler. It will be a smaller location to start out, with plans to expand as the business grows. They hope to open in the beginning of April. The commissioners conducted a public hearing regarding the liquor license, as is required by law. The county board was asked to consider the application because the location of the business is outside the city limits of any municipality, as it will be located at 1420 Road N. No one from the public spoke in favor of or against the application. It is my understanding this is more so regulated by the federal government because this is hard liquor, said Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier. This is something different, as we dont have one of these in the county now. If we approve this application, then it will go from us on to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for their approval. The county board members gave full approval. Also during this weeks meeting of the York County Commissioners: It was noted all the newly elected and reelected county officials will take the oath of office (for four-year terms) at 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, Jan. 5, in the York County Courtroom. Lori Byers from the countys aging services offices said they have taken ownership of a new vehicle and a new meal coordinator has been hired. She also noted they will be hiring a new care manager. The commissioners signed off on a grant application for the juvenile diversion program which will fund the office in 2023. The commissioners gave approval to a new corporate manager for the liquor license held by the Henderson Fuel Stop. BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior official on the Chinese mainland has called for joint efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work toward the goals of national rejuvenation and national reunification. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year's message carried in the first issue of the "Relations Across Taiwan Strait" magazine in 2023. Song said that the Chinese mainland maintained the initiative and ability to steer cross-Strait relations and united compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to advance cross-Strait ties in 2022. Continued efforts were made in the year to make the historical merits of the Taiwan question and mainland's major principles and policies on work related to Taiwan clear to compatriots in Taiwan and to the international community, said Song. The mainland took concrete measures to support Taiwan compatriots and businesses and help them resolve difficulties, noted Song. China continued the fight against separatist activities and external intervention in affairs regarding Taiwan, effectively deterring external forces who attempted to use Taiwan to contain China, said Song. "In 2023, we will uphold the policy of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems' and carry out extensive and in-depth discussions on cross-Strait ties and national reunification with people of foresight from various sectors of Taiwan society on the basis of one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus," Song said. "We will resolutely defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and take firm action against separatist activities and external intervention," Song added. YORK Irene Lira, 44, whose address has been listed in court documents as a variety of locations in York, York County and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, was sentenced to prison this past week for two felonies after being wanted by local authorities, arrested and charged with nine felonies including the delivery of methamphetamine. According to court documents, the York Police Department received information that Lira and Michael Fortner (who also had an active warrant) were in the area of Nobes Road and Lincoln Avenue, occupying a Blue Honda Fit with California plates. An officer with the police department located them and upon searching Fortners person found a bag of marijuana, as well as a bag containing methamphetamine. When the officer asked Lira for her identification, she presented a California identification card bearing the name of Yanira Sylvette Galimberty Navarro. The officer says in his affidavit he already knew Lira from past contacts and knew the identification claim was false. The officer asked Lira to exit the vehicle and when she did, he saw a glass pipe where she was sitting, which is used to smoke methamphetamine. The officer also saw Lira attempting to hide something in her pants. After they were arrested, Lira told officers they were high on methamphetamine and they had not gone without methamphetamine before. During a search of the vehicle, the officers found: 10 cell phones, a methamphetamine bong made out of a childs juice cup, multiple torches, two concentrated THC vape pens, a methamphetamine bong, one methamphetamine pipe, a bottle containing Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride, a digital scale, four grams of methamphetamine, two ounces of marijuana, two loaded syringes, a bucket with miscellaneous drugs and paraphernalia, a marijuana pipe, a large quantity of sale baggies, a plastic tube containing methamphetamine and a meth kit. It is also noted in court documents that Liras warrants have been active for over nine months and she has a history of fleeing charges and returning to California. Lira was initially charged with delivery of an exceptionally hazardous drug, a Class 2 felony; first degree forgery, a Class 3 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; criminal impersonation, a Class 4 felony; obstruction of government operations, a Class 1 misdemeanor; false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor; inhaling certain compounds, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and two counts of unlawful acts relating to drugs, both Class 3 misdemeanors. Earlier this fall, charges were amended to possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, and criminal impersonation, also a Class 4 felony. Each count carries a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison with 12 months of post-release supervision. Lira pleaded no contest to the remaining two charges. This week, Judge James Stecker sentenced Lira to one year in prison for each count. She was also ordered to 12 months of post-release supervision after the prison sentence is fulfilled. THE Journal Insider A High School Class on the History of Poison and Murder As a Mini-Case Study for Competency-Based Education Former Teacher Todd Ryckman on Why the CBE Model Works and How It Could Revolutionize K12 Schools and Student Outcomes Cypher Learning, the company behind the NEO K20 learning management system, was founded on the idea that the modern instructional model of public education is not, in fact, modern at all. Former classroom teacher Todd Ryckman, now global director of customer success at Cypher Learning, felt the same way when he was in a traditional classroom; he eventually attended an education conference that sparked a new vision of what education could be, and he helped start a competency-based education academy in his district. How, he's a full-fledged proponent of the CBE model of instruction and helps schools all over the world revolutionize learning in ways large and small using Cypher Learning's platforms. The concept behind competency-based education is simple: learning is best measured by students demonstrating mastery of learning, rather than the number of hours spent in a classroom, summarizes the Aurora Institute, a leading educator-led reform advocacy nonprofit and CBE proponent. By redesigning the education system around actual student learning, we will prepare each student more effectively for a future in an increasingly global and competitive economy. In this episode of THE Journal Insider podcast, Ryckman joins THEJournal.com editor Kristal Kuykendall for a discussion about the CBE movement, what it looks like in school districts that have been implementing CBE over the past five years, and how Cypher Learnings NEO LMS empowers educators and students, regardless of whether their school uses the traditional or modern instructional model or more of a CBE approach. THE Journal Insider podcast explores current ed tech trends and issues impacting K12 educators, IT professionals, instructional technologists, education leaders, and ed tech providers. Listen in as THEJournal.com Editor Kristal Kuykendall chats with ed tech experts, educators, and industry leaders about how they are 'meeting the moment' in the U.S. public education system. Find all podcast episodes as well as K12 ed tech news updated daily at THEJournal.com. Resource links: Cypher Learning Aurora Institute Kettle Moraine School District Kettle Moraines Personalized Learning Guide Digital Promise: An Analysis of Kettle Moraines CBE experiment Music by LemonMusicStudio from Pixabay The Regional Medical Center will develop a Community Health Improvement Plan to address health care challenges in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties. A hospital steering committee will be formed to help develop the plan based on the Community Health Needs Assessment already completed. The Community Health Needs Assessment was the result of a collaboration between RMC and its affiliate, the Tri-County Healthcare Network. The network promotes healthy lifestyles, addresses health care disparities and works to improve access to health care. The 100-page Community Health Needs Assessment was developed with information from focus groups, online surveys and more. The assessments findings revealed that the areas top health concerns are access to affordable health care, obesity, access to healthy foods, access to information on healthy eating and better personal health care. Lung cancer and increased vaping were also cited as concerns. RMC Director of Grants and Tri-County Health Network Stephanie Harrison said the aging population also expressed concerns about breast cancer. The RMC board of trustees recently gave unanimous approval to the Community Health Needs Assessment and gave the go-ahead to proceed with the development of the Community Health Improvement Plan. Harrison informed trustees that the Community Health Needs Assessment is mandatory under the Affordable Care Act and the Internal Revenue Service. A Community Health Needs Assessment must be done every three years. Since the 2019 Community Health Improvement Plan, the hospital has implemented a number of healthy food and exercise activities such as Walk with the Doc. Harrison said the hospital has also been able to expand its funding sources to do more things to impact the community. The Community Health Improvement Plan needs to be developed and approved by May 15, 2023, Harrison said. The Community Health Needs Assessment will be disseminated to the public via the hospitals website and through publications. In other matters: RMC Finance Committee Chairman Steve Tyson said efforts have been implemented to improve the hospitals revenue cycle, with one of these measures being to enter into an agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services to add six certified medical coders to the hospitals staff. A lot of attention has been paid to that (revenue cycle), Tyson said. Tyson said meetings have also been held with hospital administration and its revenue cycle team to improve accounts receivables. We may be seeing some signs of those improvements coming in, Tyson said. It is probably too early to tell, but it looks like collections have been better over the last week, ten days. Trustees unanimously approved a contract with FTI in hopes the firm will help it collect on its accounts receivables, particularly accounts receivables over 91 days old. Tyson did note the hospital met payroll for October and that bills have been paid. Strategic Planning Chair Jeannine Kees said the planning committee has expanded the request for proposal field for the development of a Santee medical clinic in an effort to attract a larger pool of bidders. The initial RPF attracted about two companies. The issue will be brought back for the next board meeting in January. We are short on the funding for that project, Kees said, noting the hospital will look for additional grants to make the project happen. She said the hospital will also work with Orangeburg County Council on the matter. Kees said the committee has continued to look at hospital service lines to determine which ones are profitable and said the committee has requested a copy of the hospitals strategic plan to better understand how to proceed. The hospitals primary stroke recertification program has received approval from the Joint Commission. The program received recertification for demonstrating compliance with national, evidence-based standards for stroke care. The Joint Commission accredits more than 22,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs across the United States. Trustees were informed there were medical staff appointments in the hospitals department of surgery, teleradiology and telepsychiatry departments and a trainee in the hospitals vascular access program. Board members were informed of a board governance training series. Upon completion of the series, trustees will be awarded the 2022-2023 advanced trustee education certificate. Trustees unanimously approved the hospitals new bylaws. The most significant changes are the reduction of the board from 17 to 11 members and the elimination of redundant committees. Trustees entered into closed session to discuss employment matters. The next RMC Board of Trustees regularly monthly meeting is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27 at the Medical Arts Center at 1175 Cook Road, Suite 325 in Orangeburg. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Chapter, Voorhees College, presented its first Elaborate Pink and Green Extravaganza on Dec. 4. Miranda Johnson served as the chairperson for the extravaganza, along with the members of Eta Nu Chapter and the Graduate Advisory Council. The Eta Nu Chapter members focused on the basic principles of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. They included sisterhood, scholarship and service to all mankind. The participants included babies, toddlers and preschool children ages 0-5. The event provided opportunities for young children to form lifelong relationships, become exposed to funds that support knowledge and learning, and grasp how to help one another. The members of the Eta Nu Chapter were excited to enhance their skills and engage in the Denmark community by enriching relationships and absorbing teachable moments. Eta Nu Chapter members recognized the following top performers in Wee, Tiny, and Little categories: 2022, Assistant Elaborate Wee Pink & Green, Alluree' GraeAnderson. Her parents are Safari Jones and Ra'keem Anderson. The Elaborate Wee Pink & Green is Ace'lyn Dior Sanders. She is the daughter of Brittany O'Berry and Jason Sanders. The Elaborate Tiny Pink & Green Deziree Kalani James was championed by her parents Daron and Dysha James. The Elaborate Little Pink & Green Makenzie Noelle Simmons demonstrated leadership in her category. Her parents Shakayla Johnson and Everson Simmons ensured she was Elaborate and focused on serving as a big sister, made unforgettable friends, and learned about funds that will assist her after she prepares for the future. Eta Nu Chapter members, Graduate Advisory Council and Graduate adviser Antigone Solomon are thankful for the support and contributions as the community galvanized together ensuring the extravaganza became a reality. Wyomings Emergency Rental Assistance Program which as of Dec. 22 had served more than 15,000 households across the state stopped accepting new applications in November. Its still supporting qualifying renters who applied before that deadline. But unless it gets more federal funding, the program could run out of money as early as next spring. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, housing advocates feared a wave of homelessness could be on the horizon. Federal intervention seems to have forestalled that for the short-term. In addition to the national eviction bans in 2020 and 2021, it funneled billions into rental assistance and other relief programs. But some cities that have already run out of their share of the money are starting to report spikes in homelessness, the Associated Press reported in October. Could the end of ERAP and other pandemic safety net programs push Wyoming in the same direction? The state could know more later this month, when the Wyoming Homelessness Collaborative takes part in the annual point-in-time count. The Wyoming Homelessness Collaborative is the states official Continuum of Care agency. The Continuum of Care, overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is the federal governments main homeless assistance program. Every state is required to have at least one organization that provides Continuum of Care services, and all Continuum of Care organizations must participate in the annual point-in-time count. To that end, volunteers across Wyoming will go around asking community members where they were the night of Jan. 25. The results will give a rough idea of how Wyomings homeless population has changed since last year. Its far from a perfect metric. The point-in-time count only gathers information about one day, for one. And homelessness is, in and of itself, hard to measure people struggling with housing instability arent just out on the streets or in shelters. Some take refuge in motels or couch surf with friends. What we do know is that point-in-time surveys indicate homelessness has been on the rise in the state for the past several years. In 2019, surveyors found 548 people experiencing homelessness in Wyoming. In 2020, that number was 612. Totals dipped to 403 in 2021, though data collection was limited that year due to the pandemic. Then, in 2022, it rose to 648. Thats up about 5.9% from 2020. The national homelessness rate only increased .3% over that same period, according to HUD data. The point-in-time count can also shed light on which populations are struggling most with housing instability, since it gathers demographic information on things like sex, age and race. Native American, Hispanic and Black people make up a disproportionate share of Wyomings homelessness population, previous surveys have shown. Past results indicate men are more likely to be homeless in Wyoming than women, too. From 2020 to 2022, state data also showed a 10% increase in homelessness among single people without children. (Nationally, homelessness among single people increased about 3.1%.) If national numbers are any indication, chronic homelessness is also worth keeping an eye on. (Chronic homelessness usually refers to homelessness that lasts a year or more.) Even though homelessness didnt increase much between 2020 and 2022 nationally, rates went up 16% among chronically homeless disabled people. Wyomings point-in-time data didnt show that same jump, but chronically homeless people accounted for more than 13% of cases in the 2022 survey. CHEYENNE (WNE) A woman has been arrested following reports of shots being fired Thursday morning at a residence east of Holliday Park. At approximately 10:55 a.m., Cheyenne Police officers responded to the 1400 block of Rollins Avenue. The preliminary investigation shows the property owner, Peggy Zdenek, 60, of Cheyenne, attempted to conduct an inspection of a tenants room but was refused entry. It is alleged that the two had been involved in an ongoing verbal altercation prior to the incident. Zdenek then reportedly pulled a firearm and shot at the door multiple times while the tenant was inside. There were two other tenants in the home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported, according to a CPD news release. Upon arriving at the scene, officers located Zdenek in the front yard of the residence. She was apprehended at approximately 11:07 a.m. without further incident. Zdenek was booked into the Laramie County jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment. This case remains under investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department. Congress early last month passed a roughly $1.7 trillion spending package. The bill, which awaits President Joe Bidens signature, contains historic funding for Indian Health Service and support for other programs across Indian Country. The federal budget for 2023, also known as the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package, funds the government through September. Sen. Jon Tester voted in favor of the legislation. Sen. Steve Daines opposed the package, and in a statement said it is packed with wasteful spending and fails to address the crises facing Montana families. The package includes nearly $7 billion for Indian Health Service a $297 million increase from 2022. And for the first time, the budget will provide Indian Health Service (IHS) with advance appropriations, or future funding. IHS Director Roselyn Tso said the advance appropriations will provide critically needed protection from budgetary uncertainty. She said predictable funding will ensure access to health care services and enable IHS to effectively manage budgets and improve health outcomes for Indigenous people. IHS is the federal agency responsible for providing health care for all federally recognized tribes. The agency has long been criticized for being chronically underfunded. In Montana, IHS served 80,468 people, and a recent report estimated that the federal agency addressed about 48% of the health care needs for the population it serves. That same report estimated that IHS would need $49.9 billion in 2023 to be adequately funded. While the appropriated $7 billion falls short of IHS needs, the report also argued that advance appropriations were critical, as unpredictable funding creates long-term uncertainty and makes it challenging to maintain and modernize needed health care infrastructure. The report stated that predictable funding could help IHS recruit and retain staff. IHS employs more than 15,000 people. In the Billings area, which includes facilities in Montana and Wyoming, IHS has a 51% medical officers vacancy rate, 51% nurse vacancy rate, 48% advance practice nurse vacancy rate and 44% physician assistant vacancy rate. Funding in Indian Country The federal budget includes $3.8 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education and office of the Special Trustee. It allocates $1.02 billion for Native housing programs, $22.7 million for tribal mental health behavioral grants, $23.6 million for tribal substance abuse prevention and $3.4 million for tribal suicide prevention grants. The package also includes several investments in public safety in Indian Country, including $129 million to the Department of Justice to support tribal programs. The budget appropriates $25 million for tribal law enforcement special initiatives, $72 million for tribal courts and $34.8 million for tribal justice support. It also allocates $1 million for research on violence against Native women. While Native Americans account for 6.7% of Montanas population, they comprise, on average, 26% of the states active missing persons population. Your childs education should be a family priority, according to Kimarie Richardson-Thomas, who has taught for 23 years in the public school system. Richardson-Thomas is the Academic Dean at Goodwood Secondary School, and teaches English Language, English Literature, and CAPE Communication Studies. JINAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- On Monday, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially came into force for Indonesia, and on the same day, Shandong, a province in east China, issued the first RCEP certificate of origin for export to Indonesia. The certificate of origin will cut the tariff rate of a batch of frozen salmon produced by Qingdao SanMu Aquatic Products Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, Shandong, from 10 percent to zero. "This means we can be exempted from tariffs in Indonesia by over 2 million yuan (about 287,170 U.S. dollars) every year," said Sun Junzhi, general manager of the company. "For the low-margin aquatic processing industry, tariff concessions like this are delightful news and opportunities, which help stabilize orders and significantly boost export growth," Sun further noted. Customs data show that ASEAN is currently Shandong's largest trade partner, among which Indonesia is a major export destination. In the first 11 months of 2022, Shandong's export value to Indonesia reached 39.01 billion yuan, up 29.3 percent year on year. The new move is surely a good tiding to trade companies from both sides. Countree Food is a Qingdao-based manufacturer of canned vegetables and fruits with an annual turnover of over 100 million U.S. dollars. The company imports tropical fruits and other raw materials from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries and processes them into canned mixed fruits for export. "After the RCEP comes into effect in Indonesia, it will be easier for us to reach the benefit threshold and enjoy relevant preferential policies," said Shang Huiming, chairman of Countree Food. Shang expects that the company's import of pineapple, pineapple juice, and other raw materials from Indonesia in 2023 will increase by at least 15 percent year on year under the RCEP. An internet platform has been set up by the RCEP Shandong Enterprise Service Center, which has handled more than 100,000 inquiries by nearly 6,000 users, helping enterprises make full use of the RCEP preferential policies. According to Wang Ke, head of the center, it is planning to set up an office in Indonesia to better facilitate bilateral trade. A relative of one of the two men killed along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in Piarco, on Monday night, heard the gunshots that ended their lives and saw the vehicle they were in pull to the side of the road. The dead men are Shamba Chandler, a resident of Maracas/St Joseph and Mt DOr Road, Champs Fleurs, and Carlsbury Lewis, also known as Berry, of Mohammed Street, St Augustine. The growing demand for gun licences by members of the business community is understandable, but far from being the practical solution to crime that many seem to believe it to be. With home invasions on the rise, it is debatable whether the business community is at any greater risk of crime than any other group. Two high-ranking border officials came to Tucson on Monday to tout President Trumps border policies and to berate Twitter for locking one of them out of their account last week. Mondays news conference was the latest in a string of recent visits by Trump administration officials to Arizona, which could become a key swing state in the presidential election. Both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited Arizona in recent weeks, as did Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris also visited Arizona recently. Mark Morgan, the senior official performing the duties of commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and Ken Cuccinelli, the senior official performing the duties of deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, flew over the border area south of Tucson in a helicopter before landing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base late Monday morning to speak to reporters. Both officials were effusive in their praise of President Trumps border policies, particularly the construction of roughly 400 miles of 30-foot-tall border wall and the sharp drop in border apprehensions since last year when hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border. Cuccinelli cited unprecedented achievements by the administration, which put its promises into action. He praised Trumps relentless leadership and drive. Among those achievements was the seizure of more hard drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, in the last four years than in the previous eight years. Watch: Central American migrants dropped over border wall near Yuma Video provided by the Yuma Sector Border Patrol shows a group of 108 Central American migrants being dropped over the U.S.-Mexico border wall The administration took bold action to address the crisis at the border last year and listened to what Border Patrol agents said they needed at the border, Morgan said. To me, as acting commissioner, this is very much an apolitical statement when I say that this president listened and this president delivered. Thats just a fact, Morgan said. Neither official seemed concerned about the propriety of DHS officials making what could be seen as a campaign stop for President Trump hours before the polls open. When asked why the officials came to Tucson the day before the presidential election and whether the visit could be viewed as an effort to sway voters, Cuccinelli said he hadnt been to the Arizona border yet and the state was on the cycle to do. We dont stop doing our job because theres an election coming or going and this is part of that whole effort, Cuccinelli said. The second focus of Mondays news conference was a tweet posted by Morgan on Oct. 28, which prompted Twitter moderators to take it down and lock Morgan out of his account for about 20 hours. Morgans Oct. 28 tweet said that CBP and the Army Corps of Engineers continue to build new wall every day. Every mile helps us stop gang members, murderers, sexual predators, and drugs from entering our country. Its a fact, walls work. In response to Twitter blocking Morgans account, Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf wrote a letter to Twitter executives. Twitter moderators emailed Morgan, saying, You may not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease, Wolf wrote in the letter. There was no reason to remove Mr. Morgans tweet from your platform, other than ideological disagreement with the speaker, Wolf wrote. Such censorship is disturbing. PHOENIX Famed attorney Alan Dershowitz wants to be excused from paying any sanctions in the failed lawsuit to require hand counts of votes, saying he really had nothing to do with the claims a judge rejected. The former Harvard Law School professor acknowledged he was listed as one of the attorneys on the filings by Kari Lake and Mark Finchem seeking to outlaw machine counts. That ended when U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi said their claims that using tabulators can produce inaccurate results were little more than speculation, backed only by vague allegations about electronic voting systems generally. And Tuchi said the pairs attorneys but not the failed candidates for governor and secretary of state are responsible for paying the legal fees incurred by Maricopa County in defending the lawsuit. The county has requested $141,690. But in a new filing, the 84-year-old lawyer is saying that he should bear no part of that burden. I was asked to provide my consultation only on constitutional issues in lawsuits involving voting machines, Dershowitz said in a declaration filed with the federal court by Jack Wilenchik, who he has retained as counsel in the legal fees dispute. My role was expressly limited to the potential for future abuses based on the unwillingness of voting machine companies to disclose the inner workings of their machines, he continued. I helped to develop the following argument: When a private company is hired by the government to perform a quintessential government function such as vote counting, it cannot refuse to provide relevant information about the workings of its machines on the grounds of business secrets, Dershowitz said. I believed and still believe that this is a profoundly important issue that goes to the heart of future voting integrity. But the former Harvard law professor specifically said that he is not an expert on voting machines or, for that matter, the 2022 Arizona election. His role was limited to his expertise in constitutional issues, he said in the filing. And Dershowitz specifically disavowed some news reports listing him as lead attorney in the case. Not only am I not Lakes lead attorney, I have never met her and have no retainer agreement with her, Dershowitz said of Lake. My consulting agreement is with one of the lawyers. Wilenchik sought to distance his client from the whole lawsuit about why voting machines cant be trusted in other ways. He did not participate in the drafting of the complaint or in any investigation leading up to the drafting, the legal papers state. Mr. Dershowitz did not author or file the pleadings or other documents filed in this case. And Wilenchik said his client does not recall authorizing his signature to any of the filings that do not list him as of counsel, a term he said refers to Dershowitzs role as purely consulting. What Dershowitz also hopes will excuse him from being assessed any part of the legal fees is the fact that Tuchi threw out the case before there ever was an actual hearing on the merits of the allegations. Instead, the judge concluded that just the legal claims themselves were based on false allegations and misrepresentations. And that was enough to convince Tuchi that the case should not go to trial or even to let the Lake and Finchem legal team further pursue their allegations. Given that the action did not proceed to discovery, there was no occasion for him to advocate on the singular constitutional issue for which he was retained as a consultant, Wilenchik wrote of Dershowitz. And that, his attorney said, means nothing he did in his limited role in the case in any way extended the case or even was part of Tuchis decision to sanction the lawyers involved in filing the lawsuit. Wilenchik told the judge there are other reasons not to assess financial penalties against Dershowitz. Wilenchik said Dershowitz has serious medical limitations on travel, which is why he now holds himself out primarily as a consultant and advisor to other lawyers. And Wilenchik said that consulting practice is limited with no active office, staff, or direct role in the trial of cases. And Dershowitz himself sought to reassure the judge that his role was limited to strictly the constitutional issues and not part of any political efforts. I am a liberal Democrat who as almost never voted for a Republican candidate, he said. Nor, Dershowitz said, is this some outgrowth over the continued claims by former President Donald Trump, who endorsed both Lake and Finchem, that his own election was stolen. I strongly believe that the 2020 election was fair and resulted in the correct outcome, he said. Attorneys Andrew Parker and Kurt Olsen, who were the lawyers who actually prepared the case for Lake and Finchem, filed their own objections to the countys request for legal fees. With the judge already having decided to impose sanctions, he limited what the lawyers could argue about the appropriateness of requested fees. What the county requested should be reduced, the lawyers say, because of fees were for excessive time spent on tasks, and theyre not recoverable. The judge has not said when he will rule. In imposing sanctions, Tuchi said Lake and Finchem and their attorneys never offered sufficient allegations, let alone any real evidence, to demonstrate the likelihood the votes of Arizonans would be incorrectly counted in the 2022 midterm election due to manipulation. And he said their lawyers failed to conduct the kind of inquiry that court rules require before filing a lawsuit, and forcing a court defense. Plaintiffs either failed to conduct the reasonable factual inquiry required (under court rules), or they conducted such an inquiry and filed this lawsuit anyway, Tuchi wrote. Either way, no reasonable attorney, after conducting an objectively reasonably inquiry into the facts and law, would have found the complaint to be well-founded. Lake and Finchem are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Tuchis dismissal of the case and require him to allow the case to go to trial so they can present the evidence and arguments they say they have. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are transforming the federal courts at a blistering pace and creating an unrivaled legacy of diversity that will redefine the federal bench for a generation. Of the 97 judges confirmed by the Senate in the last two years, three quarters of them are women, and nearly half of the appointees including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson are women of color. And while most presidents pick from a pool of existing judges, government attorneys and lawyers in private practice, Biden cast a wider net. About one-third of Bidens confirmed judges have experience as public defenders and a dozen are former civil rights lawyers, according to the liberal group Alliance for Justice. That means that there are more federal judges who have seen the challenges in the court system for people with low incomes or who have experienced civil-rights or voting-rights violations, said Lisa Cylar Barrett, director of policy at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Its a perspective that has been sorely lacking and is much needed on the federal judiciary, Barrett said. Jackson, the 28 appellate court justices and 68 district court judges confirmed by the Senate in the last two years surpasses the 83 confirmed by this point in former President Donald Trumps term. It nearly matches the 100 judges confirmed during President George W. Bushs first two years in the Oval Office. Just five of Bidens appellate and district court judges are white men 5% of the total so far. By comparison, 147 of Trumps nominees over his full four years in office were white males, or 64% of those he elevated. Whats most striking to me is the paucity of white males, said Russell Wheeler, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has long tracked federal court confirmations. The number of white males could be counted on one hand, which is so different than all the other presidents. Aside from Jacksons historic ascension to the Supreme Court, another 11 Black women have moved onto the appellate courts. Up until the Biden administration, only eight Black women have ever served on the circuit courts. The drive to reshape the judiciary will take on more urgency in the next session of Congress, when Republicans take power in the House and legislation gets gridlocked. Senate Democrats now have a 50-50 majority but that shifts to 51-49 in January, giving them an outright majority on committees, enabling Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin to move nominees to the floor with more haste. Mike Davis, founder and president of the conservative Article III Project, said Democrats and their allies are less interested in bringing more diversity to the courts than they are in selecting jurists who they believe will issue rulings more in line with their values. When Democrats crow about diversity, thats code for liberal judicial activists, Davis said. He said Democrats have been quick to oppose female and minority judicial nominees of GOP presidents if they thought they could issue conservative opinions. Bidens push to remake the federal bench comes without the running start afforded to Trump by Senate Republicans who held up President Barack Obamas court nominees during his last year in office. That left a Supreme Court position after Justice Antonin Scalia died, along with 86 district court vacancies and 17 circuit court vacancies for Trump to fill when he took office in January 2017. Trump later filled two other Supreme Court vacancies after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, a level of high-court turnover Biden may never experience. After Trumps picks of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett were confirmed, the Supreme Court had a 6-3 conservative majority. That set the stage for more right-leaning rulings like this years decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion. Trump also made big inroads with the appellate courts, shifting the balance of power on the Florida-based 11th Circuit, the New York-based 2nd Circuit and the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit. All three had a GOP majority when he left office. Biden has moved the 2nd Circuit back to a slight edge of Democratic nominees. Davis said Biden and Schumer could turn back the other two appellate courts. President Trumps biggest accomplishment of his first term was the transformation of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, Davis said. And with Democrats now controlling the White House and the Senate, President Biden is going to erase President Trumps gains in the federal circuit courts over the next two years. But Biden faces challenges. Hes avoided Senate traditions that can let Republicans slow down or hold nominees they dont like by focusing almost entirely on states with two Democratic senators. Theres a also a lack of vacancies on federal courts just nine on circuit courts right now, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in Washington. And while two dozen GOP appellate court appointees will be eligible to leave active status on Jan. 1, Wheeler said, many of them might want to stick around until a future Republican president picks their successor. WASHINGTON After nearly three years of pandemic- and insurrection-related security restrictions, tourists this week will be allowed into the House gallery, and unescorted visitors on official business will be able to enter House office buildings. The changes will take place as Republicans, some of whom have vocally fought against COVID-19 restrictions, are sworn into a majority of House seats in the 118th Congress. The House gallery will open to the public at the conclusion of the opening session Tuesday, according to a letter sent to members from House Sergeant-at-Arms William J. Walker. Passes obtained from members offices will be required, and visitors will be subject to security screening before entering, just as they were prior to the pandemic. Tours of the Capitol complex were suspended on March 11, 2020, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but they gradually resumed with numerous restrictions, including size limits. Many of those restrictions now will be lifted, and Saturday tours will resume. An estimated 3-5 million people from around the world visit the Capitol Hill campus each year, and spring is a busy season for school groups, advocacy organizations and tourists to visit. After House office buildings reopen to the public, staff members will no longer be required to escort guests. But staff will be required to accompany guests visiting the Capitol, as they were before the pandemic. Lobbyists have been sharply restricted from roaming the Capitol campus unescorted since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. For much of that time, they have been permitted to conduct in-person meetings on Capitol Hill, as long as a congressional aide signs them in and escorts them around the buildings. Rules have been especially strict on the House side, and some on K Street have been pressing for increased access. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican seeking the speakers post, has long pushed for an easing of restrictions. Reopening the House is more than just a symbolic measure a government of the people, by the people, for the people requires interaction with the people, he wrote to legislative branch officials shortly after Republicans won control of the chamber last month. It is for this reason that we must welcome Americans from across the nation back to the Halls of Congress. Reopening the campus has been substantially hampered because of staffing shortages plaguing the Capitol Police. Walker, in his letter to members, said the decision to fully reopen the Capitol was made in consultation with congressional leaders, the Capitol Police Board, the attending physician, the U.S. Capitol Police and Visitor Services. WASHINGTON A jury convicted Dayonta McClinton of robbing a CVS pharmacy but acquitted him of murder. A judge gave McClinton an extra 13 years in prison for the killing anyway. In courtrooms across America, defendants get additional prison time for crimes that juries found they didnt commit. The Supreme Court is being asked again to put an end to the practice. Its possible that the newest member of the court and a former federal public defender, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, could hold a pivotal vote. McClintons case and three others just like it are scheduled to be discussed when the justices next meet in private on Friday. Sentencing a defendant for whats called acquitted conduct has gone on for years, based on a Supreme Court decision from the late 1990s. And the justices have turned down numerous appeals asking them to declare that the Constitution forbids it. The closest the court came to taking up the issue was in 2014, when Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Ruth Bader Ginsburg provided three of the four votes necessary to hear an appeal. This has gone on long enough, Scalia wrote in dissent when the court rejected an appeal from defendants who received longer prison terms for conspiring to distribute cocaine after jurors acquitted them of conspiracy charges. Scalia and Ginsburg have since died, while Thomas remains on the court. But two other justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, have voiced concerns while serving as appeals court judges. Allowing judges to rely on acquitted or uncharged conduct to impose higher sentences than they otherwise would impose seems a dubious infringement of the rights to due process and to a jury trial, Kavanaugh wrote in 2015. Jackson, who also previously served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, could provide a fourth vote to take up the issue, said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at the Ohio State University law school. She is someone who wed have good reason to believe would be troubled by the continued use of acquitted conduct, said Berman, who filed a brief calling on the court to take up McClintons case. Jackson replaced Justice Stephen Breyer, who generally favored giving judges discretion in imposing prison terms. Reining in the use of acquitted conduct in sentencing would restrict judicial discretion. McClinton, then 17, was part of an armed group that robbed a CVS pharmacy in Indianapolis in 2015 in search of prescription medicines, including opioids. The take was meager, about $68 worth of drugs, McClintons lawyers said in court papers. After one member of the group refused to share the proceeds, he was fatally shot in the back of the head at close range. The reputed leader and other members of the group testified against McClinton at trial, as part of their bid for reduced prison terms, McClintons lawyers wrote. Even with the testimony, jurors acquitted McClinton of the most serious charges against him. He should have faced six years in prison, at most. Instead, the trial judge gave McClinton 19 years, finding that it was more likely than not that McClinton was responsible for the killing. The legal standard in a jury trial is higher: proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Upholding McClintons prison term, Judge Ilana Rovner wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that lower-court judges are bound by a 1997 Supreme Court ruling that a jurys verdict of acquittal does not prevent the sentencing court from considering conduct underlying the acquitted charge, so long as that conduct has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence. But Rovner noted that a growing number of federal judges have questioned the fairness and constitutionality of allowing courts to factor acquitted conduct into sentencing calculations. Seventeen former federal judges also signed on to a brief in support of McClinton. McClintons lawyers argue that the high courts intervention is past due. Unless this Court resolves this issue, tens of thousands of criminal defendants will continue to be sentenced using sentencing practices that are impossible to square with the Constitution, they wrote. The Justice Department urged the court to reject the appeal, as it did in similar cases in the past. Theres no certainty about what the justices will do. Berman said there are reasons the court could take a pass again, including a preference for Congress to deal with the issue by legislation or for the Sentencing Commission to address it. Neither has over more than two decades, though the House in March passed legislation prohibiting punishment of acquitted conduct. The Senate has not taken any action. Another reason for caution, Berman said, is that some justices might feel they would craft a rough rule with the potential for unintended consequences that include restricting judicial discretion more than they want. Jackson also might have to weigh whether this is a topic she wants to take on in her first term, already filled with consequential cases on race, elections and the latest dispute involving people with religious objections to same-sex marriage. This photo taken on Dec. 18, 2022 shows the main building of the Kuwait Health Assurance Hospital in Ahmadi, Kuwait. The soft opening ceremony of a hospital built by a Chinese company was held in Ahmadi, Kuwait, on Sunday. The Kuwait Health Assurance Hospitals project undertaken by Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd exclusively provides medical insurance services to foreigners. It includes two hospitals in Ahmadi and Al Jahra, with a total construction area of approximately 85,000 square meters and a contract value of around 500 million U.S. dollars. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Guests visit the Kuwait Health Assurance Hospital after its soft opening ceremony in Ahmadi, Kuwait, Dec. 18, 2022. The soft opening ceremony of a hospital built by a Chinese company was held in Ahmadi, Kuwait, on Sunday. The Kuwait Health Assurance Hospitals project undertaken by Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd exclusively provides medical insurance services to foreigners. It includes two hospitals in Ahmadi and Al Jahra, with a total construction area of approximately 85,000 square meters and a contract value of around 500 million U.S. dollars. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Journalists visit the ICU of the Kuwait Health Assurance Hospital in Ahmadi, Kuwait, Dec. 18, 2022. The soft opening ceremony of a hospital built by a Chinese company was held in Ahmadi, Kuwait, on Sunday. The Kuwait Health Assurance Hospitals project undertaken by Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd exclusively provides medical insurance services to foreigners. It includes two hospitals in Ahmadi and Al Jahra, with a total construction area of approximately 85,000 square meters and a contract value of around 500 million U.S. dollars. (Photo by Dong Ling/Xinhua) Malaysia's railway sector is rapidly advancing due to close cooperation with China on a number of projects in the railway sector, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said. This has not only created jobs but also has provided a key driving force behind the country's efforts to develop its railway sector through technology and skills transfer, especially with the participation of local companies, Loke told Xinhua in a recent interview. Citing two major examples of such cooperation in Malaysia, namely the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Rolling Stock Center based in Perak state and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Malaysia's mega rail project being built by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Loke said Malaysia has benefitted from them and improved its capacity in the sector. Zooming in on the Rolling Stock Center, China's first overseas manufacturing base of its kind, focusing on manufacturing, overhaul as well as service and maintenance, Loke said the majority of its workforce are locals with the aim of eventual technology transfers. "Their policy is to employ as many locals as possible," he said. "Going forward, it must be a win-win situation. It must benefit both sides." He also said the ECRL had been a positive experience for Malaysia. "It is a direct involvement from Chinese companies in this project. And they have the capacity and technology know-how to undertake such a major project. And we look forward to more cooperation in the future," he said. "Malaysia's transportation industry has also been rejuvenated by the participation of Chinese enterprises. Key projects in Malaysia constructed by Chinese enterprises have delivered a great performance in terms of construction speed, technological construction and project image," Loke said. "In the future, Malaysia will upgrade its public transportation system and develop an Intelligent Transportation System. We hope more Chinese enterprises will take part in the projects," Loke added. Produced by Xinhua Global Service MANILA -- Philippine authorities halted flights in and out of Manila on New Year's Day due to a malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound to other destinations from using the country's airspace. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the airport operator said on Sunday. It was unclear how many overflights were affected. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista apologized for the inconvenience to passengers as he blamed a power outage for the breakdown of the central air traffic control system that also affected operations at other airports in the country. He said the outdated existing facility should be upgraded immediately and that a back-up system was also needed. "This is air traffic management system issue," he said in a media briefing. "If you will compare us with Singapore, for one, there is a big difference, they are at least 10 years ahead of us." As of 0800 GMT, "the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations", the Manila International Airport Authority said in a statement. By late evening, eight flight arrivals and eight departures had been allowed, according to the airport operator. Video clips and photos posted on social media showed long queues at the airport and airline personnel distributing food packs and drinks to stranded passengers. "We're told radar and navigation facilities at NAIA down. I was on my way home fm Tokyo - 3 hours into the flight, but had to return to Haneda," tweeted one passenger - Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Philippine telecommunications conglomerate PLDT Inc. "6 hours of useless flying but inconvenience to travellers and losses to tourism and business are horrendous. Only in the PH. Sigh." Budget carrier Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines said they were offering passengers due to fly on Sunday free rebooking or the option to convert tickets to vouchers. MANILA -- Philippine authorities halted flights in and out of Manila on New Year's Day due to a malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound to other destinations from using the country's airspace. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, cancelled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the airport operator said on Sunday. It was unclear how many overflights were affected. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista apologized for the inconvenience to passengers as he blamed a power outage for the breakdown of the central air traffic control system that also affected operations at other airports in the country. He said the outdated existing facility should be upgraded immediately and that a back-up system was also needed. "This is air traffic management system issue," he said in a media briefing. "If you will compare us with Singapore, for one, there is a big difference, they are at least 10 years ahead of us." As of 0800 GMT, "the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations", the Manila International Airport Authority said in a statement. By late evening, eight flight arrivals and eight departures had been allowed, according to the airport operator. Video clips and photos posted on social media showed long queues at the airport and airline personnel distributing food packs and drinks to stranded passengers. "We're told radar and navigation facilities at NAIA down. I was on my way home fm Tokyo - 3 hours into the flight, but had to return to Haneda," tweeted one passenger - Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Philippine telecommunications conglomerate PLDT Inc. "6 hours of useless flying but inconvenience to travellers and losses to tourism and business are horrendous. Only in the PH. Sigh." Budget carrier Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines said they were offering passengers due to fly on Sunday free rebooking or the option to convert tickets to vouchers. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City received three flights en route to Manila in the Philippines on New Years Day, after a power failure at the archipelagic countrys air traffic management center disrupted communications with all planes. The Vietnam Air Traffic Management (VATM) reported to the director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), Dinh Viet Thang, at 9:45 am on the day about a phone call from the Philippine air traffic management center that it would lose contact with the VATM within minutes. After that, all aviation communication channels between the two sides, either official or backup, emergency or normal phone calls, were disconnected. The VATM immediately contacted the flight control agencies of China and Singapore and was told that they faced the same communication problem with the Philippine side. The CAAV did not know what happened at the Philippine air traffic management center at that time, but the agreements we signed with each other stipulate that when such a situation occurs, the countries will have the responsibility to support each other, said Thang. Therefore, the CAAV advised flights en route to the Philippines to temporarily land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. By Sunday afternoon, three flights had chosen to land at Tan Son Nhat in order to wait to fly to the Philippines. A Reuters report later showed that Philippine authorities halted flights in and out of Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday due to the malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound for other destinations from using the countrys airspace. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, canceled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers at NAIA, the airport operator said the same day. No Vietnamese airlines were affected by this air traffic incident as they have yet to resume flights between Vietnam and the Philippines, according to Thang. As of 3:00 pm on the same day, the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations, Reuters cited the Manila International Airport Authoritys statement. At around 4:00 pm, the VATM was able to contact the Philippine air traffic authority by phone, but connection via the air traffic channel remained unavailable. About 40 minutes later, the Philippine aviation authorities sent a telegram to the CAAV to notify that all flight control facilities such as radar and communications systems of the Philippines would be fully restored by 8:00 am on Monday (Vietnam time). By late evening, eight flight arrivals and eight departures had been allowed, according to the airport operator. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City received three flights en route to Manila in the Philippines on New Years Day, after a power failure at the archipelagic countrys air traffic management center disrupted communications with all planes. The Vietnam Air Traffic Management (VATM) reported to the director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), Dinh Viet Thang, at 9:45 am on the day about a phone call from the Philippine air traffic management center that it would lose contact with the VATM within minutes. After that, all aviation communication channels between the two sides, either official or backup, emergency or normal phone calls, were disconnected. The VATM immediately contacted the flight control agencies of China and Singapore and was told that they faced the same communication problem with the Philippine side. The CAAV did not know what happened at the Philippine air traffic management center at that time, but the agreements we signed with each other stipulate that when such a situation occurs, the countries will have the responsibility to support each other, said Thang. Therefore, the CAAV advised flights en route to the Philippines to temporarily land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. By Sunday afternoon, three flights had chosen to land at Tan Son Nhat in order to wait to fly to the Philippines. A Reuters report later showed that Philippine authorities halted flights in and out of Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday due to the malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound for other destinations from using the countrys airspace. A total of 282 flights were either delayed, canceled or diverted to other regional airports, affecting around 56,000 passengers at NAIA, the airport operator said the same day. No Vietnamese airlines were affected by this air traffic incident as they have yet to resume flights between Vietnam and the Philippines, according to Thang. As of 3:00 pm on the same day, the system has been partially restored thereby allowing limited flight operations, Reuters cited the Manila International Airport Authoritys statement. At around 4:00 pm, the VATM was able to contact the Philippine air traffic authority by phone, but connection via the air traffic channel remained unavailable. About 40 minutes later, the Philippine aviation authorities sent a telegram to the CAAV to notify that all flight control facilities such as radar and communications systems of the Philippines would be fully restored by 8:00 am on Monday (Vietnam time). By late evening, eight flight arrivals and eight departures had been allowed, according to the airport operator. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday required the mobilization of all possible forces and equipment to rescue a 10-year-old boy who fell into a 35-meter-deep hollow concrete pile in southern Dong Thap Province. The boy, named Thai Ly Hao Nam, residing in Phu Loi Commune, Thanh Binh District, fell into the concrete pillar, which is planted some 35 meters into the ground and has a diameter of 25 centimeters, at around 11:55 am on Saturday. Thus, he has been trapped in the concrete pile for over 44 hours. The government chief ordered the completion of the rescue operation in the shortest possible time and the prevention of incidents during the execution of projects. In particular, PM Chinh asked the chairman of the Dong Thap Peoples Committee to direct relevant agencies to coordinate with the National Committee for Incident and Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue and related ministries and bodies to complete the rescue effectively at the earliest possible time. They were also tasked with visiting and encouraging the family of the victim. The ministers of national defense, public security, transport, and construction were told to quickly mobilize experts and experienced forces to support Dong Thap Province. The prime minister also assigned the National Committee for Incident and Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue to keep a close watch on the rescue, promptly regulate equipment and forces to support it, and report issues beyond its authority to the prime minister. Moreover, the Ministry of Construction must cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport, and the Peoples Committee of Dong Thap Province to inspect the Roc Sen Bridge project and impose heavy sanctions on violators (if any). PM Chinh also asked the Ministries of Construction and Transport and chairpersons of the Peoples Committees of localities across the country to enhance inspections and supervision of projects to prevent similar incidents. Many solutions to save the boy have been employed. Photo: Buu Dau / Tuoi Tre On Monday afternoon, the military force was detached to the scene of the incident to support the rescue of the boy. At noon on the same day, Dong Thap authorities were trying to make soil around the concrete pillar softer to save the boy. Earlier, the rescue of the boy was suspended to wait for other vehicles and equipment to be sent to the scene, Huynh Van No, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Thanh Binh District, said on Monday morning. It was drizzling on Monday morning, hindering the rescue. On Monday morning, the Dong Thap administration still blocked the scene of the incident. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre We paused the rescue task to wait for other vehicles and equipment to continue saving the boy. It means that the rescue plan has changed," No said. We will still use large machinery but ensure that the concrete pile will not fall. With this solution, we expect to quickly save the boy and ensure his safety." On Monday morning, chairman and vice-chairman of the Dong Thap Peoples Committee Pham Thien Nghia and Doan Tan Buu, respectively, also arrived at the scene. Rescue forces are quickly taking measures to save the boy. An ambulance is on standby at the scene. Photo: Vietnam News Agency On Sunday afternoon, pile drilling machines were transported from Thap Muoi District to the site. After three spots around the concrete pile were drilled within 20 hours, the pile was expected to be pulled out of the ground on Sunday night but in vain. On Saturday, the boy and three friends came to the Roc Sen Bridge construction site in Phu Loi Commune to pick up scrap iron and Nam fell into the hollow concrete pile by accident. Sone witnesses said that the boy cried for help for some ten minutes after falling into the concrete pile. According to footage from a camera at the construction site, the boy took a false step and dropped into the hollow concrete pillar while walking on the uneven construction site. Nam is the youngest among his four siblings. The mouth of the hollow concrete pillar was not covered. The pillar, including two 12-meter sections and a 10-meter one, has its bottom closed. More equipment is transported to the scene. Photo: Vietnam News Agency The Dong Thap administration is not sure about Nams health condition. He no longer interacts with rescuers although oxygen is continuously transmitted into the concrete pile. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday required the mobilization of all possible forces and equipment to rescue a 10-year-old boy who fell into a 35-meter-deep hollow concrete pile in southern Dong Thap Province. The boy, named Thai Ly Hao Nam, residing in Phu Loi Commune, Thanh Binh District, fell into the concrete pillar, which is planted some 35 meters into the ground and has a diameter of 25 centimeters, at around 11:55 am on Saturday. Thus, he has been trapped in the concrete pile for over 44 hours. The government chief ordered the completion of the rescue operation in the shortest possible time and the prevention of incidents during the execution of projects. In particular, PM Chinh asked the chairman of the Dong Thap Peoples Committee to direct relevant agencies to coordinate with the National Committee for Incident and Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue and related ministries and bodies to complete the rescue effectively at the earliest possible time. They were also tasked with visiting and encouraging the family of the victim. The ministers of national defense, public security, transport, and construction were told to quickly mobilize experts and experienced forces to support Dong Thap Province. The prime minister also assigned the National Committee for Incident and Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue to keep a close watch on the rescue, promptly regulate equipment and forces to support it, and report issues beyond its authority to the prime minister. Moreover, the Ministry of Construction must cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport, and the Peoples Committee of Dong Thap Province to inspect the Roc Sen Bridge project and impose heavy sanctions on violators (if any). PM Chinh also asked the Ministries of Construction and Transport and chairpersons of the Peoples Committees of localities across the country to enhance inspections and supervision of projects to prevent similar incidents. Many solutions to save the boy have been employed. Photo: Buu Dau / Tuoi Tre On Monday afternoon, the military force was detached to the scene of the incident to support the rescue of the boy. At noon on the same day, Dong Thap authorities were trying to make soil around the concrete pillar softer to save the boy. Earlier, the rescue of the boy was suspended to wait for other vehicles and equipment to be sent to the scene, Huynh Van No, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Thanh Binh District, said on Monday morning. It was drizzling on Monday morning, hindering the rescue. On Monday morning, the Dong Thap administration still blocked the scene of the incident. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre We paused the rescue task to wait for other vehicles and equipment to continue saving the boy. It means that the rescue plan has changed," No said. We will still use large machinery but ensure that the concrete pile will not fall. With this solution, we expect to quickly save the boy and ensure his safety." On Monday morning, chairman and vice-chairman of the Dong Thap Peoples Committee Pham Thien Nghia and Doan Tan Buu, respectively, also arrived at the scene. Rescue forces are quickly taking measures to save the boy. An ambulance is on standby at the scene. Photo: Vietnam News Agency On Sunday afternoon, pile drilling machines were transported from Thap Muoi District to the site. After three spots around the concrete pile were drilled within 20 hours, the pile was expected to be pulled out of the ground on Sunday night but in vain. On Saturday, the boy and three friends came to the Roc Sen Bridge construction site in Phu Loi Commune to pick up scrap iron and Nam fell into the hollow concrete pile by accident. Sone witnesses said that the boy cried for help for some ten minutes after falling into the concrete pile. According to footage from a camera at the construction site, the boy took a false step and dropped into the hollow concrete pillar while walking on the uneven construction site. Nam is the youngest among his four siblings. The mouth of the hollow concrete pillar was not covered. The pillar, including two 12-meter sections and a 10-meter one, has its bottom closed. More equipment is transported to the scene. Photo: Vietnam News Agency The Dong Thap administration is not sure about Nams health condition. He no longer interacts with rescuers although oxygen is continuously transmitted into the concrete pile. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! With the gang reinvigorated, a plan is suggested which could turn failure into glory. 9pm Tuesday on ABC TV Plus. Silent Witness Aussie Snake Wranglers The Great Canadian Bake Off The Late Late Show with James Corden Who Do You Think You Are? Millions of people across England can save money on bus travel with the introduction of a 2 cap on fares for more than 4,600 routes. More than 130 operators outside London will charge no more than 2 for a single ticket from Sunday until the end of March, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. The cap is being paid for by 60 million of Government funding. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said buses are a key part of our vision for a clean, efficient and modern transport network (Belinda Jiao/PA) Single fares for a three-mile journey outside London cost an average of around 2.80 but tickets can exceed 5 for long journeys in rural areas, according to the DfT. It is hoped the cap will help passengers travelling for education, work and medical appointments amid the cost-of-living crisis. Journeys with some of the biggest savings include between Leeds and Scarborough (13), Lancaster and Kendall (12.50), and Plymouth and Exeter (9.20). Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: By helping passengers outside London save almost a third off the average single bus ticket and taking two million cars off the road, the 2 bus fare cap is a fantastic way to start the new year. Buses are a key part of our vision for a clean, efficient and modern transport network that is affordable for everyone. Thats why were investing 60 million to encourage everyone to hop on the bus and Get Around for 2. A report published in July by pressure group Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) highlighted how funding pressures have led to more than a quarter of English bus services being axed in a decade. Responding to the introduction of the cap, CBT director of external affairs and former Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker said: Affordable bus travel really is a win-win. Capping bus fares in this way will help struggling households, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions, and inject new life into dwindling bus services. We think the 2 cap should be extended indefinitely. The DfT made more than 2 billion available to bus operators to keep services in England running during the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues It said it will consider future support, with the current emergency funding deal expiring in March. Buses minister Richard Holden told the PA news agency he hopes the cap on fares will boost passenger numbers. He said: Weve been in a situation where weve been putting in an awful lot of help to support buses through Covid and in more recent months coming out of the pandemic. But we really need to see those ridership numbers increase. Were back up to around 80-85% on paid-for fares, and around two-thirds on concessionary travel. What I really want to do is try and move away from a situation where were constantly having to put more money in to subsidise routes, and instead get people back on buses so that they can be more self-sustaining for the long term. I want to see us move as close as possible to those pre-pandemic levels. DfT figures show ridership on buses in Britain outside London was around 10% below pre-coronavirus levels in recent weeks. Martin McTague, national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: More than a third of small firms consider public transport important to their business. It is therefore encouraging to see support on bus fares as we battle tough economic conditions. This move will likely encourage shoppers to go to towns and cities just the fuel we need for economic growth. NORBIT ASA Trondheim, 2 January 2023: NORBIT announces today that segment Connectivity has received confirmation of a significant volume increase for delivery of On-Board Units to an undisclosed European customer. The parties are currently in advanced discussions regarding the final commercial terms. The confirmed volumes for 2023 represent a value of approximately NOK 150 million. This compares to approximately NOK 70 million in revenues recognised in 2022 from this customer. This extension for delivery of additional On-Board Units reaffirms our strategy of expanding our business-to-business cooperation within Connectivity, and also shows the potential of this strategic customer, says Per Jrgen Weisethaunet, CEO of NORBIT. For further queries, please contact: Per Jrgen Weisethaunet, CEO, +47 959 62 915 Per Kristian Reppe, CFO, +47 900 33 203 About NORBIT ASA NORBIT is a global provider of tailored technology to selected niches, solving challenges and promoting sustainability through innovative solutions, in line with its mission to Explore More. The company is structured in three business segments to address its key markets: Oceans, Connectivity and Product Innovation & Realization (PIR). The Oceans segment delivers tailored technology solutions to global maritime markets. The Connectivity segment provides wireless solutions for identification, monitoring and tracking. The PIR segment offers R&D services, proprietary products, and contract manufacturing to key customers. NORBIT is headquartered in Trondheim with manufacturing in Norway, has around 400 employees, and a worldwide sales and distribution platform. For more information: www.norbit.com The information is such that NORBIT is required to disclose in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication by Elise Heidenreich, Investor Relations at NORBIT ASA, on 2 January 2023 at 14:45 CET. Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images Last week, 10 months after Russia invaded his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an uncertain trip to Washington, D.C., to ask the U.S. for additional aid to finally end the conflictwhich continues to stoke fears over environmental catastrophe in the wake of Russian attacks on Ukraines nuclear power plants, as well as Russian threats over the use of nuclear weapons. Among other measures, Zelensky asked the U.S. to strengthen tariffs against Russia, and render the war financially unsustainable. This would particularly affect areas of science and technology research where Russia has traditionally excelled, including physics, space exploration and climate science. But despite widespread Western support for Ukraine, it has proven difficult to disentangle U.S. scientific and technical collaborations with Russia. In many cases, resistance is coming from American scientists themselves, who argue that theirs and their colleagues work is too important and urgent to disrupt, particularly surrounding climate change research as global warming accelerates. Days before Zelenskys speech, an editorial published in Nature magazine urged that science not be treated like a diplomatic pawn, and the war must not become a barrier to countries working together on to tackle pressing scientific issues such as climate change. Physicist Michael Riordan from the University of California, Santa Cruz, espoused a similar sentiment in The New York Times back in late August, proclaiming, Im a physicist who doesnt want Russia to leave the world of science. Putin Threatens Russia Might Add Nuclear First Strike to Attack Plan Others see things differently. During the Cold War, Russia was a science powerhouse, Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academies of Sciences in the U.S., told The Daily Beast. But since the fall of the Soviet Union Russian science has not been as strong. When you look at the big issues of the day, like gene editing, I just dont see Russia as being in the forefront. Story continues At the same time as Russias scientific contributions have weakened, Ukraine has risen up as a leader in science in Eastern Europe and former Soviet states, particularly in areas of agriculture research and nuclear power. When Russia first invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Europe responded swiftly to cut ties with Russia, and that included science and tech endeavors. Germany announced that it was ending all scientific collaborations with Russia the very next day, and other European Union member nations soon followed with similar comprehensive bans. CERN, a multinational particle physics lab in Switzerland and home to the famed Large Hadron Collider, suspended Russian membership in early March, as did the European Space Agency and the Max Planck Institute. ESAs actions were particularly consequential, as its joint Mars rover mission with Russia is now in complete limbo for the time being. In contrast, the U.S. scientific communitys response has proceeded somewhat unevenly. The Biden administration remained silent on the status of U.S.-Russia collaborations until June. That month, they announced that the U.S. would start to wind down, all current federally funded research projects partnering with Russia, and prohibited new projects. Considering the war crimes and other atrocities Russia has perpetrated it was very important for us to make an unequivocal statement of support for Ukraine, a government official who was involved in the discussions but has since moved to another job in the administration, told The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity. But at the same time, the official said, we acknowledge there is a strategic need to engage with Russia in order to avert the kind of global destruction that loomed over the Cold War. Since the beginning of the war Russia has targeted Ukraines scientific infrastructure. Ukraines Institute of Physics and Technology in Kharkiv has been heavily damaged by Russian bombs. At Chernobyl and other nuclear power plants and research facilities, Russian troops have looted or destroyed millions of dollars worth of high-tech equipment and computers. At least 20 Ukrainian universities have been completely destroyed. Russia Is Already Sabotaging the Mission to Dodge a Nuclear Catastrophe To keep the war from sliding into a full destruction of Ukraines higher education institutions and a potential nuclear disaster, the Biden administration has refrained from cutting scientific ties to Russia completelya policy formulated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, which advises the president on all matters related to science and technology. The four month gap between the invasion and policy announcement was likely a reflection of the nature of U.S. scientific enterprise and the decentralized research community, in the U.S., the government official said. Culturally, the science community has always been more immune from international schisms that characterize many other fields of work. For many scientists, theres resistance to having to cut off access and partnerships with groups because of a war. One of CERNs mottos, for example, is science for peace. Theres ample evidence that many Russian scientists want no part of Putins war. We want to ensure that those individuals have a clear pathway to engage with us or leave Russia if they so choose, the official said. Within the scientific community there are mixed feelings and a variety of views about what is the appropriate response, Raymond Jeanloz, a professor of earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley, told The Daily Beast. Many of the people that we talk with know each other, or work with each other in one form or another for years or decades. They are friends. Jeanloz is also the chair of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control at the National Academy of Sciences, a private, non-profit, non-governmental organization funded primarily by federal grants. Its research is used to inform the OSTP. A prevalent opinion is that it is not fair to judge individual scientists based on the actions of their government. Indeed several thousand Russian scientists signed a letter denouncing the invasion soon after it happened. But Russian science is inextricably tied to the Russian government. The majority of the countrys scientists are at least partially funded by the Russian government. And in September, the election for leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences showed evidence of state meddling: The incumbent president withdrew his candidacy the day before the election, in what he called a forced decision. Gennady Krasnikov, the head of Mikron, Russias largest chipmaker, was elected instead. The Shocking American Links to Putins Deadly War Machines The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Mikron back in April, in a broad panel of sanctions against the aerospace, marine and electronics sectors in Russia. Another round of sanctions in August targeted the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, or Skoltech, founded in 2011 as a partnership with the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology to build out a Russian version of Silicon Valley. MIT announced it was shutting down the $3 billion partnership back in Februarythe day after the invasion. On Earthand Above It Climate change research is an area where Russias contributions will be difficult, if not impossible to replace. The vast majority of the worlds permafrost, which scientists track to measure the rate of global warming, is in Russia. Russia currently chairs the Arctic Council, a consortium of eight nations that promotes cooperation on climate change research. At dozens of research stations in Russia, international teams of scientists collect permafrost samples by drilling boreholes in the earth. Soon after the invasion started, the seven other members of the Arctic Council, which includes the U.S., halted their participation in the council. They have since resumed research without Russia. Some of the research has been transferred to Canada and Greenland, which are home to permafrost reserves of their own. But that still paints an incomplete picture, and may not accurately reflect what is happening to permafrost in Russiaa big problem when one degree of change can throw off the entire model. Its the difference between ice and water, said Brendan Kelly, a professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and a member of the International Arctic Research Center. Not being able to involve [Russia] is a significant detriment. It will be a big loss to us as we are trying to understand on a pan-Arctic scale what is happening in the Arctic. Russians have been massive contributors to climate knowledge, Kelly said. But at the same time, they haven't been the best team player in terms of data sharing. That has been an issue going back decades, according to Kelly. In other areas of science, a clean breakup is near-impossible. Perhaps the quintessential example is the International Space Stationa collaboration between the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency, the first piece of which launched in 1998. The ISS literally cannot operate without both Russia and the U.S., which supply propulsion and power, respectively. Scientists on the station conduct experiments primarily to see how things function in microgravity, to prepare for long-term space flight. For decades, it has been lauded as an example of international cooperation, between parties that dont always share the same goals in other areas of geopolitics. And the lives of the astronauts on board the ISS has always required both countries space programs to insulate themselves from deteriorating relations in other areas. Russia Might Just Plunge the World Into a Dark Era for Space But that insulation has eroded as the invasion has progressed. In July, Russian cosmonauts on the ISS staged a picture in which they held up Russian and anti-Ukrainian flags in an episode of propaganda that drew strong rebuke, from NASA. That month Russia announced that it planned to withdraw from the ISS in order to focus on building its own structure, but later walked that back and confirmed its participation until 2028 (a few years before the stations formal shutdown in 2031.) And in September, NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency, collaborated to send astronaut Frank Rubio and two cosmonauts to ISS on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, launched from Kazakhstan. Good Substitutions Ultimately, there is no easy action that can satisfy all parties involved. Obviously the war is obscene, Kelly added. Its a devastating humanitarian crisis. But we also have a crisis with the climate, and not being able to advance our understanding of where the climate is headed is going to cost human lives and human wellbeing in the long run. I dont know how to divide the baby here. Its not an easy call. As of now, the total destruction in Ukraine is vast. Nearly 7,000 Ukrainian civilians have died since the start of the war, according to the U.N. And Ukraines scientific infrastructure and nuclear power plants continue to be under threat from Russian forces. While many American scientists are hoping the conflict ends soon and they can return to somewhat normalized relations with their Russian counterparts, others consider the war to be an inflection point that couldand shouldencourage the West to rethink its scientific partnerships across the board. Some even think Ukraine itself could help fill the void left behind by Russia. To that end, the NAS has set up a sort of exchange program setting up displaced Ukrainian scientists with positions in Western universities and research institutions. Ukraine needs its researchers in order to rebuild. Russia has experienced significantly less damage from this war, McNutt said. Were not talking about needing to rebuild Russia. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) - Russia acknowledged on Monday that scores of its troops were killed in one of the Ukraine war's deadliest strikes, drawing demands from Russian nationalist bloggers for commanders to be punished for housing soldiers alongside an ammunition dump. Russia's defence ministry said 63 soldiers had died in the fiery blast which destroyed a temporary barracks in a former vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. It said the accommodation had been hit by four rockets fired from U.S.-made HIMARS launchers, claiming two rockets had been shot down. Kyiv said the Russian death toll was in the hundreds, though pro-Russian officials called this an exaggeration. Russian military bloggers said the huge destruction was a result of storing ammunition in the same building as a barracks, despite commanders knowing it was within range of Ukrainian rockets. Separately, Ukraine said on Monday it had shot down all 39 drones Russia had fired in a third straight night of air strikes against civilian targets in Kyiv and other cities. Ukrainian officials said their success proved that Russia's tactic in recent months of raining down air strikes to knock out Ukraine's energy infrastructure was increasingly a failure as Kyiv beefs up its air defences. 'EACH MISTAKE HAS A NAME' Unverified footage posted online of the aftermath of the strike on the Russian barracks in Makiivka showed a huge building reduced to smoking rubble. Igor Girkin, a former commander of pro-Russian troops in eastern Ukraine who is now one of the highest profile Russian nationalist military bloggers, said hundreds and been killed or wounded in the blast. Ammunition had been stored at the site and military equipment there was uncamouflaged, he said. Another nationalist blogger, Rybar, said around 70 soldiers were confirmed dead and more than 100 wounded. "What happened in Makiivka is horrible," wrote Archangel Spetznaz Z, another Russian military blogger with more than 700,000 followers on Telegram. Story continues "Who came up with the idea to place personnel in large numbers in one building, where even a fool understands that even if they hit with artillery, there will be many wounded or dead?" he wrote. Commanders "couldn't care less" about ammunition stored in disarray on the battlefield, he said. The open fury extended to lawmakers. Grigory Karasin, a member of the Russian Senate and former deputy foreign minister, not only demanded vengeance against Ukraine and its NATO supporters but also "an exacting internal analysis". Sergei Mironov, a legislator and former chairman of the Senate, Russia's upper house, demanded criminal liability for the officials who had "allowed the concentration of military personnel in an unprotected building" and "all the higher authorities who did not provide the proper level of security". "Obviously neither intelligence nor counterintelligence nor air defence worked properly," he said in a post on Telegram. Russia's acknowledgement of scores of deaths in one incident was almost without precedent. Moscow rarely releases figures for its casualties, and when it does the figures are typically low - it acknowledged just one death from among a crew of hundreds when Ukraine sank its flagship cruiser Moskva in April. Russia has seen in the new year with nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, hundreds of kilometres from the front lines. This marks a change in tactics after months in which Moscow usually spaced such strikes around a week apart. After firing dozens of missiles on Dec. 31, Russia launched dozens of Iranian-made Shahed drones on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. But Kyiv said on Monday it had shot down all 39 drones in the latest wave, including 22 downed over the capital. Kyiv said the new tactic was a sign of Russia's desperation as Ukraine's ability to defend its air space had improved. "Now they are looking for routes and attempts to hit us somehow, but their terror tactics will not work. Our sky will turn into a shield," presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Telegram. In his nightly speech, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia's efforts would prove useless. "Drones, missiles, everything else will not help them," he said of the Russians. "Because we stand united. They are united only by fear." Ukraine's air defence systems worked through the night to bring down incoming drones and to warn communities of the approaching danger. Russia has turned to mass air strikes against Ukrainian cities since suffering defeats on the battlefield in the second half of 2022. It says its attacks, which have knocked out heat and power to millions in winter, aim to reduce Kyiv's ability to fight. Ukraine says the attacks have no military purpose and are intended to hurt civilians, a war crime. Russia has flattened Ukrainian cities, killed thousands of civilians and annexed swathes of Ukraine since Putin ordered his invasion last February, calling Ukraine an artificial state whose pro-Western outlook threatened Russia's security. Ukraine has fought back with Western military support, driving Russian forces from more than half the territory they seized. In recent weeks, the front lines have been largely static, with thousands of soldiers dying in intense warfare. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff, Lidia Kelly, Dan Peleschuk and Michael Perry; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel, Alexandra Hudson and Mark Heinrich) Zelenskiy, Putin promise victory in contrasting New Year speeches Ukraine's President Zelenskiy addresses Ukrainian people on the New Year eve, in Kyiv By Lidia Kelly (Reuters) - The leaders of Ukraine and Russia both vowed to push for victory in New Year speeches, but while Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke of gratitude and pain, Vladimir Putin urged duty to Russia, casting the war as a near-existential fight. Zelenskiy, recalling some of the most dramatic moments and victories of the war, filled his emotional 17-minute video message with footage of Russia's attacks on the country and words of pride for Ukrainians withstanding attacks, darkness and cold. "We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win," said Zelenskiy, dressed in his trademark khaki outfit and standing in darkness with the Ukrainian flag fluttering behind. "We fight as one team the whole country, all our regions. I admire you all." A few minutes after Zelenskiy's speech - released just before midnight Kyiv time on New Year's Eve - numerous blasts were heard in the capital and around the country. The attacks followed a barrage of more than 20 cruise missiles fired across Ukraine on Saturday - and many bombardments earlier. As the war drags into its 11th month, Moscow was unprepared for the staunch resistance and billions of dollars in Western weapons that have turned the tide in Ukraine's favour. Russian troops have been forced out of more than half the territory they took in the first weeks of what Putin calls a "special military operation" to "denazify" and demilitarise Ukraine. Kyiv and Western allies say Putin's invasion was a land grab. 'FATE OF RUSSIA' Putin, breaking with tradition by delivering the New Year message flanked by troops rather than the Kremlin's walls, talked sternly and combatively about 2022 as the year that "clearly separated courage and heroism from betrayal and cowardice." While trying to rally support among Russians amid embarrassing battlefield setbacks and growing internal criticism of his military strategy, Putin thanked Russian troops, but he also demanded more from them. Story continues "The main thing is the fate of Russia," Putin, dressed in a dark suit and tie, said. "Defence of the fatherland is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical righteousness is on our side." Russia had planned a swift operation, but with the war dragging on it has been forced to put society on more of a war footing: calling up more than 300,000 reservists, retooling an economy hurt by Western sanctions and saying publicly that the conflict may be long. Reiterating that the West is supposedly intent on "destroying Russia" by using Kyiv, Putin vowed he will never allow that. He signalled once again, that the war, albeit hard, will continue. "We have always known, and today we are again convinced that the sovereign, independent, secure future of Russia depends only on us, on our strength and will," he said. ANNEXED Zelenskiy promised the return of lands Moscow proclaimed it had annexed in September. "It's impossible to forget. And it's impossible to forgive. But it's possible to win," he said. While listing Ukraine's successes, Zelenskiy referred to the Crimean Bridge, Moscow's symbol of the annexation of the peninsula that linked it with Russia and that was torn by an explosion in October. While Putin immediately blamed Kyiv for orchestrating the powerful blast, Ukraine had not previously claimed responsibility for it - or any other attacks inside Russia, since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. "This year has struck our hearts. We've cried out all the tears. We've shouted all the prayers," Zelenskiy said. "We fight and will continue to fight. For the sake of the key word: 'victory'." (Additional reporting by Jake Cordell, Nick Starkov, David Ljunggren and Sergiy Karazy; Writing in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Neil Fullick) BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The New Year speech of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday showed China's remarkable achievements in the past year, and conveyed hope and confidence to the world, observers from around the world have said. Looking forward to China's continued development and progress in the future, they believe that China's wisdom and solutions will continue to make new and important contributions to the cause of peace and development of mankind. ADDING CONFIDENCE TO GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT "In 2022, we successfully convened the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, sounding a clarion call of the times for us forging ahead on a new journey," Xi said in the address. "The Chinese economy has remained the second largest in the world and enjoyed sound development. GDP for the whole year is expected to exceed 120 trillion yuan," he added. Over the past year, the Chinese people have united as one, made great achievements and injected confidence into global development. The Chinese path to modernization has provided a reference and inspiration for more countries to achieve development. Noting Xi's New Year speech as warm, powerful, hopeful and inspiring, Ang Teck Sin, a political commentator in Singapore, said that it touched on China's remarkable achievements and once again demonstrated the firm determination to pursue a Chinese path to modernization through its own efforts, adding China has injected positive energy into promoting the healthy development of globalization. China's key words in 2022 were "overcoming difficulties" and "making achievements," said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper. After listening to Xi's New Year speech, he noted that the achievements of the Chinese people in 2022 were remarkable. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, China has optimized and adjusted its prevention and control measures in light of the time and situation, put its people first, protected their lives and health to the greatest extent, and ensured economic and social development, he said. In the process, the Chinese people have demonstrated their fine quality of uniting in their purposes and efforts and working together with solidarity to address challenges, said Korzhumbayev. Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, said the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China painted a grand blueprint for building a modern socialist country in a comprehensive way, and is of great significance to unite and inspire the Chinese people to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. He said that the achievements of the Chinese path to modernization have brought confidence and dividends to the world, and China's development experience will continue to provide important enlightenment for others. China's development model is based on innovation and focuses on improving people's living standards, which is very important for the world, said Christine Bierre, editor-in-chief of French newspaper New Solidarity. China's achievements over the past year have caught the world's attention, said Yevgeny Zaitsev, head of the Center for Russian-Chinese Studies at Russia's Lomonosov Moscow State University. China is steadily promoting development in various fields, and has become a key factor of stability in today's world, bringing confidence and hope to the international community to solve existing problems and achieve sustainable development, the expert said. Noting that the world today is not peaceful, he pointed out that China, as a responsible major country, actively promotes the building of a human community with a shared future and injects strength into world peace and development. Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, said Xi's New Year address sends new hope and expectations to the Chinese people and the world. Over the past few years, China has shown great confidence in all aspects, and will successfully meet challenges and continue to contribute its share to global development, the expert said. OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO GLOBAL RECOVERY Xi stressed in his New Year address that the Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality, and the fundamentals sustaining its long-term growth have remained strong. As long as we stay confident and strive for progress while maintaining stability, we will realize the goals we have set, Xi added. Today's China is a country where dreams become reality, a country brimming with vigor and vitality, a country that maintains its national character, and a country closely linked with the world, he said. Over the past year, transformation and turbulence have been evolving continuously, and the tendencies toward unity and division have both been surging and contending with each other. The world economy has fallen into a slump and is in urgent need of recovery. Thus, the world expects China to continue to promote high-quality development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and keep providing new opportunities for the world through China's new development. Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN Studies at the Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management, was impressed by the statements that today's China is a country "brimming with vigor and vitality" and "a country closely linked with the world." In the past year, whether at the Group of 20 Summit or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi's important propositions have shown the world that China has always been an advocate and promoter of an open world economy, he said. As the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, Tang said he believed that China will continue to bring opportunities for the development of countries worldwide. From Xi's New Year address, Korzhumbayev saw new hope for the world economic recovery brought by the steady progress of China's economy while it maintains a stable performance. China is an advocate of building a mutually beneficial and win-win open world economy, and it is believed that in the new year, China will continue to expand its opening-up with practical actions, and the steady development of China's economy will provide opportunities and momentum for the recovery and development of the world economy, said Korzhumbayev. Looking back on the past, China's expansion of a high-level opening-up has been a continuous success, established a network of free trade zones oriented to the world characterized by high standards of efficiency and growth, and the Belt and Road Initiative has become an international public good and a platform for international cooperation, and won the support of many countries, Karim Adel, head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, told Xinhua. Meanwhile, China's other initiatives, especially the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, have won the support of many countries, Adel added, saying he expects that China will contribute more to achieving prosperity for the international community. There is no other country like China in the world that made such an important picture of our time ahead, of our future, Volker Tschapke, honorary president of Germany's Prussian Society, told Xinhua. He said he particularly likes Xi's statement that today's China is a country where dreams become reality, adding "that's always been like this, it is indeed like this. It will be always like this in the future!" From Xi's New Year address, Carla Oliva, coordinator of the China and Argentina study group at the National University of Rosario in Argentina, saw hope and opportunity for the further improvement of trade between Latin America and China. China has become an important trading partner and source of investment to Latin America, and economic and trade activities between the two countries have become an important driving force for the economic development of Latin America, Oliva said. The expert said she firmly believes that a more modern China will contribute more to the world's prosperity and development. CONTRIBUTING WISDOM TO PEACE, DEVELOPMENT "We cherish peace and development and value friends and partners as we have always done. We stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress. We work hard to contribute China's wisdom and solutions to the cause of peace and development for all humanity," Xi said in his address. The international community believes that China will play an important role in pooling strong synergy to promote common prosperity and progress. Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club, said he was impressed by Xi's words that China will "work hard to contribute China's wisdom and solutions to the cause of peace and development for all humanity." In this regard, China practices what it preaches, said Bennett, adding that China calls for promoting a world economic recovery through a comprehensive and inclusive globalization that leaves no people or country behind, and rejects protectionism, embargoes, and unilateral sanctions. China can put forward proposals, mechanisms and solutions that are in the interest of all humanity, and can therefore be accepted and appreciated by all humanity, Bennett said. Reviewing China's efforts to maintain global peace in the past year, Katarina Zakic, head of the center for the Belt and Road Initiative at the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Serbia, said changes and turbulent times in 2022 did not stop China from promoting and working on establishing better international relations that are more peaceful and full of opportunities for everyone. She said those kinds of efforts, but not just from China, are even more needed these days than in some past times; if we had a more similar understanding of world peace and its importance, the world would be much safer. Ismael Buchanan, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda, said China remains a sincere partner for the global community to achieve economic transformation, peaceful coexistence and high quality development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. "I applaud China's efforts to ensure a peaceful world with immense opportunities for everyone," said Buchanan, adding that roads designed and built by China have promoted Rwanda's trade and the China-built Masaka Hospital has provided high-quality medical services for Rwandans. Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Brazil, follows Xi's new year address every year, saying Xi's latest message once again instilled confidence into the international community. China's wisdom and solutions are a beacon for the building of a new type of international relations. The vision of building a human community with a shared future put forward by China will help build a more peaceful and better world, he said. Thanks to the sacrifices and hard work of the Chinese people, the development and economic growth of China remain at significant and appreciable levels in all areas, said Lyazid Benhami, vice president of the Paris Association of French-Chinese Friendship. He said that Xi, in his address, confirmed China's willingness to cooperate and open up more on the international scene as China's destiny is linked to that of the rest of the world, adding that the world also needs solutions and China's vision in various fields related to development, innovation, and peace. John Pang, a former senior fellow at New York-based Bard College, said China has been pushing the improvement of global governance by putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. They are made from a generational commitment, patient and persevering, to work for a human community with a shared future, said Pang, hoping that China could continuously contribute to world peace and development with Chinese wisdom and solutions. The Proteas have have had a tough tour Down Under having already surrendered the three-match series with a game to spare. The home side won the first Test in Brisbane by six wickets in a match that only lasted two days and then sailed to an innings-and-182-run victory in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Jansen has been one of the few visiting players to come away with any credit in the last two games, taking big wickets and scoring his maiden half-century at the MCG. The lanky seamer told reporters om Monday: "I know everyone goes out there to give their best, but at the end of the day it's about trying to figure out what we can do as a team or individuals to really influence the game in a defining way. "Whether it's taking five blows to the body while batting or bowling 7 or 8 overs on the trot, it's those things that matter. It's about recognising the moment and doing whatever you can within your power to influence or help the team. "You can say all these nice things about 150-plus partnerships or guys scoring double centuries, but it's not always a case where a team scores 500 runs and then win the game. "Test cricket is sometimes like the first Test, where a partnership of 80 wins you the game. My focus is on identifying those type of moments and capitalising on them." The two defeats in Australia has seen the Proteas slip down to fourth in the World Test Championship (WTC) table with their hopes of finishing in the top two and a place in the final now a meek possibility. South Africa only have three Tests remaining to influence the final outcome, the match in Sydney and two games at home against West Indies starting next month. When asked if they have something to play for, Jansen said: "Ja, definitely [there's something to play for]. I think we have three Test matches left [two against West Indies in February/March] until the final, so obviously we want to win all three to give ourselves the best chance possible to get into the final. "So, it's not like we're going into this game just thinking, 'Ok, it's just another game, we can just cruise through it,' or whatever. There's still a goal, there's still a purpose going into this next Test." The article Marco Jansen urges South Africa to show fighting attitude ahead of final Test in Australia appeared first on Planetsport.com. (Marriott) Its the first day back and youre raring to go. By raring to go, we of course mean, frantically firing up Google and typing in best holidays 2023 or wheres sunny in January. Weve got you covered read on for this years coolest trends in travel Marriott Mena House (Marriott) The tombs of Ancient Egypt There is much to love about this enchanting country. For starters, flights can cost as little as 42. Egypt has seen tourist numbers dwindle over the past 20 years, not helped by the pandemic but its finally bouncing back. Where the A-list and Instagrammers go, the rest of us follow. In November, Diors creative director Kim Jones chose the Giza pyramids as the backdrop for his latest mens collection. Cut to Naomi Campbell, Robert Pattinson, Lila Moss and Lewis Hamilton posing chicly among the millennia-old tombs. Suitcase magazines editorial director Emma Ventura agrees its the place to be. Her tip? Be one of the first to visit the new state-of-the-art $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum. Like many, were keeping close tabs on the final opening date for the Grand Egyptian Museum. Located just outside Cairo and adjacent to the pyramids at Giza, it will incorporate 12 exhibition halls and 100,000 artefacts, including nearly all those found in Tutankhamuns tomb. Make like the It-crowd and stay at Marriott Mena House (251; marriott.co.uk) with hazy views of the pyramids, or head further into the city to the chic Villa Bella Epoque (170; villabelleepoque.com) a charming boutique in the buzzy El Maadi neighbourhood. The newest Orient Express is open now (Orient Express) The slick new sleeper trains It doesnt take a wild leap of the imagination to envisage a world in the not-too-distant future where flying makes one something of a social pariah. As part of its 2023 trend forecasting research, Pinterest declared this the era of train-bragging and says searches are up 205 per cent. Suitcase magazines Emma Ventura is on board. Radically cutting how much we fly is non-negotiable from here on. Weve got our eye on some genuinely exciting new rail travel, not least of which is The Night Trains, which promises to turn carriages into clubland on routes around Europe from next June, with customised interiors, DJs and other creative talent turning a train trip into a festival experience. For something nostalgic and unbelievably glamorous, were loving the classic opulence of the refurbed suites aboard Belmonds Venice Simplon-Orient Express, she says. Fast forward to 2024 and the launch of hotel-on-wheels Midnight Trains will make cramped low-cost flights around Europe seem like a medieval form of torture. Launching in Paris, the plan is to have slick, eco-friendly sleeper trains to 10 destinations including Rome, Copenhagen and Porto. Story continues Six Senses Crans-Montana (Six Senses) Eco-exploring This will be the year sustainable travel goes from mere lip service to being at the core of holiday planning but it can still be hard to know if were doing it right. Booking.com says 62 per cent of its users are looking for eco-accommodation this year. Six Senses (sixsenses.com) is always a safe bet and have two new openings this year in: Six Senses Vana in India and Six Senses Crans-Montana in spectacular Switzerland. Sustainable travel expert, podcaster and author Juliet Kinsman suggests an electric car road trip through Norway. Up Norways historic Discovery Route itinerary (5,262 for 14 nights; upnorway.com) plots a road trip which factors in time with local communities, hosts, farmers, and chefs, to experience authentic Norwegian culture. Travel by electric car while following two of Norways 18 breathtaking scenic routes. Starting and ending in Bergen, home to one of Norways eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this Scandi odyssey gets you rappelling down a waterfall, off-road biking, hiking and climbing up a ferrata. Gliding in clear waters with salmon one day, relaxing in a floating sauna the next. Alternatively the Interrail Norway Pass is wallet-friendly (221 euros for five days; interrail.eu) and glides from Stavanger to Bodo with views of the dancing Northern Lights in the winter and endless daylight in the summer. Brightson Beach House (Soho House) The British seaside staycay International travel is back with a bang but the great British staycation isnt going anywhere. Conde Nast Traveller say that interest in their UK beach content is up 156 per cent post-pandemic. So wheres hot? CNTs digital editor Sarah Allard says her money is on Margate, Camber Sands, Brighton and Eastbourne. Margates popularity isnt fading anytime soon thanks to the addition of Fort Road Hotel and, next year, No.42 By GuestHouse and Margate House arriving on the scene. Popular Camber Sands sanctuary The Gallivant will open its second property The Gallivant Littlestone Beach in Kent in 2023, while the arrival of Brighton Beach House is yet another reason to battle the crowds for a stint by the sea. Even Eastbourne is having a moment; Towner 100 Towner Eastbournes centenary celebration will host a year of exhibitions, including a show dedicated to Barbara Hepworth and the Turner Prize. Start saving your pennies and get ready to fight off some gulls. Gorillas in the Republic of the Congo (Alamy Stock Photo) The hot new adventure destination The Republic of the Congo not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), although Responsible Travel does offer intrepid safari holidays to this beautiful but troubled country is the next hot new destination for adventurous types who have no desire to forgo luxury. Jenny Southan, founder of Globetrender, is forever on the scent of the next emerging spot. Set to be unveiled in the last quarter of 2023, renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley will be debuting a multi-million-dollar gorilla safari camp called Kozala Zamba Congo in the depths of the Republic of the Congo, she says. Located deep in thick forest wilderness, the camp will be operated in partnership with the Congo Conservation Company and philanthropist Sabine Plattner. Using the hotel as a base, guests will have access to three national parks the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Odzala-Kokoua National Park and the Sangha Trinational Park, which also stretches into Cameroon and the Central African Republic. With no official borders to cross, travellers can have lunch in one country and fish for sharp-toothed tiger fish in another, as well as observe the worlds largest living primates in their natural habitat. Capella Sydney will open in 2023 (Capella) Aussie rules Australia and its endless golden beaches, world-class food scene and multicoloured Great Barrier Reef is welcoming us back with open arms. Booking.com says Brits in particular cant get Down Under quick enough and its to Sydney theyre making a beeline. Luxury travel operator Scott Dunn is also seeing the trend. Since the removal of border restrictions during the summer, weve seen a gradual growth in demand for Australia and it remains high on our guests travel wish lists for 2023, especially among honeymooners and adventurous families with teens, says Charlotte Dent from Scott Dunn. Theres lots to look forward to. Its going to be a big year for the country, with the opening of the new Capella Sydney hotel (500; capellahotels.com) and Sydney WorldPride celebrations the first time they have taken place in the Southern Hemisphere. Were also anticipating the reopening of the beautiful Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in late 2023, following an extensive rebuild after devastating bushfires. Other top openings to look out for include W Sydney (marriott.com), a 585-room mega-hotel overlooking the harbour, and 25Hours (25hours-hotels.com) in the deeply cool Paddington neighbourhood. San Domenico Palace was the setting for The White Lotus (Four Seasons) Set jetters Were calling it The White Lotus effect and as noxious as the guests are, it seems we want what theyve got. Expedia says 66 per cent of travellers are inspired to visit a destination after seeing it on the small screen. Kerry Golds from Abercrombie & Kent agrees. Viewers are drawn to the aspirational lifestyles, perfect weather and polished scenarios of their favourite shows, such as The White Lotus. This has resulted in a surge of interest for not just the destination but also its associated hotels; people now have the opportunity to visit these places themselves and stay in locations they recognise from their favourite show a truly unique experience. Head to Sicily and the San Domenico Palace (fourseasons.com), a masterpiece of a hotel and the setting for season two of The White Lotus. If its starting prices of 1,500 per night give you the onset of a panic attack, consider the blissful Zash Country Boutique (zash.it) where rooms start at 140. With views over to rumbling Mount Etna and a magical spa, itll do very nicely indeed. Tran Anh Vu, deputy general director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Department of General Economic Affairs, told VIR that in 2023, Vietnam will continue carrying out group-oriented diplomatic activities to lure in big projects worth billions of US dollars, in the context of increasing competition in luring this kind of funding in the region. Such activities will be implemented by the leaders of the country and of ministries and agencies, Vu said. Reality has shown that group-oriented diplomacy has been playing a key role in helping the nation to woo foreign direct investment (FDI). For example, upon hearing Denish toymaker Lego Group was looking for a suitable location to build a large-scale carbon-neutral plant overseas, the Vietnamese prime minister and one deputy prime minister had several talks on the phone with Legos top leader, persuading him to take the project to Vietnam. Vietnam has also been strongly improving its business and investment climate to attract more FDI, Vu said. In Southeast Asia, a number of nations such as Malaysia and Thailand are strongly deploying group-oriented diplomatic activities to woo such major groups as Lego, and this is creating big pressure for Vietnam. In November, construction of a $1-billion, 44-hectare Lego plant was commenced in the southern province of Binh Duongs Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 3. The plant is scheduled to generate about 4,000 jobs and market its first products in 2024. This is the sixth plant worldwide for the Danish toy company, and its second in Asia. It is also Legos first carbon-neutral plant, using electricity from rooftop solar cell panels and a nearby solar farm. Lego CEO Niels Christiansen said the group selected Vietnam for its big pool of skilled staff, commitment to carbon-neutrality by 2050, and location as gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, which boasts a growing market of young consumers. Vietnam believes it has the correct environment to lure in even more investment from some of the biggest manufacturers in the world, photo Le Toan Attracting interest The Ministry of Planning and Investment last week reported that in the January-December 20 period of 2022, total newly registered and newly added FDI and capital contributions and stake acquisitions in Vietnam hit nearly $27.72 billion, equivalent to 89 per cent of that recorded in the same period last year. FDI disbursement reached about $22.4 billion, up 13.5 per cent on-year. Group-oriented diplomatic activities are making great contributions to Vietnams efforts in FDI attraction and trade expansion, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a recent conference on boosting economic diplomacy. The MoFA has been assigned by the government to expand in these areas, especially given the restrictions of the past few years, and many big investors globally are seeking safe investment destinations. Vietnams top leaders have also met with leaders of many groups, including Nike and Adidas. Visible outcomes have been seen through these meetings, said Nguyen Hoang Phuong, a representative of the MoFAs Department of Foreign Policies. Established in 1995, Nike Vietnam now has more than 200 partner factories in 20 localities nationwide, along with hundreds of enterprises joining its supply chain, indirectly providing jobs for nearly 500,000 local workers. PM Chinh received COO of Nike, Andy Campion, in Hanoi in December, proposing that the company increase scientific and technological advances and achievements of Industry 4.0 to its production and management activities in Vietnam, while assisting the nation to improve the management capacity, train human resources, boost green growth and digital transformation, and develop a circular economy. Campion said the sportswear producer is expanding operations in Vietnam with enhanced application of technology and automation. Nike makes 600 million pairs of footwear each year, half of which are made in Vietnam, and that half of the materials for the companys global supply chains are also sourced from here. The MoFA will also continue working with many localities nationwide to connect them with foreign investors. For example, many South Korean investors are seeking locations in Vietnam for their upcoming projects, and we are introducing them with localities so that they can select the suitable places for the projects, said a representative from the MoFAs Department of External Relations. The most recent is an event to promote South Korean investment in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, involving hundreds of South Korean investors seeking to invest in a wide range of sectors. In 2023, the MoFA will also continue cooperating with localities to organise FDI promotion events. The total accumulative registered capital from South Korea as of December 20 hit $80.97 billion, making the Northeast Asian economy the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, followed by Singapore at $70.85 billion and Japan at $68.9 billion. Accelerating trade In addition to helping attract FDI, the diplomatic sector has also assisted the country to expand trade. The MoFA has asked all embassies overseas to focus on solutions to increase Vietnamese exports to the markets where they are located. The MoFA a few weeks ago submitted to the government for approval an international scheme on promoting Vietnams halal products in foreign markets. If the initiative is adopted, Vietnamese businesses will have a chance to expand exports with some incentives. It is calculated that the worlds halal market was valued at $2.23 trillion in 2020, which is expected to rise to $4.69 trillion by 2030. In addition, we are also help enterprises to export farm produce including tea into the Middle East market, and cashew to the African market, said Nguyen Thanh Duy, a representative of the MoFAs Department of Middle Eastern and African Affairs. The General Statistics Office (GSO) last week reported that Vietnams total commodity export-import turnover hit $732.5 billion in 2022 up 9.5 per cent on-year. Of which exports are worth $371.85 billion up 10.6 per cent, and imports are valued at $360.65 billion up 8.4 per cent. The MoFA cited high-profile international forecasts which stated that in 2022, the global economy is estimated to have grown only 3 per cent on-year due to instabilities from the global economy brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and geopolitical tensions becoming increasingly complicate. Investment and trade from the key markets such as the United States, the EU, South Korea, and Japan are estimated to have reduced in 2022, which will have strong negative impacts on Vietnams FDI attraction and trade activities in 2023, the ministry said. Thus, one of the biggest tasks for the country now is to continue improving the domestic business and investment environment in service of investors and enterprises, while increasing the product quality to export to more markets based on advantages of free trade agreements already entering into force. PM Chinh noted that Vietnam will continue diversifying export markets to offset ongoing difficulties in traditional ones, including the US, China, EU, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN, and prepare for the global FDI shift to move up on the global value chains. Vietnam should be active in the search for international partners to attract FDI into many industrial sectors, especially high-tech, cultural industry, transport infrastructure, digitalisation, climate resilience, and education, he said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also said that the economic diplomatic work has been deployed in a drastic, practical, and effective manner in order to expand trade and woo big investors like Lego and Samsung, which in December inaugurated its $220 million research and development centre in Hanoi. It is calculated that Samsungs total investment in Vietnam reached over $20 billion by late last year. Despite negative impacts in the past couple of years, economic cooperation with partners have been maintained and expanded, with a rise in exports and consolidation of trust from the international business community, and increased attraction of FDI, Minister Son added. After growing 2.91 per cent in 2020 and 2.58 per cent in 2021, the Vietnamese economy climbed 8.02 per cent in 2022, and the rate is expected to be about 6.5 per cent in 2023, said the GSO. FDI disbursement figures augur well for confidence Fuelled by the countrys efforts to improve the domestic business climate, the disbursement of foreign direct investment in Vietnam has reaped a bumper crop, reflecting the rising confidence of investors. Vinh Phuc draws 425.9 million USD of FDI in 2022 The northern province of Vinh Phuc has attracted more than 425.9 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2022, 42 pc higher than its yearly plan. FDI inflows slightly decrease in 2022 This year, the total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows reported a decrease of 11 per cent, while disbursement saw an increase of 13.5 per cent compared to last year. TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said on Monday that Iran sees no problem with building relations with Egypt. At a weekly press conference, Nasser Kanaani hailed the talks between the Iranian foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart on the sidelines of a recent regional conference in Jordan's capital Amman as "positive." More talks are being held to resolve consular issues between the two countries, he added. Speaking of the Iraqi prime minister's recent proposal to facilitate talks between Iran and Egypt, Kanaani said Iran "welcomes any positive steps taken for Iran-Egypt relations," reaffirming Tehran's rapprochement regional policy. In recent years, Iran has announced readiness to mend ties with Egypt by settling differences on certain issues. When operational later this year, Mu Cang Chai Resort will be the first 5-star resort in Mu Cang Chai district, and also the first luxury resort to reach 5-star standards in the mountainous province of Yen Bai. The resort began construction three years ago in the terraced fields of Che Cu Nha commune, 7km from the town centre. More opportunities for resort tourism expected Divided into VIP villas, luxury villas, and bungalows, Mu Cang Chai Resort owns a full range of modern services with design focusing on nature-friendly materials such as bamboo, recreating the living space of ethnic minorities in the northwest in the mists of the majestic mountains and forests. We are ambitious to turn this place into the most luxurious resort of Yen Bai province and the northwest mountainous region, said Dao Duc Long, a representative of resort owner Thinh Dat JSC. The company is also working with a number of partners to develop more high-end experience products for VIP groups such as tours to discover Mu Cang Chai by helicopter, paragliding, and building a treatment area according to the traditional herb remedies of the Mong and Dao ethnic minorities, Long added. With the goal of raising the brand name of Yen Bai resort, Long and Thinh Dat JSC had been constantly looking for foreign partners to operate and develop the resort. Finally, the company found Banyan Tree, a group that currently manages nearly 100 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. We hope this cooperation will bring new values to Yen Bai province and help it attract more foreign guests when the resort starts operating, Long shared. The number of international tourists did not meet expectations in 2022. According to data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the country welcomed about 3.5 million international visitors in the year, fewer than the targeted 5 million visitors set at the beginning of the year. However, the number of domestic tourists increased by 1.5 times, reaching 101.3 million. Vietnams hotel and resort market remains attractive to many investors in the region thanks to the rapid recovery of these domestic visitors, and positive reopening signs from key tourist markets of Japan, South Korea, China, and emerging market India. Fitch Solutions notes that Vietnams tourism sector is forecast to record $11.1 billion in revenues in 2024 and this could rise to around $13.2 billion by 2026, with more than 22 million arrivals in the country each year. Michael Kokalari, VinaCapitals chief economist, expects the number of Chinese tourists is likely to begin recovering in the second half of 2023. They could contribute to bringing the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam to over half of the pre-pandemic level for 2023, he said. Tourism and resort businesses have expanded development opportunities as tourist travel habits change with the rise of sustainable products and experience-discovery tourism products combined with healthcare activities. The recovery process of hotels in the high-end and luxury segment is more positive, said Mauro Gasparotti, director of Savills Hotels Asia-Pacific. Especially, the luxury segment was less volatile than other segments during the pandemic and also recorded a better rate of room rate recovery than the market average, he said. Gasparotti believes that the operation of resorts in coastal tourist destinations, especially in markets that depend on foreign visitors, will improve more effectively in the next 12 months. This is also the reason why regional and international hotel management groups are increasingly focusing on strengthening their presence and expanding their brand portfolio in Vietnam. At the same time, domestic tourism businesses are also paying more attention to combining with international management partners to bring more quality experience to meet new trends. In 2022, Vietnams largest hotel and tourism group Vinpearl transferred the management rights of its 12 hotels and resorts to Melia Hotels International for a minimum period of 10 years. Vinpearl Hotel CEO Thai Thanh Nhat Quang said, The cooperation with international partners in running our properties will effectively facilitate Vinpearl in joining world-famous hotel networks and contribute to raising the bar for Vietnamese tourism. Meanwhile, IHG Hotel & Resorts Group the owner of Six Senses, InterContinental, Regent, and Crowne Plaza also announced a long-term development plan in Vietnam to make the country a key market in Southeast Asia. We have strengthened long-term cooperation with groups such as BIM Group and Sun Hospitality Group as well as new partners such as Con Bap Ecotourism to jointly promote brand growth sustainably when cooperating with the right partners, said Rajit Sukumaran, managing director of IHG for Southeast Asia and South Korea. Latest figures say Vietnam has just over 130 hotels and resorts under the brand name of operating corporations. Besides key markets such as Nha Trang, Danang, and Phu Quoc, international and regional operators are also paying more attention to developing destinations such as Ho Tram, Quy Nhon, and Phu Yen. According to the latest figures by Savills Vietnam, in the next three years, the market is expected to see about 80 more hotels and resorts under the operator chain come into operation. Prominent projects expected to come into operation in 2023 include Angsana & Dhawa Ho Tram, JW Marriott Cam Ranh, Hyatt Regency Nha Trang, La Festa Phu Quoc Curio Collection by Hilton, and Voco Ma Belle Hotel Danang. Uyen Nguyen, head of consultancy at Savills Hotels Asia-Pacific said, Partnering with professional hotel operators will help bring value to the projects from the early planning stage through to technical consulting and pre-opening services, to ensure that the project meets design standards and is capable of efficient and cost-effective operation. Mu Cang Chai among worlds 50 most beautiful places Mu Cang Chai terrace fields in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai have been included into the list of the 50 most beautiful places in the world in 2020 by Big 7 Travel. Yen Bai tourism recovering from the pandemic thanks to new projects During the last months of this year, Yen Bai has become increasingly popular for its tourism experiences thanks to the presence of attractive new offers. Mu Cang Chai banh day pounding festival about to open The first Mu Cang Chai banh day pounding festival will be held for three days (January 1-3, 2021) on the occasion of the New Year holiday. Safe, colourful Mu Cang Chai While building Mu Cang Chais tourism into and sustainable industry, the districts authorities in Yen Bai province are actively developing its infrastructure and aims to promote new agro-tourism products to prepare for the first wave of tourists after the pandemic. Responsible and Sustainable direction giving wings to Vietnamese tourism development The survey results also indicate that up to 57 per cent of respondents said that they have had a different thought about tourism is done, especially because it is related to the local economy, community, culture, and environment. Responsible and sustainable tourism is becoming more important, and the needs and preferences of tourists is also changing. Instead of noisy and prosperous tourist destinations, many people are looking for peaceful countryside and experiences of discovery, close to nature and good for health, in accordance with the projects on development of national parks and protected areas in Vietnam. Among the sustainable tourism models often mentioned in recent years, models that focus on exploiting simple and healthy natural experiences such as agritourism, farmstay, or glamping are special models to attract the attention of both tourists and investors. As a model of farm tourism, farmstays and glamping are located only on large plots of land, currently mainly concentrated in the localities of Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, and Bac Ninh. Around Hanoi, Ba Vi and Soc Son have become the capitals of farmstays. These are all areas with favourable traffic conditions, unique cultural factors, and favourable natural conditions. Tourists for farmstay and glamping are also often elderly, international guests, families living in the city, or students wishing to experience rural life and immerse themselves in nature. In the context of big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang being increasingly polluted, farmstays and glamping offer a fresh environment that can prolong the stay of tourists and contribute to the development of the local economy. They also bring a great source of revenue for investors because this model can also make money from agricultural products, livestock, and cooking, in addition to accommodation. Moreover, the model of rural tourism associated with farmstays also solves post-pandemic issues including population fluctuations caused by the labour force moving from the city to the countryside, creating livelihoods for local people to feel secure to live and do business in their native land. Grasping the needs of visitors, Rustic Hospitality Group over the years has focused on consulting, designing, and operating sustainable green tourist resorts with the farmstay model with the goal of promoting potential and agricultural resources in Vietnam, creating livelihoods for local communities, and supporting the economic development of the regions where the brand is present. We aim to design tourism products with poetic countryside beauty simple but not sketchy, rustic but not lacking in sophistication. Our products all use local materials such as raw wood and stone, symbolising the harmony of nature, ensuring to bring customers a feeling of relaxation in the soul and towards health for visitors. Currently, we have three resorts Mekong Rustic Cai Be, Mekong Rustic Can Tho, and Ninh Binh Rustic. In 2023, we plan to put into operation Mekong Rustic Riverside in Cai Lay district of Tien Giang to meet the needs of tourists who have a higher ability to pay but love the sophistication of products associated with nature. However, Rustic Hospitality Group, and tourism businesses with the same model in general, are facing certain difficulties. The first is that Vietnams tourism industry does not have an overall policy and action plan to build and develop responsible tourism products, as well as a communications strategy for this type of product. We have not yet carried out specific target market research on responsible tourism types to change products and build appropriate distribution channels. In addition, the operation and management capacity of community-based tourist attractions is still very limited, while Vietnams tourism industry does not have a common development policy or regulations in many localities, especially related to community and responsible tourism. Looking at neighbouring countries, Vietnam can learn lessons from Thailand, a neighbouring country and also a direct competitor. By the end of 2022, Thailand officially welcomed 10 million international visitors with a total revenue of up to $14 billion, far behind the plan even though it opened slower than Vietnam. The rate of international visitors returning to Thailand also reached an average of 70 per cent, while Vietnam is only at 25-30 per cent. This achievement stems from the reason that Thailand considers tourism as a spearhead economic sector and develops a variety of related products and activities, including eco-tourism and responsible tourism. In addition, this country also developed a master plan from human resource training, product development, market research, and product communication, and has close coordination between stakeholders to achieve the goal. I think that with its potential, Vietnam has many opportunities to develop successful tourism like Thailand if it finds the right direction along with the enthusiastic participation from management units and businesses. And in that development journey, only responsible tourism products can bring lasting value and create special imprints for the Vietnamese tourism industry. Vietnam ranks 96th on global sustainable tourism list A Euromonitor International report ranked Vietnam as 96th of 99 countries for sustainable tourism. Bobby Nguyen, CEO, Rustic Hospitality Group Julien Brun, Managing partner, CEL Interestingly, India is also positioning in this race. Although India may be a bit more behind Vietnam at this stage, it will become a competitor in the next five years. This is because the electronic sector needs a certain geographical scope, meaning dedicated industrial clusters. Once strong clusters are established, they are here for long. So, the competitiveness of Vietnam needs to be highlighted now, or else Vietnam will lose opportunities. Other sectors will also benefit from the migration out of China, particularly for manufacturing (furniture, tools, garments, footwear, industrial equipment, and others). It is difficult at this stage to predict which sector will benefit the most, but in any case it will be most beneficial for Vietnam, sometimes more than electronics, as electronics does not require so many workers like in more traditional industries. So for employment, it is also vital that other traditional industrial sectors are also competitive. Recently, we have seen more and more new facilities, warehouses, and companies deciding to open offices in Vietnam or starting to hire senior executives for their operations just set up here. There are a number of drivers for growth in Vietnam, including economic reforms, free trade agreements, and the Law on Enterprises making it easier to start and run private businesses. Meanwhile, Vietnam currently spends 6 per cent of its GDP on infrastructure while other countries in the region spend an average 2.3 per cent, making Vietnam the leading country in ASEAN in this area. However, 90 per cent of that spending comes from the public budget, and experts maintain that Vietnam has a gap between its current infrastructure and its aspirations of being a fast-growing economy. As foreign investment pours into Vietnam, along with the governments determination to implement Industry 4.0, the current state of infrastructure is unable to keep up. Consequently, the government introduced public-private partnerships to scale up infrastructure upgrades. As per the Global Infrastructure Hub, Vietnam needs on average $25-30 billion annually for infrastructure if the country wants to ensure growth. However, the national budget can only allow for $15-18 billion (at 7 per cent of GDP). Therefore, the country has to source the remaining sums from private investors. Supply chain diversification is expected to be a major story in 2023, Photo: Shutterstock Innovation is a critical factor to make sure that Vietnam can get deeply integrated into the global supply chain further and make itself indispensable, leading to the countrys long term economic development. It starts with education as the future will need more engineers than workers and engineers that can create new things. Then we need to have more support programmes to incentivise companies to increase productivity with digital solutions, ultimately converting labour-based factories into fully automated, robot-based factories. Singapore is a good model for this. A welding robot in a furniture factory can be as productive as over 20 welding workers, but would need a team of 2-3 robot engineers to operate it. Manufacturers should expect a series of events in 2023, in Vietnam including supply chain diversification, brewing recession, a series of disruptions, workforce challenges, and continuous barriers to digital transformation. Even that, more expectations will come from different stakeholders. For example, the government would expect manufacturers to adjust minimum wages, or more commitment and actions from manufacturing sectors towards environmental, social, and governance standards for the circular economy and alternative energy. Manufacturers will also receive pressure from their customers in 2023, like being ready for the rebound with production capability, providing more data to customers for supply chain visibility, as well as connecting with suppliers for supply chain traceability. Retail supply chains in 2023 would face key challenges in consumer demand with lower growth or even declining in both domestic and export markets that lead to higher inventory cost and negative cash flow; an unstable price index impacted from highly volatile fuel prices causing higher distribution costs; and unpredictable materials costs lower margins impacting growth and scale momentum. Regardless of what may go up or down in 2023, supply chain professionals and business leaders still have a long list to prepare for 5-star supply chains: sustainability, visibility, agility, flexibility, efficiency. Increasing end-to-end visibility and resilience are the top two priorities for supply chain leaders now and in the future. Thus, key supply chain management trends in retailing in Vietnam continue to take place in inventory management and supply chain technology. It is expected that in 2023 retailers would apply an agile strategy for their optimal inventory management with integrated supply chains and decentralised networks to serve customers faster. Retailers continue to apply more and more supply chain technology to be more efficient. Retailers also continue to digitalise operations to achieve higher levels of visibility, automation, and integration, applying and taking advantages of advanced data analytics, AI, machine learning, and more for shorter-cycle forecasting, augmented business planning, and optimisation of end-to-end supply chains. Nguyen Dinh Nam,CEO, IPA Vietnam Chinas policy to loosen COVID-19 pandemic restrictions with the highlight of reopening commercial flights will impact capital inflow and project implementation for investors from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Starting from January 8, China will no longer conduct nucleic acid tests and centralised quarantine for all inbound travellers, and measures to control the number of international passenger flights will be lifted, among others. Vietnam Airlines officially reopened regular commercial flights between Vietnam and China in December after three years of suspension. In the first phase, it resumed three routes: Ho Chi Minh City-Guangzhou departing every Friday; Hanoi-Shanghai with flights on Mondays and Fridays; and Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai departing every Wednesday. The move will immediately foster the implementation of unfinished projects that were delayed in construction due to the limit of entry visas for foreign experts. Many Vietnamese and foreign-invested enterprises have lamented the slow processing and multiple rejections of entry visas, which severely disrupts business. Loosening the restrictions will contribute to promoting implementation of newly registered projects by Chinese investors. China limits the number of people for business delegations overseas to a maximum of two people, but in order to start a project, businesses need the participation of the board members, experts, and perhaps others. Another highlight is that investment promotion activity will rally from its depression. In September 2022, a delegation of Taiwanese businesses organised the first business trip to Vietnam since 2020 to look for new venture opportunities. Now, the number of delegations is predicted to increase from the end of the first quarter of 2023. In contrast, authorities, localities, and consultancy firms will find it more convenient in organising investment promotion programmes in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. At IPA Vietnam, which is a small-scale unit, we are ready for such programmes. I believe that this activity will be live across the country. Restarting such activities will contribute to fostering newly registered capital which occurred during the past year. In 2022, just over 2,000 projects were granted investment registration certificates with new capital of almost $12.5 billion, down 18.4 per cent from last year. In general, I see many positive signs from the impact of Chinas loosened policy on foreign investment capital attraction in Vietnam because China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are among leading investors here. However, the shifting of overseas capital inflows from China to Vietnam may be not as high as hoped. In recent times we have heard that many groups were considering shifting their funding out of the country due to ongoing lockdowns dimming the outlook for the worlds second-largest economy. Thus, as China relaxes its restrictions, no doubt some groups may reconsider their shifting plans. OECD Forum: partnerships for resilient and sustainable supply chains Ministers have proposed further strengthening supply chains between OECD and Southeast Asia to be sustainable, equitable, and mutually beneficial, according to a recent forum. The rebuilt portion of Interstate 35 that separates downtown Waco and Baylor University has been open for months, but one underpass remains closed to traffic, and work remains on other crossings. The underpass at 11th and 12th streets remains closed. Traffic and pedestrians can cross at University Parks Drive and at Fourth and Fifth streets, but temporary arrangements remain. Stop signs are in place while traffic lights remain dark. Cones outline new curbs. Segments of new sidewalk are yet to be installed, and components for crosswalk buttons and lights are still missing. Traffic lights and crosswalk infrastructure are on track to be ready early in the new year at Fourth-Fifth and 11th-12th, said Jake Smith, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportations Waco District. Sidewalks are expected to be done by the spring, Smith said. The bulk of the $341 million rebuild and widening of 6 miles of interstate from the north end of Loop 340 to 12th Street, though, is complete. Kollin Behrghundi and Joe Paschke, co-owners of Firewater Liquor, have watched from their store near the access road, at 1011 S. 10th St., as workers have installed wiring for the pedestrian crossings at the 11th and 12th street underpass for the last few weeks. Behrghundi said they opened that location, Firewater Liquors third, in October in hopes the underpass would be open by then. It would have been perfect, but it didnt end up like that I guess, Behrghundi said. He said even during construction, plenty of visitors made their way to the store. About 60% of their customers are tourists, and the remaining 40% are locals, he said. Its been great just the way it is, Behrghundi said. Its just going to be even more exciting when its open. The 11th and 12th street underpass is the best way to access the store, he said. Its much easier to get to downtown or to Baylor on this road rather than going past Magnolia when theres a Silo celebration or something similar going on, Behrghundi said. Bailey Johnson, a Baylor University sophomore studying neuroscience, said she is happy to see the interstate open again, especially after her experience driving back to Waco from Colleyville after Thanksgiving break last semester. I got rear-ended the second I got back into Waco, Johnson said. The second I hit the traffic from construction, everybody completely stopped and the person behind me didnt see that we were all stopped. She said she was not hurt and her car was not badly damaged, but she stayed off the road for the next three weeks or so. Johnson said she is also glad the Fourth and Fifh street underpass has reopened to car traffic. It has been nice being able to drive through instead of going completely around to University Parks Drive, Johnson said. 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frontage road: May 2019 Interstate 35 frontage Interstate 35 frontage Interstate 35 frontage Interstate 35 frontage Interstate 35 frontage WASHINGTON Republicans are trying to pass a new House rule to block materials compiled by the panel that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection from immediately going to the National Archives. Although the House committee investigating the insurrection has released a trove of transcripts and underlying information backing up its report, the vast majority of raw information the panel collected is slated to be sent to the National Archives, where it could be locked away for up to 50 years. But the proposed rules package the new Congress will vote on Tuesday orders that any record created by the panel must instead be sent to the House Committee on House Administration by Jan. 17 and orders the National Archives to return any material it has already received. The move could signal that House Republicans intend to attempt to rebut the panels investigation, which captivated public sentiment for months. The investigation ended with a criminal referral for former President Donald Trump and a landmark report concluding Trump intentionally misled and provoked the insurrectionists as part of an attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican who is his partys nominee for speaker of the House, sent a letter to Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat and the chair of the Jan. 6 committee, in November demanding the preservation of all records collected and transcripts of testimony taken during your investigation. The official Congressional Records do not belong to you or any member, but to the American people, and they are owed all of the information you gathered not merely the information that comports with your political agenda, the letter states. House Republican leaders have previously indicated plans to investigate why the Capitol was so easily breached and whether the governing body overseeing Capitol Police needs to be changed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., already named the House Committee on House Administration the custodian of the records. Under current House rules, the committee is obligated to hand over the official records to the House clerk, who transmits them to the National Archives. The rules also prevent the National Archives from releasing committee records for at least 30 years. Sensitive records, such as those from a major investigation, can be held up to 50 years before being made public. Each Congress sets its own rules, but targeting a single committees records for retention rather than submitting them to the National Archives is unusual. The House retains ownership of committee records even when theyve been transmitted to the National Archives, and can temporarily recall them at any time for official committee use. A summary released by Republicans on the Rules Committee says the proposed change requires the quick transfer of records from the January 6th Select Committee to the House Administration Committee. It is not clear if the records will be transmitted to the National Archives before the new Congress ends in 2024. Spokespeople for Republicans on the House Rules Committee and the House Committee on House Administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. In a statement Monday, Thompson indicated that the National Archives has already begun receiving records from the committee. The committee, which is due to officially disband at 11:59 a.m. EST on Tuesday, has published hundreds of interview or deposition transcripts and thousands of pages of evidence cited in the report to an online repository housed by the Government Publishing Office. Much of that information was published over the weekend, including dozens of previously unreleased transcripts, expert statements and nearly 400 documents cited in the report. Videos shown during the committees nine hearings in 2022 are included in the repository, and at least 75 videos are already available. The committee generally released only the information that was cited in its report. Most of what it released appears tailored to back up the conclusions of its final report and emphasize what the committee thought was most relevant to its investigation. The rest of the material the panel obtained often by subpoenaing agencies and individuals was expected to enter the National Archives. Among the information that wasnt made public and was expected to go to the National Archives are emails and text messages that witnesses or federal agencies provided to the committee that were not referenced in the final report. Raw footage from witness depositions, police video cameras or documentary filmmakers that was not shown during hearings was also expected to go to the National Archives. For example, of the hundreds of text messages and emails former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows handed over while he was complying with the committee, only the emails or text messages referenced in the report have been officially released. Rather than make public all records produced by the Secret Service or Department of Defense about what they knew about the threats of violence on Jan. 6 or why it took so long for the National Guard to arrive, only the documents the report specifically refers to will come out. Similarly, internal White House emails and communications, call logs and other records that the committee received from the National Archives after a lengthy legal battle with former President Donald Trump were also expected to be sent back to the Archives unless directly cited in the report. The committees 18-month investigation created the single largest compilation of evidence related to the attack, and the political forces that led to it. Investigators conducted nearly 1,200 interviews, only a fraction of which were transcribed and released through the repository. PHILADELPHIA The honeybees looked perfectly healthy, buzzing about their boxy wooden hive on a warm autumn day in central Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Capaldi suspected otherwise. Clad in a protective white suit and hat, the biologist reached out with a gloved hand to capture one of the insects in a small vial, then took it back to her Bucknell University laboratory to dissect its brain. Her colleague David Rovnyak later placed a sample of the bees innards inside a large metal cylinder and pelted it with high-frequency radio waves a type of scanning technology that revealed the amounts of certain telltale chemicals within. Their goal: to identify early warning signs that a bee is under stress, so that beekeepers can try to rescue a threatened hive before its too late. Honeybees have been in decline for decades, causing headaches and higher costs for farmers who depend on the insects to pollinate their apples, almonds and 130 other fruit, nut and vegetable crops. The issue made headlines in 2006 with the emergence of a mysterious new phenomenon called colony collapse disorder, but the broader downturn in bee health was underway well before that, and it continues to this day. The causes include climate change, pesticides, and disease, said Capaldi, who studies insect behavior and neuroscience at the liberal arts university in Lewisburg. In bad years, the combination of insults can wipe out more than half of a beekeepers colonies. Honeybees are suffering, she said. All of these factors have united together to create a stressful environment for honeybee colonies across the country. She and Rovnyak, a chemistry professor at Bucknell, realized five or six years ago that the problem might lend itself to an interdisciplinary solution. The pair joined forces with colleague Marie Pizzorno, an expert in viruses as one factor in the insects decline is a virus that deforms their wings. They want to to identify chemical stress indicators that become elevated in a bees brain months before the insect displays any outward signs of decline. The cylindrical device Rovnyak uses to detect these substances, called a spectrometer, would be impractical for any beekeeper or farmer. But once the researchers determine which chemicals are the best predictors of bee health, they want to develop a low-cost test that could be deployed in the real world. Double the cost Every spring, just as the apple blossoms are starting to bloom, a flatbed truck rolls up to Hollabaugh Bros. farm in the middle of the night, laden with 100 honeybee hives. Workers set up the boxy containers across 150 acres that produce more than 50 varieties of apples, said Ellie Hollabaugh Vranich, assistant business manager of the farm in Biglerville, just north of Gettysburg. We try to get them spread out while its still dark, before the bees wake up, she said. A decade ago, the farm rented the hives for $50 apiece. A few years ago, the price rose to $60, and this past spring, it was $100, for a total of $10,000, she said. Beekeepers have cited a variety of reasons for the increases, such as higher fuel costs and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. But every year, a major factor in higher costs is that many colonies dont survive the winter, meaning beekeepers must scramble to raise new ones in time for the growing season. You cant just manufacture a bee on a processing line in a factory, Vranich said. They have to be bred and given time to develop new hives. Experienced beekeepers such as Capaldi, the Bucknell scientist, can often tell when a hive is starting to fail simply by looking at it. Perhaps the insects havent amassed long-term stores of honey, subsisting instead on liquid nectar. A lack of a brood is another warning sign. But by that point, it might already be too late. A year ago, Capaldi judged that her eight hives at Bucknell were under stress, likely because the fall asters and goldenrods had produced less nectar than usual. So throughout the winter, she supplemented the insects food with sugar. Even so, just two of the hives survived. Finding the culprits The first sign of trouble for the insects came in the 1980s with the introduction of a parasitic mite from overseas, said Pizzorno, the Bucknell virologist. Relative to the size of the honeybee, these parasites, called Varroa destructor, are enormous. Itd be like having a tick on your body thats the size of a dinner plate, she said. Scientists later would discover that in addition to inflicting harm directly, the parasites also transmitted a virus to the honeybees that deforms their wings. Researchers also have established that climate change affects the bees in a variety of ways, Capaldi said. Early warm spells or unusual rain patterns can cause flowers to bloom too early and disappear by the time the insects are looking for nectar. Certain pesticides and other practices of large-scale industrial agriculture also can add to the stress, she said. That includes the way the bees are deployed, trucked from farm to farm where they subsist on one crop for days at a time. Increasingly throughout the 1990s, beekeepers reported that some of their colonies did not survive the winter. Then in 2006, beekeepers discovered that some colonies were dying in an unusual way. Instead of dying in or near the hive, bees were simply vanishing, apparently flying off to die elsewhere. In the meantime, significant fractions of colonies keep failing every winter 30% one year, 40% or 50% the next, according to surveys by the nonprofit Bee Informed Partnership. For now, breeders have kept up with the demand for new colonies. But at some point, maybe they wont, Rovnyak said. It just seems to be getting more and more challenging every few years, he said. And theres no sign this is stopping. 25 endangered animals that only live in America 25 endangered animals that only live in America Salt marsh harvest mouse Utah prairie dog Red wolf Kauai cave wolf spider Laysan duck Yosemite toad Gunnison sage-grouse Devils Hole pupfish Fanshell Giant kangaroo rat Delta green ground beetle Jollyville Plateau salamander California condor American burying beetle Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp Crested honeycreeper (Akohekohe) Red Hills salamander Louisiana pine snake Woundfin Alabama red-bellied turtle Bruneau Hot springsnail Mountain yellow-legged frog Flattened musk turtle Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard Northern Idaho ground squirrel It will be a cold day in Waterloo, with temperatures in the 30s. The forecast calls for it to be a bitter 38 degrees. Today's forecasted low temperature is 34 degrees. Periods of thunderstorms are expected today. Today's forecast brings 40% chance of rain, so you may want to bring an umbrella. The area will see gentle winds today, with forecast models showing only 13 mph wind conditions coming up from Northeast. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. For more daily forecast information, visit wcfcourier.com. Bollywood star actor Hrithik Roshan is currently busy shooting for his next big movie, Fighter. The shoot of the Siddharth Anand directorial is happening at a brisk pace. Deepika Padukone is the female lead in Indias first aerial action film. Today, the actor took to his social media handles and posted several pics of him flaunting his ripped body. The 48-year-old Greek God of Bollywood hits the gym while others celebrate the new year. He flexed his six abs and the pics have started circulating on social media. Besides, Hrithik has been receiving comments from celebrities like Varun Dhawan to commoners. The sensational part is that the Instagram post with the pics has garnered 1 million likes already. On the work front, his movie Fighter will be out in theaters on January 25, 2024. In the meantime, his last flick, Vikram Vedha is likely to make its OTT debut on January 9, 2023, on Voot Select and Jio Cinema. An official announcement is still awaited. Articles that might interest you: JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced on Monday his plan to attend a conference in March with his counterparts from Arab countries that have normalized relations with Israel. Cohen, who took office last week in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition government, said the conference will be hosted by Morocco, according to a statement issued by the foreign ministry. The ministry's director-general is scheduled to attend a working meeting next week with Arab counterparts in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to prepare the meeting, he added. Cohen was referring to the Negev Forum, a foreign ministerial-level framework established by Israel, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE and the United States in 2022 to develop Israeli-Arab relations, especially after the normalization Abraham Accords Israel reached with Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE in 2020. "Expanding the Accords to other countries is not a matter of 'if' but of 'when,'" Cohen said, adding Israel's ties with the Arab countries resulted in 2.85 billion U.S. dollars in trade in 2022 and "a significant contribution to security ... and regional stability." Netanyahu, who was sworn in for a sixth term last week, has expressed hope of forming official ties with Saudi Arabia. In the past, Riyadh has conditioned any diplomatic progress with Israel on progress toward a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rosebrough looks at the checkered history, the internecine politics, the ethnic makeup, the governance, and the natural landscape. And more. He zeroes in on some events that have molded Gallup and environs, including the nearby Navajo Nation. Among those events are The Long Walk, the enforced mid-19th century march of thousands of Navajos to Bosque Redondo, which Navajos still call Hweeldi, a Place of Suffering. Another event the book dissects is the March 1973 shooting death of young Navajo activist Larry Casuse, who had kidnapped then-Gallup Mayor Emmett Garcia at gunpoint. Years later, Rosebrough began probing the shooting, apparently initially reported as a suicide. He interviewed Casuses sister Ursula. He met with Navajo activist Michael Benson. And he struggled to gather facts of the violent, still-remembered incident. As mayor, Rosebrough wanted to see a newspaper photograph of three cops hovering over Casuses bloodied body that was dragged to the sidewalk; the image allegedly had been posted in the Fraternal Order of Police building in Gallup. The book offers an insiders view. The 69-year-old Rosebrough, who was born in San Jon and raised in Farmington, has lived in Gallup for about 44 years. Yet he is still considered by some as an outsider. I think unless youre born and raised here, youre an outsider to some extent. Thats kind of a small-town reality, Rosebrough, an attorney in private practice, said in a phone interview. The book also integrates the authors public and personal life. A highlight of his spirited public life was serving as Gallup mayor from 2004 to 2007. Rosebrough was a fresh face with fresh ideas that sometimes upset the status quo and the old guard. At times his anger got the best of him. Two of his controversial ideas were to shorten the hours local liquor stores could sell booze and ban sales of malt liquor in 44-ounce container and fortified wines. For many years Gallup had a reputation as a welcome mat for residents of the dry Navajo reservation to get falling-down drunk in wet Gallup, a reservation border town. Another issue Rosebrough discusses in the book that has inextricably linked Gallup and the Rez is the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. If New Mexico likes to think of itself as a tricultural society Anglos, Hispanics and Indians the book explains how Gallup has welcomed immigrants that have fashioned the town into what has become a multicultural town. Italians, Greeks, and Slavs emigrated to Gallup area a century ago to mine coal underground. They are in addition to the Anglos, Hispanics, Native Americans, and people from the Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Rosebrough, a longtime outdoorsman, loves to mountain bike and hike. When he was mayor he pushed for Gallup to promote the city as an outdoor recreation destination for tourists. When I drive home from work theres a spot on my route that is kind of a high point, Rosbrough said. Its a view of the red rocks, Pyramid Rock and Church Rock, about five miles east of Gallup, that literally energizes him every day. The books title derives from a conversation Rosebrough had with a friend, Don Steele. The author asks why Steele moved to Gallup. Steele gave a spiritual explanation, that he comes from the Celtic tradition: We have a concept that places on Earth that are thin places, where the veil between heaven and Earth that are thin places or between the sacred and the rest of us, is thin and permeable and I think Gallup is such a place. Steele added that these are places of struggle, where the forces of good and evil are drawn into battle. That hit home for Rosebrough. He wrote that he thinks of Gallup as being simultaneously and disproportionately terrible and wonderful. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Fresh off a first term that included massive wildfires, personal hardships and a global pandemic, Michelle Lujan Grisham launched her second term as governor Sunday by touting New Mexicos upward trajectory amid historic challenges. The 63-year-old Democrat, who won reelection in November after a bruising campaign, also laid out new initiatives for the upcoming 60-day legislative session, such as subsidizing the health care premiums of teachers and the creation of a new state health care authority. Its time, once again, to get back to work, Lujan Grisham said during a public inauguration ceremony at a downtown Santa Fe theater that was attended by roughly 800 people. The governor officially began her second term by taking the oath of office at a private ceremony at the Palace of the Governors at midnight. She then attended a Sunday morning Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, along with her husband, Manny Cordova. During the subsequent public inauguration ceremony, Lujan Grisham cited a recent drop in the states unemployment rate it was at 4.1% in November and an increase in the states minimum wage that she signed after taking office in 2019. She also touted her administrations efforts to expand child care eligibility in New Mexico and provide tuition-free college for residents who meet certain qualifications. An act of imagination is no longer required to visualize a thriving New Mexico we are living it, Lujan Grisham said during her roughly 20-minute inaugural speech. But she also acknowledged looming challenges, including New Mexicos high violent crime rate and housing insecurity issues facing many state residents. In response, she vowed to push for more funding for affordable housing programs, expand substance abuse programs and fight the scourge of homelessness afflicting many New Mexicans, though she did not provide details about her plans. After the public inauguration ceremony, Lujan Grisham mingled and took photos with supporters during a reception at the state Capitol, before heading to an inaugural ball that was closed to the media. Sharlene Platero of Gallup made the trip to Santa Fe with friends from the Navajo Nation to attend the inaugural ceremony and said the governors Opportunity Scholarship Program is allowing two of her children to attend the University of New Mexico without having to pay tuition fees. Another supporter, Doreen Hurtig of Santa Fe, who worked on Lujan Grishams gubernatorial campaign, said it was gratifying to see the governor begin her second four-year term. Every person is special to her, Hurtig said. Budget season ahead The governor enters her second term as New Mexico is awash in revenue, with an oil production boom in the states Permian Basin and an uptick in consumer spending boosting projected revenue levels to an all-time high of $12 billion for the budget year that starts in July. While Lujan Grisham will unveil her budget recommendation in the coming weeks, some of the proposals she outlined Sunday could require hefty funding streams to be appropriated by the Legislature. That includes her plan to create a New Mexico health authority to streamline existing services, as well as a push to use state funds to keep in place an income eligibility expansion for New Mexico families to qualify for free child care assistance. The work is not done, but we have made a good start, and I will not rest until this is a state where the conditions that create generational poverty are a dusty relic of the distant past, Lujan Grisham said. The governor drew a standing ovation when she vowed to push for abortion protections to be codified in state law after the U.S. Supreme Court last summer struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. While New Mexico already allows abortion procedures with few restrictions, Lujan Grisham said enshrining those protections in law would ensure women in the state would never have anything less than full bodily autonomy and freedom of choice. She also borrowed from former President Abraham Lincolns second inaugural address when she said New Mexico would move forward with malice toward none, with charity for all and the conviction that hard work on behalf of New Mexicans will win the day. The inaugural ceremony took place in the Lensic Performing Arts Center, which marked a homecoming of sorts for Lujan Grisham, who recalled attending movies at the Lensic while growing up in Santa Fe. Her younger brother, Greg Lujan, was among the speakers during the ceremony, saying his sister may be tiny, but she is mighty. Other Democratic state officials elected in November Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, state Auditor Joseph Maestas and state Treasurer Laura Montoya took their oaths of office at a separate inauguration ceremony Sunday in Santa Fe. MORE FLASHING-YELLOW TURN ARROWS ON WAY: R. Krall asks in an email why Albuquerque doesnt use left-turn yellow blinking lights at more intersections. And Marjorie Austin has a specific location in mind, emailing that signs on northbound and southbound Coors Bypass at the intersection with Seven Bar Loop indicate left-turn-only on a green arrow. In the light sequence there is a long wait on the red arrow (from) northbound Bypass to westbound Seven Bar A flashing amber arrow would seem to be safe, maybe even safer, since many impatient drivers make the turn on a red arrow. Is there a reason a flashing amber left-turn arrow has not been installed? The likely reason is cost. While Coors Bypass/Seven Bar Loop is managed by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Scott Cilke with Albuquerques Department of Municipal Development has some insight. He says the city is continually evaluating intersections in need of flashing-yellow arrows and will install them as funds and staff resources permit. Due to their high cost, the city wont install them on existing signals, Cilke says, but rather install them gradually as signals are replaced. SAN FRANCISCOs NEW SPEED BUMPS ARENT: Wes Baca asks about the repaving and new speed bumps on San Francisco Rd NE, between Barstow Street and Ventura Street. Why did the city put 15 mph speed bumps on a street with a 30 mph speed limit? Cilke explains these speed bumps are not new but were replaced after a routine street rehab in this area. LADERA GRASS MEDIANS GRANDFATHERED IN: Elizabeth Smith Chavez shares that for months I have been watching the extensive work on several blocks of the median on Ladera, east of Unser. The median was dug up several times, irrigation was installed and apparently re-installed, grass was planted, extensive watering takes place, the grass is mowed. In other words, a lot of city money and time was spent on this small area, installing grass in the middle of a drought. Elizabeth says other areas further east look nice with a more typical rock landscape. Why did this unnecessary waste occur? Emily Moore of the city of Albuquerques Solid Waste Department shares that medians were designed throughout the city at various times. While no new medians are installed using turf, there remain some turf medians that are grandfathered in from years ago. These turf medians are maintained until renovations are done to bring them up to current standards. The Solid Waste Management Departments Clean City Division continues to perform general maintenance on the Ladera medians. The Clean City Division has not performed extensive work in this area, nor installed any new turf. Editorial page editor DVal Westphal tackles commuter issues for the metro area on Mondays. Reach her at 823-3858; dwestphal@abqjournal.com; or 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109. HONG KONG, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Commenting on his doubled income from the sale of five tons of durian to export traders in December, Nguyen Van Hai, a veteran farmer in Vietnam's southern Tien Giang province, attributed such growth to the adoption of stricter cultivation standards. He also expressed satisfaction over higher import demand from countries participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), of which China takes the lion's share. Like Hai, many Vietnamese farmers and companies are expanding their orchards and improving the quality of their fruit in order to boost their exports to China and other RCEP members. The RCEP agreement, which entered into force a year ago, groups 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It aims to ultimately eliminate tariffs on over 90 percent of goods trading among its signatories over the next 20 years. As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple uncertainties, the implementation of the RCEP trade pact offers a timely boost to faster recovery and long-term growth and prosperity of the region. TIMELY BOOST TO RECOVERY To increase exports to RCEP countries, Vietnamese enterprises must innovate technology and improve designs and product quality, Dinh Gia Nghia, deputy head of a food export company in the northern Ninh Binh province, told Xinhua. "The RCEP has become a launching pad for us to increase product output and quality, as well as the quantity and the value of exports," he said. Nghia estimated that in 2023, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports to China may increase by 20 to 30 percent, thanks mainly to smoother transport, quicker customs clearance and more efficient and transparent regulations and procedures under the RCEP arrangement, as well as e-commerce development. Customs clearance has been shortened to six hours for agricultural products and within 48 hours for general goods under the RCEP agreement, a major boon for Thailand's export-dependent economy. In the first nine months of 2022, Thailand's trade with RCEP member countries, which accounts for around 60 percent of its total foreign trade, rose 10.1 percent year on year to 252.73 billion U.S. dollars, data from Thailand's Commerce Ministry showed. For Japan, the RCEP has brought the country and its largest trading partner China into the same free trade framework for the first time. "Introducing zero tariffs when there is a large volume of trade will have the most significant effect on trade promotion," said Masahiro Morinaga, chief delegate of the Japan External Trade Organization's Chengdu office. Japan's official data showed that the country's exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food hit 1.12 trillion yen (8.34 billion dollars) for the 10 months through October last year. Among them, exports to the Chinese mainland accounted for 20.47 percent and increased by 24.5 percent from the same time a year earlier, ranking first in export volume. In the first 11 months of 2022, China's imports and exports with RCEP members totaled 11.8 trillion yuan (1.69 trillion dollars), up 7.9 percent year on year. "The RCEP has been a significant stand-out agreement in a time of great global trade uncertainty," said Professor Peter Drysdale from the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research at the Australian National University. "It pushes back against trade protectionism and fragmentation in 30 percent of the world economy and is a hugely stabilizing factor in the global trading system." According to an Asian Development Bank study, the RCEP will increase the member economies' incomes by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. REGIONAL INTEGRATION Experts say the RCEP pact will accelerate regional economic integration through lower tariffs, stronger supply chains and production networks, and forge a more robust trade ecosystem in the region. The RCEP's common rules of origin, which stipulate that product components from any member country would be treated equally, will increase sourcing options within the region, create more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into the regional supply chains and reduce trading costs for businesses. For emerging economies among the 15 signatories, foreign direct investment inflows are also expected to grow as major investors in the region are stepping up specialization to develop supply chains. "I see the potential of the RCEP becoming an Asia-Pacific super supply chain," said Professor Lawrence Loh, director of the Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore's Business School, adding that if any parts of the supply chain become disrupted, other countries can come in to patch up. As the biggest free trade agreement ever forged, the RCEP will ultimately create a very powerful method that could be a role model for many other free trade areas and free trade agreements in the world, the professor said. Gu Qingyang, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore, told Xinhua that the vibrant dynamism of the region is also a strong attraction for economies outside the region, which is witnessing increasing investment from the outside. INCLUSIVE GROWTH The pact will also play an important role in narrowing the development gap and allowing for an inclusive and balanced sharing of prosperity. According to a World Bank report published in February 2022, lower middle-income countries will see the biggest wage gains under the RCEP partnership. Simulating the impact of the trade deal, the study finds that real incomes could grow by as much as 5 percent in Vietnam and Malaysia, and as many as 27 million more people will enter the middle class by 2035 thanks to it. Undersecretary of State and Spokesman of the Cambodian Commerce Ministry Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP could help Cambodia graduate from its least developed country status as soon as 2028. The RCEP is a catalyst for long-term and sustainable trade growth, and the trade pact is a magnet to attract more foreign direct investments to his country, he told Xinhua. "More FDIs mean more new capital and more new job opportunities for our people," he said. The kingdom, known for its agricultural products such as milled rice, and manufacturing garments and shoes, stands to gain from the RCEP in terms of further diversifying its exports and integrating into the regional and global economy, the official said. Michael Chai Woon Chew, deputy secretary-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, told Xinhua that the transfer of technology and production capacity from more developed countries to the less developed is a significant benefit of the trade deal. "It helps to increase the economic output and improve income level, enhance the purchasing power to buy more goods and services from (the) more developed economy and vice versa," Chai said. As the world's second-largest economy with strong consumption capacity and powerful production and innovation potential, China will provide an anchor mechanism for the RCEP, said Loh. "There's a lot to gain for all parties concerned," he said, adding that the RCEP has a diversity of economies in different stages of development, so the stronger economies like China can help the emerging ones while the stronger economies can also benefit from the process due to new demand by the new markets. Does the mayor own rental properties? To whom do city councilors and their spouses owe debts? The public will have those answers in 2023 under new and more vigorous disclosure rules for Albuquerques elected officials. Mayor Tim Keller two weeks ago signed legislation updating the City Charters Code of Ethics provisions regarding how much financial information the citys mayor and councilors must reveal. The City Council already had voted unanimously to approve the changes. City Clerk Ethan Watson, whose office worked on the proposal, said the new rules track with financial disclosure standards once proposed for state of New Mexico officials but never adopted at that level. He said the city is now at the forefront of transparency policy. I think we identified there was room for improvement in the level of disclosure the city has required of elected officials in the past, and we were excited that the mayor and City Council were interested in pursuing this, Watson said. Councilors Brook Bassan, Pat Davis and Klarissa Pena co-sponsored the legislation at the Keller administrations request. Bassan said it makes sense that officials now have to report information about their immediate family members as well as themselves. You have someone like me technically as a stay-at-home (mom), self-proclaimed household CEO I dont have income, so where would my money be coming from? she said. I share our finances with my husband. Under the new policy, elected officials will have to disclose the following information for themselves as well as their spouses and dependent children: Identity and location of all real property they own and its purpose A list of all assets worth more than $50,000, including trust funds, stocks, bonds and other investments All sources of income, including unearned income like rental property revenue and capital gains Liabilities over $5,000, including the amount of debts/liabilities, the person to whom they are owed and payments made over the last year, though some debts like mortgages on a primary residence are excepted The name, location and nature of privately held businesses in their control All professional licenses, board memberships/offices/positions within corporations, trusts, nonprofits, political organizations and more (elected official and spouse only) All gifts worth over $50 including meals, tickets to events, use of personal property or a preferential rate on goods and services received from any lobbyist, restricted donor, government contractor or person bidding on city work Watson said his office is working on a new form that encompasses the newly required information. While elected officials have in the past had to fill out financial disclosures, it has been a one-page form that asked about their sources of income, their real estate interests but only those in Bernalillo County their memberships/positions inside professional organizations and any business relationships they already have or may have with the city of Albuquerque. Jeremy Farris, the New Mexico State Ethics Commissions executive director, spoke in favor of the stronger disclosure rules during the City Councils Dec. 5 meeting. He said the new rules are consistent with the American Law Institutes principals of government ethics. In many ways, the passage of this ordinance would make Albuquerque a model in the area of financial disclosure law, Farris said. Instagram/Cover Images/Media Punch Celebrity The beauty guru confuses fans after he sends out a bizarre string of posts on Twitter about an illuminati and how he's grateful for being alive after escaping the murderous cult Hollywood elites. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jeffree Star ended 2023 with some eyebrow-raising statements. The beauty guru confused fans after he sent out a bizarre string of posts on Twitter about an illuminati and how he successfully escaped the murderous cult Hollywood elites. Reflecting on how 2022 went for him, Jeffree wrote on Friday, December 30, "What a crazy f**king year I escaped the illuminati in 2021 and they still haven't killed me." He continued, "Every day I wake up grateful." He went on to say, "In 2020 I was going to expose everything In a matter of days, the Hollywood elite tried to ruin my entire career, villainize me and flooded the news with lies to discredit me." He additionally name-dropped Britney Spears and Kanye West, suggesting that the illuminati has something to do with the artists' situation. "If you guys only knew the truth about what they are doing to Britney & Kayne," Jeffree teased. In a separate tweet, the former YouTube star added that "anyone who challenges the system gets eliminated." He elaborated, "You have no idea what you are talking about... It's 10 times worse than you can ever imagine. Just be thankful you are on the other side. I still have a soul. Can't say that about a lot of these demons I used to surround myself with." Jeffree's bizarre tweets arrived after he decided to quit his YouTube channel in November despite its 16 million subscribers. "No one watches it anymore," he opened up in a docu-series with Shane Dawson. "There's literally no point for me to do it anymore because no one watches. No one cares." Prior to making the decision, Jeffree faced backlash for a number of controversies. In 2020, he came under fire following the discovery of his old website Lipstick Nazi in 2020, which featured Nazi and self-harm imagery. "Horrible decision. It was very wrong of me and for anyone who has seen that I'm deeply sorry. I'm disgusted with myself and I never should have used that word, ever," he said in an apology at the time. You can share this post! CNN TV The co-hosts of CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live' broadcast poke fun at the network's decision to ban alcohol during the live broadcast by preparing some mysterious non-alcoholic drinks. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper still had fun during their New Year's Eve broadcast even without alcohol. The co-hosts of CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" broadcast on Saturday night, December 31 poked fun at the network's decision to ban alcohol during the live broadcast by preparing some mysterious non-alcoholic shots to drink at the top of every hour. "We will take the shot, and then we will guess what it was," Andy explained the rules of the toasting game after the two put on glasses to keep the drinks a surprise. The two of them guessed that their first drink was tomato juice. When they learned that they were drinking pickle juice, Anderson said, "I've never had a pickle." The "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" and the "Anderson Cooper 360" hosts had buttermilk shots one hour later, before throwing back apple-cider vinegar at 10 P.M. E.T. "What could that be?! Andy idea?" Andy asked his longtime pal. Anderson replied, "Socks?! Or shoes?! Are we drinking the squeezed juice of a leather shoe?" Andy then jokingly yelled, "I need tequila! Honestly!" It was reported last month that CNN decided to limit and monitor the evening's on-air drinking during the annual show. The decision was made after Andy launched into a hilarious drunken rant against ex-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Ryan Seacrest. The Bravo executive producer said at the time, "There's lots of smoke coming from Ryan Seacrest's group of losers that are performing behind us." He added, "I mean, with all due [respect] if you've been watching ABC tonight, you've seen nothing. I'm sorry. It's true." The mysterious shots aside, CNN's New Year's Eve special made headlines after Andy asked Nick Cannon about vasectomy after he welcomed his 12th child. "Nick, I mean, you are singlehandedly repopulating the Earth. I give it up to you, man. What is your plan here? What is your endgame with the kids? You just want to keep going, or is there a number? Do you want to hit 20? Where are we going with this?" Andy asked. "Andy, clearly I don't have a plan," Nick responded. The 42-year-old rapper/comedian added, "Honestly, man, it's just so much joy and elation to have the family that I have. I embrace it, and I love it, but I don't have a plan. That should've been clear from the jump." When asked if he considers getting a vasectomy, Nick replied, "Is that what you want me to get?" He went on saying, "This is my body, my choice!" before flashing a smile. You can share this post! Cover Images/BauerGriffin Celebrity According to Bloomberg, the former richest man in the world has seen his net worth plunging to $137 million as Tesla shares have plummeted 65 percent in the past year. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Elon Musk has set a new record, but not for a good reason. The former richest man in the world has become the first man ever to lose $200 billion of his net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire's Index. The 51-year-old's quick downfall was not even related to his recently-acquired Twitter, which has been abandoned by some public figures due to Musk's controversial decisions. According to the business news outlet, he lost more than half of his total net worth from Tesla shares. The co-founder and CEO of Tesla, whose net worth peaked in November 2021 at $340 billion, has seen his wealth plunging to $137 million as Tesla shares have plummeted 65% in the past year. It has been the electric carmaker's worst year to date. The company's latest blow came on Tuesday, December 27 with an 11% plunge after a surge in COVID cases had forced Tesla to temporarily halt production in Shanghai. In a memo sent to staffers Wednesday, the billionaire thanked workers for their "exceptional execution" throughout the year while downplaying the company's dismal stock performance. "Don't be too bothered by stock market craziness," Musk said in the memo obtained by CNBC. "As we demonstrate continued excellent performance, the market will recognize that." While owning just a small piece of the electric vehicle market, Tesla was valued at over $1 trillion by October 2021, joining other tech giants like Apple, Amazon and Googles parent company Alphabet. However, as competitors are challenging Tesla's dominance in the electric vehicle market, Musk's attention has shifted to social media giant. Bloomberg reported that Musk was forced to sell much of his Tesla stock this year as a result of his $44 million purchase of Twitter. Musk previously became the second person ever to amass a fortune of more than $200 billion in January 2021, after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He held the title of the world's richest man in the world up until last month, and he was subsequently replaced by Bernard Arnault, the French chairman and CEO of LVMH. You can share this post! Cover Images/BauerGriffin Celebrity A representative for the 'Hawkeye' star confirms that the 51-year-old actor is currently in 'stable condition' and is 'receiving excellent care' at the hospital after the accident on Sunday, January 1. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jeremy Renner is spending his first day of the new year in the hospital. The actor has been hospitalized in "critical" condition after suffering injuries from a weather-related accident on Sunday, January 1, his representative has confirmed. Renner, who is best known for his role as Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in Marvel Cinematic Universe, was plowing snow when the accident happened. While details of the incident and the extent of his injuries are currently unavailable, his spokesperson assured that he is in "stable condition." "We can confirm Renner is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today," his spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson added that "his family is with him, and he is receiving excellent care." While the location of the accident was not revealed, Renner has owned a home in Washoe County, Nevada for several years, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. The area in northern Nevada was hit by heavy snowfall due to a storm on New Year's Eve, according to the newspaper. Renner has received two Academy Award nominations, one for his role in "The Hurt Locker" (2008) and the second one for his performance in "The Town" (2010). He made his debut appearance as Hawkeye, a member of the Avengers, in 2011's film "Thor" and reprised the role in several films before leading his own TV series "Hawkeye" (2021) on Disney+. The 51-year-old actor is also known for starring in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" (2011), "The Bourne Legacy" (2012), "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" (2013) and "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" (2015). Renner currently stars as the lead on the Taylor Sheridan series "Mayor of Kingstown". The show follows the powerful McLusky family, power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. The second season of the crime thriller will premiere on January 15 on Paramount+. You can share this post! Cover Images/BauerGriffin Celebrity The 'Hawkeye' star, who has been documenting his holidays via his Instagram Stories, shared clips of someone driving a snow plow truck on a snowy hill one week before he got into the accident. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jeremy Renner has well documented his holiday activity that might have led to his recent accident. The actor was rushed to a hospital following a weather-related incident on Sunday, January 1 and it appeared that he had been preparing the paths for sledding hill prior to the accident. The 51-year-old star took to his Instagram Stories last week to share clips of someone driving a red snow plow truck to make the "new paths" on a snowy hill. Seemingly excited, he captioned one of the videos, "Pave new paths Holiday adventures." "Who is excited for the Holidays?" the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" star wrote over another clip of the same vehicle making the way over thick snow. On the third video he posted around the same time, he gave an update, "Nearly done with sledding hill for the kids." Jeremy Renner documented his holiday activity on his Stories one week before the snow plow accident. It's unclear who was driving the snow plow truck, but it appears that Renner has owned the vehicle for several years now. The red truck also appeared on several of his Stories which he shared in late 2020. Renner has been hospitalized after suffering injuries from an accident that took place on the first day of 2023. While details of the incident and the extent of his injuries are currently unavailable, his spokesperson revealed that he was plowing snow when the accident happened and assured that he is in "critical but stable condition." "We can confirm Renner is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today," his spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson added that "his family is with him, and he is receiving excellent care." The location of the accident is currently unknown, but Renner has owned a home in Washoe County, Nevada for several years, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. The area in northern Nevada was hit by heavy snowfall due to a storm on New Year's Eve, the newspaper reported. You can share this post! CBS TV The Duke of Sussex has filmed a 'revealing' interview with the famed TV anchor and a trailer for the much-anticipated CBS sit-down has just been released. Jan 2, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry has shot an interview with Anderson Cooper. The Duke of Sussex - who resigned as a senior royal in 2020 and now lives in California with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their children Archie, three, and 18-month-old Lili - is set to make his first US television appearance to discuss his "explosive" upcoming memoir "Spare" when he appears on CBS' "60 Minutes" next Sunday, January 8, two days before the release of his book. A trailer for the interview showed Harry and Anderson walking in the grounds of the prince's home and then gesticulating wildly as he sits down for the chat. "Prince Harry has an explosive new memoir coming out. What's inside? His revealing interview with Anderson Cooper only on the award-winning '60 Minutes,' " a voiceover said. The news of Harry's interview with Anderson may come as a surprise because it was reported a few weeks ago that the prince was likely to give "CBS Mornings" host Gayle King an exclusive interview to promote his book. A senior CBS network source said, "Putting Harry on a primetime special with King would be a major coup and attract millions of eyeballs. One advantage is that she and Meghan are close. Harry would know he has support from her." And despite causing controversy with the "Harry & Meghan" Netflix docuseries, the 38-year-old prince doesn't want to "stop talking" about his experiences growing up in the royal family. The source added, "Prince Harry is not stopping talking when the Netflix series is released." "In a month, he will be out on the promotional trail again. Unlike now, where Netflix has let the show speak for itself, Random House has him on board for select promotion for the book. They invested more than $30 million in it, so they want it to appeal to as many people as possible." You can share this post! AP/YouTube Celebrity Lady Susan Hussey is expected to be invited to the coronation ceremony of the new British monarch despite uproar over her 'unacceptable' questions to a black guest at a palace event. Jan 3, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lady Susan Hussey will allegedly be invited to King Charles' coronation despite her race row. Rumor has it, the invite is reserved after the late Queen's former friend apologised to a charity boss who accused her of "racist abuse" for asking her where was "really from" at a royal reception. On January 1, 2023, a source told the Sunday Mirror 83-year-old Lady Susan - who served the late Queen for more than six decades and is a godmother to Prince William - was on the guest list for the May 6 coronation, but invitations have yet to be sent. An insider told the newspaper, "Lady Susan received private support from friends during the aftermath of what happened. Some politely canvassed the suggestion Lady Susan should be made welcome at the coronation." "It was pointed out the many years of service and duty she gave the Queen, to whom she was a loyal confidante. With relations now smoothed over between Buckingham Palace and Ms Fulani, the King is now able to extend an invitation to Lady Susan." Around 2,000 guests are expected at Charles' two-hour Westminster coronation, expected to be one of the most watched television events of 2023. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also expected to be invited despite their Netflix series "Harry & Meghan" making a series of claims about the royal family, including that it suffers "unconscious" racial "bias." Lady Susan stepped down from her role as a royal aide after she asked Ngozi Fulani at a reception in November, "Where are you really from?" It caused uproar after Ngozi, 57, tweeted about being quizzed about her nationality. Buckingham Palace and the Prince of Wales promptly issued statements with the Palace saying in a statement on December 16 about how the pair had since met for the first time since the controversy, "At this meeting, filled with warmth and understanding, Lady Susan offered her sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused to Ms Fulani." "Lady Susan has pledged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area." Ngozi, who was born in Britain, was quizzed about her origins an even late last month on behalf of domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, which mark the United Nation's 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. She said she felt "violated" after Lady Susan, who is Prince William's godmother and served as the late Queen's right-hand woman for 62 years, "interrogated" her about where she was from, despite her making clear she was British. She accused Lady Susan of moving her hair in order to look at her name badge before she asked, "What part of Africa are you from?" When the domestic violence campaigner said she was of Caribbean descent and African origin, Lady Susan said, "I knew we'd get there in the end." The Palace said it took the incident "extremely seriously" and Prince William's Kensington Palace issued a statement branding it "really disappointing," saying it was "right" Lady Susan had resigned. You can share this post! ITV Celebrity The Duke of Sussex defends decision to speak out and claims his family have no intention to mend their fractured relationship following his royal exit with wife Meghan Markle. Jan 3, 2023 AceShowbiz - The Duke of Sussex has said in a new interview he would "like to get [his] father back." Prince Harry, 38, claimed the royal family had shown "absolutely no willingness to reconcile" with him since he left Britain for America, despite reports King Charles is set to invite him and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 41, to his May 6 coronation. He also made more accusations stories about him were "planted" and leaked to the press. He alleged the royals secretly break their own "mantra" of "Never complain, never explain" - for which the Queen was famous before her death aged 96 in September - via leaks to the media. Harry makes the comments in two separate chats, with broadcasters ITV and CBS, both of which are set for broadcast on Sunday, January 8, 2023 ahead of the January 10 publication of his memoir "Spare", which refers to his nickname as the "spare heir." Trailers for the sit-downs were shared on Twitter on Monday morning, January 2, 2023 and in part of his 90-minute ITV chat, filmed in California, Harry tells presenter Tom Bradby, "It never needed to be this way. The leaking, the planting, I want a family - not an institution." "They feel as though it's better to keep us, somehow, as the villains. They've shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile. I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back." Harry said in his Netflix show "Harry & Meghan" his older brother Prince William, 40, screamed at him during his talks to leave the royal family for a new life in the US with former actress Meghan. Harry, who shares son Archie, three, and 19-month-old daughter Lilibet with Meghan, also addresses his concerns about the royals and their "never complain, never explain" mantra in his interview with American network CBS - which is billing the interview with Anderson Cooper as "explosive." The duke says in the chat, "Every single time I have tried to do it privately there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife. The family motto is 'Never complain never explain.' But it's just a motto. It doesn't really hold." "There's endless (complaining and explaining) through leaks. They will feed or have a conversation with the correspondent and that correspondent will be spoon fed information and write the story. Then at the bottom of it they will say that they have reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. "But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting. So when we are being told for the last six years we can't put a statement out to protect you, but you do it for the rest of the family, there becomes a point when silence is betrayal." You can share this post! Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII), Indias leading private general insurance player, has launched a campaign that puts a spotlight on providing the LGBTQIA+ members in a live-in relationship an equal opportunity to secure their health insurance needs. Staying true to its Inclusion agenda and intent of being an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, the insurer has expanded its definition of family across all its retail health insurance offerings, to include LGBTQIA+ community and live-in partners. The first-of-its-kind brand campaign, represented by two real life, same sex couples, demonstrates the organization's commitment to Diversity Equity & Inclusion, both as an employer and as an insurer. The campaign runs across the central theme of redefining the term family to include live-in partners, including same sex partners. The campaign is launched on digital and on Out Of Home (OOH) platforms in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram, Goa and Bangalore and will be live for 3 weeks starting January 01, 2023. Commenting on this campaign, Ruchika Malhan Varma, Chief Marketing Officer, Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd. said, We are conscious of the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. We believe the LGBTQIA+ community is of prominence and the individuals from the community deserve the right to avail of similar protection solutions alike any other individual. As insurers, we believe that we have a moral and societal responsibility to provide a level playing field to all sections of the society devoid of their personal preferences. Further, Ms. Varma added that, As a brand that stands for Innovation and Human Touch, we are committed towards providing need based and innovative solutions that resonate with our customers evolving needs. This offering is a step in the direction of making the first move by the insurance industry towards focusing on inclusive protection plans for the LGBTQIA+ individuals. At FGII, driving inclusion across various sections of the society and the communities we operate in is central to our Life-time partner behavior. TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said on Monday that Iran is not part of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rejecting "baseless" accusations against Tehran. "Iran is not a part of the conflict in Ukraine, and baseless accusations against Iran will not help solve the issue," Nasser Kanaani said during a press conference. Iranian and Ukrainian officials have exchanged views over the allegations, and neither Ukraine nor other accusers could find any evidence for their accusations, he noted. "Iran's defense cooperation (with other countries) is based on common interests and is carried out in compliance with international laws and regulations," Kanaani said, adding the defense cooperation between Iran and Russia was carried out before the Ukrainian conflict. The Ukrainian authorities should stop making "baseless and false accusations" against Iran but consider appropriate solutions to the crisis, the Iranian spokesman advised. Ukraine and Western countries have accused Iran of exporting suicide drones to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which Iran has repeatedly rejected as "baseless." To carry forward the cause of education for female students and to enable girl children from rural areas to attend school, uninterruptedly, WeCycle, a campaign started by Jivya Lamba student of Modern School Vasant Vihar of grade 11 organized the first-of-its-kind distribution of geo-tracking bicycles free of cost, in Haryana on December 31, 2022. A total of 50 bicycles were given away to girl students in the region. The campaign was conducted in 3 phase manner which was started in November 2022 and culminated on 31st December, 2022. The activity was aimed to stress the issues related to the security of female students and encourage them to access education from their local schools, without any fear. The distribution event was held at girls' government schools in Mattan in its last phase, initial two phases were conducted in Riwari Khera and Kharman villages of Jhajjar district in Haryana. The geo-tracking devices fitted in the bicycles are provided by Bhartiya Urban Pvt Ltd, and bicycles are provided by Highway Industries Ltd and Wembley Paints and Chemicals. Jivya Lamba has also developed literature in regional language to spread awareness about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which has been compiled into a book by Wembley. The idea is to begin the new year on a positive note and spread smiles on the faces of the young girls who would benefit from this activity. WeCycle identified the issues that exist in the rural areas surrounding school education of girl children and how some parents do not find public transport safe for their children and offered a solution for the same. The geo-tracking cycles are designed to make the families of such students aware of their current location which can be tracked in real-time. Talking about the event Jivya Lamba said, Girls in the rural areas of our country are constantly discouraged to avail education. The reasons are many while security is the major cause why girls are not allowed to travel to educational institutes after as soon as they start with their periods. WeCycle is a step forward in the direction of free mobility for our young female students, athletes, and future-generation mothers. I am committed to making lives easy for these girls and my heart goes out to them. Jivya Lamba, has been consistently involved in social welfare activities for underprivileged communities since July 2020. Through her social movement organization WeCycle, she is taking a step forward to raise awareness about issues that impact women in society, including women's health, security, rights, and menstrual hygiene. It is a common trend in our nation, especially in rural areas, where education is considered a need of the male child, and girls are usually discouraged from going to school. Their security while traveling to and from school is a major cause of why this trend prevails. The event organized by WeCycle is a step forward toward providing a safe commute to girls. Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Indias first smart mobility solutions provider and largest exporter since inception today announced elevations in its Senior Management leadership. Tarun Garg, Director (Sales, Marketing & Service) has been elevated as Chief Operating Officer (COO) overseeing Sales, Marketing, Service & Product Strategy Gopala Krishnan CS, Vice President (Production) has been elevated as Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) overseeing Production, Quality Management & Supply Chain In addition to their new elevated roles, Mr Tarun Garg and Mr Gopala Krishnan CS will continue to serve as Wholetime Directors on the HMIL Board. Congratulating the leadership, Mr. Unsoo Kim, MD & CEO - Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, The elevations stand testimony to Hyundai Motor Indias commitment to recognize and appreciate its leadership. Our core values define our work culture and stand tall to enhance key roles & verticals, as we take a step forward to work incessantly in building meaningful value chain for our customers, partners and employees. The elevations are effective from January 01, 2023. People mourn a Palestinian killed by Israeli army during his funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Israeli military said in a statement that the soldiers entered the Kufr Dan village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, to demolish the homes of two Palestinian "assailants" who killed an Israeli military officer in a firefight in September last year. During the demolition, "a violent riot was instigated," as local Palestinians burned tires, shot live fire and hurled rocks, Molotov cocktails and explosive devices at the Israeli soldiers who shot back with live fire, according to the statement. The Palestinian health ministry identified the victims as Samer Houshiyeh, 21, and Fouad Abed, 25, before the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed group affiliated with the Fatah ruling party, issued a statement saying Houshiyeh was a member of the group. Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye condemned the killing, urging the UN members voting in favor of requesting a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories to take "immediate measures to protect the Palestinian people," the official WAFA news agency reported. The incident was the latest in rising violence in the region, sparked by daily Israeli raids in the West Bank that often trigger clashes and lead to the killing of Palestinians. At least 168 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the raids began in March, 2022, according to official figures. Israel claims that its raids are aimed at arresting suspects in a wave of attacks in Israeli cities that killed 19 people in the spring of 2022. People carry the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli army during their funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People carry the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli army during their funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People inspect the site where a house was demolished after clashes in the Kufr Dan village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Israeli military said in a statement that the soldiers entered the Kufr Dan village to demolish the homes of two Palestinian "assailants" who killed an Israeli military officer in a firefight in September last year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People inspect the site where a house was demolished after clashes in the Kufr Dan village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Israeli military said in a statement that the soldiers entered the Kufr Dan village to demolish the homes of two Palestinian "assailants" who killed an Israeli military officer in a firefight in September last year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Smoke rises as Israeli soldiers demolish a house in the Kufr Dan village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Israeli military said in a statement that the soldiers entered the Kufr Dan village to demolish the homes of two Palestinian "assailants" who killed an Israeli military officer in a firefight in September last year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Smoke rises as Israeli soldiers demolish a house in the Kufr Dan village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on Jan. 2, 2023. The Israeli army killed two Palestinians, including a member of an armed group, in clashes in a village in the occupied West Bank early Monday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. The Israeli military said in a statement that the soldiers entered the Kufr Dan village to demolish the homes of two Palestinian "assailants" who killed an Israeli military officer in a firefight in September last year. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) HAVANA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cubans celebrated on Sunday the 64th anniversary of the country's socialist revolution with a ballet performance here at the National Theater of Cuba. During the evening performance, leading dancers from the country's largest dance company the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) staged famous classics like Giselle, Don Quixote, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. "The success of the Cuban ballet should not be measured only by the talent of its dancers and choreographers but by its popular access," Cuba's Vice Minister of Culture Fernando Rojas told Xinhua. On Jan. 1, 1959, the uprising army led by Fidel Castro captured the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba and the central city of Santa Clara, forcing military dictator Fulgencio Batista to flee to the Dominican Republic. The events marked the triumph of the revolution and the beginning of social and economic reforms that led to the establishment of socialism on the Caribbean island. Founded in 1948, the BNC gained government support after the socialist revolution. It returned to the stage in December 2021 after a 19 month-hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will perform in Havana over the next two weekends. "I feel honored to be part of this ballet program, which opens the 2023 season for our company," Cuban leading ballerina Sadaise Arencibia told Xinhua. It never ceases to amaze me when I hear media talking heads plaintively ask, "Why won't Biden or Harris visit the border?" They ask the question genuinely believing that if either the President or the Vice President saw the looming existential disaster, it would change their minds. Such naivete confirms Dr. King's idea that "nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Daily, we see the dictatorial moves by Biden and his administration. We view the tears of those at the southern border who fear for their lives and property. As the illegals surge into the country, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, crime, rampant drug use, violence, disease, death, and soul-searing fear continue to suffocate Americans. Why, the reporters ask would be the reason for this? There is a simple answer, but it is constantly skirted. The Left lives to see absolute destruction of freedom. Communists exult when liberty is tattered. Progressives rejoice in limiting freedom. It is the epitome of dictatorship whether it is a jab for a poison or a useless mask or the destruction of the sanctity of one's property. This is the picture of tyranny. The media who have sold their souls to Satan neither care nor want to learn the truth of the dire situations that beset the United States. The fact-checkers are usually the handmaidens of the very sources of evil. Many scoff at Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's assertion that "history" proves that Democratic President Joe Biden is leading a "communist takeover" of the United States. It's a communist regime. It's been a communist takeover of our country, and it happened on January 21. And that is who Joe Biden is. The administration counts on people who admire communist ideas. The new comptroller of the currency selected by President Joe Biden is fresh off the Marxist bus, having graduated from Moscow State University in 1989 and since, spoken in glowing terms about communism. Bidendementia and all, is the master stroke of the leftist ideology that Barack Obama ushered in when he promised to transform this country. As explained in David Horowitz' The Enemy Within: How a Totalitarian Movement is Destroying America, "Black Lives Matter leaders identified with Communist totalitarians and with Islamic imperialists and terrorists" . . . [and] introduced a new dimension to American politics. It is one that Biden and his administration embrace. Identity politics, incitement to violence, tolerance for anti-white bigotry, heralding corrupt school systems and defending the most egregious acts by communists are all palatable to Joe Biden and company. The country is continually being fed a host of lies about equity, while true merit dies on the vine. i.e., Supreme Court Judge Katange; press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre both checked off the correct boxes for diversity and inclusion even though this is an "anti-democratic ideology packaged as a democratic enhancement." Racist to the core, diversity-inclusion-equity (DIE) has now infiltrated the military and it is a "replica of the Bolsheviks' creation to shape a society and political order" and ensure that the Communist's Party's ideas will be carried out. Biden enshrines DIE ideology and the Democrats' all- encompassing dream to create a one-party state. Of course, illegal immigration will continue. In the next two years of Biden's rule, another five million illegals will enter the country and thus an entrenched dictatorship will take hold. Joe Biden's ties to communist China vis-a-vis Hunter Biden indicate the comfort with which the leader of the free world has concerning China. Michael Walsh has written that "Make America Great Again" has become "Make America Grovel Again." And this is exactly how the "punitive progressive left wants it as it goes about refashioning the country along the lines of its own fascist antecedents." In good communist fashion, "justice is replaced with the overthrow of the rule of law and a replacement by a vengeful one-party state." Biden's rule-by-decree continually shreds constitutional protections. Walsh cites the word ukases or edicts as he describes the Biden presidency. How apt a word as with a stroke of Biden's pen, Americans now have to deal with "command from the highest levels of government that could not be disobeyed -- ones that are final or arbitrary." Think Covid shaming, lockdowns and jabs, anyone? At the site KrisAnneHall.com, this constitutional attorney makes the case that Biden is creating an agenda "to repeat the Stalinist experiment of Marxist communism." See in particular 26:08-31:47. She asserts that this presidential administration wants to expand presidential power beyond its current bloated state because the leaders claim that they are doing everything they can and yet the crisis still exists. Ergo, in order to alleviate the crisis (which the government brought about), the people end up wanting the government to do more. The psychology of these statements as they are being released is to make the American people beg for the government to have more power. When the government controls the schools, the government controls what can be taught but when the government controls the supply chain, then, the government can control what you can and cannot buy. Think baby formula. When the government controls the oil industry, then, the government can control how much you have or don't have. Think Keystone Pipeline. When the government controls childcare, they can control what you have to do to get it. Maybe not a job you have to have but a certain political ideology you must keep in order to have your childcare. When government controls these things, this narrative, the psychology behind this constant barrage is to make the American people ... beg for the president to have more power. Ultimately, "the overall agenda in expanding power beyond the Constitutional Authorization the end result is to make the American people beg for communism." In effect, government control of private industry, food and medicine is communism -- Marxism. It is why our Constitution was written to exclude government from these things especially the federal government. All Americans should heed the words of W. H. Auden's poem "Epitaph on a Tyrant." Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after, And the poetry he invented was easy to understand; He knew human folly like the back of his hand, And was greatly interested in armies and fleets: When he laughed, respectable senators burst burst with laughter, And when he cried, the little children died in the streets. Kris-Anne Hall asserts that her message "is a Constitution-predominates message. This is an anti-Marxist communist message. This is a pro-Constitutional Republic message." Never in the history of America has such an aggressive front towards the establishment of a Marxist Communist country been mounted. Until now. So the next time gullible reporters of the Fourth Estate ask why, it is high time to educate them on the perils of communism. Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com. Image via Max Pixel. In January 1997, the Clinton White House issued an unintentionally comic 332-page report titled, "The Communication Stream of Conspiracy Commerce." Even before social media, the Democrat-media complex understood they were losing their grip on information flow. Their response was to deem all real investigative reporting as conspiracy theorizing. On April 19, 2005, I learned that there was a European version of this complex, one even more tenacious and absurd. That April day was the day all my streams crossed. I was well aware of the date on that day because it marked the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and the 12th anniversary of the FBIs lethal attack on the religious community in Waco. I was aware of those dates for two reasons. I had recently released "Mega Fix: The Dazzling Political Deceit That Led to 9/11", a semi-documentary that reviewed the events at both Waco and Oklahoma City. More to the point, a few weeks earlier I had received a tip that an explosive cache was still buried in the former Herington, Kansas, home of Oklahoma City conspirator Terry Nichols. My source, concerned that the explosives might be used in a tenth anniversary attack, also contacted the FBI. On Saturday, April 2, 2005, I drove out to Herington from Kansas City to check out the tip. What I discovered is that on late Thursday, March 31, the FBI had descended on Herington. On Friday, April 1, the Topeka Bomb Squad evacuated the neighborhood and retrieved the explosives. By the time I arrived on the morning of April 2 there was no sign of anything amiss and no reports in the news beyond Junction City. The original source of the tip was Terry Nichols himself. His apparent goal in sharing this information with my source was to expose the man who allegedly supplied the explosives, a reported FBI informant named Roger Moore. Nichols also wanted to expose the FBI's role in supplying the material to Moore. Nichols was sure Moore's fingerprints would be on the material. Sound like a familiar M.O.? My source had tipped off the FBI three weeks earlier, but the agents waited until March 31, I suspect, because Terri Schiavo died early that morning. Schiavo's highly publicized fight for life sucked all the air out of the news. It was a little embarrassing for the FBI to have found this cache four years after Timothy McVeigh was executed for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. On that same afternoon of March 31, former Clinton national security advisor Sandy Berger pleaded guilty to stealing classified documents from the National Archives. That story was a little embarrassing toothe less attention paid to the details the better. Also consuming much media attention during those days was the death watch on Saint Pope John Paul II. In fact, I was on my way back to Kansas City on April 2 when I heard the news that he had died. On the morning of April 19, 2005, I arrived in Paris to attend a media conference on TWA Flight 800. Since that flight was Paris-bound when destroyed off the coast of Long Island in July 1996, the French media were still interested in who shot it down. The American media were not. I suspect the documents that Berger risked his very freedom to steal concerned TWA 800 and possibly even their connections to a Philippines-based plot that tangentially involved Terry Nichols. Having a day to kill before the conference on April 20, I wandered around Paris jet-lagged and found my way to Notre Dameback when the famed cathedral still had a roof. Two things surprised me when I entered. One was that there were large TV screens set up in several places, which struck me as a tad blasphemous. Even more surprising was that the pews "reserved for the faithful," were actually filled with the faithful watching the TV screens. I was in the cathedral no more than 30 seconds when the image on the screen switched from a French talking head to the balcony of the Vatican. There it was announced that a new Pope had been selected, and it was German Cardinal Josef Ratzinger. Upon hearing the news, the faithful stood as one and cheered, and I shouted out impulsively, "I know that guy!" In fact, in 1998 I had interviewed Cardinal Ratzinger for a documentary we had done on the revival of the traditional movement within the Catholic Church, a revival that Cardinal Ratzinger had encouraged and that inspired me to return to Catholicism. Not everyone was pleased with the choice. An American woman standing next to me blurted out, "This is a terrible day for women!" As I learned, the media were not too pleased either. By the time I left the church they had descended on the square in front of Notre Dame. They even interviewed me. In my half-assed French, I explained why I thought Ratzinger was a "bon choix," a good choice. The reporter rolled his eyes when finished, I thought, because of the quality of my French. Watching the news that evening, I learned otherwise. Apparently, the Paris media decided that the response among Catholics to the news was pure disappointment, the French word for which is aptly enough, "deception." Just about everyone they interviewed in front of Notre Dame was upset with the new Pope. The thousand faithful I saw stand and cheer the news must have left the cathedral by a back exit. For the week I spent in France, the European media were consumed by the elevation of Pope Benedict XVI. The news coverage was no more positive, nor more honest than was the American news coverage of Donald Trump's election. In both cases, the media registered shock. Benedict XVI, like Trump, was a circuit breaker. Progress, as the media saw it, was about to be short circuited, and their response was pure tantrum. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI retired after eight years on the job. Although I have my suspicions, I can't say I know why. On the last day of 2022, Pope Benedict XVI died. A humble and saintly man, he presided over a Church in which the line, "Is the Pope Catholic," was still understood to be a joke. Image credit: Jack Cashill. Virtue signaling is a current pastime of Democrats and the left. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it, Virtue signaling is the popular modern habit of indicating that one has virtue merely by expressing disgust or favor for certain political ideas or cultural happenings. Climate warriors signal their virtue about global warming. For example, those screeching loudest over rising sea levels, including Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and John Kerry, own waterfront homes that will be underwater should their predictions materialize, but which they seem to know wont happen. Others like King Charles and Al Gore jet across the globe to attend climate conferences, oblivious to their own carbon footprints. Immigration is another topic of virtue signaling. Many Democrat chief executives declare their city or state jurisdictions as sanctuaries, theoretically rolling out the red carpet to illegal immigrants. At least until the immigrants show up on their doorstep, at which time the Democrats quickly change their tunes, closing their doors to migrants or quickly sending them to someone elses back yard. Governor Ron DeSantis gave Marthas Vineyard a chance to live up its self-proclaimed sanctuary status by sending 48 migrants their way, only to have residents and officials immediately turn into MAGA racists by shipping the migrants far from their self-proclaimed virtuous sanctuary island. Closer to my home in Denver, similar hypocrisy was on display when the city got exactly what it asked for, and like the dog chasing and catching the car, discovered that they didnt know what to do once they got what they wanted. Denver recently received in influx of migrants, much to the consternation of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. As reported by the Denver Post, The migrants and asylum seekers were coming either on their own or at the encouragement of nonprofit organizations at the border that have provided recommendations for places they can go without advanced notice. YouTube screen grab As an aside, these migrants not too long ago were called illegal aliens. Bill Clinton was not a racist or xenophobe when common sense was still in fashion in America, and he used that term as an accurate descriptor. Now they are described as undocumented migrants, and they are arriving in Denver by the hundreds. Its so bad in Denver that Mayor Hancock issued an emergency declaration since these recent arrivals have placed, Immense strain on city recourses to the level where theyre on the verge of reaching a breaking point at this time. Of course, they are a strain, just as a bunch of permanent houseguests would be to most homeowners. But that pesky reality was irrelevant to the virtue signaling mayor and other local elected officials when they only had to talk the talk but not walk the walk. With the recent bitter cold weather it has gotten so bad that the Denver Post headlined, Denver stretched to breaking point amid migrant crisis and brutal cold snap, mayor warns. This is undoubtedly true but is this not what the mayor once asked for? Denver is a proud sanctuary city, In 2017, the Denver City Council codified Denvers status as a sanctuary city with an ordinance that prohibits city employees from collecting information on immigration or citizenship status, or prohibits the sharing of any other information about individuals for purposes of immigration enforcement. Mayor Hancock didnt like the sanctuary city term but supported the concept, If being a sanctuary city means that we value taking care of one another, and welcoming refugees and immigrants, then I welcome the title. Why isnt he welcoming these migrants now in the spirit of Christmas? Colorado Governor Jared Polis also rolled out the welcome mat. Last year, In a letter to the President Joe Biden, Gov. Jared Polis says Colorado is ready to help refugees and immigrants from Afghanistan resettle. If Colorado welcomes Afghanis, then why not migrants from Central America and elsewhere? Former Denver Mayor and Colorado Governor, now Senator John Hickenlooper concurs, Denver will welcome these migrants with open arms and help any way they can. We will be empathetic to people put in a difficult situation. Given that he spends much of his time in Washington, DC, a thousand migrants in Denver are not his problem. He probably wont be inviting any to stay in his home. Neither will another pro open borders virtue signaler, Busloads of migrants were dropped over Christmas weekend near Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington amid freezing temperatures, having traveled from the southwest border in Texas. Texas is being overwhelmed with migrants, and is sharing the burden with Washington, DC, Denver, and other sanctuary cities. As CBS News acknowledges, Even El Paso has been tested by the unprecedented situation along the U.S. southern border, where migrants have been arriving in greater numbers and from more countries than ever recorded. The Denver Post agrees, A refugee crisis has arrived in Denver. And recommends, They should be dispersed across America to cities that are ready and willing to provide the resources needed for them to get on their feet. But in the NIMBY spirit embraced by most liberals, they screech not in my back yard. Remember when a few other open borders virtue signalers killed the Cape Cod wind farm project because, It would also have spoiled the view from the Kennedy familys estate and that of the Democratic family's billionaire neighbor, William Koch, owner of a nearby 26-acre estate. Classic virtue signaling NIMBY. Denver can barely accommodate its homeless population, a related issue, and now they have a thousand more people to feed and shelter. The homeless are now euphemistically referred to as urban campers by the Denver Post, much as illegal aliens are now undocumented migrants. Perhaps Democrat voters in Boulder or Cherry Creek can open their homes to migrants and urban campers in the spirit of open arms as Hickenlooper suggests. How ironic that Denver is getting exactly what it wanted and voted for but is now complaining and wanting American taxpayers to pay the bill for their cost-free virtue signaling. Be careful what you ask for as you might get it. Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor Truth Social @BrianJoondeph LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph So with remarkable symmetry to President Trump's exit, Brazil's populist and conservative President Jair Bolsonaro, a man who's been called President Trump's South American doppelganger, also left office after a close election marred by a belief, of his own and of millions of voters, that the election, was full of fraud. Bolsonaro ended up succeeded by a far-left dinosaur, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and violence ensued -- roads blocked, trash cans set on fire -- to little avail. Like Trump, Bolsonaro departed before his fossilized successor could take office. Also like Trump, the left screamed for blood as he went, yelled about mishandled classified documents, same as happened to President Trump, and vowed to throw him in jail. Sound familiar? The motivation of Bolsonaro's opponents was a little stronger than it was in Trump's case as Lula had done time in prison for corruption in the run-up to Bolsonaro's election, which like Trump's, came as a surprise to the establishment. In the Lula crowd, the desire for payback remains strong. After that, Bolsonaro landed in Florida, the historic exile paradise of the Americas -- many Latin American presidents, both good ones and bad ones are driven from their countries to various places as they exit office in a strange Latin American tradition -- Mexico's Luis Echeverria, Jorge Lopez Portillo, Miguel de la Madrid, Carlos Salinas all spring to mind, as does Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Juan Manuel Santos, Peru's Alejandro Toledo, to name some recent cases. Often, they fled one step ahead of imprisonment with a few unlucky ones, such as Lula and Peru's Alberto Fujimori, ending up in prison anyway, and Uribe escaping it by a hair. Trump is facing the same dynamic from the Bidenites, who have gone out of their way to imitate the banana republic folkways of our neighbors, yet Florida was the last landing spot of President Trump's, too, same as Bolsonaro. They aren't too far away from one another, about 171 miles, or a two and a half hours' drive with Bolsonaro staying at the home of a Brazilian mixed martial arts champion in Orlando, while Trump is ensconced at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. It's hard to think there won't be a couple of interesting conversations between the two -- and that Lula's and Biden's intelligence apparats aren't going to be watching them both closely as well, given what we have seen from them with the Twitter files revelations. It calls to mind Vienna or Zurich at the turn of the century. It's fascinating that both Trump and Bolsonaro landed at the home base of the GOP's brightest star in office, Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, a man who himself may either want to run for president or be drafted for president. If Trump and Bolsonaro meet to plot their comebacks, or to discuss how to thwart election fraud, it would be even more electric if DeSantis were invited to the party, too. It's hard to say what the dynamic between the two will be -- perhaps they won't talk at all, but it would be nice if they did. Maybe they can reinforce and support one another as they consider the kinds of underhanded forces against them. Both could use familiar company. If they do, it will be a good thing. Image: Alan Santos/PR via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 In Iran, the mullah regime has imprisoned thousands of political prisoners, attempting to sweep away all evidence of opposition to its hellish regime. But the political prisoners still have voices, and occasionally, one does manage to get word out about the nature of the Iranian regime. The following letter is written by the political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared, who has been in prison for 13 years without a single day of leave. She was imprisoned on the charge of being a supporter of the MEK. Her three brothers and one sister, whom she mentions in this letter, were killed by the mullahs' regime. Political prisoner Maryam Akbari's letter from Semnan prison is addressed to the people of Iran, December 28, 2022. It's also valuable to the rest of us as we witness the Iranian people's growing movement to end the mullah regime. Here is what she wrote: On the eve of my 14th year in prison, this is not just a story you are reading; it is the bloody suffering of only one out of 85 million. Although for me with 13 years of experience in prison, counting days and months in detention has been and is a reprehensible thing since the very first days, but how could I forget that dark midnight of injustice to me and my family, or its connection to the oppression that the regime has directed against our family since the 1980s. As of December 29, 2022, thirteen years have passed since I was separated from my 4-year-old Sarah and my two 12-year-old daughters on that winter midnight. Without giving me a chance to say goodbye to my loved ones, they took me to Evin prison to give some explanations and made the ridiculous promise that "you will return to your children in the morning". Thirteen years have already passed since that day. From December 29, 2009 to December 29, 2022! It was a breath-taking battle to spend second by second of 13 years. Even counting 13 years day by day (being 4745 days) makes one tired, let alone spending 4745 days one by one in the midst of an unequal war! This is not a 4,000-page story, but the pure reality of a life under the domination of fascists who imposed it on us while we refused to give in. Although I wished to be with my children with my every cell of my being and what mother doesn't want that I don't regret but am determined to continue my path. I have said this every time in every formal and informal interrogation session, and I am happy to repeat it! I have been away from my children for 13 years, but I witnessed the crime with my own eyes for 13 years and my resolve became stronger. On this side of the bars, in the dark desert of torture and oppression, as far as one can see - even where one cannot see- there is just vileness and brutality! It is a silent documentary of the oppression against women that no one can bear to hear even one of them, let alone live with hundreds of these tortured symbols and feel their pain with heart and soul. For 13 years, I saw dozens of children and hundreds of teenagers and young people of the same age as my daughters; I caressed them, I talked to them, I gnashed my teeth at their silence and loneliness, and shouted in their defense over everyone in the ranks of oppressors. I don't even know what happened to my children in these 13 years! In these 13 years, they dealt with the adversities of life so strongly that I didn't feel them at all! Every meeting with them became an explosion of energy for me due to the storm of their problems! If you ask me how I survived amidst the darkness of torture and exhausting time, I will say that it is the blazing flame of faith in my heart that has kept me going. The interrogators want to steal this warm and blazing flame from the prisoner, in the midst of loneliness with empty hands, from the first moment of their arrest ... so that their beings freeze and surrender ... But for 13 years, I kept it burning with holy rage at the tortures I witnessed and hurt my soul! I smiled and proliferated the smile to be able to resist, because resistance is our heart. Faith in the path that my brothers and sisters died for, faith in the path that I stepped on, and faith in the clenched fists and firm steps of the youth who are standing in the streets sacrificing their lives against the dictatorship. Faith in the innocence of my brothers and sisters, whom I never considered dead ... They were and are the most alive for me. They held my hand in my every moment in prison ... and now I find them on the streets of Iran ... I saw Alireza, who was executed in 1981, in the clenched fists of that young man in Naziabad. I see Ruqiyeh, who was executed in Evin prison in the summer of 1988, fearless and in the front line against repressive IRGC guards. And I heard the voice of Abdolreza, who was executed in Gohardasht prison in the summer of 1988, in the continuous cry for freedom of his peers. I find Gholamreza, who was martyred under the torture of IRGC guards in Evin prison in 1985, among the young people who are martyred under torture. They wanted to bury them anonymously, but now we see how this brave generation continues the path of the same young people who did not bow down to Khomeini. They thought that if they kill our loved ones, their rule will be eternal! But what an absurd thought they had because our martyrs rose in the middle of flames in the streets during the uprising ... the wind scattered their ashes in the pavements of this city so that fearless men and women have grown! Brave girls and boys who feel the dream of life in the sun and rain in a bright tomorrow and show the most rebellious anger against the perpetrators of 43 years of oppression and tyranny ... they fight and the darkness is afraid of their presence! And my faith increases from their presence! With the news of every protest and every uprising, and with the sparks of this rebellious flame, the hearts of women whose only hope of freedom is to break these iron gates are filled with hope. To my daughters and sons, who are bravely on the streets and I long to be by their side at every moment, I say: if you are arrested, do not trust the interrogators even an iota. They are not of our kind! The enemy is the enemy at any moment! Increase your faith in your path as much as possible. Only this helps in solitary confinement. I say to the families of prisoners: do not count on promises, intimidation and threats. You can only save your children's lives by encouraging people to repeat their names! No interrogator would help you. Don't be silent, shout! To the grieving families, to every mother who sacrificed her loved one in this way, to all the brothers and sisters who lost a loved one while paying homage to their martyrs - I say that I share in their grief too ... I hold their hands from here and stand shoulder to shoulder with them, stronger than before, for justice. I was talking about 13 years of non-stop battle. But in short, I say: "One day I will sing the hymn of victory from the top of a mountain like the sun." Tomorrow is ours! Maryam Akbari Monfared December 2022 Hell-like prison in Semnan Last month, six people including two police officers were shot at a remote property in Australia's northern Queensland state. Three suspects were identified by senior police sources as the (alleged) killers, and in the press, they were identified as "far-right" fanatics. In response to the heinous crime, Queensland police decided to go full Stasi and enhance their powers on other matters by urging people to turn in fellow citizens who might not fully believe and support everything their government says and does, or its mandates. Queensland is considered the home of Australia's version of "rednecks," who are known as "bogans." Queensland deputy police commissioner, Tracy Linford, stated, "We'd want to know about it" should there be "anybody out there that knows of someone that might be showing concerning behavior around conspiracy theories, anti-government, anti-police," or "conspiracy theories around COVID-19 vaccination." She added, "You can either contact the police directly or go through Crime Stoppers." Sure, let's draw a line between serial murderers and those who have the temerity to question the efficacy of COVID-1984 vaccines. If you know of anyone who questions the government, "experts," or "settled science," turn him in let those in power know about it right away, won't you? The same goes for those trafficking in "misinformation" and/or "disinformation." Meanwhile, police in the U.K. arrested a woman for silently praying near an abortion facility in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Police asked the woman, who was standing across the street from an abortion facility, "Are you praying?" She replied, "I might be praying in my head, not out loud." After that, she was subjected to a body search and taken into custody for further questioning. And why shouldn't she have been arrested? I mean, she might have been praying...in her head. The unmitigated gall! What's next praying out loud before dinner? The Commonwealth is not healthy. In fact, it's rotting from the inside out. There's a chance that the alleged perpetrators of the six murders in Australia were treated better than the woman in England silently praying outside an abortion facility. By the way, what are you thinking? Do you have racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic/fat-shaming/ableist thoughts parading through your mind? Perhaps you are even questioning your rulers in some way? Or, worse yet, thinking about Jesus? Who knows what you are thinking?! What a sicko! Someone should alert the proper authorities so you can be arrested and brought to justice! Only in this way can we defend diversity, inclusion, and equity. Right? Think about this: our leaders don't believe we need abortion control. Or control of our own borders. Or even crime control. But many do now purport to believe the rest of us should be subject to thought control. And gun control. (Both are part and parcel of the same goal: controlling those over which they rule.) I think this is an obvious precursor to tyranny and I pray for deliverance. Uh-oh the police are at my door. I wonder what they want! Image: Salustrio via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. We all know that drugs, whether legal or illegal, can have a profound effect on our minds. According to an interview with the head of the Russia division at the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, its possible that the treatment Putin is getting for thyroid cancer has turned him into a megalomaniac. Almost since the Ukraine war began, Jeff Dunetz has been citing reports claiming that Putin is an extremely sick man, almost certainly suffering from and being treated for thyroid cancer. Now, Dunetz writes that the Danish newspaper Berlingske was able to score an interview with Joakim, a high-level Danish military intelligence official for FE (aka the Danish Defence Intelligence Service) specializing in Russia. Image: Putin. YouTube screen grab. Joakim contends theres a very good chance that Putins megalomania comes from the drugs that are keeping him alive. From the English language version of Berlingske: Joakim cant say everything he knows. And what he can say, he doesnt necessarily know with any complete certainty. But in his estimate, one of the factors that triggered the biggest war in Europe since World War Two was likely the medication that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was taking at the time. Delusions of grandeur are one of the known side effects of the type of hormone treatment that he was on, Joakim states. Its not something I can say for certain, but I think it did affect his decisions when he launched the war in Ukraine. That theory would explain some things, although not all things. Putin has long been possessive of Eastern Ukraine and worried about having NATO on his western flank. With Biden pushing for Ukraine to join NATO, that would have triggered all of Putins insecurities. After all, he already invaded Ukraine in 2014, on Obamas watch (they always invade on Democrats watches), when he wasnt on any anti-cancer drugs. Where this theory does fit in is with the fact that the war, which most thought would end in weeks, has dragged on for months. Again, from Berlingske: The intelligence service, FE, originally thought the Russians would win the war in two weeks. And they were close, he says. FE were fully aware of major problems in the Russian army with corruption, mismanagement and slow logistics. But the Russians were fully aware of this themselves and so were able to make the necessary adjustments. This isnt why the invasion failed. Today it is evident that the key unknown factor was Putins poor decision-making. We put a lot of the blame for this on Putins shoulders, Joakim says. Putin has been micromanaging the war and doing so very badlya level of incompetence thats possibly because of drugs. The idea isnt that far-fetched. Theres a theory that Hitler did the same. He was a fascist who went from initial triumphs to complete disaster, bringing the Third Reich down with him, because his drug habit led him to a megalomania that saw him micromanaging the war and making terrible decisions (e.g., instituting the Holocaust and invading Russia, both of which fatally weakened the German military). In Hitlers case, its on record that his doctor was feeding him a bizarre medical cocktail of amphetamines (which also fueled the entire German military for the Blitzkrieg), morphine, bull semen, and rat poison. Im not sure about the bull semen, but its pretty darn sure that speed, morphine, and rat poison will affect a persons mental function. Moreover, drug abuse, whether taken illegally or from a doctor, will destroy peoples moral compass. Having said that, both Hitler and Putin were fascists from the get-go, men driven by the lust for power and conquest and, in Hitlers case, by genocidal hatred. The only difference the drugs seem to have made is that they turned both men into incompetent fascists. For once, it seems we should be thankful for drug addiction, which apparently has the salutary effect of weakening a tyrants ability to wage war. A national New Year's resolution for 2023 must be the return to meritocracy in American education. The left has waged a war on this concept for too long. Leftist elites must vanquish meritocracy, as individual achievement threatens the collectivist thinking upon which these elites depend. Critical Race Theory (CRT) has been instrumental in the leftist war against the individual and merit. The American Bar Association's article, "A Lesson in Critical Race Theory," references Khiara Bridges in delineating the major tenets of CRT: "CRT rejects claims of meritocracy or 'colorblindness.'" Bridges is an anthropologist and professor of law at U.C. Berkeley who wrote Critical Race Theory: A Primer. (Ms. Bridges also accused Senator Josh Hawley of violence for his request to clarify her phrase, "people with a capacity for pregnancy," during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in July 2022.) With characteristic duplicity, the left assaults merit through the Trojan horse of "equity." While there are some who deny that equity in education is an attack on individual achievement, "equity" has been exposed as a hollow, fraudulent, and ultimately punitive scheme. For example, at Virginia's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, school officials intentionally withheld National Merit awards from students and their families. Journalist Asra Nomani states, "This episode has emerged amid the school district's new strategy of 'equal outcomes for every student, without exception.'" The project title on the school administration slideshow that Nomani references reads, "The Equity Imperative." In the name of equity, these high school administrators deprived at least 1,200 students of scholarship opportunities. Fortunately, recently flipped school boards are working to return meritocracy to American education. According to a local North Carolina outlet, The Daily Haymaker, the Moore County Board of Education just reversed a leftist policy that eradicated valedictorians and salutatorians. One board member, David Hensley, made a notable point in the comments section of the article: while the prior board eliminated top honors for students, it kept "Principal/Teacher of the Year" honors for staff. The left attacks meritocracy for others but prioritizes political awards for itself. Hensley is correct. Leftist "Teacher/Principal of the Year" awardwinners have no problem throwing their own recognitions around to the point one would think these awards were newly engraved on their personal social security cards. Anti-racist and CRT-promoting radicals on the North Carolina Board of Education even include the title acronym ("TOY") in personal email and social media addresses. Perhaps the new catchphrase for the left should be, "Equity for thee, but not for me!" We need to win the war for meritocracy. The kids deserve it. Image: MPCA Photos. Kirk Cameron, the former teen idol who became a devout Evangelical Christian and the father of six children, wrote a childrens book grounded in traditional values tied to the Bible (kindness, responsibility, honesty, pro-life, etc.). When he approached libraries to do a reading (the same libraries that have hosted drag queen readings about transing kids), he got over 50 refusals. However, Cameron was able to read in Scarsdale, New York, when he rented a meeting room (something the library was helpless to prevent).* One leftists response to the enthusiastic turnout for Camerons reading perfectly exemplifies leftists concern that free speech applies to their ideological opponents. The outlet is called Scarsdale10583, and it bills itself as Scarsdales #1 Community Website. Its top article is currently one entitled Library Overtaken by 700 Visitors to Kirk Camerons Story Hour. The author is Joanne Wallenstein, who founded the site. Image: Families at the Scarsdale Library. YouTube screen grab. In some ways, to Wallensteins credit, she tries to report straight news, but her editorializing creeps in. Heres the first paragraph, and do note the phrase exploited free speech laws, which Ill return to in a minute: An estimated 700 people turned out for a story hour with actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron at the Scarsdale Library on the afternoon of December 30, 2022. Cameron, the author of childrens book, As We Grow, exploited free speech laws to hold his event at Scarsdale Library. Cameron and his publisher Brave Books targeted Scarsdale because the library held a drag queen story hour several years ago and Cameron is preaching against what he calls woke ideologies in school and libraries, objecting to gay marriage, transgender and LGBTQ people and abortion. About public schools he says, America's public schools have become incubators for far-left progressive agendas, including critical race theory, gender ideology, and Nikole Hannah-Jones' 1619 Project. (Emphasis mine.) In Wallensteins telling, the people who attended are sympathizers, while the library was quickly overwhelmed. There were so many attendees of all ages that Scarsdale and county police were on hand to regulate the crowd. However, Wallenstein concedes that Scarsdale Police Chief Andrew Matturro reported that There were no incidents reported. No surprise there. As we all remember from the Tea Party rallies, conservatives assemble cheerfully and clean up after themselves. (I will continue to believe that events on January 6 werelets say, helped along by agitators.) But still, Wallenstein is disturbed that all these people were there in Scarsdale. And who were these people anyway? [N]o one, she writes, knows where all the people came from, [and] there seemed to be few Scarsdale residents in the crowd. This is where she directs her ire: Scarsdale had to use its resources to deal with out-of-towners coming to participate in an event that most venues had banned. Now, some might say that Wallenstein should be proud of her public library for observing the core American principles of free speech and an open marketplace of ideas. But not Wallenstein. She used her essay to brainstorm ways to stop those darn people who exploited free speech laws. Wallenstein organized her argument: The people whom the library serves the other 364 days of the year were preventedfrom the use of the facility because the staff had to deal with the influx of people who turned out for the reading. So, whose rights really matter here? As far as Wallenstein is concerned, its the ones who were denied a few hours of peace and quiet in the library: What does this bode for the future? Will other outside political groups request use of the communitys new library? This event demonstrates the strain these type of gatherings put on Village resources. Extra police coverage from the Village and the county was required, as turnout was unpredictable and the building could easily become overwhelmed. Who should pay for this coverage? [snip] Do the rights of political groups from outside the community trump the rights of residents? Perhaps the library can re-examine their bylaws to draft workable parameters for use of this public space. These are questions that the Library Board and Village Board will need to examine in upcoming months. I wonder whether Wallenstein would be asking the same questions if a huge crowd turned up for a drag queen reading. Certainly, there were Scarsdale residents who were certain that his rhetoric was unfit for Scarsdale: ___________________ * The library made it incredibly clear to everyone involved that it did not approve of Camerons appearance and would do nothing to publicize it, including listing it as a library event. However, the library has hosted and promoted a drag queen story hour. HANOI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam posted a budget collection of 1,784.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (75.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, up 13.8 percent year-on-year, the country's General Statistics Office said on Monday. Domestic revenue over the months rose 9 percent from the same period of last year to 1,421.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (60.2 billion dollars), while the revenue from import-export activities increased by 29.7 percent to 280 trillion Vietnamese dong (11.9 billion dollars). Vietnam's budget spending stood at 1,562.3 trillion Vietnamese dong (66.2 billion dollars) last year, up 8.1 percent year-on-year. Regular spending stood at 1,026.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (43.5 billion dollars), up 5.6 percent year-on-year, accounting for the largest proportion of the country's total expenditure. According to a recent report by the country's Ministry of Finance, the state budget deficit for 2023 is estimated at 4.42 percent of the GDP. Elon Musk is steadily revealing how Twitter censored physicians who did not toe the Democrat party line on COVID treatments or vaccines. Scott Atlas was one of the physicians who tried to speak out and who was censored for doing so. In an interview with Eva Fu, Atlas explains that this Twitter censorship should be considered criminal because the policy deprived Americans of information that could have saved lives. Atlas wrote a book, A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America, describing his epic battle against the federal public health agencies, especially Doctors Fauci and Birx, during his short stint at the Trump White House. (See a review here.) He gives details about the malevolence and mendacity that characterized the deep state and public health community. In the interview, Atlas discusses with Fu the information that Elon Musk has released from Twitter that shows how the organization limited or deleted tweets from physicians who opposed official government official recommendations on pandemic mitigation. According to Atlas, these revelations are only the tip of the iceberg. Instead, he says, Theres a far larger story here that we need to hear, he said, which he considers far more nefarious and more systemic than isolated tweets being pulled down. This seems to be criminal behavior, and I think it needs to be investigated in the courts, he said. What makes this criminal, according to Atlas, is that it perpetrated an official fraud that directly affected peoples lives, causing harm and death. This wasnt limited to American lives. Atlas believes that federal actors colluding with Twitter to deceive the public during the COVID pandemic caused worldwide damage. When correct science policy is blocked, people die, and people died from the censorship. Image: Scott Atlas. YouTube screen grab. Atlas homes in on the moment of peak censorship, When decisions were being made in 2020 and imposed upon the public, thats when censorship counted the most. Without any alternative viewpoints, It created this illusion that there was a consensus among science and public health policy experts that lockdowns should be imposed; it created and perpetrated lies that if you were opposed to lockdowns, you were choosing the economy over lives, and that if you were opposed to lockdowns, you were somehow calling for letting the infection spread without any mitigation whatsoever, he said. It wasnt just the public that was misled. The absence of alternative viewpoints manipulated not only the public, but government officials as well, Atlas said.: These policies didnt just waste money or inconvenience people. The consequences were more dire: They absolutely contributed to policies that killed massive numbers of people and destroyed children and low-income people, who are the most vulnerable. Thats why its criminal. Along with many other physicians of integrity, in the face of the governments and social medias malicious conduct, Scott Atlas did the right thing and never gave up the fight. Good on Atlas, a real mensch, just like Peter McCullough, Pierre Kory, Marty Makary, the late Vladimir Zelenko, and many others. John Dale Dunn MD JD is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas. There are annoying activist groups, there are really annoying activist groups, and then there's Extinction Rebellion, the U.K. lunatic environmentalist cult that busies itself uglying up Old Masters art in public galleries, breaking bank windows, and blocking bridges and roadways in the name of stopping global warming. Here's their latest, as reported by Reuters: In a statement entitled "We quit", Extinction Rebellion UK said that in the four years it has been taking direct action, very little had changed, with emissions continuing to rise. "As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic," the group said. "What's needed now most is to disrupt the abuse of power and imbalance, to bring about a transition to a fair society that works together to end the fossil fuel era. Our politicians, addicted to greed and bloated on profits, won't do it without pressure." The group said it would focus on strengthening in number and bridge-building to increase its power and influence. Reuters says they've been "closing key roads and bridges in central London, blockading oil refineries, smashing windows at Barclays bank headquarters and spraying fake blood over the finance ministry building." Such a charming bunch. We don't see an apology for those disruptions and the mess they made from this bunch, now, do we? They claim they have suddenly discovered that those idiocies don't solve global warming. More likely, they've stopped because they've learned how repellent their acts are to the public. According to the New York Times, in a piece that ran last summer: When Extinction Rebellion appeared in 2018, it won widespread sympathy in Britain, where environmental concerns have long been high on the public agenda. Yet the group's disruptive tactics have since become an annoyance for many. In recent surveys by the polling organization YouGov, about 15 percent of respondents said they supported the group, with 45 percent opposed. Nadine Dorries, Britain's culture minister, wrote in a tweet this week that the painting protesters were "attention seekers" who "aren't helping anything other than their own selfish egos." What's more, fewer and fewer of them are even believers in global warming. In 2019, I noted this story from Climate Depot: An international opinion poll published today reveals that half of the UK population and most European citizens are sceptical about the conventional climate alarm. Despite blanket coverage of the antics of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion on the BBC and elsewhere in the media, just 51% of Britons think that mankind is the main cause of climate change. And it's been on boil now for a while now that the public has gotten sick of them. Here's a video from three years ago: So could that be the only reason they've decided to claim that they will now play nice? Probably not. They like doing this stuff, the way a toddler likes going into a room with people working and flipping the lights off and on. Maybe one of their big foundation sponsors has threatened to yank funds. They might even be facing lawsuits by their disgusting acts. I sure hope Barclays is suing the daylights out of them to the extent anyone can in the U.K. Be nice to see these creeps pay for the windows they broke and the man-hours at labor they disrupted as a result, even if a wokester bank does the honors. Their efforts to "build bridges" sounds like they might now be after wokester funding from Big Corporations, the way Black Lives Matter used to do, drawing in millions to advance their destructive cause. Treat this call to temporarily halt "direct action," which is their raison d'etre, with more than a steam shovel full of salt. Whatever their real game is in this, you can bet it's appalling. Image: Screen shot from SkyNews video via YouTube. Samsung is expecting its chip sales to see a sharp decline this year. In a note to employees last week, the company said that its annual operating profit from semiconductor sales in 2023 could just about top KRW 13 trillion (approx. USD 10.2 billion in todays exchange rate). The figure is half of what the firm may have made from chips last year. The Korean behemoth hasnt shared its 2022 earnings report yet, but analysts have projected it to generate profits of KRW 25-26 trillion from the semiconductor division. A decline in the global memory chip market is hitting Samsung hard Samsung is one of the very few companies designing and manufacturing application processors on its own. However, the Korean firms chip fabrication tech has had some problems for years. Chips made by the company have always underperformed compared to competing solutions manufactured by arch-rival TSMC. And the problem isnt limited to its in-house Exynos processors. Samsung-made Snapdragon processors (the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) have also been having various sorts of issues. The situation has gotten to a point where Samsungs smartphone division is no longer using Exynos processors in its flagship models. The Galaxy S23 series will ship with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 globally (an overclocked version of it). Unsurprisingly, Qualcomm had TSMC manufacture this processor. Even Tesla, which has been sourcing its semiconductor needs from Samsung, is switching to the Taiwanese firm for next-gen chips. Nvidia is another Samsung customer that recently switch to TSMC. However, this doesnt affect Samsung much. It has never had a stronghold in the foundry market. TSMC dominates that market by a huge margin. The majority of Samsungs semiconductor profits come from memory chips. The company is the worlds largest memory chip vendor. Unfortunately, the memory market is seeing a global decline in demand and prices, so much so that the biggest player is now seeing its profits getting halved from the whole semiconductor unit. Advertisement Samsung not using Exynos processors in the Galaxy S23 series may also be partly to blame for this profit decline. The smartphone division cant risk losing customers, however, so its understandable. The company needs to fix its foundry woes. Samsung has partnered up with San Jose, California-based software company Silicon Frontline Technology to improve its semiconductor yield rates as investors raise concerns that it is losing grip on the market. Lower profits mean lower bonuses for Samsung semiconductor employees A profit decline means Samsungs employees will get lower bonuses next year. The companys Device Solutions division, which encompasses foundry, memory chips, and logic chips businesses, offers its employees bonuses of up to 50 percent of their annual salary. But, that depends on how much profit it made in the previous year. For employees to get the full 50 percent bonus in 2024, operating profit from semiconductor sales this year reportedly should be more than KRW 28 trillion; thats not happening. As per the current estimate, the bonuses could be between 5 to 11 percent, The Elec reports. As the Galaxy S23 launch draws closer, we are learning more details about it. The latest information we have concerns the colorways of the upcoming Samsung flagship trio. According to tipster Ahmed Qwaider, the Korean firm will sell the phones in Cream, Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black colors. The source doesnt break down the color options for each model, though. Samsung usually sells its flagship phones in a host of color options. It will be no different for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. The latest rumor suggests at least four color choices across the lineup. However, as said earlier, it doesnt mention if all three models will get all of the rumored colorways. If history is any indication, Samsung may keep at least one color exclusive to the Ultra model. We will have to wait and see if that exclusive shade is part of this lineup or if we will have a fifth hue. Its also with noting that Samsung often sells new flagships in some exclusive colors from its website. This leak likely mentions colorways for globally available units. We learned a few weeks back that green will be the signature color of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsungs promotional materials will show the phone in this shade. The signature color of the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ was said to be pink or gold pink. But that color option isnt part of the latest leak. Maybe someone mistook lavender for a shade of pink. We shall find out soon. Samsung may double Galaxy S23s base storage capacity, at least in some markets The same source also recently claimed that Samsung will offer 256GB of base storage capacity on all Galaxy S23 models. If true, we are looking for twice as much the base storage the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ shipped with last year. However, another reputed tipster Roland Quandt has labeled this information as incorrect and said that 128GB base storage still exists. This means either of them is wrong or they are talking about two different markets. Its possible that Samsung will not sell the 128GB variants in some regions. Advertisement All of these confusions will be settled soon, though. Samsung will reportedly host its next Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1, with the Galaxy S23 series being the biggest attraction. The event is now less than a month away. We expect to hear more about the devices ahead of that and will keep you posted accordingly. Samsung is rolling out a new software update to the Galaxy A70 in the US. The aging mid-range smartphone is picking up the latest security patch, i. e. the December 2022 SMR (Security Maintenance Release). It may be the penultimate update for the phone. An aging Galaxy A70 gets the December security update The December SMR for the Galaxy A70 is rolling out with firmware version A705USQS2DVK1 in the US. The update is available for carrier-locked units on Comcasts network (via). Since the device had a limited release stateside, that likely covers most people. This update has already reached users in most international markets, including Europe and Canada. The build number varies slightly but the content is largely the same. Samsung is only pushing the December security patch here. Last months security release patched 80 vulnerabilities in Galaxy devices. Some of these issues were labeled critical by Google, with the most severe ones allowing remote code execution. Some others leaked sensitive information to remote attackers. 13 vulnerability patches part of the December SMR were exclusive to Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Of course, not every issue exists on every device, but the majority do. The Galaxy A70 is safe from all of those following the latest update. As said earlier, this could be the penultimate software update for the Galaxy A70. Released in May 2019, the phone will complete four years in the market in May next year. Samsungs official support for it should end after that. And, we dont expect the company to seed more than one update to the device from here on unless it continues the support after the stipulated period. The Galaxy A70 picked up three updates in the whole of 2022 March, June, and December security patches. Advertisement Of course, this phone will not get Android 13; it didnt get Android 12 either. The Galaxy A70 debuted with Android 9 Pie and picked up updates to Android 10 and Android 11. If youre using this phone, you should consider upgrading to a newer model. You will not find a 2023 model in this lineup, though. Samsung reportedly doesnt plan to launch the Galaxy A74. Samsung is cancelling the Galaxy A74 in favor of the Galaxy S22 FE The Galaxy A7x lineup has been Samsungs highest-end mid-range smartphone since it canceled the Galaxy A8x and Galaxy A9x. However, it may also cease to exist from this year. The company reportedly plans to place the Galaxy S22 FE between the Galaxy A54 and the Galaxy S23 base model. The Galaxy S23 series is rumored to go official on February 1. One of the most popular messaging services is bringing in the new year with a useful update. Telegram is bringing the ability to send hidden media messages along with a revamp to its storage management, according to 9To5Google. Telegram isnt popular for no reason. This app gets constant updates, so you can always count on new and exciting features. The company previously allowed people to hide their text-based messages. When sending them, the message would hide behind a Spoiler screen. The recipient would only be able to see it after tapping on it. Now Telegram lets you send hidden media messages The aforementioned feature only applied to text-based messages, but now the company is expanding on that. With this update, if you want to send hidden media via Telegram, you can. This means that pictures and videos will also be able to be hidden. This is perhaps more useful than hiding text. Images are more prone to immediately offending someone than text. Now, youll be able to hide those images behind a spoiler screen. This also goes for videos. Youll be able to send hidden media in group chats along with 1-on-1 conversations and channel messages. Advertisement The app will also make storage management easier Telegram will bring a new file management page that will help you better visualize the files that you have stored on the app. Its a pretty simple Pie chart that shows you what types of files you have, and it also shows you how much data your Telegram files are eating up in all. Below the pic chart, youll see what percentage of your devices total storage is being used by Telegram files. This is accompanied by a progress bar indicating this. Then, below that, youll see the pie charts data reflected as separate items. We see items such as videos, images, music files, documents, and other. It will show the percentages that each item takes up along with the total storage those file types are taking up. Advertisement This provides a much easier way to view and manage the storage that your files are taking up on your device. This new storage management page will let you manage what files are saved to the cloud and limit how much storage the app uses on your devices. This update has been rolling out, so make sure your app is fully updated if you want to see these features. (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 2 - Anglo-Pakistani writer Hanif Kureish has been hospitalised after suffering a bad turn that is believed to have been a heart attack while preparing to ring in the New Year in Rome. The 68-year-old author of My Beautiful Launderette and The Buddha of Suburbia is in intensive care in the Italian capital's Policlinico Gemelli Hospital, his entourage told ANSA on New Year's Eve. He suffered the bad turn at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, shortly after flying in to Rome on Friday, they said. He is in a serious but stable condition, medical sources said. Kureishi, CBE, who was born in Bromley near London on 5 December, is a British playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist of South Asian and English descent. In 2008, The Times included Kureishi in its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. (ANSA). JAKARTA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has taken effect for Indonesia on Tuesday, with the country putting new regulations in place for its trade with other members of the world's largest trade bloc in terms of population and the size of economy and trade. So far, the trade pact has taken effect for 14 of the 15 members of the RCEP, which comprises 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, and New Zealand. The RCEP entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022. Indonesia's new regulations on origin of goods and issuing documents of origin for goods exported from it have been in place starting from Tuesday, as part of implementing the RCEP agreement. Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said in a press release last Friday that the new regulations specify the procedure of obtaining certificates of origin for goods exported from the Southeast Asian country. The business sectors in Indonesia can also choose between the two types of document, a certificate of origin and a declaration of origin to claim "preferential rates". Both documents can be issued independently. "This new rule is in line with a trade commitment facilitated by the RCEP, the world's largest trading bloc. Business sectors will be benefited by this measure as the RCEP scheme will make the flow of exported goods in the region become smoother," Hasan said. Over the past year, the trade agreement has helped lower the cost of trade, facilitated the integration of industrial chains, and benefited consumers in the region. "The agreement is also expected to boost competitiveness and global production networks, promote regional supply chains by increasing export market access for goods and services, reduce or remove trade barriers, and increase technology transfer in the region," Hasan said. (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 2 - Legal action against late ex-pope Benedict XVI for allegedly ignoring clerical sex abuse during his time as archbishop of Munich between 1977 and 1982 is to proceed against any heirs he may have, a German court told ANSA Monday. Asked whether the late former pontiff had heirs, a spokesman for the court at Traunstein said "this is yet to be established". The spokesman, Andrea Titz, said a man who said he was the victim of a proven predator priest, Peter H., had cited Benedict in a civil court under his birth name of Joseph Ratzinger. The aim of the complaint is to establish whether the late pope, who died on New Year's Eve aged 95, was guilty of covering up abuse cases. Benedict's papacy from 2005 until his sensational resignation on February 11, 2013, was dogged by global Catholic sex abuse scandals. Accused of inaction, the late pontiff became the first pope to meet victims. He also took action against what he called the "filth" in the Church, but courted controversy by blaming it on the sexual revolution of the 1960s. (ANSA). Estonia begins annual chairmanship of the Baltic Assembly 'We will pay a lot of attention to Ukraine' (ANSA) - VILNIUS, 02 GEN - Estonia has begun its rotating presidency of the Baltic Assembly, Foreign Ministry in Tallinn announced in a press release. According to Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, the Estonian chairmanship will focus on the situation in Ukraine, regional security and energy security. "Last year Russia's aggression against Ukraine fundamentally changed the situation in our region and throughout Europe. For this reason - Reinsalu said - our priority will be to ensure the security of Estonia and the entire region, secure energy supplies in these times of crisis, and continue active support for Ukraine until victory is achieved." Formed in 1990, the Baltic Assembly is a consultative institution for the promotion of political cooperation on a regional level in which representatives of the governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participate. The chairmanship rotates annually between representatives of the three states. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved ROME - Last night's air raid by the Israeli forces on the International airport of Damascus, at around 2 A.M. local time, resulted in the death of four people. "Two militants and two Syrian soldiers were killed by the Israeli raid", comments the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the United Kingdom. Previously, the state run Syrian news agency, SANA, referred that two Syrian soldiers had died in the Israeli attack, specifying that the Damascus airport was "not operational". "The Israeli enemy has carried out an air raid using missiles, targeting the International airport of Damascus and the surrounding area" causing "the death of two soldiers and wounding another two", commented SANA. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which updated the figure to four dead, the Israeli attack targeted "Hezbollah positions and pro-Iranian groups at the airport and the surrounding area, including a weapons depot". From the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011, Israel had carried out hundreds of air raids on its neighbor, targeting positions of the Syrian army, the pro-Iranian forces and Lebanese Hezbollah. Israel rarely comments on its attacks against Syria, but notes that it will not allow Iran to expand its influence in the country. These raids often take place near the Damascus airport, which had already been rendered not operational since the attack of 10 June, 2022. TEL AVIV - The PLO (the Palestinian Liberation Organization) and Hamas in Gaza issued a warning to Israel concerning the announced visit of the National Security Minister, a member of the extreme right, Itamar Ben Gvir, on the al-Haram al-Sharif al-Aqsa mosque compound (Temple Mount for the Jews) in Jerusalem. "Ben Gvir's threat to attack Al-Aqsa as Minister of National Security - said on twitter Hussein al Sheikh, Secretary General of the organization and member of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) - is the height of an open and blatant challenge that requires a Palestinian, Arab and international response. A response that is proportionate to this first step and the occupation policies put in place by the new Israeli government". Hamas spokesperson, Abd al-Latif al-Qanua -mentioned by the media- said that Ben Gvir's visit "is another example of the arrogance of a government of settlers, of their future plans to damage the Al-Aqsa mosque and to divide it". Yesterday, Ben Gvir confirmed his intention of going to the Esplanade - as he already did on various occasions in the past - during a meeting with the head of the police. The visit - considered by many dangerous for the possible consequences with Palestinians - should take place in the coming days and, according to the media, a high level meeting of the Israeli security forces has been planned over its occurrence. ROME - Dubai has eliminated the 30% tax on alcohol and will stop requesting payment for personal alcohol licenses, a document that anyone wishing to consume alcohol must carry with them. This is an attempt to make the city more attractive to foreigners, particularly given the competition with neighboring countries. The BBC reported this news. It is unclear if the measure, which entered into force yesterday, will be permanent. The Financial Times described the move as a one year trial, citing as sources "well-informed managers in the business who were informed of the decision". Foreigners in Dubai surpass in numbers the residents by a nine to one ratio. The city is known as the "party capital" of the Gulf and citizens usually go to Umm al-Quwain or to other emirates to purchase wholesale alcohol. Historically, Dubai was able to attract more wealthy tourists and foreign workers compared to its neighbors, also thanks to its more tolerant policies accepting a more liberal life style. But now it is facing the growing competition of its rivals that are developing the sectors of hospitality and finance. Non-Muslims in Dubai must be at least 21 years old to consume alcohol and to have the license with them, a card issued by the police. Bars and night clubs rarely ask to see the card but those who consume alcohol without having it could face fines or arrest. A new year on Coronation Street will see shock, danger and a killer who has everyone on the cobbles worried, according to the shows producer. Iain MacLeod gave a hint of the stories in store for the soap in 2023, which include a potential serial killer and a bad boy set to turn heads. The new year will see Stephen Reid, played by Todd Boyce, come under suspicion over the disappearance of Leo Thompkins, whose body was dumped in a bin by Stephen after he killed him. MacLeod said: Needless to say, in a soap no bodies ever stay buried for long. Iain MacLeod attending the British Soap Awards 2016 (Matt Crossick/PA) The producer said fellow actors were worried by the prospect of a serial killer, who he described as having shades of classic Corrie villain Richard Hillman. I know whenever youve got a serial killer on a soap the whole cast is worried, he said. If I ever ring an actor in and say can you pop in for a chat theyre like well thats it, Todds going to do me in, so its quite funny in that respect. Lots of people should be worried. He said 2023 would also see drama brought to the street by newcomer Damon Hay, played by Ciaran Griffiths, who is the brother of jailed drug dealer Harvey Gaskell. MacLeod described Damon as a dangerous character who was set to upend the lives of those on the Street. He added: Theres something about a bad boy isnt there? Hes got this kind of magnetic attraction for a notable high profile female character in the show, having her head turned in a way that has very far-reaching consequences. He said there could be scope for a return at some point for Harvey, played by Will Mellor who recently reached the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing. He said: I dont think his status as a legendary hard man has been too diminished by putting on a sparkly shirt on a Saturday night. Will Mellor, who played Harvey Gaskell in Coronation Street (Suzan Moore/PA) The soaps younger cast will be at the heart of one of the biggest storylines for the show in 2023, MacLeod said. He said: Were hoping that itll be one of those Coronation Street stories that shocks people a bit and provokes awkward conversations in front of the television. The new year will also see the culmination of a storyline which has seen teenager Max Turner groomed by a far-right gang. MacLeod said: He will, over the course of 2023, realise the error of his ways and a lot of what were doing after that is about him being de-programmed and un-brainwashed. Theres a redemption for him on the horizon after all of what hes been through. It reaches its climax in the first couple of months but the after effects, like with all our stories, last for a very long time after that. Macleod said Summer Spellman, actress Harriet Bibby, would be saved from oblivion by her three dads Billy Mayhew, Todd Grimshaw and Paul Foreman after a storyline which has seen her agree to sell her baby to a couple. And, he said there could be more in store for the three father figures. He added: Romance is in the air for two of them, Ill leave you to try and guess which of them it might be. UK Border Force officers have begun patrolling French beaches in co-operation with local personnel for the first time in a bid to halt the flow of migrants crossing the English Channel. The first joint patrols are believed to have taken place just before Christmas after months of negotiations between UK and French officials. The co-operative effort aims to grant UK officers greater real-time intelligence of people-smuggling activity, tactics and migrant movements. However the UK officers embedded in the French patrols are observers only, meaning they will have no rights to exercise powers such as arresting someone for a criminal act. Our work with the French is vital to tackling the unacceptable rise in dangerous Channel crossings and we are committed to building on our close co-operation to date, a Home Office spokesperson said. The new agreement will significantly increase the number of French gendarmes patrolling the beaches in northern France and ensure UK and French officers are working hand in hand to stop people smugglers. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed a record 45,756 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in 2022. The last crossings of the year took place on Christmas Day when 90 people made the journey from France in two boats. The provisional annual total for 2022 is a record and is 60% up from 28,526 in 2021, but it is lower than the 60,000 that Home Office officials previously estimated could make the journey. Over the last 12 months, politicians have made a series of attempts to get a grip on the migrant crisis amid a tumultuous period which saw three prime ministers and three home secretaries. Suella Braverman told of her dream of seeing the Governments plan to send migrants to Rwanda succeed after she was appointed Home Secretary a policy which High Court judges ruled is lawful but has so far been stalled by legal action. Since the deal was signed in April by her predecessor Priti Patel, 40,460 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel. Suella Braverman (Toby Melville/PA) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to bring in legislation in 2023 to make it unambiguously clear that if you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here. The number of migrants crossing the Channel has steadily increased since 299 people were detected in 2018. There were 1,843 crossings recorded in 2019 and 8,466 in 2020, according to the Home Office. August last year was the highest month on record for crossings when 8,631 people arrived in the UK. August 22 saw a record 1,295 migrants crossing in a single day on 27 boats. The number of arrivals began to fall towards the end of 2022, which could reflect seasonal changes as a result of the weather. In December 1,745 people made the journey slightly fewer than the 1,770 recorded in the last month of 2021. The MoD said its data is taken from live operational systems and is subject to change, including reduction. A Government spokesperson said: The global migration crisis is causing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. Nobody should put their lives at risk by taking dangerous and illegal journeys. We will go further to tackle the gangs driving this, using every tool at our disposal to deter illegal migration and disrupt the business model of people smugglers. At least 14 dead in armed attack on prison in Mexican border city Juarez Members of the Mexican Army arrive at Cereso number 3 state prison after unknown assailants entered the prison and freed several inmates, resulting in injuries and deaths, in Ciudad Juarez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities said on Sunday at least 14 people died in an armed attack at a prison in the northern border city Juarez and two more died during a later armed aggression elsewhere in the city. The Chihuahua state prosecutor said in a statement that among those who died in the prison attack were 10 security personnel and four inmates, while another 13 were hurt and at least 24 escaped. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. The prosecutor said initial investigations found the attackers arrived at around 7 a.m. local time at the prison in armored vehicles and opened fire. Minutes earlier, authorities had reported a nearby attack against municipal police. After a chase, four men were captured and a truck seized. In a different part of the city, two more drivers died later in the day following what authorities called an armed aggression. The state prosecutor did not specify whether the three incidents were related. In August, hundreds of Mexican soldiers were sent to Juarez after a prison face-off between members of two rival cartels caused a riot and shootouts that killed 11 people, most of them civilians. (Reporting by Tomas Bravo and Adriana Barrera; Editing by Richard Chang) TOKYO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two people were confirmed dead Monday after their bodies were found at the site of a landslide in northeastern Japan, local officials said. Officials of Tsuruoka city in Yamagata prefecture said rescuers have found two victims at the site of the landslide, measuring 20 to 30 meters in height and 100 meters in width, that occurred at a mountain here on Saturday. A team of about 200 people from police, firefighters and the Ground Self-Defense Force conducted a round-the-clock search, according to the Tsuruoka city office. About 10 buildings were heavily damaged and an elderly couple, a woman in her 70s and her husband in his 80s, were reported as missing. Police said they were trying to determine whether the two bodies found were those of the missing couple. The two nuclear-armed neighbours exchange the list of nuclear installations every year on January 1 India and Pakistan on Sunday exchanged the customary lists of nuclear installations and prisoners on New Year's day. (Representational image: PTI) NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Sunday exchanged the customary lists of nuclear installations and prisoners on New Year's day. While New Delhi shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 fishermen currently in Indian custody, Pakistan shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen who are Indians or are believed to be Indians in its custody. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities." The two nuclear-armed neighbours exchange the list of nuclear installations every year on January 1. These installations are "covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan". The MEA said that this is the 32nd consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992. On the list of prisoners exchanged, the MEA in a separate statement said, "The government has called for the early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan's custody. In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan." The statement added that Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan's custody, who are believed to be Indian. The prisoners lists are exchanged twice every year. The MEA added, "India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters... India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India." In its statement, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, "Pakistan has requested the early release and repatriation of its 51 civilian prisoners and 94 fishermen, who have completed their respective sentences and whose national status stands confirmed. Furthermore, a request for the grant of consular access to missing defence personnel from the 1965 and 1971 wars and special consular access to 56 civil prisoners has also been made." Dissent view: Parliament should have passed law; RBI didn't 'apply mind' A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice S.A. Nazeer amid pronouncement of its judgment on a batch of pleas challenging the Central Government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500, at the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (PTI) New Delhi: In a major boost for the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court on Monday, by a majority of 4-1, upheld the Centres November 8, 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency notes, ruling that the decision cant be struck down as it did not suffer from any legal flaw or the test of proportionality. A majority of the five-judge Constitution Bench, comprising Justices S. Abdul Nazeer, B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, ruled that the November 2016 notification on demonetisation does not suffer from any flaws in the decision-making process and satisfies the test of proportionality and, as such, cannot be struck down on the said ground. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, in a dissenting judgment, said that the decision to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by taking recourse to sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act was unlawful and vitiated and the subsequent ordinance of 2016 and Act of 2017 incorporating the terms of the impugned notification are also unlawful. Pronouncing the judgment for the majority, Justice Gavai said the power available to the Central government under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the RBI Act cannot be restricted to mean that it can be exercised only for one or some series of bank notes and not for all series of bank notes. The power can be exercised for all series of bank notes, he ruled. Having said this, Justice Gavai further said that merely because on two earlier occasions (1947 and 1978), the demonetisation exercise was by plenary legislation, it cannot be held that such a power would not be available to the Central government under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the RBI Act. Justice Gavai said this while answering six questions that were framed for adjudicating 53 petitions that challenged the demonetisation decision, including the question Whether the power available to the Central government under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the RBI Act can be restricted to mean that it can be exercised only for one or some series of bank notes and not all series in view of the word any appearing before the word series in the said subsection, specifically so, when on earlier two occasions, the demonetisation exercise was done through the plenary legislation? Rejecting the plea that more time, beyond 52 days, should have been given for exchanging the demonetised legal tender of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the top court said: The period provided for exchange of notes vide the impugned notification dated 8th November 2016 cannot be said to unreasonable. The court contrasted it with three days that were extendable by another five days that were given to exchange demonetised notes in the 1978 demonetisation decision. Having referred to 3+5 days given in 1978 to exchange demonetised currency notes, the majority judgment said: We, therefore, hold that the period provided for exchange of notes vide the impugned notification dated 8th November 2016 cannot be said to be unreasonable. Not disputing the government's authority to demonetise currency notes of any denomination and insisting that it can be done only by enacting a law, Justice Nagarathna said that given the secrecy that accompanies demonetisation decision, the government could have taken the ordinance route. The Central Government could have several compulsions for initiating demonetisation of the bank notes already in circulation in the economy, and it could do so even in the absence of a recommendation, as per sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the Act, of the Central Board of the Bank (RBI), but Justice Nagarathna said: In either of the situations, the Central government may proceed to demonetise the bank notes but only through a legislative process, either through an ordinance followed by a legislation, if Parliament is not in session; or by a plenary legislation before Parliament Justice Nagarathna said that issuing a gazette notification for effecting demonetisation cannot be a substitute to a well-crafted legislative mandate for taking such a decision. when a statute contemplates a specific procedure to be adhered to in order to arrive at a desired end, such procedure cannot be substituted by an alternative procedure which is not contemplated under the statute. Further, if an action is to be carried out by way of issuance of a particular statutory instrument on the basis of certain requirements, such action cannot be validly carried out by way of issuance of an instrument when the same is not contemplated under the Act. This is particularly so when the instrument enacted stands on a different footing than the one meant to be enacted, says the dissenting ruling by Justice Nagarathna. However, Justice Nagarathna clarified that her terming of demonetisation decision as Illegal has no bearing on the objective of the decision to curb fake currency, black money, terror funding and drug trafficking, money laundering money, parallel economy, and national security. It is beyond the pale of doubt that the said measure, which was aimed at eliminating these depraved practices, was well-intentioned, Justice Nagarathna said. The measure (decision of demonetisation) has been regarded as unlawful only on a purely legalistic analysis of the relevant provisions of the Act and not on the objects of demonetisation (that were sought to be achieved). Referring to the November 7, 2016 communication addressed by the secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, to the Governor, RBI, , Justice Nagarathna said: This demonstrates that there was no independent applications of mind by the Bank (RBI). Neither was there any time for the Bank to apply its mind to such a serious issue. This observation is being made, having regard to the fact that the entire exercise of demonetisation of all series of bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 was carried out in twenty-four hours. Noting that the demonetisation decision was taken in 2016 and has already been acted upon, Justice Nagarathna said the law laid down in her dissenting judgment would apply prospectively and would not affect any action taken by the Central government or the Bank pursuant to the issuance of the notification dated 8th November 2016. On Sunday evening, suspected terrorists opened fire on three houses in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six Rajouri/Jammu: A child was killed and four others injured in an IED explosion on Monday near the house of one of the victims of the suspected terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Dangri village, officials said. On Sunday evening, suspected terrorists opened fire on three houses in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six, according to officials . "The (improvised explosive device) blast has taken place near the house of the first firing incident. Five people were injured. One child succumbed to injuries and another is critical," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh said. The injured have been take to a hospital, he said, adding that another suspected IED has been spotted. There were several people, including the kin of the Sunday attack's victim, in the house when blast took place between 9 to 9.30 am, eyewitnesses said. "I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Rajouri. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families", Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in tweet. He was 97. Ordained in 1991 in communion with the Holy See and the approval of the Chinese government, he was sent to a labour camp for his beliefs in 1966 and released in 1980. In 2011 he removed the rector of Shanxis major seminary for corruption, clashing with religious authorities linked to the Communist Party of China. Beijing (AsiaNews) Bishop John Huo Cheng of Fenyang, a diocese in the north-central province of Shanxi, has passed away. Local Catholics are asking to fellow believers to pray for him. Born on 1 February 1926, he began to practise Taoism in 1939. On 14 May 1954, he graduated in theology and was ordained a priest. The authorities sent him to a labour camp for his religious beliefs in 1966, at the start of Maos Cultural Revolution. After much suffering, he was released in 1980. In communion with the Holy See and with the approval of the Chinese government, he was ordained bishop of Fenyang on 4 September 1991. In September 2011 he came under the spotlight after he clashed with religious authorities linked to the Communist Party of China. As head of Shanxis major regional seminary, which is named after the first archbishop of Beijing, the Franciscan John of Montecorvino (Giovanni da Montecorvino), he removed from office the then rector. Fr Anthony Chang Tongxi had taken funds intended for the seminary, but the Shanxi Religious Affairs Office wanted to keep him in place, going so far as to block the start of the school year. At the time, some seminarians had expressed to AsiaNews bitterness over the government's interference in an internal Church matter. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the decision today following the death of three Irrawaddy dolphins last week caused by fishing nets. Their number has dropped from 200 to 90 in 25 years. For the prime minister, the dolphins are a major tourist attraction. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agency) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen today ordered the creation of conservation areas to protect Irrawaddy dolphins, an endangered species. Known for their short beak, they swam through much of the Mekong River, the most important waterway in Indochina, which runs through Cambodia, but also China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. For the past few decades, Irrawaddy dolphins have only been found in a stretch of about 190 km in the north-eastern Cambodian province of Kratie, on the border with Laos. Due to habitat loss and intensive fishing, their numbers have dropped from 200 in 1997 to 90 today. Prime Minister Hun Sen said that floating markers will be placed around the protected areas where a total ban will be imposed on fishing. The Mekong River, which is home to near-extinct dolphins and fish species, must be well managed so that dolphins will not die from entanglement in gill nets, the prime minister said, adding that the animals presence contributes to local tourism. Last month, three healthy breeding-age dolphins died caught in fishing nets, alarming conservationists, who called for both day and night patrols to protect the remaining dolphins from being killed by illegal fishing. According to the World Wide Fund (WWF), 11 dolphins died in 2022, for a total of 29 in the past three years. by Melani Manel Perera In a video message, the archbishop urges the faithful to seek this goal in the new year. Despite its economic difficulties, the country must be loved more this year, which marks 75 years of independence. Colombo (AsiaNews) Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, addressed a New Year video message to the Christian community. In it, he calls for building a new Sri Lanka by joining hands with our brothers and sisters as much as we can. Sadly, 75 years have passed since the independence of Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankans have become slaves of the world today. For the prelate. If the current system is continued, Sri Lanka may be completely destroyed, economically degraded, and lost. I believe that we should not allow this country to be destroyed. To avoid this, this new year, Sri Lankans should work together, courageously and selflessly to recover from this great destruction. It is fair to say that in terms of progress, the country is not where it should be. Several countries that gained independence with Sri Lanka are far ahead, the prelate laments. Due to the dangerous choices and extremist attitudes of the various leaders of our country, today we have fallen into the position of being called one of the poorest countries in the Asian region. Yet, while poverty is not only external but also internal and many people have seen their lives turned into a hopeless existence due to difficult economic circumstances, for Card Ranjith 2023 should be a year to love Sri Lanka. The new law passed at the end of the year expands the boycott and punishes public or private relations with persons or entities in the Jewish state. Analysts speak of a blow to Israeli hopes of expanding the "Abraham Accords". For the Sultanate, any prospect of relations is tied to the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution. Mascate (AsiaNews) - Oman's parliament has approved a law broadening the boycott against Israel, declaring relations of an economic, commercial or diplomatic nature with the Jewish State a criminal offence. At the end of the year, the 86-member Consultative Assembly passed the law tightening the blockade in line with Arab League guidelines, making it illegal for its citizens to communicate or meet - for any purpose - with Israeli public or private figures. Assembly Deputy Speaker Yaaqoub al-Harethi, relayed by the official Waf news agency, said that the amendment proposed by several lawmakers aims to "expand the criminalisation and boycott of the Zionist entity". Analysts and experts call the vote a blow to Israel's hopes of expanding its reach within the Arab and Middle Eastern world, with the aim of cornering and encircling the Iranian 'enemy'. For Mascate, like other nations in the area including the Saudis, 'progress' is needed on the Palestinian issue and the resumption of dialogue with real prospects on the two-state solution, which the most right-wing Israeli government ever seems to be shelving, however. The Sultanate of Oman is considered the most important mediator in the region between the two great Muslim powers: Sunni Saudi Arabia and the Shia Islamic Republic of Iran. Last July, Riyadh opened its airspace to Israeli aircraft, but for many experts this is a cosmetic move with no real benefits, at least until Oman takes a similar decision allowing overflights to the Far East. The prospect seems remote at the moment, however, because even the Sultanate's Foreign Minister Badr Bin Hamad Al-Busaid welcomed the parliamentary vote. The decision, he emphasised, represents 'the embodiment of the aspirations of the people of Oman and other nations in the region to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause'. In this regard, he called for compliance with "international standards" and the "Arab peace initiative". In the recent past, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain - along with Sudan and Morocco - have established diplomatic relations with Israel as part of the 'Abraham Accords' sponsored in 2020 by former US President Donald Trump. Other nations such as Iraq have confirmed - at least on an official level - their hard line with the Jewish state, passing a law stipulating the death penalty for those who establish relations or trade. After all, Baghdad has never recognised Israel as an autonomous and sovereign entity since its birth in 1948, and parliamentarians in Baghdad are firmly convinced that the country "will never adhere" to the agreements, in spite of the invitations and pressures coming from many quarters (read Washington). Today's headlines: Israeli security forces killed two Palestinian youths near Jenin; after two years, the Japanese emperor returns to greet citizens on New Year's Eve; Islamabad and Delhi exchange lists of nuclear sites and prisoners; Pyongyang shops flooded with luxury goods - counterfeits - of Chinese origin; Uzbekistan blocks the sale of Indian medicines. MYANMAR In 2022, at least 157 children died in the repression of protests and military operations by the coup junta. The report by activists from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Aapp) also states that the total number of child victims since the generals' return to power has risen to 267. ISRAEL - PALESTINE Israeli security forces killed two Palestinians this morning in an operation in the village of Kfar Dan, in Jenin, West Bank. The target of the operation was a house belonging to some Palestinians accused of involvement in a deadly attack on an army commander. The victims are Mohammed Samer Hoshieh, 22, and Fouad Mohammed Abed (25). JAPAN The Japanese Emperor Naruhito, after a two-year blockade related to the Covid-19, appeared in public this morning for New Year greetings. A traditional event marked by caution today, as the country - and the royal family - slowly return to normal. Empress Masako and her daughter Aiko were also present. There were 1,500 people at the palace, drawn by lottery. NORTH KOREA - CHINA Department stores in Pyongyang are stocking up on luxury goods - some original, but the vast majority counterfeit - imported from China to sell at high prices to North Korea's wealthy elite ahead of the holidays at the start of the New Year. Goods trains running between Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea, operate every day except weekends. PAKISTAN - INDIA Islamabad and Delhi exchanged their respective lists of nuclear facilities, part of the pact signed in 1988 that prevents attacks on atomic sites. The two countries also communicated to each other the list of prisoners in custody, as stipulated in the 2008 agreement. Pakistan holds 705 Indians (51 civilians and 654 fishermen), India 434 Pakistanis (339 civilians and 95 fishermen). ASIA One third of the Arab population on the Asian continent lives below the poverty line. This was established in a report published in recent days by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (Escwa), according to which the state of destitution affects up to 130 million people. It also recorded the highest unemployment figure in 2022, at 12%. UZBEKISTAN - INDIA Since 30 December, the sale of all kinds of medicines produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech and registered in Uzbekistan has been blocked. Behind the decision was the discovery of foreign elements in 'Dok-1 Max', suspected to be the cause of the deaths of 19 people, almost all children, in recent weeks. The death of the Pope Emeritus has also landed on the website chinacatholic.cn, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. At the head of the 'official' body is the archbishop of Beijing, Monsignor Joseph Li Shan, who was appointed in 2007 with the assent of Benedict XVI. The Taiwanese government, meanwhile, has designated the former vice-president, the Catholic Chen Chien-jen, to attend the funeral in the Vatican as its official representative. Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) - "We entrust Benedict XVI to God's mercy and ask Him to grant him eternal rest in heaven". With these words even chinacatholic.cn - the official website promoted by the Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics, the ecclesial body controlled by the Communist Party - yesterday joined the condolences of the Universal Church for the death of the pope emeritus. The home page of the site features a picture of the pope emeritus with the year of his birth and death taken from the VaticanNews website, with the Vatican logo prominently displayed. On the Patriotic Association's site the news of the death is given by republishing the official notification of the death issued by the Holy See, preceded by the title 'Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI rests in the arms of the Lord'. These few lines would seem obvious were it not for the context in which they are published: an 'official' website where most of the news usually concerns the commitment of Catholics to the faithful application of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with a Chinese face in the religious sphere. News about the pope and the Vatican, on the other hand, never appears, in the name of the principle of the "autonomy" of the Church in China from foreign influences, affirmed by the Patriotic Association. It should be remembered that since last summer, the 'official' body has been headed by the Archbishop of Beijing, Monsignor Joseph Li Shan, a prelate appointed in 2007 with the prior consent given by Benedict XVI himself, according to the procedure in force before the 2018 Provisional Agreement on the appointment of bishops. Much more space is dedicated to the death of Benedict XVI on xinde.org, the most widely read website by Catholic communities in mainland China. The gallery of images of the life of the pope emeritus, which also includes a photograph showing him with a group of Chinese faithful on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica, is particularly sigtnificant. In Hong Kong, on the other hand, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan has arranged for the faithful to express their condolences for the passing of Pope Ratzinger at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where the diocese will meet for a suffrage Mass on Wednesday at 6pm. From Taiwan, meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen has designated former Vice-President, the Catholic Chen Chien-jen, to attend the funeral of Benedict XVI in Rome on 5 January on behalf of the Taipei government. In this same role, Chen Chien-jen had taken part in the beatification of John Paul II on 4 September, meeting Pope Francis on that occasion. In 2005, for the funeral of John Paul II, it was then President Chen Shui-bian who had personally travelled to the Vatican in a gesture that had aroused Beijing's ire. The government of Taipei, with which the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations, expressed its condolences for the death of Benedict XVI in an official note in which it wrote that the pope emeritus will be remembered throughout the world "for his humility and his caring for all humanity." ISLAMABAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan witnessed a rise in terror attacks across the country in 2022 by 28 percent as compared with the year 2021, said a report published on Monday. According to the report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militants carried out 376 terror attacks last year, in which 533 people were killed and 832 others were injured. The attacks during the year 2022 are also the highest number of militant attacks in Pakistan during the last five years, said the report, adding that it is for the first time since 2017 that the country faced over 300 militant attacks in a year and endured over 500 deaths for the first time after 2018. The last month of 2022 witnessed 44 percent of the overall attacks that the country faced last year. The terror attacks increased by 88 percent in the southwest Balochistan province and 54 percent in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in December 2022. In December, the terrorists conducted 49 attacks and killed 56 people, including 32 personnel from security forces. In response to the attacks, Pakistani security forces conducted 16 operations in December and killed 39 militants, and arrested 47 others, added the report. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the banned Balochistan Liberation Army claimed most of the attacks, which had placed serious challenges before the Pakistani government as well as the security forces. One of those venues that have been absent is the Chinese Grand Prix situated in Shanghai. That comes as no surprise considering most of the world has gone through an extended lockdown due to a global health crisis.However, since things have somewhat gone back no normal, a lot of countries have relaxed the measures and tracks are making their way back into the calendar. The same was supposed to happen to the Chinese Grand Prix, but it didnt.Well, at least not at first glance. At the beginning of December 2022 , it was announced that the venue will not hold a Formula 1 race in 2023 due to the countrys Zero-COVID policy. Barely a month later, that seems to have changed on a dime.Theres a reason for that. At the end of last year, China announced that it would lift its entry quarantine measures starting from January 8th. That was one of, if not the biggest reason why Formula 1 was not going to race in Shanghai this season. With that out of the way, discussions are reportedly underway for a return.According to Motorsports Chinese network, internal talks have already been held in Shanghai. On top of that, preliminary contact has been made with the governing body of Formula 1, concerning the addition of the track back into the calendar.While that is not a guarantee, it represents a possibility for those fans who enjoy watching the racing at that venue. So far, it is reported that various parties will continue to discuss related matters following New Years Holiday.Still, there is an element of urgency at play here, due to the insane logistics involved in Formula 1 as well as other motorsports. Everything needs to be transported around the world in order for racing to happen and that requires planning.Usually, that starts happening in late January and all factors have to be known at that point. There is also the issue of adding another race to an already crowded season, consisting of 23 confirmed races. To be fair, Shanghai was supposed to be the 24th event prior to the original cancellation announcement.Still, discussions were probably held regarding a replacement, and adding the Chinese Grand Prix back might be off the table. While nothing has been announced, the 4th event still features as TBC (not canceled) on Formula 1s official website, hinting at the possibility that another venue is being considered.Whatever the final result, it is definitely a win-win situation for the fans who will get an additional race to enjoy. If the Chinese Grand Prix manages to make its way back onto the calendar, it will also be the first time Chinese Alfa Romeo driver, Guanyu Zhou will enter a home race. Apparently, the car still retains its affordability even 50 years after it first saw the light of day, if an eBay ad for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is anything to go by.It's a Beetle that has driven 76,000 miles (little over 122,000 kilometers) since the day it drove through the factory gate to date. It has a 1,600 cc engine and a four-speed manual gearbox. According to the ad, the car is in perfect condition. It runs, brakes, and shifts perfectly, the ad claims. The current owner has owned it since 1990, but the vehicle underwent a few modifications and lost the original seats along the way.Indeed, if you browse through the photo gallery, the car looks pretty good, considering its age. There are no signs of excessive wear and tear, and no obvious dents, scratches, or rust, which is an indication that those who have owned it over the years have treated it as a collector's car.With the start of production in 1938, after becoming a European success, in 1949, for the first time, two Beetle models left the continent to be shown at the German Industrial Exhibition in New York. It was the definitive consecration of a car destined to become a cult object. The Beetle, as the New York Times noted, had conquered the U.S.In 1955, the one-millionth Beetle rolled off the production line. To properly celebrate the moment, the model was presented in golden paint, with white rubber framing the windows and red velvet and brocade on the interior. It looked every inch a true jewel of refinement and elegance.After almost thirty successful years, Wolfsburg was no longer the Beetle City. The last car left the assembly line at the original plant to move to Brussels in Belgium and other production facilities abroad. The model continued to be built in other markets outside Germany until 2003.This particular Beetle was selling on eBay for $2,025 a few minutes before the time of press, but within minutes, the price went straight to $3,383, indicating that there is interest in the offer.No wonder, because the Beetle's story is a story of success even now, more than eighty years after its birth. It was Ferdinand Porsche who, in February 1938, completed the prototypes of the car that was to revolutionize the concept of mobility. Innovations in design and mechanics broke new ground in the car industry at the time, making the tiny Beetle the first truly affordable car. Over time, the Beetle became a collector's item. One of the most expensive examples ever sold at auction was a 1963 unit that appeared in the movie "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" and was driven by Dean Jones. Herbie was first auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson's Beach Auction in 2015. It sold then for $126,700. Three years later, it sold again for $128,700, making it the most valuable Volkswagen in the world at the time. EV kWh Photo: Out of Spec Reviews YouTube channel Photo: Out of Spec Reviews YouTube channel Not to be pedantic, but just in case anyone isn't acquainted with the term, cold soaking a vehicle basically means leaving it out in the cold for a long time, until its temperature matches the surrounding environment. In our case, the Leafs were left to the freezing elements for two days straight, at a Coloradocharging station. Upon arrival, they were both left with a 39% battery charge.The first guinea pig was an old 2012 Nissan Leaf SL with a modest 24battery pack. Kyle managed to score this EV for no more than $3,700. It's been through some stuff, but it runs well according to him. Also, it barely has over 78,000 miles (125,528 km) on the odometer.The second unwilling patient was a brand-new Leaf SV Plus . This one is worth a bit more, at $37,135 (MSRP), and boasts a 60 kWh battery, with 214 hp (217 ps), 250 lb-ft (339 Nm) of torque, and has an estimated EPA travel range of 212 miles (341 km) on a full charge. That's 63 miles (101 km) more than the more "humble" 2023 model year S variant.Back to the 2012 Leaf, at first contact, it couldn't start. It didn't even detect the key, which was just inches away from the steering wheel. Furthermore, even with all the lights turned off, the display was telling Kyle to turn them off. It had some sensor reading issues, to say the least.In regards to charging, it didn't budge at all. From the outside, the poor thing was making some weird noises, like muffled screams trying to say it wanted to come alive, but simply couldn't.When he finally managed to jump-start it using the newer Leaf, the display was showing only a 5-mile range on it. Just enough for Kyle to circle around the station with it, in the hopes that it will get its " juices flowing," so to speak. But when he tried to charge it again, the Leaf simply refused to cooperate. For all intents and purposes, the car was completely unusable.Switching to the SV model, it didn't have any problems lighting up like a Christmas tree upon entry. However, some wires did get crossed, because after being left for two days in the harsh colds of winter, it magically went from its initial 39% state of charge to 43%. While taking it for a spin around the charging "block" as well, it performed as usual. It even went full throttle.Charging-wise, it didn't seem to have any issues either. After 51 minutes, it gained a total of 53% charge status at a peak of 5 kWh. At the 60-minute mark, the battery was at 55%, with 193 minutes to go until 85%. Oh, and in case anyone was curious, the charging costs were $0.31 per kWh, before tax, at 1:42 AM.Under normal (and sane) conditions, according to the car's documentation, the SV model should fast-charge from a 22-mile range to a 172-mile range in 59 minutes. Now, you don't have to be a math whiz to tell how hard the cold affects charging when you get from one hour to over four hours.Now circling back to the old Leaf, dire measures had to be taken. At some point, it simply died beyond redemption (at least for that night). So Kyle had to strap it to the Rivian he drove in, and used brute force to get it out of the charging spot. And no, he couldn't use Neutral because of the bricked battery. Luckily, after a couple of feet of pulling, there was icy snow on the pavement, so that helped a bit.This is where the experiment ended. While it was entertaining to watch, at least one scientifical conclusion came out of it. And that is the fact that the technology of EVs is getting better as time goes by. In turn, it could indicate that in 10, 20, or even 30 years' time, we might see some spectacular improvements to the personal means of electric transportation.But as far as the present is concerned, if there is one thing this proved, is that you might not want to leave your EV out for two days straight in -18F (-27.7Celsius) weather.This being said, these aren't the first victims of Kyle Conner's mad science experiments . Barely over a week ago, he cold-soaked a Tesla Model 3 and took it through the wringer as well. That one took 45 minutes just to start charging because it used that time to keep the battery heated at the designed charging temperature.After this "pre-heating the oven" part, it took another 45 minutes to go from its 35% charge to the set 90% limit. Given the conditions, the process didn't take too long, but it wasn't lightning fast by any stretch of the imagination, either. 2022 was a big year for Elon Musk. Tesla had to deal with the parts shortage, factory output delays, and supply chain issues. Meanwhile, other ventures like SpaceX got dragged into geopolitical disputes. Then, the complicated Twitter acquisition happened. To put it mildly, as one of the richest people on Earth, Musk had many things to deal with last year.Theres no denying that an executive needs to be present where the action is happening. After all, the sake of the company depends on who is in charge. For someone like Elon Musk, who currently serves as CEO of three major companies and is a founder or co-founder of other entities like Neuralink or OpenAI, time is of the essence. So, to make sure he can be in as many places as possible, the man chose to do most of his travels by private jet.You may know or have heard about the recent debacle surrounding the public tracking of his jets location on Twitter by now 20-year old Jack Sweeney. Tesla s CEO said he was ok with it at first but changed his mind, citing personal safety reasons. Now, after some public outcry regarding free speech, the tracking of his jet is back on Twitter. However, results are shown with a delay. But that applies only to the social network Elon Musk owns. People on the internet felt that the executive was being dishonest about being a free speech absolutist and started sharing his jets whereabouts on other platforms even more intensely.But something interesting starts to unravel when almost all of Elon Musks private jet travels are accounted for and the data is mashed together. According to information provided by the ADSBexchange (self-named the world's largest public source of unfiltered flight data) which was compiled by Ground Control ( Jack Sweeney s platform), Musks usage of the private jet led to the addition of approximately 1,895 tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.That number might not startle anyone at first. However, when were looking at what the International Energy Agency (IEA) says about CO2 emission per capita in the U.S., we discover that Teslas CEO produced nearlycarbon dioxide than the average American. IEAs most recent data regarding Americas CO2 emission per capita shows a steady yearly decline and is now sitting at 12.9 tons of CO2 per citizen.Things dont look much different when World Banks data regarding CO2 emission per capita is used. However, this set hasnt been updated since 2020.Private jet travel has recently been a concern for many environmentalists around the world. This activity is currently regarded as one of the biggest sources of CO2 pollution, which is being recognized as one of the main factors of global climate change. Celebrities like Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner have been publicly admonished for spending too much time in the air.Finally, the data includes most of the CEOs 134 domestic and international flights. In 2022, Musk visited the UK, Qatar, Germany, Brazil, France, Greece, and Norway. In total, he flew for over 351 hours or over 14 days. EV kWh Photo: Maserati So, whats wrong? Photo: Maserati It can be frustrating kW BEV Just as other automakers decided to enrich their portfolios with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), Maserati did not choose to have a separate-only offering. Instead, it has the Folgore powertrain, which can be installed on platforms that also bear internal combustion engine setups. Introduced with the all-new GranTurismo, it promises many advantages like the versatility of making enough power to turn any drive into an exhilarating experience.But theres a slight issue. Even though the Italian brand let us all know back in March of last year that the two-door all-electric grand tourer would come with way over 1,200 hp, now the reality is that it cannot have such a generous power output. Not for now, at least!The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore comes with a 92.5-gross capacity T-shaped battery (83 kWh usable), all-wheel drive, three electric motors (one in the front with a differential and two in the rear for each wheel), 762 hp (773 ps), a zero to 100 kph (zero to 62 mph) time of 2.7 seconds, and a top speed of 320 kph (199 mph).It also has seating for four, so it is a proper grand tourer. And its heavy enough to never have owners worry about taking off when the accelerator pedal is mashed to the floor. The vehicle weighs 2,260 kg (4,982 lb).The specs are looking good for a two-door car that is meant to be a stylish cruiser. But, apart from the fine Italian materials used throughout the vehicle, Maserati buyers would sure like to be able to keep up with other people who spend a lot on their BEVs. And that may be a worrying fact for the sales figures.There are other manufacturers out there that use a tri-motor solution. For example, the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Tesla Model S Plaid both have an almost similar kind of setup and put out 1,200 hp (1,217 ps) and 1,020 hp (1,035 ps), respectively. So, why cant the all-electric Maserati have an output of over 1,000 hp (1,014)?Well, in one of the recent track-only tests done with the grand tourer, it was revealed that the GranTurismo Folgore is not limited by the motor technology, but by the batteries. Each of the three motors is capable of an output of 408 hp (414 ps), so making at least 1,200 hp is technically possible if the motors can work to their full potential.However, Autocar revealed that the battery can offer enough juice for only 762 electric ponies. And that's it. There aren't any other reasons for it, apparently.But thats a shame considering the vehicle is expected to have a price of around $241,960 (200,000). In comparison, the Model S Plaid starts from $135,990 (112,407), while the Lucid Air Sapphire is a little bit pricier with its $249,000 (205,819) cost.But Maserati promised that a solution is being developed. They will have the technology to allow the GranTurismo to make full use of its tri-motor setup. But until then, customers will have to enjoy only 762 hp and the under three-second zero to 62 mph time.The 2023 GranTurismo Folgore is a very well-designed vehicle. For example, it comes with the much-needed 800 V charging architecture which enables fast charging speeds of up to 270. This will come in handy for those who will want to visit multiple European countries in a luscious. Considering the expected range is around 280 mi (450 km) per charge, having access to truly fast charging speeds is great.But that doubles down and makes the whole power output situation truly a shame. The Italian brand could have waited to pull the covers off its first EV. Everyone would have been impressed by a stylish two-door Maserati that could surprise American competitors. But we live in strange times. If the company finds a fix, it could just deploy an over-the-air update and unlock the motors true potential. Well have to wait and see if thats a possibility. Or, maybe the automaker will offer early adopters the chance to upgrade their battery packs for a small fee when the solution is going to be made available.Another interesting fact about the GranTurismo Folgore is that it displays a somewhat conservative approach to the designing side of things. The brand-new model looks somewhat similar to the outgoing unit, and it even shares with it the same height of 1,353 millimeters (4.4 feet/53.2 inches). Moreover, the wheelbase of the new GranTurismo is shorter, even though the overall length of the car is more generous with the 2023 unit. Sitting at 2,929 millimeters (9.6 feet/115.3 inches), it lacks 13 millimeters (0.04 feet/0.5 inches). Wheelbase matters a lot when handling, steering, and ride quality are important. And, for a grand tourer, these being as good as possible is paramount.However, Maserati must be trusted with its new venture into the EV world since Stellantis threw its entire weight behind the brand. The group is helping it evolve. It may turn the trident into a symbol that fascinates and makes gearheads everywhere appreciate what Italian craftsmanship can do. Time will tell. EV It rarely happens in the automotive world to have a new brand that succeeds. Rivian and Lucid, for example, have great cars but are struggling with reaching profitability. Others, like Cupra in Europe, try to separate from their lesser relatives (Seat, in this case) and want a bigger share of the market. And Cupra might do this through its bold take on branding.But Cupra has only onein its lineup and thats the Born a rebadged and slightly changed VW ID.3. Meanwhile, American up-and-coming EV manufacturers impress with great power figures and amazing capabilities. Rivians quad-motor R1S and the tri-motor Lucid Air Sapphire are poised to become real problems for Tesla.So, whats Polestar doing in this complicated world? After all, their first car was a very expensive and complex plug-in hybrid. Their all-electric journey began with the Polestar 2. Well, wanting to still keep the Volvo allure but without accepting that safety is going to be its main thing to be known for, the Swedish company led by a designer is slowly yet surely trying to become something of its own.Theres no denying that Polestar had an impressive start. It launched the Polestar during global uncertainties, managed to narrowly escape all the parts shortage and supply chain fiasco, and is now on the path to achieving moderate success.Even though the BST Edition 270 didnt represent a dramatic change for the all-electric crossover, it proved something important the company wants to keep evolving its products, and it will push through all the boundaries to make it happen. Moreover, this limited-edition Polestar 2 showed that the automaker can have great partnerships with various brands that can contribute a lot to a vehicles success. Polestar s Chief Test Engineer Joakim Rydholm may not be a very charismatic presenter, but he is the person in charge of telling the team if the cars good or not. Seeing him behind the wheel on the Ascari Circuit is a reassuring feeling. Even though all of the 270 units of the Polestar 2 BST 270 have now been sent to their rightful owners, the story continues. This shows that the brand has great trust in its product and might prepare us for new exciting cars that will further promote zero-tailpipe emission propulsion.Watch what Rydholm had to say about the all-electric crossover in the video down below where you can also hear the vehicles Pirelli tires trying their best to not lose traction. EV ICE kW And there are many reasons for that. Whether you were awestruck when first seeing their performance and fell in love with them or just despise the lack of a rumbling engine, youve done your fair share of research.Whether you love the idea of less harmful emissions within city limits or quiver at the thought of lithium mining, you know how EVs work. But there is one other thing that needs to be taken into account, and the UK is hard at work.Of course, I am talking aboutcharging. Unlike gas-powered cars, which benefit from an extensive network of petrol stations where a quick top-up is sufficient, EVs require some forethought.There is an element of planning your journey, which can be anxiety-inducing for some people, but work is being done to eliminate that. The UK is laboring to achieve a target of 300,000 chargers by 2030. If regulators go along with the plan,cars will be banned starting 2035.I know the figures promised sound like a lot, especially when compared to the number of petrol stations available in any given country, but they operate differently. As mentioned before, with an EV you cant just stop for five minutes, fill up and drive away, so more individual chargers are needed.While that seems to be an unrealistic goal, the more you look at it, the more attainable it seems. The UK managed to add 8,700 new public chargers to its network in 2022 alone. This is a roughly 30% increase, which brings the total available to over 37,000.Some quick math will show that if they can keep expanding at this rate, that lofty number can be achieved. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, capable of delivering more than 25 kilowatts () and 100 kW of energy, respectively, are also on an upward trend. Zap-Map , UKs leading platform for route planning and searching for charging points, reports that new additions to that category account for nearly 1,000 of the total increase. This is partly due to significant funding from companies like Tesla, InstaVolt, and even oil companies like Shell and BP.However, the most important growth that concerns the average EV owner might be the slow chargers, where vehicles can be left overnight. While it is handy (even bordering on necessary) to have a good network of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers , that is not where the average person is going to do most of their charging. Were not always on long journeys so, cheap overnight power is where the focus mostly falls.A few more years still need to pass before the network can support a full transition, but things are going smoothly. With more chargers available every year , it is becoming increasingly feasible and attractive to make the switch to electric mobility. Photo: Tiny Home Tours / YouTube Photo: Tiny Home Tours / YouTube Sherry and Andres live full-time in a motorhome called La Chata alongside their three dogs. This motorhome is based on a 22-ft (6.7-m) 1991 Ford Dolphin chassis. It features a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 150 hp (152 ps), which is enough to get it moving.At first, they only wanted to travel to Costa Rica and South America and go back home. But they soon realized that this was the life they wanted: traveling around South America and the U.S. and discovering new opportunities and cultures. And what better way to do so than to get yourself a camper van and live full-time in one? Sherry and Andres completely renovated the camper to fit all their needs. Including new paint, new furniture, and a few handmade drawings on the outside walls.The exterior walls came covered in stickers, so they took all of them down and painted the vehicle white, with bright blue details around the windows and the bottom side. They also added a small side table on the side of the camper. Perfect for those sunny days when you want to enjoy a cold drink or something to eat while youre sungazing.Talking about the handmade drawings, one of them represents the exploration of the world alongside their van next to a beach and a mountain. The other one is their socials name, Buena Vida Route, meaning Good Life Route. There are a few storage spots on the outside of the van. Two small ones shelter the battery and the propane tank and a bigger one is placed at the rear side for all their tools and extras.Stepping inside, we are welcomed by a bright interior design with white and wood colors. The kitchen is placed on the left side. It is fully functional with a four-burner stovetop that can be covered, a tiny oven, and a double-bowl sink powered by a 14-gallon (53-liter) water tank. A refrigerator is also present on the right side. More solar equipment is hidden underneath the refrigerator, such as a 2,000W inverter, a DC-to-DC charger, and a few switches and breakers. They are planning to add another freshwater tank since the one they have can sometimes be an annoyance due to its small capacity.There is plenty of storage with the upper cupboards that have salvaged wood handles that got gathered from all the times they hiked. The kitchen is quite small and has only one small space for cooking, but for a camper van, it is more than enough.More storage spaces were added with all the cabinets, one of them even hiding three 100W lithium-ion batteries for their solar system. Yes, this motorhome is also running off-grid , making it even more impressive. The backsplash is quite unusual, it is made of drying racks and painted in different wood colors, giving the impression of a rustic and cozy tiny home on wheels.On the other side of the kitchen, the couple added a dinette/living area. It comes with a rollout pantry, a small table that can be folded down and expanded, and two bench seats. With the table folded down, this area can be used as a sleeping place for the guests. It is also more versatile. By taking down the bench cushions and adding them to the wood extension underneath, these seats can transform into chaise lounges. The bedroom was placed right at the front side above the drivers cabin. It was designed with a foam mattress and a curtain that separates this area from the rest of the van.The bathroom is placed at the rear side and is separated into two parts. On the left side of the van, they placed a composting toilet, a teensy-weensy sink, and a small closet with a few shelves for clothes, shoes, and towels. And on the right side, we find a small shower cabin that also serves as storage for their outdoor activities, such as a portable tent. This side of the van also comes with an AC, which was a must for them, since they own three dogs.The couple did not mention the price of their camper van or how much they spent on renovating it. However, with a quick internet search, we can find this 1991 Toyota Dolphin for as low as $8,000 (7,488), depending on all the customizations and upgrades it comes with.If we think of how much a conventional house costs, or even a newer RV , I would say that this camper can be worth the money. With it being so old, a few problems could arise, such as parts that need to be changed, so before starting to travel, be sure that you are prepared if the vehicle will break down. For many years, Toyota was mocked as the maker of white goods on wheels. Although highly reliable, many Toyota models had a rather dull design, and the way they drove would not impress anyone. It was one of the reasons why people could buy a Toyota without worrying about dealer markups or market-adjustment fees, as they are usually called.But times are changing, and Toyota has stepped up its design game. Its latest model, the Prius, impressed many people with its attractive looks. It was probably the first time someone would consider buying a Toyota because they liked how it looked. Nevertheless, many others wanted a Toyota because they loved how it drove, which was even harder to believe, even five years ago. With the GR line of performance cars, Toyota catered to enthusiasts, strengthening its brand image even more.Thats why the GR Corolla, unlike other models in the perennial franchise, was quite a hard-to-get model, probably even more so than a Ford Bronco. We can say without remorse that the GR Corolla is one of the best hot hatches in the market, and customers noticed that, flocking to buy it. Of course, Toyota dealers thought this was their moment to squeeze some extra cash and rushed to seize it.This has made the GR Corolla the best Toyota to buy right now and one of the most marked-up cars in the U.S., with up to $40,000 added to the sticker price. Considering that the Toyota GR Corolla starts at $36,995 , this represents more than double the MSRP. You could buy a second Toyota for the money, and the Japanese carmaker has many models below that price point.A quick look at the markups.org website revealed 13 reports of dealers marking up the GR Corolla, although theres also a report for a zero markup. We suppose the dealer itself filed this. Otherwise, we dont see the purpose of this report, considering the website title. Most reports show Toyota dealers marking up the GR Corolla between $15,000 and $20,000, although there are instances with smaller market fees. There is also one user who was quoted a ridiculous $40,000 above the MSRP, although they dont offer any evidence to support the claim.Although carmakers try their best to curb the trend (or so they claim), there are no legal means to limit dealers ability to set their selling prices. As long as people are willing to pay outrageous market-adjustment fees just to get on a waiting list, the dealer markups are here to stay. Because having a pile of cash now looks more important than having loyal customers for many years. Should vintage desert sleds like those ridden by Steve McQueen be your cup of tea, the custom beauty were about to look at will most certainly leave you awestruck. Nicknamed Dune Racer, this thing comes from the Aussies over at Ellaspede, whod used a 2013 model of the Triumph Scrambler lineup as their donor.Jonathan, the shops client, wanted a sled-style machine to have fun with on the beaches near his home in Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Once the stock motorcycle crossed Ellaspedes doorstep, it was promptly dismantled and subsequently blessed with a tighter rear-end geometry. This was achieved by shortening and looping its subframe, which is now home to an integrated LED lighting strip.Youll see Daytona D-Light blinkers on the flanks, while the southernmost tip houses a bespoke rear fender and an unobtrusive license plate holder. Seating comes in the form of a flat saddle enveloped in cross-stitched black vinyl, and the padding is said to be just thick enough for some comfortable off-roading.Up north, theres a trimmed front fender, sitting in between the Scrambler s forks, along with a seven-inch aftermarket headlight and Daytona turn signals akin to those found out back. The electrics are wired through an m-Tri control module from Motogadgets catalog, which is also where Ellaspede found the motorcycles stylish Chronoclassic speedo.Aside from the new instrumentation, the cockpit area bears an LSL handlebar that stands on RHK risers, but theres not a single mirror in sight. Since it proved to be a pretty good fit for the overall aesthetic, Ellaspedes bike-modding gurus chose to retain the Arrow exhaust initially mounted on the Scrambler as a factory option.They did, however, have it shortened to achieve the desired proportions, then the headers got cloaked in grey heat wrap thatll prevent the riders right shin from cooking. Moving over to the footwear department, were greeted by a larger rear hoop measuring 18 inches in diameter and with a chunky width of 5.5 inches. The rims were powder-coated, then fitted with fresh bearings. Continental s dual-purpose TKC 80 tires provide plenty of grip on both dirt and paved surfaces, with their dimensions being 110/80 at the front and 150/70 at the back. Power travels to the rear wheel via a gold D.I.D X-ring drive chain, and suspension duties down south are managed by a premium set of Ikon shock absorbers.As far as paintwork goes, the predominant finish youll find here is matte-black, but its accompanied by a beige base and Dune Racer emblems on the gas tank. Ellaspedes transformation was completed back in 2017, but the guys havent disclosed any details concerning its total cost. If you want to get a quote on a similar project, then feel free to get in touch with them through their official website. The aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia from May 2021 to September 13, 2022 was doubly painful because our security allies abandoned us, preferring to remain in passive observer status or offering active observer status as an alternative, Pashinian said in his New Years address to the nation. But we were not alone in the world and I want to thank those countries and international organizations that were not indifferent to this situation and, having no obligation to our country, took unprecedented decisions to support the establishment of security and stability in our region, he said in an apparent reference to Western powers. Armenia appealed to Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for support during the September clashes along its border with Azerbaijan which left at least 224 Armenian soldiers dead. Armenian leaders afterwards accused the Russian-led alliance of ignoring the appeal in breach of its statutes. The CSTO proposed what its outgoing Secretary General Stanislav Zas called a set of measures to assist Armenia in this difficult situation during a summit held in Yerevan in November. However, Pashinian vetoed a corresponding decision by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, citing the absence of any language condemning Azerbaijan. Zas said in December that the proposed measures included military-technical assistance. He declined to specify the types of weapons which other CSTO member states were prepared to send to Armenia. Pashinian renewed his criticism of the CSTO amid growing friction between Moscow and Yerevan caused by Azerbaijans ongoing blockade of Nagorno-Karabakhs sole land link with Armenia. Pashinian charged last week that Russian peacekeepers have become a silent witness to Bakus efforts to depopulate Karabakh through the blockade. He said Moscow should come up with a plan to unblock the corridor or seek a larger and multinational peacekeeping mission in Karabakh. Russian officials rejected the criticism. They also denounced some Armenian officials claims that Moscow is using the three-week blockade to try to force Armenia to join the union state of Russia and Belarus and open an exterritorial corridor to Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. William Lambers is the author of "The Road to Peace" and partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book "Ending World Hunger." His writings have been published by The New York Times, Newsweek, History News Network, Chicago Sun Times and many other news outlets. When it comes to our physical and emotional well-being, the saints are great aids to us. One of the most incredible things about the saints is that no matter what their circumstances were, they never lost faith in God. They are a wonderful example to all believers, even those who are not of the Catholic faith. While there are a number of saints you probably are familiar with, there are also a number that you arent familiar with. You may know what things you call on certain saints for, but there are likely a number of things youre not so sure about. Here are seven bold saints who inspire that every Christian should know. St. Benedict pixabay St. Benedict is a saint that we can call on to help the poor and the downtrodden. Called the Beggar of Rome, St. Benedict Joseph Labre was born in Amettes, France, on March 25, 1748, the eldest of eighteen children. Studying under his uncle, a parish priest, Benedict tried to join the Trappists, Carthusians and Cistercians to enter religious life but was unsuccessful due to his poor health and a lack of suitable academic preparation. In 1770, he made a pilgrimage to the major shrines of Europe, settling in Rome in 1774. There he lived near the Coliseum and earned fame for his sanctity. He traveled from great shrine to another, living off alms. He wore the rags of a beggar and shared his food with the poor. Filled with the love of God and neighbor, Benedict had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Blessed Sacrament and attended the Forty Hours devotion in the city. St. Anthony Carlo Raso/Flickr Most Catholics associate St. Anthony with finding lost items, lost causes and most importantly lost souls. It was believed that hearing St. Anthonys voice alone had the power to convert believers after hearing just one sermon. How incredible is that? It is also said that he was such an effective orator that his sermons moved people in powerful ways. This also includes Catholics who strayed away from the Church. Turning to and calling on St. Anthony called them back to the religion. There was a time during his earthly ministry that a large group of people listening to him repented and turned to the Church in droves. This act alone earned him the nickname The Hammer of Heretics. St. Rita Public Domain St. Rita is the saint of impossible causes. If you are struggling with infertility or miscarriage, getting pregnant seems like the impossible dream. Every month that goes by without a pregnancy or every miscarried baby adds to the desperation and feeling hopelessness. If you're struggling with infertility, St. Rita is a saint you can turn to. Daughter of Antonio and Amata Lotti, a couple known as the Peacemakers of Jesus; they had Rita late in life. Rita lived 40 years in the covenant, spending her time in prayer and charity and working for peace in the region. She was devoted to the Passion, and in response to a prayer to suffer as Christ, she received a chronic head wound that appeared to have been caused by a crown of thorns, in which bled for 15 years. She is well known as the patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes and situations because she has been involved in so many stages of life wife, mother, widow and nun. She buried her family, helped bring peace to her city, saw her dreams denied and fulfilled and never lost her faith in God. St. Dymphna Philip K/Flickr If youre Catholic, you probably know there are a number of saints for health but did you know that there are special saints to call on when youre looking for a complete medical breakthrough? St. Dymphna is patroness of those who suffer through stress, anxiety and mental illness. She was only 15 when she was martyred in defense of her purity. When her mother passed, her father was afflicted with mental illness and attempted to marry her. After fleeing her home, her father found her and killed her. While some have never heard of St. Dymphna, she is growing in popularity because of the growing world of stress, fear and anxiety we live in. She welcomes our prayers and petitions of healing when it comes to our emotional health and wellness. St. Jude Public Domain If you are faced with a desperate situation, dont be afraid to turn to St. Jude. Why should you turn to him in these circumstances? The traditional reason is rather simple: When one hears the name Judas (Latin and Greek) or even (English), one immediately thinks of Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord. Therefore, a person had to be desperate to invoke his name. Being so seldom invoked and reverenced, St. Jude is ready and waiting to hear the prayers of those who call upon him. Ironically, he is probably the Apostle who is invoked in the most prayer, and the most memorialized in churches with statues or artwork. St. Valentine Wellcome Images If youre struggling in your relationship or are in need of help when it comes to your love life, know that you can turn to St. Valentine who is the patron saint of love. Believers say God worked through his life to perform miracles and teach people how to recognize and experience true love. This famous saint, an Italian doctor who later became a priest, inspired the creation of the Valentines Day holiday. He was sent to jail for performing weddings for couples during a time when new marriages were outlawed in ancient Rome. Before he was killed for refusing to renounce his faith, he sent a loving farewell note to a young blind girl he had been helping to teach. She was the daughter of his jailer, and that note eventually led to the tradition of sending Valentines cards. Believers say that God miraculously cured Julia of her blindness so that she could personally read Valentines note, rather than just have someone else read it to her. St. Dominic Savio Public Domain St. Dominic Savio is a powerful intercessor that can protect those of all ages. If you are worried about your rebellious teenager, you can turn to St. Dominic. He was a bright kid who met St. John Bosco at the age of 12 and attended his school. As an ordinary and fun-loving boy, he sometimes got into trouble for laughing too much in the classroom. He loved to play games, but also devoted long hours to prayer. One day Dominic encountered two boys arguing and on the verge of a dangerous fight. They were going to throw stones at each other until Dominic intervened. Dominic was a beacon of light to his classmates and helped many of them turn their lives around and back to God. He died at the age of 15 due to a severe, unidentified illness, and was later canonized for displaying such heroic faith at a young age. He is known as the patron saint of juvenile delinquents and is a great intercessor for all youth, especially those who have fallen in with bad influences, or gone astray. Catholics believe that saints are heavenly intercessors that we can turn to not only as sources of inspiration, but also as good neighbors. They see saints as faithful and reliable friends who come to our aid during times of trouble. Although times change, our need for the help of the saints remains constant. Allow the lives of these saints to inspire you today! 1 of 9 Previous Next Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. The only gas station in downtown Lenox closed in 2021. Now theres a timetable for the conversion of Hoff's into a modern convenience store PITTSFIELD The girl named Robin, 6, looked up from the cardboard box on the ground, which brimmed with hats and gloves. Those are a lot of nice gloves, she said. Sarah Trudgeon, a poet and teacher, invited her to put a pair on Sunday, here at the corner of Columbus and Dewey avenues. I am a small bird, read the embroidered letters on her right glove. But I feel huge, said its mate. That bit of verse, written by elementary school student Toby Wyman, is now striding about Pittsfield, art in action. And so are lines composed this fall by 25 other students at the Conte Community School and Crosby Educational Academy. In its latest community arts venture, The Mastheads, which sponsors the Fireside writing workshops at local schools, is giving away hundreds of hats and knit gloves that carry lines of newly minted poems. On Sunday, Trudgeon and Tessa Kelly, a civic-minded architect, filled newly constructed wooden boxes at the edge of Riverside Sitting Park with sets of the embroidered winter wear. All are free for the taking in a venture meant to celebrate young writers, honor a neighborhood place and keep people warm. Every Sunday in January, the supply will be restocked with 75 pairs of gloves and hats, along with copies of the Fireside projects latest anthology of student writing. People passing will be able to swing open little plexiglass doors (soon to be installed) and help themselves. For Kelly and her husband, Chris Parkinson, the project continues a collaboration with The Mastheads that has included the creation of five mobile writing studios and a sculpture installation at Kellogg Park. For Kelly, such efforts seek to use creative design to reveal new facets of public places. Kelly credits Beverly Bolden, a board member of the West Side Legends nonprofit, with suggesting that something special involving free hats happen in this little park, adding to the benches and painted rocks along the west branch of the Housatonic River. Somehow, an idea bubbles up, Kelly said. Little doors to the hat house will soon open both to the park and to the sidewalk along Columbus Avenue; in a bit of poetic license, they also call it the glovebox. Kelly speaks of the power of design to transform pockets of underutilized spaces in Pittsfield. We wanted something that would activate the space inside the park and on the sidewalk, she said Sunday, as visitors inspected cubbies laden with gear, and children kicked a red ball and drank hot chocolate. This investment was backed by the Feigenbaum Foundation, which supports projects by The Mastheads. Were picking up on the elements that are already here, Kelly said. A small design intervention can really transform a public space. Is she worried people will empty out the boxes? We just have to approach this with an attitude of love and trust. People feel that. Thats just how we work, she said. The long and low hat house is attached to a guardrail, with permission from city officials. The newly carpentered boxes sit at about the same height as windows of the old Riverside Cafe, which once stood here. Kelly brings up an old photo on her phone of the cafe to prove her point. Courtney Hamilton, a neighborhood resident, knows that old building well. It was owned by her uncle, John Morehead. Hamilton lived for a time at the next house up Dewey Avenue. It was a family bar. I remember coming in and ordering a Shirley Temple and a bag of State Line potato chips, sour cream flavor. Theyre the best. Hamilton had stopped by Sunday to take photos for the West Side Legends, a force for renewal across the neighborhood. This is such a good idea, she said of the project. Every kid loses a glove. Its like the washing machine eating socks. And you cant go wrong with poetry. It definitely brings people together. The neighborhood needs more community activity. Trudgeon, the poet who leads the Fireside writing program with DonJea Smith, said she admires the way poetry and architecture serve one another. Those two fields just go together really well, she said. As for the poems and young poets, the material just seems to flow. The program is named after the Fireside Poets, a group that includes writers with ties to Pittsfield like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Oliver Wendell Holmes. It just doesnt take much to get them writing, Trudgeon said of her students. Its a way of making art with words. Its not something you have to do, its doing something you like to do. The program exposes todays writers to works from that pantheon, including Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville. Not to cow them, just to get the juices flowing. We say to the kids, This is a tradition you own. You are Pittsfield writers, Trudgeon said. Kelly estimates it cost $8,000 for the carpentry work, garments and specialized embroidery, handled by the city firm Elegant Stitches, whose owner is from Ghana, a place featured in some of the new poems. They worked hard on this project, and were lovely to work with, Trudgeon said. Theres this great community overlap. Maura Healey will make $37,185 more than outgoing Gov. Charlie Baker's current $185,000 salary when she takes the reins this week, becoming the state's first woman governor. A genomic revolution is taking place in India, where the value of genomic tests is being recognised in the prevention and diagnosis of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, carrier status, among others. With the power to identify accurate preventive solutions to chart out treatment options for patients, predictive genomic testing is seen as the next major weapon in the arsenal of cutting-edge healthcare tech that can improve patient outcomes without relying on a curative approach. Let's learn more from industry leaders and experts in the field, about leveraging genomics. A recent study published by Mayo Clinic Proceedings indicates that nearly one in eight people who underwent predictive genomic testing found that they had a genetic risk for a health condition and may be able to manage it better with preventive care. Rising adoption of healthier lifestyles and increasing awareness of new healthcare programmes and advancements are expected to drive increasing demand for predictive genetic testing. As per a Precedence Research analysis, the global gene therapy market was valued at $2.99 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach over $15.68 billion by 2030, which is poised to grow at a registered CAGR of 20.2 per cent from 2022 to 2030. With a decrease in infectious diseases, there has been a rise in chronic illnesses. Treatments for chronic illnesses are focusing more on an individuals genetic makeup. Though India has 20 per cent of the world's global population, it only contributes to 0.2 per cent of the global genetic database. Revolutionising diagnosis, prognosis and treatment Genome sequencing became more prominent and came to the aid during the COVID-19 pandemic where with the help of this technique researchers were able to isolate the SARS-COV-2 virus. This also led to the production of an mRNA vaccine by Moderna within 60 days of the sequence being made available. There is a growing interest among researchers in this space. Genome sequencing will lead to personalised medicine both from the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment perspective. It could also reshape the drug discovery process. Talking about genomics in drug development, Dr Joydeep Goswami, Senior VP, Corporate Development, and Strategic Planning, Illumina says, Genomics will transform lifetime health management, improve outcomes and lower costs. Probability of the drug molecule increases by 150 per cent when the drug target is supported by a genetically validated mechanism and cost per approval decreases by almost half, primarily through increased success rates. Genomics has the power to reshape drug discovery development. Cost-effective genome sequencing in India India has seen an increase in genome sequencing in recent years. Though lagging behind China and Korea in the Asia Pacific region, a lot of Indian startups and companies have started undertaking research in this new technique. Government bodies are also increasingly recognising the importance of these advancements and turning to genomic research to provide personalised healthcare for patients. Earlier in 2022, Singapore and India entered into an agreement to collaborate on genome and bioinformatics research, while the Genome Institute of Singapore has embarked on mapping Asian genomes to investigate how illnesses can affect different groups, providing valuable insight for researchers. The success of genomics innovation relies on robust and agile digital infrastructure to support the entire research programme, from data processing and exchange to the ability to analyse and store increasing data volumes. Sharing his views on need for genome sequencing, Murali Panchapagesa Muthuswamy, Chairman, Jananom; Chairman, Golden Jubilee Womens, Biotechnology Park and President, Council of Presidents of Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprise (ABLE), says, We have to sequence a large number of genomes across ethnic groups among Indian populations and states from Northeast to South of India to get a decent representation. Credible bio markers and predictive and preventive models that are highly dependable will have to be developed. More efforts in this direction are needed and should be funded by government agencies since private bodies may not be able to afford 100k genome sequencing and million genome sequencing. With support and initiatives from the government agencies many startups have come up in the last few years and have been offering many services using genomic sequencing. Bengaluru-based MedGenome has a state-of-the-art genetic lab where over 2,50,000 Exomes and Genomes are sequenced. It currently offers 1300 genetic tests and more than 9000 clinicians leverage the services. The company recently announced that it is offering Adaptive Biotechnologies Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based clonoSEQ Assay to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). It has further unveiled VarMiner, an AI-enabled powerful variant interpretation software suite. The software will help clinicians, molecular geneticists, and genome analysts to interpret and report actionable variants. VarMiner supports various NGS Dx workflows like Germline Analysis where it covers all rare diseases, inherited cancers, Mitochondrial genome analysis, PGx and HLA analysis; Carrier/TRIO Analysis where it combines analysis of familial samples to detect De-novo and common inherited variants and reporting and somatic analysis, the comprehensive analysis of cancer genomes with support for liquid biopsy, haematology and solid tumour cases. Image credit- shutterstock Hyderabad-based Mapmygenome India has opened its Genomics Experience Centre in Bengaluru. The new centre will enable customers to get access to distinctive services such as genetic tests, genetic counselling, blood tests, health screening tests, antibody tests and RT-PCR test for COVID-19. The company has launched a cost-effective pharmacogenomics solution MedicaMap. MedicaMap gives a detailed report about the bodys response based on genetic makeup. It covers over 165 drugs across 12 specialities like cardiology, oncology, psychiatry, and many more. MedicaMap generates user-friendly, thorough reports on the toxicity and efficacy of medicines. Mapmygenome has also created several educational channels including Genomics Gupshup, blogs and conducts several workshops and CMEs. Oncology startup 4baseCare has announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca India, a global science-led biopharmaceutical company for advancing cancer care in India. Under this collaboration, the two organisations will support advanced-stage cancer patients with targeted therapy options using affordable genomic solutions. In another instance, C2i Genomics, a cancer intelligence company based in the US, has announced a strategic partnership with Mumbai-based startup Karkinos Healthcare, to co-develop the MRD market in India. The partnership enables C2i Genomics to bring innovative cancer detection technology to drive R&D, future pharma partnerships and clinical use in India and supports the companys long-term goals to scale pharma R&D projects around the globe. C2i Genomics SaaS solution utilises a cloud-based platform to perform cancer tumour burden monitoring on a global scale, utilising equipped labs and sequencing networks worldwide. Bengaluru-based Clevergene Biocorp, a deep-tech genomics company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), to establish a state-of-the-art genomics centre at Thiruvananthapuram. The state-of-the-art genomics centre will house the latest DNA sequencing equipment like the Illumina NovaSeq and other allied infrastructure to support cutting-edge research in plant biotechnology, infections, cancer and other chronic diseases. The services of this high-throughput genomics centre will be open for use in research to other institutes and industries and will provide services like gene expression analysis, epigenetics and genome analysis including that of the COVID-19 virus. Chennai-based LifeCell recently announced the addition of the NovaSeq 6000 sequencing system to their diagnostic technology platform. This development makes it one of the very few entities in India to have such exceptional capability which will enable more efficient and cost-effective genome sequencing. Following the successful implementation of Illuminas NovaSeq 6000 system, LifeCell will be able to leverage its technical expertise to improve scalability, support a varied range of applications, and simplify the workflow. Thus, this will provide high throughput speed and flexibility to carry out studies or testing which require processing a large amount of data, but in a faster and more economical way. The company has also announced the launch of a revolutionary genetic test Omega TB, in partnership with HaystackAnalytics, a genomics-based health-tech startup. The collaboration marks LifeCells foray into the genetic testing industry for tuberculosis (TB) patients. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) test, designed by Haystack Analytics, aims to tackle the looming challenge of drug resistance. Apart from this, the test also helps in treating and preventing the spread of TB by providing a timely, affordable and accurate diagnosis. Image credit- shutterstock Bengaluru-based Strand Life Sciences, a genomics-based research and diagnostics company, has launched Strand Genomic Wellness, a new line of genomic-based tests for preventive wellness. Launched at Bengaluru Tech Summit this year, the new offering can help individuals understand and manage their disease better. As the first offering of the programme, Strand has introduced the Genomic Health Insight report to help individuals understand how their genomic variations might influence their risk for a broad range of diseases with 30-100 per cent heritability. Researchers associated with the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay have developed Indias first indigenously developed Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell therapy, a cutting-edge treatment for specific types of cancer patients. It has shown promising results. The therapy was tested on six paediatric patients of Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia and 10 adults suffering from B-cell lymphoma as part of Phase I clinical trials by researchers. ImmunoACT along with Immuneel Therapeutics - backed by Biocon Biologics and top oncologist Dr Sidhartha Mukherjee - are two startups currently working to make CAR T-cell therapy available in India. Recent launch of spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics have increased the confidence level of targeted therapies. Bengaluru-based TheraCUES Innovations has installed a technology platform from NanoString (GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) USA. Till a few years back, the cost of genome sequencing was huge. However, the costs have come down and are aiding researchers to take up more research activities. Indigenisation, R&D and Governmental sops Technological advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and lower cheaper cost have led to an explosive growth of genomic data, both from clinical and research studies, according to Ravi Gupta, Vice President Bioinformatics, MedGenome Labs. "The affordability of these new technologies has led to significant growth in mainstream diagnostics in human cancer and rare disorder diagnostics. The last decade has also resulted in several large population-level sequencing including 1000 genome, Genome Asia, gnomAD, TopMed, Icelander, UKBiobank, Japanese and many others. COVID-19 genome sequencing is one of the best examples of how the new genomics tools have changed our lives. The genomics data is astronomical and needs a huge computing and storage power for quick turnaround, he said. Increasing economies of scale will reduce costs over time, but substantial R&D and indigenisation will be required to get costs to the level needed for very large-scale democratisation. The pricing of gene therapies is a major issue in India. China and Korea have an advantage over India in volume processing. With the Indian government making the regulatory process much easier during the COVID-19 outbreak, a similar sop will be a winwin situation for the gene therapeutics market. Setting up labs and the availability of the right talent pools should be taken care of. Anu Acharya, CEO, Mapmygenome, expounding on the cost-effectiveness of genome sequencing mentions, The costs have come down dramatically from a few billion dollars to less than 100 dollars. That is more than what we saw in Moore's Law. Genomics has now become affordable and since germ-line mutations don't change over a lifetime, the value is very high. Streamlining new technologies, big data, and machine learning in genomic-based tests can have a massive economical impact on the healthcare system. With access to genome sequencing, an average consumer can reduce the odds of disease and enhance longevity most cost-effectively. Says Gopalakrishna Ramaswamy, Founder and CEO, TheraCUES Innovations, "In a majority of developed countries, many genomic tests are paid by insurance/state health providers. However, in India, the patient has to pay. Though some insurance companies are bringing specific products based on disease, we need to have general acceptance for payment from insurance for tests, as it indirectly helps insurers in providing targeted therapies." Image credit- shutterstock Learning curve hurdles Awareness seems to be the primary challenge around genomic tests. Once consumers and clinicians become aware of the value of genomic testing, they become strong advocates for them. Most genomic tests are deemed difficult to understand by clinicians and efforts must be undertaken to make the process easier and make the entire process actionable. Another challenge is in the space of reimbursement. Speaking about challenges Dr Ramesh Hariharan, CEO and Co-Founder, Strand Life Sciences, says, Consumer awareness on genomics is, of course, very low in India. There is also a lack of clarity on what genomics can or cannot help with. Genomics is a very high-complexity test with many nuances. Most tests take two or three days in the lab going through a multi-step process. That results in a lot of data that has to be analysed and placed in the context of available literature. This is very different from a biochemistry test where a sample goes into a machine and the result comes out. There are many parameters and many sources of error. Inadequate attention to these parameters can yield garbage. In a similar vein, Ram Ramanujam, Founder & CEO, Propinquity Genomics, says, The main challenges in this industry now is that none of the equipment and reagents is made in India, and any NGS reagents made in India will reduce the pricing. One challenge that needs immediate attention is when you procure a new machine, and how to achieve RoIs in a quick time before the next model is released in the market. With evolving genomics enterprises in the world and emerging multi-scale biology and multi-omics with integrated biology, R&D must be incentivised in industry. As far as the R&D costs are concerned, sops from the Department of Biotechnology and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) will help new product development. The future The future for genomics looks bright. In recent years, there has been steady progress in the advancement of newer sequencing technologies with never-before-seen features. Relying on able manpower, the right investments in research and timely government support, India is poised to set new benchmarks in the genomics space. Talking about the growth of genomics in the country Dr Shibichakravarthy Kannan, CEO, Oncophenomics rightly points out, You don't need a million dollars to start a genomics lab anymore. Anyone can start sequencing for as little as $10,000. The democratisation of such newer sequencing technologies will facilitate more research programmes and fast-track translation into commercially viable products. We need to bridge the gap between academia and industry to make this happen. India has a unique advantage of skilled brain power. Bioinformatics training is now available free online and a readily available talent pool will further fuel the growth of the genomics industry in India. Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2022 on opportunities for genomics research, Dr Roger Hajjar, Head of Research and Development, Ring Therapeutics, mentioned that the future looks bright for genomics in India as the country has a large patient population. India needs to establish a supply chain for raw materials. A large patient population in established tertiary centres is likely to kick-start any type of clinical therapy. The task ahead is enormous and there is a need to take stock of how much storage and processing speed is required. In this regard, more technological innovations in this space are expected to become game changers. Sanjiv Das sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com With an aim to provide superior technological medical facilities, Fujifilm India has launched various campaigns to educate and spread awareness of chronic illnesses. The company has been able to install more than 50,000 medical devices across the country. Besides, it has a focus to expand strategic key products in the medical division, photo imaging, image capturing and graphic arts division. Chander Shekhar Sibal, Executive Vice President & Head of Medical Division at Fujifilm India reveals more about the companys India plans in an interaction with BioSpectrum India. Recently you have expanded your product portfolios in pulmonology and cancer care segments etc. How optimistic are you when it comes to launching products in the Indian market? How much revenue could be gathered from these new products? Fujifilm India has always been at the forefront of healthcare innovation. We have recently launched a new slim video bronchoscope called EB-710P. With the launch of the new bronchoscope EB-710P, we are expanding our pulmonology portfolio. The aim is to provide superior technological medical facilities that can help save lives and encourage patients to become more engaged in their care. In line with our vision to provide the best-in-class technology, we aim to never stop innovating and working towards making India a healthier place to live in. We have equipment like Full Field Digital Mammography, Computed Tomography (CT) scanners, MRI and Ultrasound Systems for the early detection of cancers. Fujifilm has recently opened health screening centres in India. What are the long-term goals for this development? Fujifilms commitment is aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of regular medical tests to eliminate the chance of chronic health ailments and highlighting the significance of timely health checkups for people of all ages to prevent diagnostic delays. We have been launching campaigns to educate and spread awareness on the same and will be moving forward along the same lines. On the same lines, we have launched two NURA health screening centres in Gurugram and Bengaluru in partnership with Dr Kutty's Healthcare to focus on cancer and lifestyle disease screening in India. We are aiming to launch another centre in Mumbai soon. With the addition, we will be offering screening in a total of three NURA sites. We have also collaborated with leading hospitals such as Paras Healthcare and Manipal Hospitals, amongst others. Through the partnerships, Fujifilm supplies a wide range of high-end and sophisticated medical devices including artificial intelligence (AI)-based machines to the network of hospitals. We have successfully installed more than 50,000 medical devices across India, ranging from top metropolitan cities to remote areas such as Leh, Ladakh, Northeast India, and across Jharkhand and Bihar, amongst other regions. Since 2008, Fujifilm has striven to bring the best of its medical imaging and solutions systems to India for the betterment of the countrys health. We are available with our CR, DR, and Imagers in the smallest of small villages of India for digitising the X-Rays. With this milestone, we hope to continue the legacy of innovation and never stop innovating and providing the best-in-class products and services. Are you planning to hire more talent in India? Please elaborate. The sentiment in the healthcare industry is very positive and we are working to develop the availability of high-quality health infrastructure products and solutions across the country. In the process, we are gradually upscaling our manpower as well as hiring people in service, application and product sales so that we can expand our geographic horizons and exceed customer expectations in the fields of service and application. How is Fujifilm assisting in the TB elimination target of 2025? What strategies have been chalked out? In line with the governments call to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to TB by 2025, five years ahead of global targets, Fujifilm India aims to raise awareness on TB. Fujifilm is a diamond member of the Corporate TB Pledge (CTP), which is being implemented by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) as part of USAID supported iDEFEAT TB project. The Corporate TB Pledge initiative was jointly launched in 2019 by the Government of India and USAID to galvanise corporate support in the fight against TB. More than 230 corporate partners have joined the Corporate TB Pledge initiative. We have launched the Never Stop: Screening to Reduce Diagnostic Delays campaign aimed to create awareness of regular screening for tuberculosis. With the campaign, we ran a mobile screening van across 27 cities in North India and screened over 721,000 people at the mobile van and shared a total of 8,104 X-ray reports in six months. We have also launched the second phase of the campaign aiming to increase awareness on TB as a curable disease and promote screening and early diagnosis among tea sector workers, difficult-to-reach people residing in rural and urban areas including the tribal population in selected districts of Gujarat, Kerala and Assam. Under the campaign, Fujifilm India will support three mobile handheld X-ray machines and the implementation of the project in community settings. With the campaign, we aim to reach more than 5 million people and screen around 30,000 of them by using handheld X-ray machines. The project will also facilitate TB testing of identified presumptive cases. In association with The Union, the project aims to demonstrate a model for promoting early diagnosis of TB by utilising newer solutions in community settings. Fujifilm will also offer door-to-door awareness and provide mobile digital X-ray services along with Qure.ais computer-aided radiology software application designed with deep learning for the intervention. How challenging is the regulatory market in India for Fujifilm? What are your expectations from the Indian government? The regulatory system in India is at a nascent stage compared to global standards, however, it has made giant leaps in the recent past. As far as Fujifilm India is concerned, we are not facing any challenges as of now and our mission is to work together with the regulatory bodies for a robust ecosystem. Indias regulatory system is developing well and with The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), it is going to be at par with the best in the world. Our expectation from the government is to make the regulations at par with global standards so that a high-quality healthcare ecosystem can be created in India. What more plans are in store for the Indian market for the next five years, in terms of investment and product launches? India is witnessing a fast-economic growth. Under these circumstances, we are focusing on expanding strategic key products in the medical division, photo imaging, image capturing and graphic arts division. Indian Medical Devices Industry is Asias fourth-largest market and one of the top 20 in the world. According to a forecast by the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), Indias medical device market will expand at a 35.4 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), with a market value of $11 billion in 2020 and $50 billion by 2025. Imports, on the other hand, currently supply the majority of the medical device market in the country, accounting for 80 per cent of total sales. We are witnessing a promising future for ourselves in the Indian market. Each category that Fujifilm has a presence in is driven by a long-term commitment towards our customers and partners. Our growth drivers are coming from new-age customers who are well aware of what they want and are quality conscious. What is the future of the technology-driven medical devices market in India? Please highlight the challenges and investments associated with it. The Indian healthcare sector will experience rapid growth in the coming years due to increased government initiatives and public awareness of health issues. India is well on its way to becoming a major global player in the medical sector, as it has learnt from its challenges and is preparing for everything that may come. People are getting their regular annual health checkups and have become more aware and alert regarding minor health issues as well, especially after covid. Therefore, it is inevitable that the industry for medical devices used in the examination/diagnosis of all minor and major health issues will also grow manifolds. In fact, in the last few years, the market for medical devices has expanded significantly and is essential to every stage of the healthcare continuum. Despite its important role in increasing healthcare access and affordability, several ecosystem constraints have resulted in a high dependence on it. Fujifilm India has always been committed to bringing innovations to the healthcare sector. To deliver better healthcare services, we have begun integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI into our products. For instance, we have created specialised AI platforms like REILI to address the needs of patients right now. Through this, specialists can use technology like image processing and artificial intelligence to provide their patients with more accurate diagnoses. We have tied up with Qure.ai for proving TB Screening through a combination of X-Air and AI for early detection of tuberculosis. Recently, we have launched a new software version of CAD EYE, a function that supports real-time detection of colonic polyps during colonoscopy utilising AI technology. This updated and advanced function will be essential for colon polyp detection and characterisation, which will be achieved by utilising a type of AI called deep learning. We have also made significant contributions to the field of radiography and mammography along with promoting the early detection of breast cancer. We are dedicated to providing our customers with cutting-edge solutions that are the utmost easy and convenient, assisting them with early/timely diagnosis and treatment. Sanjiv Das sanjiv.das@mmactiv.com Kaleidoscope Netflix As thief Leo Pap, Giancarlo Esposito (with Paz Vega) is an imposing fulcrum of the heist thriller Kaleidoscope. Credit: David Scott Holloway This slick heist thriller doesnt just want to catch you out with plot twists, it wants to alter the very narrative to reframe your perceptions of the story. Kaleidoscope has eight colour-coded episodes: White, the actual robbery, will always screen last, but otherwise the previous seven episodes appear in a random order. Its not just a matter of answers first, questions later. What you first learn about the characters, especially Giancarlo Espositos thief Leo Pap, impacts how you interpret what they subsequently do. Yes, its a gimmick, but it works because the individual blocks are sturdy enough to support multiple journeys through 25 years of storytelling. My own sequencing was more conventional, starting with Yellow, which was set six months before the heist and briskly provided an introduction to Leo and the crew he assembles. If the first episode had been Pink, which occurred six months after and serves as an elegy, what followed would have felt tragic. The creator of this limited series, Eric Garcia, is playing with the judgments we make, and even our own biases. The unfolding of Leo, who has a grudge against the owner of the supposedly impregnable New York vault he intends to rob, Roger Salas (Rufus Sewell), is somewhat transparent. But the arc of others, notably Hannah Kim (Tati Gabrielle), is revelatory in very different ways depending on your viewing order. Crime dramas always turn on questions of trust, but Kaleidoscope wants you to doubt yourself. Private boys school Cranbrook has appointed 13 new members to its council after a feud between multimillionaire eastern suburbs identities went public last year and triggered a mass resignation from its governing body. The new board includes members fluent in conversational Mandarin, a former French army officer and the host of popular BBC programs, as well as numerous investment bankers and lawyers. Cranbrook School councillors announced their resignation last year as the internal feud escalated. Credit: Brook Mitchell The appointment of the new council is an attempt to end months of infighting at the school after the relationship between headmaster Nicholas Sampson and former council president Jon North deteriorated, as well as wider disagreement over the timing of admitting girls to the Bellevue Hill school. A small number of parents at the $39,000-a-year school had been completely opposed to going co-ed, others wanted girls enrolled as soon as this year, while others wanted a more ordered change to happen in 2026. A third baby elephant has joined a growing herd at the Melbourne Zoo. The female Asian elephant calf was born just before midnight on New Years Day after mother Num Oi went into labour in the days prior, under the care of zoo vets and keepers. The new calf has arrived following a typical 22-month pregnancy for Asian Elephants. Credit: Melbourne Zoo We are over the moon to have another healthy female calf join the herd, said Erin Gardiner, the zoos elephants life sciences manager. There is a birthing window, so we knew it was possible that the newest calf could be born on January 1. But Benedict did more than any of his predecessors combined, and especially more than John Paul, under whose watch the wrongdoing exploded publicly. And after initially dismissing the problem, Pope Francis followed in Benedicts footsteps and approved even tougher protocols designed to hold the hierarchy accountable. He (Benedict) acted as no other pope has done when pressed or forced, but his papacy (was) reactive on this central issue, said Terrence McKiernan, founder of the online resource BishopAccountability, which tracks global cases of clergy abuse and cover-up. Then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger looks at Pope John Paul II during a Mass in St. Peters Basilica in 2002. Credit: AP As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a quarter-century, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger saw first-hand the scope of sex abuse as early as the 1980s. Cases were arriving piecemeal to the Vatican from Ireland, Australia and the US, and Ratzinger tried as early as 1988 to persuade the Vatican legal department to let him remove abuser priests quickly. Vatican law at the time required long and complicated canonical trials to punish priests, and then only as a last resort if more pastoral initiatives to cure them failed. That approach proved disastrous, enabling bishops to move their abusers around from parish to parish where they could rape and molest again. The legal office turned Ratzinger down in 1988, citing the need to protect the priests right to defence. Loading In 2001, Ratzinger persuaded John Paul to let him take hold of the problem head on, ordering all abuse cases be sent to his office for review. He hired a relatively unknown canon lawyer, Charles Scicluna, to be his chief sex crimes prosecutor and together they began taking action. We used to discuss the cases on Fridays; he used to call it the Friday penance, recalled Scicluna, Ratzingers prosecutor from 2002 to 2012 and now the archbishop of Malta. Under Ratzingers watch as cardinal and pope, the Vatican authorised fast-track administrative procedures to defrock egregious abusers. Changes to church law allowed the statute of limitations on sex abuse to be waived on a case-by-case basis; raised the age of consent to 18; and expanded the norms protecting minors to also cover vulnerable adults. The changes had an immediate impact: Between 2004 and 2014 Benedicts eight-year papacy plus a year on either end the Vatican received about 3400 cases, defrocked 848 priests and sanctioned another 2572 to lesser penalties, according to the only Vatican statistics ever publicly released. Nearly half of the defrockings occurred during the final two years of Benedicts papacy. Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by Cardinal George Pell upon the pontiffs arrival in Australia in 2008. Credit: AP There was always a temptation to think of these accusations of this scourge as something that was contrived by the churchs enemies, said Australias Cardinal George Pell , where the allegations hit early and hard and where Pell himself was accused of abuse and of dismissing victims. Pope Benedict realised very, very clearly that there is an element of that, but the problem was much, much deeper, and he moved effectively toward doing something about it, said Pell, who was eventually acquitted of an abuse conviction after serving 404 days in solitary confinement in a Melbourne lockup. Among the first cases on Ratzingers agenda after 2001 was gathering testimony from victims of the Reverend Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Mexico-based Legionaries of Christ religious order. Despite volumes of documentation in the Vatican dating from the 1950s showing Maciel had raped his young seminarians, the priest was courted by John Pauls Curia because of his ability to bring in vocations and donations. More than the hurt that I received from Maciels abuse, later on, stronger was the hurt and the abuse of power from the Catholic Church: the secrecy, ignoring my complaints, said Juan Vaca, one of Maciels original victims who along with other former seminarians filed a formal canonical case against Maciel in 1998. Their case languished for years as powerful cardinals who sat on Ratzingers board, including Cardinal Angelo Sodano, John Pauls powerful secretary of state, blocked any investigation. They claimed the allegations against Maciel were mere slander. But Ratzinger finally prevailed and Vaca testified to Scicluna on April 2, 2005, the very day that John Paul died. Ratzinger was elected pope two weeks later, and only then did the Vatican finally sanction Maciel to a lifetime of penance and prayer. Benedict then took another step and ordered an in-depth investigation into the order that determined in 2010 that Maciel was a religious fraud who sexually abused his seminarians and created a cult-like order to hide his crimes. Loading Even Francis has credited Benedicts courage in going after Maciel, recalling that he had all the documentation in hand in the early 2000s to take action against Maciel but was blocked by others more powerful than he until he became pope. He was the courageous man who helped so many, Francis said. That said, Benedicts protocol-bending courage only went so far. When the archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, publicly criticised Sodano for having blocked the Vatican from investigating yet another high-profile serial abuser his predecessor as Vienna archbishop Benedict summoned Schoenborn to Rome for a dressing down in front of Sodano. The Vatican issued a remarkable reprimand taking Schoenborn to task for having dared speak the truth. Pope John Paul II, left, stands next to German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1979. Credit: AP And then an independent report commissioned by his former diocese of Munich faulted Benedicts actions in four cases while he was bishop in the 1970s; Benedict, by then long retired as pope, apologised for any grievous faults but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing. In Germany on Saturday, the We are Church pro-reform group said in a statement that, with his implausible statements about the Munich report, he himself seriously damaged his reputation as a theologian and church leader and as an employee of the truth. He was not prepared to make a personal admission of guilt, it added. With that, he caused major damage to the office of bishop and pope. The US survivors of the Road to Recovery group said Benedict as cardinal and pope was part of the problem. He, his predecessors, and current pope have refused to use the vast resources of the church to help victims heal, gain a degree of closure, and have their lives restored, the group said in a statement calling for transparency. But Benedicts longtime spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, says Benedicts action on sex abuse was one of the many underappreciated aspects of his legacy that deserves credit, given that it paved the way for even more far-reaching reforms. Lombardi recalled the prayers Ratzinger composed in 2005 for the Good Friday Via Crucis procession at Romes Colosseum as evidence that the future pope knew well earlier and better than anyone else in the Vatican just how bad the problem was. How much filth there is in the church, especially among those who, in the priesthood, are supposed to belong totally to him (Christ), Ratzinger wrote in the meditations for the high-profile Holy Week procession. Lombardi said he didnt understand at the time the experience that informed Ratzingers words. Stroudsburg: Relatives of a man arrested in Pennsylvania in the slayings of four University of Idaho students expressed sympathy for the victims families but also vowed to support him and promote his presumption of innocence. Bryan Kohberger, 28, is eager to be exonerated and plans to tell a judge on Tuesday (US time) in Pennsylvania that he will not fight extradition to Idaho, said his public defender, Jason LaBar. Suspect Bryan Kohberger, 28, was arrested on Friday in relation to the murders of four University of Idaho students. Credit: AP Moscow, Idaho, police Captain Anthony Dahlinger said that would speed up the process of bringing Kohberger to Idaho to face charges, but that he wasnt sure yet when that might happen. Kohberger, a doctoral student and teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University, was taken into custody early Friday by state police at his parents home in Chestnuthill Township in eastern Pennsylvania, authorities said. Total two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 per cent to 227,666 units in December 2022, from 235,392 units a year ago. However, domestic two-wheeler sales were up 10 per cent, from 146,763 units in December 2021 to 161,369 units in December 2022. Chennai-based automobile major TVS Motor Company has posted a 3.6 per cent dip in sales volume to 242,012 units in December 2022, from 250,993 units in the corresponding month in 2021. TVS iQube Electric continued to gain momentum, backed by a strong order book and increasing acceptance of electric mobility. TVS iQube Electric sales were up nearly 10-fold, to 11,071 units in December 2022, from 1,212 in December 2021. Motorcycle sales dipped by as much as 6.7 per cent to 124,705 units in December 2022, from 133,700 units a year ago. Scooter sales were up a healthy 14 per cent, from 67,533 units in December 2021 to 76,766 in December 2022. During the third quarter of the current financial year, TVS sold 840,000 two-wheelers as against 830,000 in the third quarter of FY22. Its three-wheeler sales stood at 43,000 during the quarter, as against 44,000 in the corresponding period of FY22. Total exports stood at 250,000 units in Q3FY23 as against 290,000 units in Q3FY22. The company's total exports stood at 79,402 units in December 2022 as against 103,420 units a year prior. Two-wheeler exports stood at 66,297 units in December 2022 versus 88,629 units in December 2021. The firm's three-wheeler sales dipped to 14,346 units in December 2022, from 15,541 units a year ago. In response, JKC has clarified that Kapoor remains as CEO-Designate till the ownership is transferred. In March last year, aviation veteran Kapoor was appointed as the CEO of grounded Jet Airways by JKC. Ashish Chhawchharia, a member of Jet Airways' monitoring committee, has objected to Sanjiv Kapoor using designation of Jet Airways CEO as the airline is yet to be handed over to the winning bidder Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC) under the resolution plan, sources said on Monday. Chhawchharia told JKC about the aforementioned objection in an email. Later in the day, JKC's spokesperson stated: Mr Sanjiv Kapoor has been designated as the CEO of the to-be revived Jet Airways by JKC after receipt of his security clearance from the Honourable Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. However, until the ownership of Jet Airways is transferred to JKC, he remains CEO-Designate. His mandate is to lead Jet 2.0 post-handover, and he has been focused on the preparation for that." The monitoring committee consists of seven members: Chhawchharia is a non-voting member, three voting members selected by lenders and three voting members selected by JKC. In an ongoing case in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the lenders have stated that JKC has not fulfilled three out of five conditions precedent (CP) mentioned in the NCLT-approved resolution plan and therefore, Jet Airways can't be handed over to JKC right now. This contention by the lenders is confusing because a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order of October 21 has stated that JKC has completed all necessary CPs to the satisfaction of the monitoring committee. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Sunday claimed that the state is on growth trajectory and asked the people of Assam to exert "moral pressure" on proscribed ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua to give up his sovereignty demand. Sarma interacting with media persons here on New Year's day said criteria other than population should be considered for future delimitation exercises and the state police is keeping a strict eye on the involvement of Islamic clerics in 'jihadi' activities. The chief minister said Assam is on the growth trajectory after achieving considerable financial stability during 2022 and for the first time did not ddepend on the Centre for paying its employees' salaries. This has been possible due to increased oil royalty, excise, transport and GST collections. "There has been an increase in tax collection and this symbolises vibrancy in the economy. This has been possible due to the cooperation by the people and different organisations, leading to a new growth trajectory,' he said adding the state's GDP growth at 13 per cent is an increase from the previous year's 12.66 per cent. Sarma said the people of the state will have to convince the ULFA(I) chief that history will not consider him (Barua) a betrayer if he gives up the demand for sovereignty. "Our (government) efforts are on ...We have kept the doors open ... There are points of differences and also points of agreement. We should remain hopeful", Sarma said. Also Read PM Modi to address rallies in Kutch, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot today Assam floods damaged 30,000 to 40,000 houses, says CM Himanta Himanta says Assam govt considering withdrawing AFSPA from two more areas Assam CM Himanta announces projects worth Rs 856 cr for Morigaon district Working to minimise people's problems during floods: Assam CM Sarma What are the five things that will impact you in 2023? What is census? All-time liquor sale in Kerala on a high during New Year eve: BevCo Assam CM flags off 100 CNG buses, inaugurates 1st green fuel station Air Marshal Pankaj M Sinha takes over as chief of IAF's Western Command However, the problem in taking forward the talk process is that Barua insists on a sovereign Assam. "But I as the chief minister have taken oath on the Constitution to protect Assam's sovereignty and integrity and I cannot retreat. "At this stage there are irreconcilable differences. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the people, including intellectuals and different organisations, who must exert moral pressure to urge him to give up the demand for sovereignty'', he said. The chief minister said that there will be a delimitation exercise of parliamentary and assembly seats based on the 2001 census as it was done in other states. But there should be a debate in the Parliament to incorporate other criteria as well, which he did not elaborate. The last delimitation exercise in Assam was in 1976 on the basis of the 1971 census. "According to the current law, population is the basis for delimitation but some communities have abided by population control policy while others have not. Those who have violated the policy are being rewarded and those who abided by it are being punished," he said. "But in the coming exercise we have to go by the current law which states that constituencies will be delimited on the basis of population matrix," Sarma, who is a top BJP leader of the Northeast said. The chief minister said that all teachers who have come from outside Assam to teach in the madrasas may be asked to appear at regular intervals in the nearest police station. The police has busted eight modules of terrorist organisations Ansarul Bangla Team and Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent during the just concluded year in which 51 people were arrested and direct involvement of nine Bangladeshis was detected for operating from some private madrasas, he said. The police are coordinating with Bengali Muslims who have a positive attitude towards education to create a good environment in the madrasas where science and mathematics will be taught, right to education respected and a database of teachers maintained, he said. The state police, he said, is working with Muslims in the state to rationalise madrasa education following the alleged involvement of Islamic clerics in 'jihadi' activities. Sarma, who is also the state home minister, said that 2022 also witnessed the end of tribal and adivasi insurgency in the state with the surrender of 7229 cadres of different outfits following agreement with the central and state governments. The Assam police also seized drugs worth Rs 781 crore, one of the largest haul in the country excluding by sea, as against Rs 400 crore the previous year. On the direction of Home Minister Amit Shah, the ministry has sought a detailed report from the Delhi Police on the gruesome death of a woman in outer Delhi's Kanjhawala, officials said on Monday as outrage mounted over the case. The 20-year-old woman was killed after her scooter was hit by a car and she was dragged for about 10-12 kilometres. Acting promptly, the Delhi Police constituted an inquiry committee, headed by Special Commissioner Shalini Singh, and asked her to submit a probe report as early as possible. As directed by the home minister, the MHA has asked the Delhi Police to submit a detailed report on the Kanjhawala incident, an official said. After receiving the report of the inquiry committee, the Delhi Police is expected to submit its report on the incident to the MHA, the official said. The victim's two-wheeler was hit by a car and her body dragged for around 10-12 kilometres from outer Delhi's Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala on Sunday, a senior police officer said. Also Read Culprits should be punished severely: Kejriwal on Kanjhawala woman's death Delhi accident: Medical board to conduct autopsy of woman, say police K Vijay Kumar resigns as security advisor of MHA citing personal reasons MK Stalin defamation case: Kishore K Swamy sent to custody till Dec 5 MHA to declare special ops medal on Sardar Patel's birth anniversary Players should hire drivers, be more careful: Kapil Dev on Pant accident India emerges as Nepal's top inbound tourist market in 2022, shows data Centre empowered to demonetise 'all' series of bank notes under RBI Act: SC Accused should be hanged: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sultanpuri incident PM Modi congratulates Lula da Silva on being sworn in as Brazil's president Five men travelling in the car have been arrested, he said. Russia-Ukraine conflict: India is on the side of peace, says Jaishankar ...Read More Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on being sworn in as president of Brazil and wished him a successful third term. Lula was sworn in as president on Sunday. In his first address, the president expressed optimism about plans to rebuild while pledging that members of outgoing Jair Bolsonaro's administration will be held to account. He is assuming office for the third time after thwarting far-right incumbent Bolsonaro's reelection bid. in a tweet, Modi said, "Hearty congratulations to @LulaOficial on assuming office as the President of Brazil. I wish him a successful third term and look forward to working with him to strengthen India-Brazil Strategic Partnership. Such, he believes, is todays transformative moment. A world order which is still very, very deeply Western, as he put it in an interview, is being hurried out of existence by the impact of the war in Ukraine, to be replaced by a world of multi-alignment where countries will choose their own particular policies and preferences and interests. Seated in the domed, red sandstone government building unveiled by the British Raj less than two decades before India threw off imperial rule, S. Jaishankar, the Indian foreign minister, needs no reminder of how the tides of history sweep away antiquated systems to usher in the new. I would still like to see a more rules-based world, Mr. Jaishankar said. But when people start pressing you in the name of a rules-based order to give up, to compromise on what are very deep interests, at that stage Im afraid its important to contest that and, if necessary, to call it out. Certainly, that is what India has done since the war in Ukraine began on Feb. 24. It has rejected American and European pressure at the United Nations to condemn the Russian invasion, turned Moscow into its largest oil supplier and dismissed the perceived hypocrisy of the West. Far from apologetic, its tone has been unabashed and its self-interest broadly naked. The Ukraine war, which has provoked moral outrage in the West over Russian atrocities, has caused a different anger elsewhere, one focused on a skewed and outdated global distribution of power. As Western sanctions against Russia have driven up energy, food and fertilizer costs, causing acute economic difficulties in poorer countries, resentment of the United States and Europe has stirred in Asia and Africa. In other words, with its almost 1.4 billion inhabitants, soon to overtake China as the worlds most populous country, India has a need for cheap Russian oil to sustain its 7 percent annual growth and lift millions out of poverty. That need is nonnegotiable. India gobbles up all the Russian oil it requires, even some extra for export. For Mr. Jaishankar, time is up on the mind-set that Europes problems are the worlds problems, but the worlds problems are not Europes, as he put it in June. Also Read 'US looking forward to support India's G20 presidency': Janet Yellen 'Era not of war': G20 declaration uses Modi's words in call for diplomacy Another lotus blooms G20's declining share in the world, amid India's growing influence EAM Jaishankar discusses India's G20 leadership with UN chief Guterres SC upholds demonetisation, says test of proportionality satisfied Ratan Tata pays tributes to former associate Krishna Kumar, funeral today Tesla announces Model S, X launch in China, prices to be unveiled on Friday Millets solution to food shortage, healthier than rice, wheat: Jaishankar Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category in New Year as AQI reaches 301 Since February, Europe has imported six times the fossil fuel energy from Russia that India has done, Mr. Jaishankar said. So if a $60,000-per-capita society feels it needs to look after itself, and I accept that as legitimate, they should not expect a $2,000-per-capita society to take a hit. Grinding trench warfare on European soil seems the distant affair of others. Its economic cost feels immediate and palpable. The country is at a crossroads, poised between the vibrant plurality of its democracy since independence in 1947 and a turn toward illiberalism under Mr. Modi. His Hindu Renaissance has threatened some of the core pillars of Indias democracy: equal treatment of all citizens, the right to dissent, the independence of courts and the media. Here comes Prime Minister Narendra Modis India, pursuing its own interests with a new assertiveness, throwing off any sense of inferiority and rejecting unalloyed alignment with the West. But which India will strut the 21st-century global stage, and how will its influence be felt? The postwar order had no place for India at the top table. But now, at a moment when Russias military aggression under President Vladimir V. Putin has provided a vivid illustration of how a world of strongmen and imperial rivalry would look, India may have the power to tilt the balance toward an order dominated by democratic pluralism or by repressive leaders. Democracy and debate are still vigorous Mr. Modis Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party lost a municipal election in Delhi this month and the prime ministers popularity remains strong. For many, India is just too vast and various ever to succumb to some unitary nationalist diktat. Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, himself a mixture of East and West through education and upbringing, described the country as some ancient palimpsest on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed without any of those layers being effaced. Which way Mr. Modis form of nationalism will lean remains to be seen. It has given many Indians a new pride and bolstered the countrys international stature, even as it has weakened the countrys pluralist and secularist model. Today, however, Mr. Nehru is generally reviled by Mr. Modis Hindu nationalist party. There are no Muslims in Mr. Modis cabinet. Hindu mob attacks on Muslims have been met with silence by the prime minister. He was convinced that a secular India had to accommodate all the diversity that repeated invasion had bequeathed. Not least, that meant conciliation with the countrys large Muslim minority, now about 200 million people. That may be, but for now, Mr. Modis India seems to brim with confidence. Hatred has penetrated into society at a level that is absolutely terrifying, the acclaimed Indian novelist Arundhati Roy said. Those factors have contributed to buoyant projections that India, now No. 5, will be the worlds third-largest economy by 2030, behind only the United States and China. The Ukraine war, compounding the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, has fueled the countrys ascent. Together they have pushed corporations to make global supply chains less risky by diversifying toward an open India and away from Chinas surveillance state. They have accentuated global economic turbulence from which India is relatively insulated by its huge domestic market. Nonetheless, India is in no mood to cut ties with Mr. Putins Russia, which supported the country with weapons over decades of nonalignment, while the United States cosseted Indias archenemy, Pakistan. Even in a country starkly fractured over Mr. Modis policies, this approach has had near universal backing. On a recent visit to India, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the United States wanted to diversify away from countries that present geopolitical and security risks to our supply chain, singling out India as among trusted trading partners. Mr. Modis India will not do that in an emergent world characterized by Mr. Jaishankar as more fragmented, more tense, more on the edge and more under stress as the war in Ukraine festers. For many years, the United States did not stand by us, but Moscow has, Amitabh Kant, who is responsible for Indias presidency of the Group of 20 that began this month, said in an interview. New Delhi has enough rivals, he said: Try, on top of China and Pakistan, putting Russia against you! That has proved a good bet up to now. The age of Indias significant global stature has just begun, said Preeti Dawra, the Indian-born director of global marketing at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Paradoxically, the war in Ukraine has diminished trust in Western powers and concentrated peoples minds on how to hedge bets, said Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a prominent Indian political theorist. India feels it has the United States figured out: Yes, you will be upset but youre in no position to do anything about it. Communion and division Arriving in Varanasi, Hinduisms holiest city, in 1896, Mark Twain remarked on the bewildering and beautiful confusion of stone platforms, temples, stair-flights, rich and stately palaces rising on the bluff above the Ganges, the river of life. Known as the corridor and opened a year ago, the project connects the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, to the riverfront a quarter-mile away. Mr. Modi, 72, who adopted the city as his political constituency in 2014 when he embarked on his campaign to lead India, saying he had been called by the mother Ganges, has cut a pinkish sandstone gash through this sacred jumble of devotion. Cut through a labyrinth of more than 300 homes that were destroyed to make way for it, the passage intertwines the prime ministers political life with the deepest of Hindu traditions. At the same time, it proclaims his readiness to fast-forward India through bold initiatives that break with chaos and decay. Mr. Modi, a Hindu nationalist and tech enthusiast, is a disrupter. The broad and almost eerily spotless pedestrian expanse, with its museum and other tourist facilities, links the citys most revered temple to the river where Hindus wash away their sins. It is quintessential Modi. Through what Srinath Raghavan, a historian, called an incorruptible aura and a genius at orchestrating public narratives, he appears to have imbued India with the confidence to forge the singular path so evident over the 10 months since Russia went to war. A self-made man from a humble background in the western state of Gujarat, and from a low status in Indias caste system, or social hierarchy, Mr. Modi has come to embody an aspirational India. That Modi-inspired promise, as invigorating to the traditionally lower castes of Hindu society as it is troubling to the Brahmins who long ran India, has come at a price. Modis social mobility is in some ways the promise of India today, Mr. Raghavan said in an interview. We have always been a unique family in Varanasi, Muslims and Christians and Hindus who sit down and work things out, but Mr. Modi chooses to create tensions to get elected, Mr. Mishra said. If he is trying to establish a Hindu nation, that is very dangerous. Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, a Hindu religious leader in Varanasi and an engineering professor, said that the corridor had been a blunder that had destroyed 142 old shrines, an example of the bulldozing style Mr. Modi favors. One recent evening, I watched the Hindu prayer ceremony on the riverfront from a small boat. Perhaps two thousand people had gathered. Candles flickered. Chants rose. Along the great crescent sweep of the river, smoke billowed from the pyres that burn night and day. For a Hindu to die and be cremated in Varanasi is to be assured of transcendence and liberation. Every morning, Mr. Mishra bathes in the Ganges. He heads a foundation that monitors the river and showed me a chart illustrating that the level of fecal matter in it is still dangerously high. So why does he do it? He smiled. The Ganges is the medium of our life. Mr. Modi, as this elaborate choreography of the spiritual and the political suggested, wants to turn Indias presidency of the G20 in 2023 into a premier platform for his bid for re-election, to a third term, in 2024. A distracting electronic screen flashed behind the ceremony. On it, Mr. Modis bearded face appeared at regular intervals, promoting the Indian presidency of the Group of 20 largest global economies, an organization that calls itself the premier forum for international economic cooperation. India wants its presidency of the group to have the world as one family and the need for sustainable growth as its core themes. It wants to push the transformation of developing countries through what Mr. Kant, the organizer, called technological leapfrogging. India, with its near universal connectivity, sees itself as an example. Big responsibility, bigger ambitions, proclaimed one slogan on the screen. G20-related meetings are planned in every Indian state over the next year, including one in Varanasi in August. Nobody wants the current world order, Mr. Kant said. There are still two billion people in the world with no bank account. India will advocate on behalf of poorer nations. But the issue with Mr. Modis one family theme is that, just up the road from the riverside prayers, his divisiveness is evident. About 1.3 billion Indians now have a digital identity. Access to all banking activities online, through digital bank accounts, has become commonplace during Mr. Modis eight years in power. They were once the preserve of the middle class. Poorer Indians have been empowered. Secular ideals, dented It is not easy to get into the complex, at the top of Mr. Modis new corridor, where the 17th-century white-domed Gyanvapi Mosque abuts the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Intense security checks take a long time to negotiate because this is an epicenter of the inflamed Hindu-Muslim tension in India. The only mammals that cross easily from the Hindu to Muslim worlds, as if to mock the stubborn divisions of humankind, are the lithe gray monkeys that scamper over barriers from shikhara to minaret. Armed guards are everywhere. They stand beside the mosque, which is encased behind a 20-foot metal fence topped with coils of razor wire. They patrol the Hindu crowds, who line up in saffron-color robes beside the temple to make their offerings of milk, sometimes mixed with honey, to the simple stone lingam that is the symbol of Shiva. In the ascendant Hindu narrative that Mr. Modi has done nothing to discourage, India belongs in the first place to its Hindu majority. The Muslim interlopers of the Mughal Empire and other periods of conquest take second place. Mosque must yield to temple if it can be demonstrated that a temple predated it. A flurry of legal cases now centers on the mosque. A court survey this year claimed to have uncovered an ancient lingam on the premises of the mosque, so establishing, at least for hard-line Hindus, that they should be allowed to pray there. Large Muslim prayer gatherings have been banned. Three decades ago, the razing by a Hindu mob of a 16th-century mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya, which Hindus believe is the birthplace of the god Ram, led to the death of 2,000 people and propelled the rise of Mr. Modis party. If Mr. Putin has chosen to portray Ukraine as a birthplace of the Russian world inseparable from the motherland and embraced the Orthodox Church as a bastion of his power, Mr. Modi has chosen Varanasi as a core vehicle of his assertion of India as essentially a Hindu nation. Of course, the Indian leader did so in the interest of power consolidation, not conquest. Faced by such moves, Ms. Roy, the novelist, voiced a common concern. You know, the Varanasi sari, worn by Hindus, woven by Muslims, was a symbol of everything that was so interwoven and is now being ripped apart, she said. A threat of violence hangs over the city. A temple is now being built there. Mr. Modi, who presided over the groundbreaking in 2020, has called it the modern symbol of our traditions. Every day, we are feeling all kinds of attacks, and our identity is being diminished, he said. Indias secular character is being dented. It still exists in our Constitution, but in practice, it is dented, and the government is silent. I found Syed Mohammed Yaseen, a leader of the Varanasi Muslim community, which makes up close to a third of the citys population of roughly 1.2 million, at his timber store. The situation is not good, Mr. Yaseen, 75, said. We are dealing with 18 lawsuits relating to the old mosque. The Hindus want to demolish it indirectly by starting their own worship there. Increasingly, he said, Muslims felt like second-class citizens. A number of lynchings and demolitions of Muslim homes, the imprisonment of Muslim and other journalists critical of Mr. Modi, and the emasculation of independent courts have fanned fears of what Mr. Raghavan, the historian, called a truly discriminatory regime, with its risk of radicalization. This denting has taken several forms under Mr. Modi. Shashi Tharoor, a leading member of the opposition Congress Party that ruled India for most of the time since independence, suggested to me that institutionalized bigotry had taken hold. Who, I asked, is this man with a rifle? As I spoke to Mr. Yaseen, I noticed a man with an automatic rifle seated a few yards to his left. Clearly a Hindu, with a tilak in the middle of his forehead, he took some interest in the conversation. The guard was a police officer named Anurag Mishra. I asked him how he felt about his job. I am standing here to protect a fellow human being, he said. My religion does not really matter. Nor does his. My superiors told me to do the job. He is my guard, appointed a couple of months ago by the district administration to protect me, given the tension over the mosque, Mr. Yaseen said. That one Indian citizen protects another a Hindu police officer with a rifle safeguarding a Muslim community leader from potential Hindu attack was at once reassuring, in that it suggested secular, democratic, pluralistic India would not go quietly; and alarming, in that it was necessary at all. Mr. Yaseen said that he was happy to have a Hindu protecting him, even if I trust in God, not in the guard. A delicate balance At the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November, Indian diplomacy played an important role in finding compromise language after several Western countries had pressed for harsh criticism of Russia over Ukraine or even for Moscows ouster from the forum. The phrase, Todays era must not be of war, in the leaders declaration, and the reference to diplomacy and dialogue, were a reprise of Mr. Modis words to Mr. Putin in September. And when will the war end? I wouldnt even hazard an opinion, he said. Could India, with its ties to Russia, mediate a cease-fire in Ukraine, or even a peace settlement? Mr. Jaishankar, the foreign minister, was skeptical. The parties involved have to reach a certain situation and a certain mind-set, he said. It believes that the interconnectedness of todays world outweighs the pull of fragmentation and makes a nonsense of talk of a renewed Cold War. If a period of disorder seems inevitable as Western power declines, it will most likely be tempered by economic interdependence, the Indian argument goes. Still, India wants to be a bridge power in the world birthed by the pandemic and by the war in Ukraine. I would argue that generally in the history of India, India has had a much more peaceful, productive relationship with the world than, for example, Europe has had, Mr. Jaishankar said. Europe has been very expansionist, which is why we had the period of imperialism and colonialism. But in India, despite being subjected to colonialism for two centuries, theres no animus against the world, no anger. It is a very open society. With inequality worsening, food security worsening, energy security worsening, and climate change accelerating, more countries are asking what answers the post-1945 Western-dominated order can provide. India, it seems, believes it can be a broker, bridging East-West and North-South divisions. In December, there was another skirmish at the 2,100-mile disputed Chinese-Indian border. Nobody was killed, unlike in 2020, when at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers died. But tensions remain high. The relationship is very fraught, Mr. Jaishankar said. It is also situated between two hostile powers, Pakistan and China. In the light of the war in Ukraine, however, each party is adjusting to the fact that the other will pick and choose its principles. Escalation at the border is possible at any moment, but it appears unlikely that India can count on Russia, given Moscows growing economic and military dependence on China. That makes Indias strategic relationship with the West critical. India is in a delicate position. In the face of American criticism, the country chose to take part this year in Russian military exercises that included units from China. At the same time, India is part of a four-nation coalition known as the Quad that includes the United States, Japan and Australia and works for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ukraine is certainly not seen here as something with a clear moral tale to tell, Ms. Roy, the novelist, said. When brown or Black people get bombed or shocked-and-awed, it does not matter, but with white people it is supposed to be different. If the Biden administration has been unhappy with Indias business-as-usual approach to Mr. Putin since Russias invasion of Ukraine, it has also been accepting of it American realpolitik, as China rises, demands that Mr. Modi not be alienated. This is Indian multi-alignment at work. The Ukraine war has only reinforced New Delhis commitment to this course. Washington has worked hard over many years to make India Asias democratic counterbalance to President Xi Jinpings authoritarian China. But the world, as seen from India, is too complex for such binary options. The atmosphere is softer there. The economy is booming. The electronics manufacturer Foxconn is rapidly expanding production capacity for Apple devices, building a hostel for 60,000 workers on a 20-acre site near the city. At the end of my stay, I traveled down to Chennai on the southeastern coast. I went to a concert where a musician played haunting songs and spoke of renewing your auspiciousness every day. There I ran into Mukund Padmanabhan, a former editor of The Hindu newspaper and now a professor of public practice at the newly established Krea University, north of Chennai. The great mass of Indians are awakening to the fact that they dont need the ideology of the West and that we can set our own path and Modi deserves credit for that, Venky Naik, a retired businessman, said. State-owned NMDC on Monday announced that it has hiked the prices of iron ore lumps by Rs 200 to Rs 4,300 per tonne. The country's largest iron ore miner has also increased rates of iron ore fines by Rs 500 to Rs 3,410/tonne, NMDC said in a regulatory filing. The prices are effective January 1, and exclude royalty, district mineral fund (DMF), National Mineral Exploration Trust (DMET), cess, forest permit fee and other taxes, the company said. Lump ore or high-grade iron contains 65.53 per cent Fe (iron), while fines are inferior grade ore with 64 per cent and less Fe content. In the last price revision announced on November 30, NMDC had fixed the rate of the lump at Rs 4,100 per tonne and that of fines at Rs 2,910 a tonne with immediate effect. Iron ore is one of the key raw materials used in the manufacturing of steel, and any movement in its prices has a direct impact on the rates of the steel, an alloy widely used in segments such as construction, infrastructure, automobile and railways. Also Read MCA approves demerger of NMDC steel plant in Chhattisgarh from NMDC NMDC targets to achieve 46 MT of iron ore production this fiscal year Govt to sell 50.79% in NMDC's steel plant at Nagarnar, invites bids NMDC keen to invest in green energy capacities, says CMD Sumit Deb Extensive exploration programme to find minerals stepped up in Rajasthan Currency in circulation rises by 83% since demonetisation in 2016: RBI data Coffee exports from India up by nearly 2% to 400,000 tonnes in 2022 MCA concludes demerger hearing of Shipping Corp, may approve soon: Sources To say demonetisation was upheld is misleading: Congress on SC verdict India's current account deficit projected at $106bn: Acuite Ratings Hyderabad-based NMDC (formerly known as National Mineral Development Corporation) under the Ministry of Steel contributes over 17 per cent to India's total iron ore production. Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp Once, Beijing's state media mocked nations such as India that incinerated corpses of pandemic victims in town squares. Now the regime is so crippled by Covid that sons must burn the bodies of their fathers outside blocks of flats in its leading cities, according to a media report. Such is the pitiful state of today's China, the country that gave birth to the pandemic just over three years ago, but which has long boasted of its supposedly world-beating ability to contain this cruel disease, Daily Mail reported. Astonishing leaked figures from Chinese health authorities estimate that 250 million people - almost one in five citizens - caught Covid in the first 20 days of last month after Preident Xi Jinping abruptly dismantled rigid restrictions imposed since 2020. Having enforced the world's strictest controls with ruthless lockdowns, relentless testing and rigid mass quarantines, Xi was panicked into making a humiliating about-turn on December 7 after a spate of protests. With a fragile health system and inadequate vaccination rates, the impact was instant and predictable. One hospital in Shanghai warned that half the 26 million residents of the country's most populous city will be infected by now and urged staff to prepare for a "tragic battle" in the coming weeks, Daily Mail reported. Also Read Multiple factors behind rise of severe Covid cases in Beijing: Experts Beijing parks see 56% rise in visitors to 3.18 mn during festival holiday Beijing under Covid-19 alert after a school, university report fresh cases Indian embassy in China celebrates Gandhi Jayanti at Beijing's art museum Beijing's Covid rules may delay direct flights between India, China: Report European gas prices fall to lowest since Feb 21, before Ukraine war began US budget includes $15 mn for improving security along Pak-Afghan border Thousands line up to view, pay respect to Pope Benedict at Vatican Russia deploys multiple drones to attack parts of Ukraine, dozens shot down Massive floods in Philippines leave 51 dead, over a dozen missing Other cities are being hit just as hard. "I can name 20 people I know from different cities who have been infected over the past two weeks," said a journalist in Shanghai, who has caught Covid along with his partner. "It's spreading like wildfire." Videos shared on social media that evade strict censorship show deserted streets and desperate patients in over-crowded hospitals, which are so overwhelmed that the elderly are treated in beds outside in car parks. They expose hospital morgues flooded with corpses, warehouses overflowing with coffins, crematoria unable to cope with demand despite burning huge numbers of bodies each day and pharmacies with shelves swept clean of drugs, Daily Mail reported. The consequences of President Xi's imperious actions and China's immense Covid outbreak are alarming - for the health of its citizens, for the prosperity of the global economy and for the future of this lethal pandemic. Yet typically - in keeping with the Communist dictatorship's deceitful behaviour ever since this strange new virus emerged within its borders - officials claim to be focused on protecting lives as they pump out ludicrous data downplaying a tide of fatalities, Daily Mail reported. So last Wednesday, for instance, there was just one new Covid death across China and then one more on each of the next two days, according to Beijing's claims. Yet one person in Chengdu, a city of more than 16 million people, went to a crematorium after their grandmother died only to discover "hearses stacked with bodies" lined up in front. Many had been there for days. "They cremate more than 1,000 bodies every day lately. "Funeral ceremonies have all been cancelled because there's not enough time," said the bereaved citizen. A funeral home worker in the south-western city estimated there had been a five-fold surge in cremations since the government lifted Covid restrictions. "We're so busy we don't even have time to eat," he added, Daily Mail reported. Staff at a big funeral home in Beijing said their incinerators were running full-time but there was still a three-week backlog. Fees have doubled. At least 2,700 people died from Covid in the capital on a single day before Christmas, according to one report. "There is no more cold storage space for bodies," disclosed another crematorium worker in a third major city, Daily Mail reported. --IANS san/arm Meta is reportedly preparing to announce whether it will allow former US President Donald Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram. The company had previously said it will decide whether to allow the former president to return by January 7. However, that decision is now expected to be announced later in the month, reports the Financial Times, citing sources. The company has established a working group to focus on the matter that will include staff from the public policy and communications teams, as well as the content policy team and security and key information, chaired by Monica Bickert, head of global policy management at Facebook, and the safety and integrity teams led by the Chief Information Security Officer Guy Rosen, said the report. This comes after Twitter Boss Elon Musk revoked a permanent ban on Trump in November last year on the social media platform. In 2021, Facebook (now Meta) suspended Trump's accounts for two years, the maximum penalty under a newly revealed set of rules for suspending public figures, from its former indefinite ban set on January 7. Also Read Mar-a-Lago estate search just part of one of several probes against Trump Trump should never hold public office again: Jan 6 Capitol attack panel FBI agents search Trump's premises for papers related to nuclear weapons Trump's Save America fundraising group under US govt investigation: Report Donald Trump seeks $475 million in defamation lawsuit against CNN Afghanistan's Taliban regime warns Pakistan of consequences if attacked UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomes cease-fire announcement in Colombia Israeli missile strikes put Damascus airport out of service, kills 2 Russia-Ukraine conflict: India is on the side of peace, says Jaishankar Xi breaks silence on divisions in China, warns of Covid-19 challenges "We are today announcing new enforcement protocols to be applied in exceptional cases such as this, and we are confirming the time-bound penalty consistent with those protocols which we are applying to Mr Trump's accounts... We believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols," Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Facebook, said in an announcement. --IANS shs/ksk/ Russia's defence ministry says 63 of its soldiers have been killed by a Ukrainian strike on a facility in the eastern Donetsk region where military personnel was stationed. Ukrainian forces fired six rockets from a HIMARS launch system and two of them were shot down, a Russian defence ministry statement said Monday. The strike, using a US-supplied precision weapon that has proven critical in enabling Ukrainian forces to hit key targets, delivered a new setback for Russia which in recent months has reeled from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis last year due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves that also sparked political turmoil in the island nation which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family. Public service in Sri Lanka is not an eight-hour job, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday, as he urged public servants to work overtime to make the cash-strapped island a prosperous nation this year. The President said no public servant can shirk responsibility as 2023 was a crucial year for the country's economy. Incidentally, Sri Lanka turns 75 as an independent nation later this year. From April to July, chaos reigned supreme in Sri Lanka, with miles-long queues forming at fuel stations and irate residents coming out in thousands blocking roads. Each persons duties (public servants) cannot be limited to 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. Let's all work with commitment. By the end of 2023, I hope to take this country forward with the support of all of you and restore normalcy, news portal newsfirst.lk reported, quoting Wickremesinghe as saying during an event held at the President's Office here on Monday. The resignations by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in May 2022 amid massive anti-government protests subsided with the formation of a government led by their ally Wickremesinghe. In May last year, the Sri Lankan government declared a debt default on over $51 billion in foreign loans a first in the country's history. Also Read Ranil Wickremesinghe declares emergency in Sri Lanka ahead of election Ranil Wickremesinghe: From PM to President in Sri Lanka's troubled times 3 arrested for setting Sri Lankan PM Wickremesinghe's private house on fire Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as the eighth president of Sri Lanka 'No home to go': Sri Lanka's Prez Wickremesinghe on protestors threat Nepal's newly-appointed PM 'Prachanda' to take vote of confidence on Jan 10 Lanka's ousted prez Gotabaya applies for US citizenship restoration: Rpt Meta to announce decision on Trump's return to Facebook, Instagram: Report Afghanistan's Taliban regime warns Pakistan of consequences if attacked UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomes cease-fire announcement in Colombia However, not all our economic problems are over yet. Nevertheless, today we have the ability to provide fuel, gas, foodstuff and fertilisers as required," Wickremesinghe said. Gotabaya applies for US citizenship restoration "Five and a half months ago, we took over a historic task at this office. During those five and a half months, we took steps to establish normalcy in the country at a time when the government had collapsed and the economy had also collapsed.However, not all our economic problems are over yet. Nevertheless, today we have the ability to provide fuel, gas, foodstuff and fertilisers as required," Wickremesinghe said. Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country in July last year and then returned after nearly two months, has applied for restoration of his US citizenship after he failed to get asylum in any country, according to a media report. However, the US government is yet to consider the request, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. In 2019, Rajapaksa renounced his US citizenship to contest the 2019 presidential polls. An appeal by his lawyers to the US government more pointedly the Department of State to restore his citizenship, which he renounced to contest the November 2019 presidential election, has still not been considered, the report said. The former president and his immediate family are currently in Dubai on holiday. Kyiv and parts of eastern Ukraine came under Russian drone attacks, the latest in the series of strikes that have continued for several days over the New Year period. Late Sunday night, air raid sirens were sounded in Kyiv as well as in the regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. According to the Kyiv region's Governor Oleksiy Kuleba, the attack began shortly before midnight and the Iranian-made Shahed drones were "targeting critical infrastructure facilities". Kyiv's military issued a warning of the latest attacks just after 1 a.m. on Monday, the BBC reported. "Air attack on Kyiv... Air alert is on in the capital," it announced on the Telegram social media site. Serhiy Popko, the city's military administration head, told people to stay in shelters. Also Read Russia releases 108 captive Ukrainian women in latest prison exchange Fighting in Ukraine currently deadlocked, says spy chief Budanov Russia claims responsibility for Ukrainian train station missile strike Drone sales turnover soars 3.6 times to Rs 319 cr in 2021-22 on PLI policy Russia attacks Ukraine with 16 Iran-made drones, Kiev officials claim India's G20 Presidency 'very big deal': EAM Jaishankar to critics Landmark gas deal with Qatar gives China unprecedented control over energy Defiant Ukrainians celebrate New Year despite missile strikes by Russia World welcomes 2023 amid fears of new Covid-19 outbreak, war cries Number of injured rises to 37 in Karachi's aerial firing incident Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in the city's northeastern Desnyanskyi district and said emergency services were attending. "An injured 19-year-old man was hospitalised in the Desnyanskyi district of the capital... The main thing now is to stay calm and stay in shelters until the alarm is off," the BBC quoted the Mayor as saying. In his nightly video address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said that 45 "Shaheds" were shot down on the first night of the year. "Gratitude to the air defence of our Ground Forces for another 12 downed Iranian drones," he added. Sunday night's strikes come after a barrage of attacks on New Year's Eve, which killed at least one person in Kyiv. Russia has been targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure for several months, destroying power stations and plunging millions into darkness during the country's freezing winter.